The world’s carriers are set to meet in Tokyo this week for another round of discussions on converging Code Division Multiple Access-based third-generation technology.
The International Telecommunication Union adopted a framework in March resulting in a single flexible standard with a choice of multiple access methods including CDMA, Time Division Multiple Access and TD/CDMA technologies. The CDMA standard encompasses three optional modes: direct sequence frequency division duplex; multi-carrier frequency division duplex; and multi-carrier FDD and TDD.
The ITU is counting on carriers to harmonize the CDMA standards even further by reaching a consensus on the chip rate and other key technical issues. Carriers today still remain at a standstill over the chip rate, with European and North American GSM operators unwilling to move the chip rate below 3.84 Megachips per second, while CDMA operators say they need a rate of 3.68 Mcps to keep their networks backward compatible.
L.M. Ericsson and Qualcomm Inc. recently ended their disputes over patents to 3G technology, paving the way for carriers to work to harmonize 3G technology without running into intellectual-property-right hurdles.
Sources in Japan indicate that if carriers cannot agree on a common chip rate, Japan’s standards-setting process could become further delayed. This would be detrimental to Japanese operator NTT DoCoMo, which plans to become the first mobile phone operator to deploy W-CDMA technology in 2001. CDMA operators “DDI and IDO and manufacturers expect the [Japanese telecommunications ministry] to exercise its influence and push one common chip rate,” said one source. “But the ministry looks so far reluctant to be involved. They are saying the industry should decide for itself.”
