CDMA specs will squeeze more capacity out of voice networks

Even as the wireless industry moves ahead to LTE technology, the CDMA Development Group is aligning its efforts to make sure that CDMA technology can coexist with the developing fourth-generation standard.
The CDG announced last month that specifications for CDMA2000 1X Advanced had been published by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP2). Operators that implement this technology can theoretically quadruple the voice capacity on their 1X networks. The group also introduced a device enhancement called simultaneous 1X Voice and EV-DO Data (or SVDO) that will allow CDMA2000 devices to access EV-DO-based data services while callers are in an active 1X voice call. In simple terms, this will enable a caller to perform a packet-data function, like downloading a file, while they are on a voice call.
These network and device advances will allow LTE operators and existing 3G operators that don’t plan to upgrade to 4G technology to squeeze as much capacity as possible out of their existing 3G voice networks, said CDG President Perry LaForge during an August interview with RCR Wireless News. The CDG is working to make sure that its technology complements and coexists with coming 4G technologies, he said.
However, in some markets, particularly in developing countries, operators are not concerned with upgrading to 4G technology, said Joe Lawrence, VP of marketing for the CDG, either because they don’t have the spectrum, or capacity constraints or business plan.
Worldwide, the CDMA family of technologies continues to gain traction, according to CDG, noting 100 million subscribers in India use the technology and another 100 million are expected to use the technology in two years. China Telecom is planning an aggressive CDMA EV-Do Rev. A rollout and operators with 450 MHz spectrum continue to deploy the technology. Nearly a half-billion people are using the technology worldwide, with 290 commercial operators in 103 countries. MTS India just joined the group.