Wideband Code Division Multiple Access - WCDMA

Wideband code division multiple access is a 3rd generation mobile communication system that uses code division multiple access (CDMA) technology over a wide frequency band to provide high-speed multimedia and efficient voice services. The WCDMA infrastructure is compatible with GSM mobile radio communication system. WCDMA provides for high-speed data and voice communication services. Installing or upgrading to WCDMA technology allows mobile service providers to offer their customers wireless broadband (high-speed Internet) services and to operate their systems more efficiently (more customers per cell site radio tower).

The WCDMA system is composed of mobile devices (wireless telephones and data communication devices called user equipment-UE), radio towers (cell sites called Node Bs), and an packet data interconnection system (switches and data routers). The WCDMA system uses two types of radio channels; frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD). The FDD radio channels are primarily used for wide area voice (audio) channels and data services. The TDD channels are typically used for systems that do not have the availability of dual frequency bands.

This figure shows a simplified diagram of a WCDMA system. This diagram shows that the WCDMA system includes various types of mobile communication devices (called user equipment - UE) that communicate through base stations (node B) and a mobile switching center (MSC) or data routing networks to connect to other mobile telephones, public telephones, or to the Internet via a core network (CN). This diagram shows that the WCDMA system is compatible with both the 5 MHz wide WCDMA radio channel and the narrow 200 kHz GSM channels. This example also shows that the core network is essentially divided between voice systems (circuit switching) and packet data (packet switching).

Wideband Code Division Multiple Access -WCDMA Diagram

This figure shows a simplified functional diagram of a WCDMA network. This diagram shows that the WCDMA system is composed of 3 key parts; the user equipment (UE), UMTS terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN), and a core interconnecting network. The UE is divided into 2 parts, the mobile equipment (ME) and the UMTS subscriber identity module (USIM) card. The UTRAN is composed of base stations (called Node B) and radio network controllers (RNCs). This example shows that the RNCs connect voice calls to mobile switching centers (MSCs) and connect data sessions to packet data service nodes (PDSNs). The core network is basically divided into circuit switched (primarily voice) and packet switched (primarily data) parts. The core network circuit switch parts contain the serving MSC and a gateway MSC. The serving MSC (SMSC) connects to the UTRAN system and the gateway MSC (GMSC) connects to the public telephone network. The core network packet switched parts contain the serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (SGSN) and a gateway GPRS service node (GGSN). The SGSN connects to the UTRAN system and the GGSN connects to data networks such as the Internet.

WCDMA Network Diagram

Related Wideband Code Division Multiple Access - WCDMA Definitions

UMTS Subscriber Identity Module (USIM)
WCDMA FDD
WCDMA TDD

UMTS WCDMA Books

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Introduction to WCDMA

This book explains the basic components, technologies used, and operation of UMTS WCDMA systems. You will discover why mobile telephone service providers have upgraded from 2nd generation digital systems to more efficient and feature rich 3rd generation system. You will also discover how 3rd generation systems are gradually evolving into 4th generation ultra broadband multimedia systems.

$19.99 Printed, $16.99 eBook

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