Are you familiar with Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD)? It is a wireless data service used for accessing the Internet and other packet-switched systems over a cellular network.
How Does CDPD Work?
CDPD uses unused bandwidth typically used by Analog Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) standards between 800 and 900 MHz for data transmission, providing mobile users with access to a low-cost wireless data network. It can be overlaid on existing analog cellular systems and share their infrastructure equipment on a non-interfering basis. CDPD transmits data packets over unused cellular channels and independently switches to another channel if the current channel is to be allocated for voice use.
CDPD Development and Discontinuation
CDPD was developed in the early 1990s and was a considered one of the technologies of the future. Despite being one of the first generations of cellular spectrum, it struggled to compete with existing slower but cheaper Mobitex and DataTac systems and never really caught on until newer, faster standards such as GPRS became established. The service was discontinued along with the discontinuation of the higher-level AMPS service; it was functionally replaced by faster services such as 1xRTT, EV-DO, and UMTS/HSPA.
CDPD Data Transfer Speed
CDPD provided data transfer speeds of up to 19.2 kbit/s, although in practice, speeds of more than 9.6 kbit/s were rarely achieved. It provides mobile users with access to a low-cost, widespread wireless data network.
Conclusion
In conclusion, CDPD is an early wireless data service that provided mobile users access to a low-cost wireless data network by using unused bandwidth typically used by Analog Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) standards between 800 and 900 MHz for data transmission. Introduced during the early 1990s, CDPD struggled to compete with existing slower but cheaper Mobitex and DataTac systems and was functionally replaced by faster services such as 1xRTT, EV-DO, and UMTS/HSPA.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is CDPD?
Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) is a wireless data service used for accessing the Internet and other packet-switched systems over a cellular network.
What bandwidth does CDPD use?
CDPD uses unused bandwidth typically used by Analog Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) standards between 800 and 900 MHz for data transmission.
What replaced CDPD?
Faster services such as 1xRTT, EV-DO, and UMTS/HSPA functionally replaced CDPD.
Final Thoughts
While CDPD might not be in use anymore, it paved the way for wireless data services and made the mobile Internet a possibility. It will always hold an important place in the history of mobile telecommunications.
