Wireless Communications Specifications #2

Wireless communications specifications change rapidly. Fortunately, it is rare that old spectrum is reallocated, so although much of this data was originally obtained from Data obtained from the Philips "2001 (& 2002) Worldwide Wireless Telecommunications Standards" chart, it is still valid.

  • Click here for GSM Frequency and Channel Usage Specs
  • Click here for Data Rates Supported By Cellular Standards
  • Click here for another version of this page with additional information

Click here for the original version of this document (it has information not included in this one).

GSM / iDEN

Technology  GSM GPRS EDGE iDEN
Description Global System for Mobile Communications General Packet Radio Services Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution Integrated Dispatch Enhanced Network
Geography Mainly Europe and Asia, some Latin America and North America An upgrade for GSM networks An upgrade for HSCSD/GPRS capable GSM networks North America initially; Korea, China, South America to follow
Introduction 1992 2001 2001-2002 1994
Frequency range UL = uplink DL = downlink GSM 450 band:

450.4-457.6 MHz (UL)

460.4-467.6 MHz (DL) GSM 480 band:

478.8-486 MHz (UL)

488.8-496 MHz (DL) GSM 750 band:

777-792 MHz (UL)

747-762 MHz (DL)

GSM 850 band:

824-849 MHz (UL)

869-894 MHz (DL) Standard GSM 900 band:

890-915 MHz (UL)

935-960 MHz (DL) Extended GSM 900 band:

880-915 MHz (UL)

925-960 MHz (DL)

Railways GSM 900 band:

876-915 MHz (UL)

921-960 MHz (DL) DCS 1800 band:

1710-1785 MHz (UL)

1805-1880 MHz (DL) PCS 1900 band:

1850-1910 MHz (UL)

1930-1990 MHz (DL)

800 MHz band

900 MHz band

1.5 GHz band

Multiple access technology TDMA TDMA TDMA TDMA
Frequency reuse pattern (cell x sector) 4 x 3 4 x 3 4 x 3 with timeslot clearing as needed  
Symbol rate/chip rate 270.833 ksps 270.833 ksps 270.833 ksps  
Channel spacing 200 kHz 200 kHz 200 kHz 25 kHz
Modulation

(forward/downlink)

0.3 GMSK (1bit/symbol) 0.3 GMSK (1bit/symbol) 3π/8 rotating 8PSK (3 bits/symbol) plus GMSK M16-QAM
Modulation

(reverse/uplink)

0.3 GMSK (1bit/symbol) 0.3 GMSK (1bit/symbol) 3π/8 rotating 8PSK (3 bits/symbol) plus GMSK M16-QAM
Speech CODEC FR (Full Rate) = RPE-LTP 13 kbps;

EFR (Enhanced Full Rate)= ACELP 12.2 kbps;

HR (Half Rate) = VSELP 5.6 kbps;

or adaptive multi-rate

(AFR and AHR)

Not applicable Not applicable VSELP (Vector Sum Excited Linear Predictor)
Modulation filter 0.3 Gaussian 0.3 Gaussian Linearized Gaussian filter  
Source ETSI/3GPP (GERAN) ETSI/3GPP (GERAN) ETSI/3GPP (GERAN) Motorola
Primary service High mobility cellular data/voice High mobility packet data High/medium mobility packet/circuit data High mobility data and voice and voice
Maximum data rate 9.6 kbps

(14.4 kbps option)

Depends on coding scheme (CS) and no. of timeslots used (1 up to 8):

CS1: 9.05 kbps per timeslot;

CS2: 13.4 kbps per timeslot;

CS3: 15.6 kbps per timeslot;

CS4: 21.4 kbps per timeslot

(no error correction)

Up to 384 kbps 64 kbps
Packet switched or circuit switched Circuit switched Packet switched Packet switched for EGPRS and circuit switched for HSCSD Supports both
Comment     EGPRS stands for enhanced GPRS;

HSCSD stands for high speed circuit switched data

 
Reference web site www.etsi.org www.3gpp.org www.etsi.org www.3gpp.org www.etsi.org www.3gpp.org idenphones.motorola.com

(W)-CDMA

Technology W-CDMA (FDD) TD-SCDMA TIA/EIA-95A/B cdma2000 (1xRTT) 1xEV-DO 1xEV-DV
Description Wideband Code Division Multiple Access Frequency Division Duplex Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access cdmaOne System 1x Radio Telephone Technology 1x Evolution Data Only (High Rate Packet Data) 1x Evolution Data and Voice
Geography Korea, Japan, Europe, USA, other Asian countries China; other countries deploying W-CDMA (TDD) North America, Korea, other Asian countries Korea first; USA and Japan later Korea, USA, Japan USA, Korea
Introduction 2001 (early trial systems) 2004 or later 1995-19977 2001 2001-2002 2003
Frequency range UL = uplink DL = downlink IMT-2000 band:

1920-1980 MHz (UE)

2110-2170 MHz (BS) PCS 1900 band:

1850-1910 MHz (UE)

1930-1990 MHz (BS) DCS 1800 band:

1710-1785 MHz (UE)

1805-1880 MHz (BS)

China: 1785-1805 MHz

1880-1900 MHz

1900-1920 MHz

2010-2025 MHz

2300-2400 MHz 3GPP: 1900-1920 MHz

2010-2015 MHz GSM 900 band and DCS 1800 band for GSM mode

824-849 MHz

(MS: US, Korea)

869-894 MHz

(BS: US, Korea)

887-925 MHz

(MS: Japan)

832-870 MHz

(BS: Japan)

1850-1910 MHz

(MS: US)

1930-1990 MHz

(BS: US)

1750-1780 MHz

(MS: Korea)

1840-1870 MHz

(BS: Korea)

IS-95 bands plus NMT-450 band:

411-483 MHz

(MS)

421-493 MHz

(BS)

IS-95 bands

plus NMT-450 band:

411-483 MHz (MS)

421-493 MHz (BS)

IS-95 bands

plus NMT-450 band:

411-483 MHz (MS)

421-493 MHz (BS)

Multiple access technology CDMA TDMA/CDMA CDMA CDMA CDMA CDMA
Frequency reuse pattern

(cell x sector)

1 x 1 1 x 1 1 x 1 1 x 1 1 x 1 1 x 1
Symbol rate/chip rate 3.84 Mcps 1.28 Mcps 1.2288 Mcps 1.2288 Mcps 1.2288 Mcps 1.2288 Mcps
Channel spacing 5 MHz 1.6 MHz 1.23 MHz (US and Korea)

1.25 MHz (other countries)

1.23 MHz (US and Korea)

1.25 MHz (other countries)

1.23 MHz (US and Korea)

1.25 MHz (other countries)

1.23 MHz

(US and Korea)

1.25 MHz

(other countries)

Modulation

(forward/downlink)

QPSK QPSK initially, 8PSK later QPSK (1bit/symbol) QPSK QPSK/8PSK/16QAM QPSK/8PSK/16QAM
Modulation

(reverse/uplink)

HPSK QPSK initially, 8PSK later OQPSK (1bit/symbol) HPSK

dual BPSK (with HPSK scrambling)

HPSK

dual BPSK (with HPSK scrambling)

HPSK

dual BPSK (with HPSK scrambling)

Speech CODEC AMR (adaptive multi-rate) China: Full rate, enhanced full rate, or half rate

3GPP: Adaptive multi-rate

8 kbps var rate CELP; or 13 kbps var rate CELP; or 8 kbps var rate EVRC 8 kbps var rate CELP; or 13 kbps var rate CELP; or 8 kbps var rate EVRC Not applicable 8 kbps var rate CELP; or 13 kbps var rate CELP; or 8 kbps var rate EVRC
Modulation filter Root raised cosine a = 0.22) Root raised cosine a = 0.22) Chebychev low pass (FIR) Chebychev low pass (FIR) Chebychev low pass (FIR) Chebychev low pass (FIR)
Source 3GPP CWTS (china)/3GPP TIA/EIA-95-A TIA/EIA-95-B 3GPP2 3GPP2 3GPP2
Primary service High mobility data and voice High mobility data and voice High mobility cellular data and voice High mobility data and voice Always on mobile packet data; not real time High mobility data and voice
Maximum data rate Up to 384 kbps (up to 2 Mbps indoor) Up to 384 kbps (phase one);

2 Mbps (phase two)

95-A: 9.6 or 14.4 kbps

95-B: up to 115 kbps

Up to 307.2 kbps Up to 2.5 Mbps (forward)/307 kbps (reverse) up to 3.1 Mbps
Packet switched or circuit switched Support both Support both 95-A: Circuit switched

95-B: supports both

Support both Packet switched Support both
Comment Capacity about 2 x TIA/EIA-95-B There are two versions of TD-SCDMA: TSM and LCR. TSM is used in China and is supported by CWTS. LCR is supported by 3GPP.   Capacity about 2 x TIA/EIA-95-B Capacity 6 to 10 x TIA/EIA-95-B; 3 x cdma2000 cdma2000 Release C
Reference web site www.3gpp.org www.cwts.org www.3gpp.org www.tiaonline.org www.3gpp2.org www.3gpp2.org www.3gpp2.org

Wireless Data

Technology HSDPA TETRA
Description High Speed Downlink Packet Access Terrestrial trunked radio
Geography Japan initially; Europe, US, and Korea later all ETSI countries
Introduction 2004 1997
Frequency range UL = uplink DL = downlink IMT-2000 band:

1920-1980 MHz (UE)

2110-2170 MHz (BS)

832-870 MHz (BS: Japan)

PCS 1900 band:

1850-1910 MHz (UE)

1930-1990 MHz (BS) DCS 1800 band:

1710-1785 MHz (UE)

1805-1880 MHz (BS)

MS

380-390 MHz

410-420 MHz

450-460 MHz

870-915 MHz

BS

390-400 MHz

420-430 MHz

460-470 MHz

GSM 900 band 1710-1785 MHz (UE) 915-950 MHz

Multiple access technology TDMA/CDMA TDMA
Frequency reuse pattern

(cell x sector)

   
Symbol rate/chip rate 3.84 Mcps 18 ksps
Channel spacing 5 MHz 25 kHz
Modulation

(forward/downlink)

QPSK, 16QAM π/4 DQPSK
Modulation

(reverse/uplink)

QPSK, 16QAM dual BPSK (with HPSK scrambling) π/4 DQPSK
Speech CODEC not applicable ACELP (Algebraic code excited linear prediction)
Modulation filter Root raised cosine a = 0.22) root raised cosine (a = 0.35)
Source 3GPP ETSI
Primary service high mobility data Instant communication for PMR (private mobile radio) and PAMR

(public access mobile radio)

Maximum data rate Up to 10.8 Mbps 28.8 kbps with no protection
Packet switched or circuit switched Packet Supports both
Comment W-CDMA Release 5 Used mostly by public service, health and safety, emergency, and security personnel, construction and transport industries
Reference web site www.3gpp.org www.etsi.org www.tetramou.com

WLAN / WPAN

Technology Bluetooth™* IEEE 802.11b IEEE 802.11a/g/h/j IEEE 802.15.3a (UWB) IEEE 802.16a/e
Description Wireless Personal Area Network (PAN) Wireless Local Area Network (LAN) Wireless Local Area Network (LAN) Ultra Wideband Personal Area Network (PAN) Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Geography Worldwide Worldwide Worldwide Mainly North America and Japan, but worldwide interest a: Mainly North America and Europe

e: Korea initially

Introduction 2000 1999 2002-2003 2004-2005 a: 2005 e: 2006
Frequency range UL = uplink DL = downlink ISM band:

2.400-2.4835 GHz

ISM band:

2.400 - 2.4835 GHz

g: 2.4-2.4835 GHz [ISM] a/h/,j:

4.9-5 GHz [Japan]

5.03-5.091 GHz [Japan]

5.15-5.35 GHz [UNII]

5.47-5.725 GHz

5.725-5.825 GHz [ISM, UNII]

North America:

> 500 MHz Bands in the

range 3.1-10.6 GHz

a: 2-11 GHz

e: up to 5GHz

Multiple access technology TDMA CSMA-CA CSMA-CA CSMA-CA TDMA
Frequency reuse pattern

(cell x sector)

Not applicable Installation specific Installation specific Installation specific Not applicable
Symbol rate/chip rate 1 Msps 11Mchips/sec   Depends on format  
Channel spacing 1 MHz frequency hopping North America:

25 MHz (non-overlapping)

10 MHz (overlapping)

Europe:

30 MHz (non-overlapping)

10 MHz (overlapping)

g: 25 MHz

a/h: 20 MHz

j: 20 MHz, 10MHz option

528 MHz or greater a: 1.25-20 MHz

e: up to 10 MHz

Modulation

(forward/downlink)

GFSK DBPSK/DQPSK for 1 and 2 Mbps data rates; CCK with DQPSK modulation for 5.5 and 11 Mbps data rates 52 sub-carrier OFDM Shaped Pulse or Frequency switched OFDM OFDM with QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM
Modulation

(reverse/uplink)

GFSK DBPSK/DQPSK for 1 and (reverse/uplink) (3 bits/symbol) 8PSK later dual BPSK (with HPSK scrambling) dual BPSK (with HPSK scrambling) dual BPSK (with HPSK scrambling) dual BPSK (with HPSK scrambling) 2 Mbps data rates; CCK with DQPSK modulation for 5.5 and 11 Mbps data rates 52 sub-carrier OFDM Shaped Pulse or Frequency switched OFDM OFDM with QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM
Speech CODEC Log PCM or CVSD

continuous variable slope delta)

Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable
Modulation filter Bandwidth Time (BT) product = 0.5 Gaussian or vendor specific Depends on format Depends on format Depends on format
Source Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) IEEE IEEE IEEE IEEE
Primary service Low mobility data and voice Low mobility data Low mobility data Low mobility video and data a: fixed broadband wireless access, point to point backhaul

e: mobile broadband wireless access

Maximum data rate 1 Mbps raw (future 2-3 Mbps) 11 Mbps raw 54 Mbps 480 kMbps a: 75 Mbps

e: 30 Mbps

Packet switched or circuit switched Packet switched or synchronous Packet switched Packet Packet Packet
Comment Bluetooth is a trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG Inc., U.S.A. and licensed to Agilent Technologies Current 802.11 standards share a similar MAC DFS (dynamic frequency selection) and TPC (transmit power control) needed for operation in parts of 5 GHz band    
Reference web site www.bluetooth.org www.ieee802.org/11 www.ieee802.org/11 www.ieee802.org/15 www.wirelessman.org

 

* Bluetooth is a registered trademark

All data in these tables were derived from Agilent's 2004 Evolving Frequency Standards Document, but no claim is made regarding accuracy of translation or permission by Agilent to use the data.