Difference between IDEN and CDMA Network Technologies

IDEN (Integrated Digital Enhanced Network) is a unique technology that was created by Motorola for their Nextel network. To provide phone and data services, it combines time division multiplexing and frequency-hopping technologies. IDEN has been mostly phased out in favor of more cutting-edge technologies because it has a limited capacity and slow data speeds when compared to the other technologies.

CDMA is a digital wireless technology that allows multiple users to share a frequency band by using spread-spectrum technology. Compared to IDEN, CDMA has a substantially higher capacity since it allows several users to share the same frequency band. Many wireless networks, including the well-known 3G and 4G networks, use it globally. It is popular and offers higher capacity and data rates; it is a more advanced and versatile technology than IDEN.

Read this article to find out more about IDEN and CDMA Network Technologies and how they are different from each other.

What is IDEN?

Each user in an IDEN network has a specific timeslot designated for data transmission, which allows several users to share the same frequency band. By continuously switching the frequency used to transmit data, frequency-hopping technology adds security by making it difficult for unwanted users to access the network.

Text messaging, dispatch services, and a certain amount of mobile internet access are all supported by IDEN in addition to the phone services. However, it is not ideal for many new applications, such as streaming video or big data transfers, because of its limited capacity in comparison to other mobile network technologies and its slow data speeds.

IDEN first gained popularity in the US with business customers who preferred its push-to-talk walkie-talkie capability. IDEN has, however, mainly been phased out in favor of these more cutting-edge technologies, like CDMA and LTE.

What is CDMA Network Technology?

A wireless communication method known as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), which allows multiple users to share the same frequency band by individually encoding each user's data, With the help of this coding, multiple users can transmit data over the same channel at once without interfering with one another.

Each user is given a unique code using CDMA, which divides the available bandwidth into multiple small frequency bands. After that, the user's data is modulated with the special code and sent over the radio. To recover the original data, the receiver decodes the incoming signals using the same code.

One major benefit of CDMA is its capacity to accommodate multiple users within a constrained frequency range, which results in a more effective use of the available spectrum. Another benefit is its capacity to lessen interference by encoding each user's data. Furthermore, CDMA is well-known for its enhanced security measures, as unauthorized users find it difficult to intercept data being transferred due to the unique coding used for each user.

In cellular communication systems, CDMA is often utilized, especially in 3G and 4G mobile networks. Additionally, wireless local area networks and satellite communication systems both employ them (WLANs).

Difference between IDEN and CDMA Network Technologies

The following table highlights the major differences between IDEN and CDMA Network Technologies −

Conclusion

In terms of wireless communication technology, IDEN and CDMA are two distinct subcategories. While CDMA is a digital cellular technology that provides both voice and data connections, IDEN is primarily utilized for push-to-talk (PTT) services and only supports voice communication.

While IDEN employs time division multiplexing (TDM) to split a single channel into time slots for many users, CDMA uses a spreading code to permit several users to share a frequency band simultaneously.

In conclusion, CDMA is a more adaptable technology that supports both voice and data communication with a higher capacity, whereas IDEN is limited to PTT services and has a low capacity.