The Telecommunications Handbook: Engineering Guidelines for Fixed, Mobile and Satellite Systems

18 Other and Special Networks

Pertti Virtanen and Jyrki T. J. Penttinen

18.1 IS-95

This chapter describes the overall architecture, core and radio systems, and interfaces of North American cellular system IS-95 which belongs to the 2G mobile communications. The evolved 3G variant CDMA2000 is discussed in chapter 18.2, and chapter 18.3 summarizes TETRA system.

18.1.1 General

Interim Standard 95 (IS-95) is a CDMA-based digital cellular system which has been developed by Qualcomm. The system is also known as cdmaOne^®, or TIA-EIA-95. IS-95 is one of the second generation cellular systems, that is, it represents the same development phase in the cellular communications field as GSM [1, 2].

IS-95 is spread widely in North America, and it is also supported in selected other areas outside the USA. The first specification set for the system was called IS-95A, and an enhanced specification IS-95B was released later. In fact, the later specification also has the commercial name cdmaOne^®. The system is meant for voice and data services. The data transfer rate for IS-95A is up to 14.4 kbps, and for IS-95B up to 115 kbps.

18.1.2 Standards

IS-95 has been developed by TIA (Telecommunications Industry Association), and more specifically, in T1P1 committee within ATIS (Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions). IS-95, that is, Interim Standard no. 95, defines the radio interface, whilst IS-41 forms the basis for the core network. IS-95 is prominently North American digital, second ...