!!! Time Division Multiple Access



A digital transmission technology that allows a number of users to access a single RF channel without interference by allocating unique time slots to each user. The TDMA digital transmission scheme multiplexes three signals over a single channel. The current TDMA standard for cellular networks divides a single channel into six time slots, with each signal using two slots, providing a 3 to 1 gain in capacity over the advanced mobile-phone service. Each caller is assigned a specific time slot for transmission.



It is one of the oldest digital mobile phone technologies and it only commonly used in the USA.



Specified in EIA/TIA Interim Standard 54 then enhanced on in IS-136



Don't confuse with [CDMA]!



* (http://www.iec.org/online/tutorials/tdma/ IEC TDMA Tutorial)



See also [CDMA], [SpreadSpectrum].