8/2/13 WCDMA (3G)

gsmbasics.awardspace.info/3g.htm 1/2
GSM Network Basics
An Introduction to GSM Networks



WCDMA TECHNOLOGY


By definition, the bandwidth of a WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access)
system is 5 MHz or more, and this 5 MHz is also the nominal bandwidth of all 3G
WCDMA proposals.
This bandwidth was chosen because,
It is enough to provide data rates of 144 and 384 Kbps (these were 3G targets),
and even 2 Mbps in good conditions.
Bandwidth is always scarce, and the smallest possible allocation should be
used, especially if the system must use frequency bands already occupied by
existing 2G systems.
This bandwidth can resolve more multipaths than narrower bandwidths, thus
improving performance.
3G Network Architecture
In a CDMA system all users occupy the same frequency at the same time, no time
scheduling is applied, and their signals are separated from each other by means of
orthogonal codes. Each user is assigned a code applied as a secondary modulation,
which is used to transform a users signals into a spread spectrum-coded version of
8/2/13 WCDMA (3G)
gsmbasics.awardspace.info/3g.htm 2/2
which is used to transform a users signals into a spread spectrum-coded version of
the users data stream.
Tree of orthogonal codes

The receiver then uses the same spreading code to transform the spread-spectrum
signal back into the original users data stream. These codes are chosen so that they
have low cross-correlation with other codes. This means that correlating the received
spread-spectrum signal with the assigned code despreads only the signal that was
spread using the same code. All other signals remain spread over a large bandwidth.
That is, only the receiver knowing the right spreading code can extract the original
signal from the received spread-spectrum signal. The figure above shows the tree of
orthogonal codes.

Power Control in WCDMA
Power control in uplink must make signal powers from different users nearly equal in
order to maximize the total capacity in the cell.
In downlink the power control must keep the signal at minimal required level in order
to decrease the interference to users in other cells.
Received power at the base station




Home | BSS | NSS | GSM Cell | Transmission Planning | Tower & Antenna | Power System | WCDMA | SS7

Chathuranga Perera,
Electrical Engineer
Ceylon Electricity Board