Korea to Install New CDMA Phone System

Mark LaPedus

During the next two years, Korea will deploy its initial Personal Communication Services (PCS), a wireless cellular system that provides greater capacities than traditional analog phones. But Korea is not going with the de facto standard in digital cellular -- Global System for Mobile Communications, or GSM. Instead, the country will deploy the code division multiple access ( CDMA ) system, a technology that operates at a frequency of 1.9 GHz. (GSM operates at 900 MHz.)

CDMA modulates the signal from each user by using a digital code that spreads the spectrum across a wide bandwidth. CDMA proponents, such as Qualcomm (San Diego, CA), claim the technology offer s better voice quality and les s multipath resistance than competitive digital cellular systems.

In Korea, Shinsegi Telecom last spring began providing PCS services based on CDMA technology in Seoul and Taejon, joining Korea Mobile Telecom in the business. Meanwhile, the Korean government recently issued similar licenses to LG Telecom, Hansol Paper, and the state-run Korea Telecom.

As Korea moves from analog to digital cellular services, the demand for CDMA-based phones in the country will jump from 402,000 units in 1996 to 1.247 million in 1998, according to figures from Korea Mobile Telecom. Meanwhile, in the U.S., the demand for CDMA-based telephones is expected to increase from 400,000 units to 2.245 million, according to market-research firm BIS.

To support CDMA-based technology, Korea will deploy land-based base-station transceivers. Samsung recently began mass production of CDMA-based hand-held phones in Korea. Samsung, which will reach an annual production of 1.5 million units by 1997, will sell its CDM A phones in the local market, in the U.S., and in other nations that are backing the technology.

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Korean CDMA Phones

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