What is the difference between WCDMA and GSM? - ProProfs Discuss
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What is the difference between WCDMA and GSM?

Asked by T. Lopez, Last updated: Apr 09, 2024

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G. Jabez

G. Jabez

G. Jabez
G. Jabez

Answered Nov 26, 2019

GSM stands for Global System for Mobile while WCDMA means Wideband Code Division Multiple Access. These are known to be two types of wireless technologies that are being used right now. GSM is still a 2G technology, while the WCDMA makes use of 3G technology.

There was a time when these two were very popular because it allowed people to connect to the internet. Right now, most smartphones are already using 4G or 5G in order to connect to the internet and update their social media websites.

Still, there are still some old phones that can support both GSM and WCDMA, especially in more remote areas wherein 4G and 5G are not available yet.

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L. Cooper

L. Cooper

Analyst by profession but writer by heart.

L. Cooper
L. Cooper, Data Analyst, MCA, Newcastle

Answered Oct 03, 2019

WCDMA is the acronym for Wideband Code Division Multiplexing Access while GSM is the acronym for Global System for Mobile communication. WCDMA and GSM are different technologies commonly used in telecommunications. WCDMA refers to a technology that is used to transmit wireless calls by the use of assigned codes. It is a 3G technology and it is gradually becoming what many people want as it offers more data speed than GSM.

WCDMA and GSM work with different frequency bands, meaning a GSM phone can only communicate with GSM and vice versa for WCDMA. GSM is more globally accepted as the standard for digital cellular communication. It is a 2G technology and it is gradually been replaced by WCDMA. However, it is still more widely used than WCDMA. It offers a much slower data speed compared to WCDMA. Hope you find this information helpful.

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