Verizon announced that it will be following the GSM evolution path to 4G instead of the CDMA path. You can read details of the release at Engadget and RCRNews. Now why would Verizon dump CDMA technology, and how does this affect Verizon customers?
What’s the difference?
Currently, there are 3 major standards for wireless networks. Those are WiMAX, GSM, and CDMA. Part of the definition of these are their air interface, or how the phones transfer information over the air to the base station. GSM currently uses a TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) air interface which means multiple users are seperated into timeslots. CDMA (Coded Division Multiple Access) is where users are separated by coding packets, similar to IP. WiMax is based on OFDM (Orthoganol Frequency Division Multiplex), which is based on spacing multiple sub-carriers close together.
What is important to learn here is NOT where things are, but where they are going. CDMA will evolve into UMB, GSM will evolve into LTE, and WiMax, well it’s a little young. However, every single path leads to an OFDM air interface.
So why not WiMax
True, WiMax is already using the OFDM air interface. This means that it should evolve to 4G quicker. However, once it gets there, it’s a different story. And since WiMax is the new kid in town, it may not have the staying power it needs. Another thing is, WiMax is not as mobile as the other two technologies.
Final draw
The ecosystem for CDMA is simply not near as strong as GSM. CDMA is only really big in the States. Most other countries stick to GSM. Verizon realizes this, as well as the other advantages to GSM with its healthy worldwide ecosystem.
What does this mean?
For now, nothing. 4G is still almost a year from being released to vendors. That means that carriers probably won’t start testing it for probably another 2-3 years. I suspect though that since Verizon’s horsepower will be towards LTE as well as so many other major players, we should see big things happen.
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