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Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) is a 3rd generation mobile communication system. It is a system where the telecom, computer and media industry converges.

Telecom
Industry
mobility
main frames
desk top computing
PC
PC-LAN
Internet
electronic
publishing and
entertainment
Computer Industry
Media Industry
Infocom
Industry

The WCDMA network is be a multi-service “network of networks”, providing both traditional telecommunications services and new Internetbased services over the same network with support for high bit rates, 384 kbps (wide area) up to 2 Mbps (local area). It will accommodate the growing number of interconnections between a variety of networks,
circuit- and packet-switched, narrowband and broadband, voice and data, fixed and mobile.

The open architecture of the WCDMA Core Network ensures a smooth migration from the existing 2G systems to the technologies of tomorrow. WCDMA will be realized by the introduction of the WCDMA Radio Access Network (RAN) to the enhanced GSM Core Networks. To support high bit rates, the Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA)
technology is used and will provide a larger bandwidth to a single user compared to the existing mobile systems. This larger bandwidth will enable high speed Internet/Intranet access and a number of Multimedia applications.

WCDMA NETWORK

Based on the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) reference network model, WCDMA network consists of:

• User Equipment (UE)
• Access Network (AN)
• Core Network (CN)
• External Network

UMTS

UMTS is the term used in Europe for the 3rd generation networks, and it is intended to make the transition from the 2nd generation networks smoother, and eventually to replace them. This means that UMTS will, in the long-term, support all applications currently served by the 2nd generation cellular systems such as GSM and PDC, cordless systems like DECT, and satellite systems like IRIDIUM. It will converge contents from the telecom industry like video telephony, IT industry like Internet applications, as well as from the broadcasting industry like video on demand. UMTS will have to support this wide array of services with data rates ranging from 8 kbps up to 2 Mbps (later even higher) regardless of location, network, or terminal (adaptive terminals). The costs of such terminals could be kept low by being compensated from a mass market generating huge volumes of data traffic.
The Special Mobile Group (SMG) decided to make UMTS backward compatible to GSM in the beginning, but also to upgrade GSM beyond its initial capabilities. The development of UMTS  would not be compromised by too many compatibility issues.
In order to achieve that goal, UMTS is being developed in a modular way. This also reduces the risk for operators and allows the creation of a consumer basis for mobile data, which will
eventually drive the full deployment of the system as its demand for improved services increases.

COEXISTENCE OF GSM AND WCDMA NETWORK ELEMENTS

In the initial stage the UTRA air interface will support the multimedia applications in limited hot spot areas. GSM 2+ core networks are enhanced to support these applications, and GSM
radio networks to support medium bandwidth applications (GPRS, EDGE, CAMEL). Core network protocols will support both radio access networks. In the future, homogeneous WCDMA networks might start replacing the evolved 2G systems due to the increasing complexity of common GSM/WCDMA networks. Operators might be motivated to replace the GSM infrastructure in order to satisfy the demand for capacity by a lucrative multimedia mass-market.

Therefore, in a 2nd phase, a mature WCDMA network is intended to replace the existing GSM networks. This would also free up the GSM frequency bands for WCDMA transmission, a concept called re-farming.