The highest data rates is related to the spreading bandwidth and symbol rate. So the wider spreading width may be viewed by some as a way to push the data rates higher in some bands. I have seen proposals for spreading rates as high as 10 Mhz with data rates in the 5-10 Mbps range. the drawback though is to put all your eggs into one basket so to speak. Consuming 10 Mhz of bandwidth full time is costly because there are not alot of people who want to push 10 Mbps all the time and pay for that service, so the tradeoff is that you must find an optimal split. Most bands are less than 10 Mhz wide, some at 10 Mhz wide, a few at 30 Mhz, and far far fewer above that. So if given a choice of offering 2 Mbps in 1.25 Mhz versus offering 10 Mbps in 10 Mhz, the choice becomes easy to make. Especially if that 1.25 Mhz offers you the ability to use the other 8.5 Mhz for voice and additional data channels.
2.4 Mbps is so much more than the world has today, that splitting it up now wiht the empahsis on voice makes alot of sense. If however the Voice over IP (VoIP) becomes well developed and highly prevalent, then I see data channels being the norm and those voice dedicated channels becoming extinct (don't worry I predict it will take 10 years at best to get there...).But if this happens, then your ability to access burst packet system like HDR then makes alot of sense, even at the 10 Mhz spread rate, as your voice would only need a small packet burst to be scheduled in the middle of another larger packet burst and not consume much of the data multiplexing channels capacity. When this scheme comes around, it will make voice be something which is just another "access". the net effect of this is to push the access into a wider well funded arena.
Gsm'ers are still trying to keep brand recognition alive and well by still claiming that they are not going CDMA, but rather some new form of GSM. Until they just drop it and get on with the rollout of their stuff without FUD, they only serve to confuse and limit the overall market. It is too bad for them...the market is going CDMA and will pass up on confusion. At least NOK and MOT made good strides in this area in the last week and I think they will start a consolidated effort to push a one single standard soon WITH QCOM.
Japan is still pushing CDMA as fast as they can. WCDMA stuff from DDI is pure FUD, led by a few associations wiht other Asian countries. the gain here is giant, so proposing a little FUD by people who want to see confusion in the market seems like a good play, but not having solidarity in attacking the giant China for rollout of services will in the end also add to the confusion and stop the rollout altogether while warring factions carry out FUD battles long and hard. Sadly this is the norm for India, which was once on a roll to get services and now has all but stopped upgrading their systems.
I'm afraid as long as there is a giant set of corporate jealousies running around, and FUD growing, clarity is the last thing we can find. I only wish I could see what the outcome will be. I could make a fortune..... |
