Power control
For IS-95, fast power control was implemented on the reverse link to ensure that all the mobiles
could be received at virtually the same power level. This is achieved by using a power control
message every 1.25 ms. In th is way, the ‘near–far’ problem could be overcome. However, on the
forward link, where power control was not as critical, a power control message was sent every
20 ms to adjust the channel power to a given mobile.
While in many respects power control may not be quite as critical in the forward direction, when
high data speeds are being carried accurate power control becomes more of an issue. Accordingly,
a scheme similar to that implemented on the reverse link has been introduced on the forward link.
It involves the