CELLULAR MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS

(Is CDMA Better Than GSM)

G. Geetha Rama Sagar, B. Kiran Raj Sekhar,

E.C.E, ¾, E.C.E, ¾,
M.V.G.R College of Engg, M.V.G.R College of Engg,
([email protected]) ([email protected])

Abstract:

GSM stands for Global System for speaking in the room at any given
Mobile communications, and CDMA moment, no one has to worry about
stands for Code Division Multiple being heard over the background din. In
Access. The GSM is built around the CDMA, each couple talk at the same
TDMA, or the Time Division Multiple time, but they all use a different
Access concept. Basically, the two language. Because none of the listeners
technologies address differently the understand any language other than that
same fundamental problem of mobile of the individual to whom they are
communication, how to divide the finite listening, the background din does not
frequency of airwaves between multiple cause any real problems. In technical
users at the same time, or, how to make jargon, GSM (TDMA) does it by
more than one person to carry on a chopping up the channel into sequential
conversation on the same frequency time slices. Each user of the channel
without causing mutual interference.. takes turns transmitting and receiving in
a round-robin fashion. In reality, only
GSM & CDMA are the most successful one person is actually using the channel
cell phone technologies present in world, at any given moment, but he only uses it
CDMA handsets are chip based where as for short bursts. CDMA on the other
GSM handsets uses SIM cards, using the hand, uses a special type of digital
GPRS & EDGE facility GSM is modulation called Spread Spectrum,
successful to lure the customers but which takes the user’s voice stream bits
CDMA is still behind GSM due to its and splatters them across a very wide
limited mobility & other problems . Now channel in pseudo-random fashion. The
Reliance is launching Removable User receiver undoes the randomisation in
Identity Module (RIUM) based CDMA order to collect the bits together in a
phones. coherent order.

In GSM (TDMA), each couple takes This paper explains the overview of Cell
turns talking. They keep their turns short phone development, comparison,
by saying only one sentence at a time. advancement & subscription advantages
As there is never more than one person of CDMA over GSM & vice versa.

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 1. HISTORY & DEVELOPMENT located throughout the calling area.
These phones operate in the frequency
Cell phones have become the modern range of 806-890 MHz; 1850-1990 MHz
fastest means of Communication on for the PCS. CDMA and GSM operators
move especially for the Business are fighting for the 1900Mz band.
Magnets & Professional job holders. The
roots of the cellular systems belong to When the user dials up a number, cell
the years of 1940’s but the trial service phone sends a message to the tower,
did not begin until 1970. Initially there asking to connect to a given telephone
were only 2000 consumers could use number. If the tower has sufficient
them, as there were only a few channels resources to grant the request, a device
& People who really needed Mobile called ‘switch’ patches the cell phone’s
Communications capability installed signal throughout to a channel on the
radio-telephones in their cars. In the public switched telephone network
radio telephone system, there was one (PSTN).The call now takes up a wireless
central antenna tower per city, with channel that is held open until the call is
about 25 channels. So the phone in the completed. Fig1 illustrates this process.
car needs a powerful Transmitter—big The PSTN channel cannot be used for
enough to transmit up to 80km.But any other call until the cell phone call is
currently in this 21st century there are discontinued.
around 1400 million subscribers all over
the world. 3. THE CELL & CLUSTER:

Cells are base stations (BS)

communicates with mobiles via a
channel & broadcast at very low power
levels (typically 200 mW to 1W). The
channel is made of two frequencies, one
for transmitting to the base station and
one to receive information from the base
station. Cell Size varies depending on
the landscape.

Fig--Cellular system

2. FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION:

All Cell phones have special codes.

These codes identify the phone, the
phone’s owner, & the service provider.
Cell phones use high frequency radio CELLS CLUSTER
signals to communicate with cell towers

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 4. ROAMING

Roaming was the most challenging

issues the cell phone manufactures
faced. The goal was simple: the phone
could be used anywhere in the world
where compatible technology is used.
When the user turns his cell phone on in
a roaming area, the cell phone identifies
CELL itself to the switch. The switch looks up
the information & discovers that the
Cell area: phone is not a local phone. It now
attempts to find the home switch based
on the exchange. When the Home switch
is located, the switch determines if
Area of cluster roaming is possible. If roaming is
possible, the switch (referred to as
roaming switch) sets up the Visitor
Location Register (VLR) registering the
phone in the locality. The home switch is
A cluster is a group of cells, No channels notified about the change so that it can
are reused within a cluster. route call to the switch in the roaming
location.
Cells are assigned a group of channels
that is completely different from Outbound calls are handled through the
neighboring cells, the coverage area of roaming switch as these would be
cells is called the footprint and is limited handled if the user were at home.
by a Boundary so that the same group of Incoming calls are routed from the home
channels can be used in cells that are far switch to the roaming switch after
enough apart. Cells with the same sending a message to the roaming switch
number have the same set of requesting a Temporary Local Directory
frequencies. Number (TLDN). This TLDN is used to
establish a connection from the home
switch to the roaming switch across the
PSTN. Cell phone technologies:

Most digital phones use GSM, CDMA,

FDMA& TDMA technologies. Now in
the present century GSM is behind
CDMA and vice versa.

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 5.GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE 5.1 Principles of GSM

COMMUNICATION(GSM) Frequency Concepts -For Mobile

communication a Duplex Channel is
GSM was the first and is still the most required which mean that two way both
popular cellular network standard in use at a time, it uses two frequencies: One to
established in 1982. The GSM standard the Mobile Station (MS) and one from
transmits data on one of three frequency the Mobile Station. The direction from
bands: 900MHz,1800MHz& 1900 MHz. the Mobile Station to the network is
The GSM 900MHz and 1800MHz referred to as uplink and the direction
standards are used in India. Initially from the network to the Mobile Station
GSM was the modified and more is referred to as down link. Speech
efficient version of TDMA it enabled coding-GSM is a digital system, so
Voice & Data services. Today’s GSM speech that is inherently analog, has to
consists of consists of mainly 3 parts be digitized. The method of a Regular
(systems) to supports its network, they Pulse Excited -- Linear Predictive Coder
are: (RPE--LPC) with a Long Term Predictor
loop is employed, where in, information
1. GPRS from previous samples, which does not
2. EDGE change very quickly, is used to predict
3. GPS the current sample. Speech is divided
into 20 millisecond samples, each of
1. General Packet Radio Service which is encoded as 260 bits, giving a
(GPRS): total bit rate of 13 kbps. This is the so-
called Full-Rate speech coding.
GPRS supports Video conferencing,
streaming audio & video & continuous Frequency hopping: GSM (TDMA)
connectivity to internet for the GSM network is also equipped with
subscribers. Frequency-Hopping, i.e., when a lower
frequency is cluttered, the mobile phone
2. Enhanced Data Rates For GSM effortlessly jumps to a higher frequency
Evolution(EDGE): (e.g., from 900 MHz to 1800MHz).
GSM has slow frequency-hopping radio
EDGE Provides Multimedia interference. The slow hopping is
applications for mobile devices and third defined in bits per hop. Its regular rate is
generation GSM services . Here now 217hops/s, therefore with a transmission
instead of cells satellites are used. rate of 270 kbps, the result is
approximately 1200bits/hop.
3. Global Positioning System(GPS):
5.2Access Methods
GPS mainly provides it’s users with the
information consisting of time, position Time division multiple access (TDMA):
& velocity of the user at any point on the Most of he digital cellar systems use the
surface of the earth, in any climatic technique of Time Division Multiple
condition at any instant of time. Access to transmit and receive speech

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 signals. A user is assigned a particular Public Data Networks, (2) Since GSM is
time slot in a carrier and can only send a digital network, a modem is not
or receive information at those times. required between the user and GSM
This is true whether or not the other time network, (3) Group 3 facsimile is
slots are being used. Information flow is supported by use of an appropriate fax
not continuous for any user, but rather is adaptor, (4) A unique feature of GSM,
sent and received in "bursts." The bursts not found in older analog systems, is the
are re-assembled at the receiving end, Short Message Service (SMS), and
and appear to provide continuous sound (5)Supplementary services on top of
because the process is very fast .The teleservices include call forward , call
following figure illustrates the TDMA barring , caller identification.
accessing. analog systems.
5.4.1 Advantages of GSM
5.3. Modulation
The advantages of GSM are: (1) GSM is
The digital signal is modulated onto the already used worldwide with over 450
analog carrier frequency using Gaussian- million subscribers, (2) International
filtered Minimum Shift Keying roaming permits subscribers to use one
(GMSK). GMSK was selected over phone throughout Western Europe.
other modulation schemes as a CDMA will work in Asia, but not
compromise between spectral efficiency, France, Germany, the U.K. and other
complexity of the transmitter, and popular European destinations, and (3)
limited spurious emissions. The GSM is mature, having started in the
complexity of the transmitter is related mid-80s. This maturity means a more
to power consumption, which should be stable network with robust features.
minimized for the mobile station. The CDMA is still building its network.
spurious radio emissions, outside of the .
allotted bandwidth, must be strictly 6. CODED DIVISION MULTIPLE
controlled so as to limit adjacent channel
interference, and allow for the co- ACCESS (CDMA):
existence of GSM and the older analog
systems. CDMA is the most interesting & most
difficult to implement multiplexing
5.4. Services Provided method, it have no channels. Instead
these encode each call as a coded
Using the ITU-T definitions, sequence across the entire frequency
telecommunication services can be spectrum. Each connversation is
divided into bearer services, teleservices, modulated in the digital domain, with a
and supplementary services. The most unique code that makes it
basic tele service supported by GSM is distinguishable from the other calls in
telephony. A variety of data services the frequency spectrum. Using a
offered are:(1) GSM users can send and correlation calculation & the code the
receive data, at rates up to 9600 bps, to call was encoded digital audio signal can
users on POTS (Plain Old Telephone be extracted from the other signals being
Service), ISDN, Packet Switched Public broadcast by other phone on network as
Data Networks, and Circuit Switched long as there is sufficient separation b/w

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 the codes the noise level will be low 1. The bandwidth is spread by means of
enough to recover the digital signal. The a code which is independent of the data.
fact that CDMA shares frequencies with The independence of the code
neighboring cell towers allows for easier distinguishes this from standard
installation of extra capacity, by adding modulation schemes in which the data
extra cell sites &shrinking power levels modulation will always spread the
of nearby sites spectrum some what.

Cdma is a form of spread-spectrum, a 2. The receiver synchronizes to the code

family of digital communication to recover the data. The use of an
techniques that have been used in many independent code and synchronous
military applications for many years. reception allows multiple users to access
The core principle of spread spectrum is the same frequency band at the same
the use of noise –like carrier waves, and, time.
as the name implies, bandwidths much
wider than that required for simple There are 3 ways to spread the
point-to-point communication at the bandwidth of the signal: (1). Frequency
same data rate. Orginally there were hopping (2). Time hopping (3). Direct
two motivations: either to resist the sequence
enemy efforts to jam the
communications (anti-jam, or AJ). CDMA is a direct sequence spread
spectrum system. The CDMA system
It is a way to increase channel capacity works directly on 64 bit/sec digital
by using code sequences as traffic signals. These signals can be digitized
channels in a common radio channel. voice, ISDN channels.
Also-- A digital signal multiplexing
technique where each signal is split into 6.2 Code Correlation:
many chips of data, each of which is
tagged with a particular code. During In this context, correlation has a specific
transmission, the chips are spread over a mathematical meaning. In general the
band of frequencies, and then correlation function has these properties:
reassembled at the receiving end. 1. It equals one if the two codes are
identical.
2. It equals zero if the two codes have
6.1Principles Of CDMA: nothing in common.

The signal occupies a bandwidth much Intermediate values indicate how much
greater than that which is necessary to the codes have in common, The more the
send the information. This results in common the harder it is for the receiver
many benefits, such as immunity to to extract the appropriate signal.
reference and jamming and multi user
access, which we’ll discuss later on. There re two correlation functions:
1. Cross-correlation
2. Auto-correlation

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 6.3 Access Method 6.5. Services Provided

IS-95 (CDMA)uses a multiple access CDMA is altering the face of cellular

spectrum spreading technique called communication by: (1) Dramatically
Direct Sequence (DS) CDMA. Each user improving the telephone traffic ,(2)
is assigned a binary, Direct Sequence Dramatically improving the voice
code during a call. The DS code is a quality and eliminating effects of multi
signal generated by linear modulation path fading , (3)Reducing the incidence
with wideband Pseudorandom Noise of dropped calls due to handoff failures
(PN) sequences. As a result, DS CDMA ,(4)Providing reliable transport
uses much wider signals than those used mechanism for data comm, such as
in other technologies. Wideband signals facsimile and internet traffic,
reduce interference and allow one-cell (5)Reducing the number of sites needed
frequency reuse. There is no time to support any given amount of traffic,
division, and all users use the entire (6)Simplifying site selection ,
carrier, all of the time. (7)Reducing deployment and operating
costs because fewer cell sites are needed,
6.4. Modulation (8)Reducing avg transmitted power,
(9)Reducing interference to other
The type of modulation followed is electronic devices,(10)Reducing health
spread spectrum that scatters data risks, and (11)Additional services
transmissions across the available include web browsing, m-commerce,
frequency band in a pseudorandom MMS streaming .
pattern. Spreading the data across the
frequency spectrum makes the signal 6.5.1 Advantages of CDMA:
resistant to noise, interference, and
snooping. In general, Spread Spectrum The advantages of CDMA are: (1)
communications is distinguished by Increased cellular communications
three key elements: (1) the signal security,(2) Simultaneous conversations,
occupies a bandwidth much greater than (3) Increased efficiency, meaning that
that which is necessary to send the the carrier can serve more subscribers,
information. This results in many (4) Smaller phones, (5) Low power
benefits, such as immunity to requirements and little cell-to-cell
interference and jamming and multi-user coordination needed by operators, and
access. (2) The bandwidth is spread by (6) Extended reach - beneficial to rural
means of a code that is independent of users situated far from cells.
the data. The independence of the code
distinguishes this from standard 7. CDMA Vs GSM
modulation schemes in which the data
modulation will always spread the The GSM technology’s talk-range from
spectrum somewhat. (3) The receiver a tower is 35 kms in comparison with
synchronizes to the code to recover the CDMA’s 110 kms, and the power output
data. The use of an independent code of a GSM phone is 2W, in comparison
and synchronous reception allows with CDMA phone 200 mW i.e., CDMA
multiple users to access the same implies lesser radiation hazard. But the
frequency band at the same time. talk time is generally higher in a GSM

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 phone due to its pulse nature of The biggest advantage with GSM is its
transmission, in comparison with a widespread network in Europe and Asia,
CDMA phone, which transmits all the whereas CDMA is predominant in US
time. CDMA technology has a Soft and South Korea. The user of GSM is
Accommodation feature, that is, when enabled an easy international roaming.
the number of users of the network goes As far as SMS, gaming and internet is
up, the voice quality progressively gets concerned, both GSM and CDMA score
poorer. Though GSM will not an equal point. GSM has already set a
accommodate more than a finite number standard in India. Being a patented
of users there won’t any be deterioration technology, all CDMA equipments and
in voice quality due to traffic. handsets require a royalty to be paid.

Why phone companies would switch 8. CONCLUSION

from GSM to CMDA?
The battle between GSM and CDMA
For one, it actually works better. CDMA technologies in India is hotting up!
systems transmit clearer sound. The While the initial tilt was towards the
system is also better suited for data. GSM with players like Hutch, Spice,
While most cell phones today are used BPL and BSNL preferring it, the TATA
simply for phone calls, new devices are and the Reliance have now entered the
rolling out that allow you to e-mail, market putting their bets on CDMA.
browse the web, or play games. CDMA
is easier and cheaper to install. That's The final conclusion is that it is not so
extremely important for the cell phone much over technology that a customer
companies, which have to spend billions decides which network to adopt. It is
building networks, then billions more basically performance! Whichever
upgrading them to stay competitive. mobile communication provider puts in
While GSM cannot add more than a better efforts in giving a higher
fixed no of scribers in a cell, sub the performance, the subscriber is bound to
capacity of the system is not rigid in follow that path!
CDMA.
9. REFERENCES

[1] Verdu S & S Shamai, Special

Efficiency of CDMA with Random
Spreading, IEEE Transactions on
Information Theory, vol 45,no 2,pp 622-
640,1999.

[2] E Cianca ,M De Sanctis, M Ruggieri

& R Prasad, Truncated Power Control
for Improving TCP/IP Performance over
CDMA Wireless Links, IEEE Trans
Wireless Communications, to be
published.

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