A number of telecom carriers across the world are migrating from 2G to 3G technology in order to provide high speed data services. The migration has a direct impact on the requirements for 3G wireless modems used in machine-to-machine (M2M) applications. One of the main issues related to this is the numerous and differing frequency bands used by 3G networks, depending on the carrier and geographic region. On the other hand, the rapid adoption of M2M has been driven by innovation, new applications and communication services. The M2M marketplace comprises a wide range of applications across diverse industries.
In many applications, the largest growth opportunities lie in embedded cellular M2M, which enables rapid and secure data transfer via CDMA networks. Companies that have to market a new solution may want to consider using a CDMA module as an alternative to 3G. There is a significant price difference as the module makes up around 30 per cent of the device cost. Deploying a CDMA module thus proves to be cost-effective and highly competitive. For example, there are solutions that provide a perfect platform for low data applications on CDMA networks, such as telemetry, telematics, smart metering and health care. Many modules such as 1xRTT are pin-to-pin compatible with the xE910 family, allowing easy integration of different wireless technologies into the same design. It enables reliable and secure 1xRTT cellular communication, making it an ideal platform for M2M applications that require robust and proven connectivity.
New entrants in the M2M markets may not be aware about the fact that solutions need to be certified before they can be deployed. Obtaining certification for M2M devices in this market is a complex process. It is important to note that devices which have been approved for European and other networks will still have to go through the US certification process if the company wants to promote its solutions in that market. Enabling innovative and cost-effective solutions with a shorter time to market is not only good for the industry but also for the economy.
Speeding up the process
Developing and deploying an M2M solution involves a multi-step process. Different companies have different requirements, but one can start with reviewing the design, which includes the antenna, placement, the schematic and printed circuit board (PCB) layout. The position of the antenna on the PCB is very important since this is the source of potential radio frequency (RF) and RF interference signals. Further, the most common reason for compliance failure is RF interference. The portfolio generally includes RF/electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) pre-certification tests at the application level. These are important because they speed up the certification process and help get solutions to the market in a short period of time.
The certification process
The CDMA Certification Forum (CCF) is the organisation that authorises test labs and decides whether a device qualifies for certification to operate on CDMA-based networks. The CCF and its authorised labs certify that a device meets the requirements defined by 3GPP2 specifications. However, these are considerably simpler to achieve as compared to seeking approval for the country?s leading 3G-based network. Therefore, it is important to deploy modules that have been pre-certified, otherwise the solution will be unusable in this market.
M2M providers design an innovative solution for a specific sector, which may also be particularly relevant for smaller vendors and/or companies that are entering the M2M arena for the first time. Without specialist support, these companies may fail to realise the business opportunity, even though the device has been certified and deployed. In addition, they may lack the requisite skills for the development of hardware, software and mechanical components.
CDMA uses analog-to-digital conversion in combination with spread spectrum technology. Some of the CDMA devices use a rake receiver that exploits multipath components to improve the performance of the system. Multipath occurs when RF signals arrive at a location via different transmission paths due to the reflection of the transmitted signal from fixed and moving objects. When the signal is received over multipath channels, rake receivers use baseband correlators to combat several signal multipath components.
CDMA wireless frequency carries many conversations simultaneously and converts voice to digital data with a unique code. CDMA is a channelised technology in the latest generation of mobile networks. With high capacity, CDMA provides secure communication. M2M communication is a developmental platform for CDMA, allowing devices to communicate with each other in a communication network. M2M communication has been used in a wide variety of applications like sending and receiving data through the CDMA cellular network.
