Which 3G Standard?

By
Nabil Nasser
Head of Telecom Department
Khatib & Alami – Consolidated Engineering Company

Abstract world secure in the knowledge that

your mobile phone is compatible with
The mobile communications industry the local system, a scenario known
had been always torn apart by as "global roaming". Unfortunately,
battling standards fighting for the process of unifying the numerous
market share. IMT-2000, which was international standards has proved to
supposed to bring together a be extremely difficult. After difficult
harmonized standard for the third negotiation, a 3G "standard" called
generation of mobile radio interface, IMT-2000 emerged as a rather
failed to come up with a single unsatisfactory compromise. IMT-
standard. Some operators are still 2000, in fact, represents several
confused which way to go. In this incompatible standards lumped
paper a brief description of the IMT- together under one banner.
2000 approved standards is The aim of IMT-2000 is to harmonize
presented and a conclusion is drawn worldwide 3G systems to provide
based on technical merits and global roaming. However,
market acceptance. harmonizing so many different
standards proved extremely difficult.
Introduction As a result, what we have been left
with is five different standards
The phenomenal success of second grouped together under the IMT-
generation (2G) mobile 2000 label:
communication prompted the need to
develop a third generation (3G) • W-CDMA
mobile system that unifies the • CDMA2000
world's mobile computing devices • TD-CDMA/TD-SCDMA
through a single, worldwide radio • DECT
transmission standard. Imagine
• UWC-136 (EDGE)
being able to go anywhere in the

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 Figure 1: IMT-2000 (Based on a presentation from the ITU)
Of these five standards, only three The terrestrial part of UMTS is known
allow full network coverage over as UTRA (UMTS Terrestrial Radio
macro cells, micro cells and pico cells Access). The FDD component of
and can thus be considered as full 3G UTRA is based on the W-CDMA
solutions: W-CDMA, CDMA2000, and standard (a.k.a. UTRA FDD). This
TD-CDMA/TD-SCDMA. Of the offers very high data rates up to
remainder, DECT is used for those 2Mbit/sec. The TDD component of
cordless phones you have in the UTRA is called TD-CDMA (or UTRA
house, and could be used for 3G TDD).
short-range "hot-spots" (hence, it The standardisation work for UMTS
could be considered as being "part of is being carried-out under the
a 3G network"), but it does not allow supervision of the Third Generation
full network coverage so is not Partnership Project (3GPP).
considered further here. And UWC-
136 is another name for EDGE which CDMA2000
is generally considered to be a 2.5G
solution (it allows a subset of The chief competitor to Europe's
services available in W-CDMA UMTS standard is the US developed
networks to be offered by using GSM CDMA2000 standard. The
spectrum frequencies). standardisation work for CDMA2000
So that leaves W-CDMA, CDMA2000, is being carried-out under the
and TD-CDMA/TD-SCDMA as fully- supervision of the Third Generation
fledged 3G standards. Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2), the
CDMA Development Group offers
W-CDMA advice to 3GPP2.
CDMA2000 has two phases: phase
Wideband CDMA (W-CDMA) is the 3G one is 1XRTT (144 Kbps) (also known
standard that has been agreed for as 1X), and this can be upgraded to
Europe and Japan, it falls under the phase two, 3XRTT (2Mbps) (also
broader standard of UMTS. UMTS is known as 3X).
the European vision of 3G, and has The next evolutionary step is to the
been sold as the successor to the two CDMA2000 1X EV ("EV" =
ultra-successful GSM. It includes "Evolution") standards. CDMA2000
both terrestrial and satellite radio 1X EV-DO ("Data Only") will use
access components. separate frequencies for data and

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voice. The following step is to
CDMA2000 1X EV-DV ("Data and TD-SCDMA will not have it all its own
Voice") which will integrate voice and way in China: it may find it difficult
data on the same frequency band. to compete with W-CDMA and
CDMA2000, unless Chinese politics
plays a part.
TD-CDMA/TD-SCDMA
IMT-2000 Frequencies
The UMTS standard also contains
another radio transmission standard According to "WARC-92 frequencies
which is rarely mentioned: TD-CDMA for IMT-2000" resolution: "The bands
(a.k.a. TDD UTRA because it is the 1885-2025 MHz and 2110-2200 MHz
TDD component of UTRA). TD-CDMA are intended for use, on a worldwide
was developed by Siemens. While W- basis, by administrations wishing to
CDMA is an FDD technology implement International Mobile
(requiring paired spectrum), TD- Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-
CDMA is a TDD technology and thus 2000). Such use does not preclude
can use unpaired spectrum. TDD is the use of these bands by other
well-suited for asymmetrical services to which they are allocated."
transmission, like internet data.
China has more mobile phone users Here is the summary of UMTS
than any other country in the world, frequencies:
so anything China does in 3G cannot
be ignored. The Chinese national 3G 1920-1980 and 2110-2170 MHz
standard is a TDD standard similar to Frequency Division Duplex (FDD, W-
TD-CDMA: TD-SCDMA. TD-SCDMA CDMA) Paired uplink and downlink,
was developed by the China channel spacing is 5 MHz and raster
Academy of Telecommunications is 200 kHz. An Operator needs 3 - 4
Technology (CATT) in collaboration channels (2x15 MHz or 2x20 MHz) to
with Siemens. TD-SCDMA eliminates be able to build a high-speed, high-
the uplink/downlink interference capacity network.
which affects other TDD methods by 1900-1920 and 2010-2025 MHz Time
applying "terminal synchronisation" Division Duplex (TDD, TD/CDMA)
techniques (the "S" in TD-SCDMA Unpaired, channel spacing is 5 MHz
stands for "synchronisation"). The and raster is 200 kHz. Tx and Rx are
3GPP have extended the TD-CDMA not separated in frequency.
standard to include TD-SCDMA as an 1980-2010 and 2170-2200 MHz
official IMT-2000 standard. Satellite uplink and downlink.

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Figure 2: WARC-92 IMT-2000 Frequencies

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Latter the ITU in WRC-2000 component of IMT-2000, as
• Identified the bands 1710 - well as the bands 2500 - 2520
1885 and 2500 - 2690 MHz MHz and 2670- 2690 MHz,
for IMT-2000 depending on market
• Identified those parts of the developments
band 806 - 960 MHz which • Decided that "the bands, or
are allocated to the mobile portions of the bands, 1710 -
service on a primary basis 1885 MHz and 2500 - 2690
• Admitted that High Altitude MHz, are identified for use by
Platform Stations (HAPS) may administrations wishing to
use the WARC-92 frequency implement International
bands for terrestrial IMT-2000 Mobile Telecommunications-
on restrictive conditions 2000 (IMT-2000). This
• Decided that the frequency identification does not
bands 1525 - 1544, 1545 - preclude the use of these
1559, 1610 - 1626.5, 1626.5 bands by any application of
- 1645.5, 1646.5 - 1660.5 the services to which they are
and 2483.5 - 2500 MHz may allocated and does not
be used for the satellite establish priority in the Radio
Regulations".

Figure 3: WRC-2000 IMT-2000 Frequencies

Conclusion but each technology has it’s own

development advantage based on its
The battle of standards shall continue roots (see Figure 4 below). Even
between W-CDMA and CDMA2000, though "W-CDMA" and "CDMA2000"
where both fulfil the technical both have "CDMA" in their names,
requirement stated by the IMT-2000, they are completely different

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systems using different technologies. Table 1 lists some of the major
However, it is hoped that mobile technical differences between the
devices using the two systems will be two standards.
able to talk to each other.

Table 1: W-CDMA Vs. cdma2000 (1x / 1x EV-DO) technical specifications

W-CDMA is expected to win over (6) Most of the service providers in

CDMA2000 due to the following: the world are using GSM (85%
of the world networks, over 1.2
(1) W-CDMA using the speed of Billion users) the natural
3.84Mcps, which is 3 times that evolution path for these
of CDMA2000 1x. This operators is towards W-CDMA.
difference makes the WCDMA The evolution path from 2G to
handle the routing, 3G is depicted in Figure 4
transmission in a more efficient below.
way.
(7) According to Visiongain report
“US 3G and wireless data
(2) W-CDMA can provide a better
services market analysis and
connection in an indoor
forecast: 2005-2010” twelve of
environment.
the major network operators
(such as AT&T Wireless,
(3) W-CDMA is more suitable for
Cingular Wireless, Cellular One,
mixing of voice and data
T-Mobile USA and others. 78
transmission, in terms of
million total subscriber base)
flexibility.
had deployed EDGE as an
interim solution till the FCC
(4) WCDMA using the rate of 1.5
issues new spectrum
kHz for transmission power
frequencies for W-CDMA in
control, which is double the rate
2007. Cingular solved its
of CDMA2000. This can provide
spectrum problem buy taking
better quality and support more
over AT&T Wireless
user.
infrastructure and started its W-
CDMA rollout that will cover the
(5) For some services, such as
entire USA by 2006.
roaming usage calculation,
(8) Worldwide Cellular User
there is a need for services
Forecasts (2004-2010) report
provider to install extra
by Strategy Analytics says:
equipment for CDMA2000.

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“GSM-based systems will volumes in the medium term. It
continue to dominate the will not be until mid 2007 that
cellular landscape, accounting the combined volumes of EDGE
for 77% of subscribers in 2010, and W-CDMA users will
though CDMA’s more rapid overtake CDMA2000.”
evolution to 3G will see it
dominate 3G subscriber

Figure 4: Evolution path from 2 G to 3G (Source ITU presentation)

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List of Acronyms

CDMA Code Division Multiple Access

DECT Digital European Cordless Telecommunications
EDGE Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution
FDD Frequency Division Duplexing
FDMA Frequency Division Multiple Access
GPRS General Packet Radio Service
IMT-2000 International Mobile Telecommuincations-2000
TD-CDMA Time Division - Code Division Multiple Access
TDD Time Division Duplexing
TDMA Time Division Multiple Access
TD-SCDMA Time Division - Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access
UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
UTRA UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access
WARC World Administrative Radio Conference
W-CDMA Wideband - Code Division Multiple Access

References

1. The Economist: 3G by any other name

2. The Shosteck Group: White Paper on 3G Migration Paths
3. IEEE Spectrum: The mobile phone meets the Internet
4. ZDNet: It's a standards thing
5. UMTS Forum
6. CDMA Development Group
7. Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)
8. Third Generation Partnership Project 2, (3GPP2)
9. Strategy Analytics: Worldwide Cellular User Forecasts (2004-2010).
10. Visiongain: US 3G and wireless data services market analysis and
forecast (2005-2010).

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