Key Points:
- CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) and GSM (Global System for Mobiles) are used by phone carriers, and utilized for telecommunication purposes.
- CDMA and GSM are both are used for 2G and 3G networks, but as more and more networks switch to LTE or more advanced versions, CDMA and GSM are less used.
- While CDMA was conceived in 1935, it wasn’t released for use until 1995 (by United States cell carrier networks). GSM was conceived in 1983 and released the following year for limited use.
CDMA vs GSM: Key Differences Explained
Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and Global System for Mobiles (GSM) are both communication standards that are used for telecommunication purposes and by phone carriers. Both are older standards and rapidly expiring, having been described by many as entering a state of “terminal decline.” Nonetheless, for some time, they were vitally important standards when it came to telephone use. Furthermore, in places that may not have access to modern technological resources – such as a 4G or 5G network – these standards may still be in use. Let’s review CDMA vs GSM
Both Code Division Multiple Access and Global System for Mobiles are radio networks that are used by wireless companies, including AT&T, Verizon, and more. These radio networks allow for multiple types of calls or data to be exchanged at the same time. Both are broad-based radio networks that have a wide range of geographical uses. Both are used for 2G and 3G networks, but as more and more networks switch to LTE or more advanced, CDMA and GSM are less used. Wireless carriers are rapidly moving away from both of these networks.
However, both also have real differences. GSM is a bigger network and used in over 200 countries, while CDMA is more used primarily in the United States, but less so elsewhere. There are also differences in terms of SIM cards and the interoperability of networks. Furthermore, GSM allows you to make calls and send/receive data at the same time, making multitasking easier. CDMA does not make such a distinction, and this can hurt its overall usefulness. CDMA meaning and functioning is thus considered to be less useful and comprehensive as a mobile network.
CDMA vs GSM: Side by Side Comparison
CDMA | GSM | |
What it is | Radio networks for a wireless carrier | Radio networks for a wireless carrier |
Primary Use | Radio systems for use by mobile carrier | Radio systems for use by mobile carrier |
Name | Code Division Multiple Access | Global System for Mobiles |
Conceived | 1935 | 1983 |
Initial Release | 1995 (by United States cell carrier networks) | 1984 (limited use) |
Technical Committee | N/A | N/A |
Influential Developers | Dmitry Ageev, Leonid Kupriyanovich, Qualcomm | European Telecommunications Standard Institute |
Open format | Yes | Yes |
Technologies influenced | SIM Cards, LTE, 4G, 5G | LTE, 4G, 5G |
4 Must Know Facts
- CDMA and GSM are both outdated. AT&T already shut down large portions of its GSM network and will shut down the remainder in February 2022. T-Mobile and Verizon will do the same by December 2022.
- Phones that only use CDMA or GSM networks – and these are much older phones – will no longer be usable at this point.
- LTE became the immediate successor to these two networks, with 4G and 5G rapidly replacing LTE.
- Both networks were once the most technologically advanced way of making mobile calls and sending data. Indeed, CDMA meaning and GSM meaning were once totally associated with the latest in technology. More than 25 years later, that is no longer the case.
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