CDMA2000 1x EV-DO(Evolution-Data Optimized)

Background

Compared to the 1x (1xRTT) networks still being used by operators, or the GPRS and EDGE networks employed by their GSM competitors, 1xEV-DO is significantly faster, providing access terminals (mobile devices) with air interface speeds of up to 2.4576 Mb/s with Rev. 0 and up to 3.1 Mb/s with Rev. A. Only terminals with 1xEV-DO chipsets can take advantage of the higher speeds. HSDPA is a competing technology for UMTS (W-CDMA) networks standardized in 3GPP. HSDPA has the advantage of maintaining voice and data channels simultaneously. While possible in a CDMA deployment, no operator or phone manufacturer has introduced a phone with the required chipset(s) to demodulate both the cdma2000 voice and 1xEV-DO channel.

When deployed with a voice network, 1xEV-DO requires a separate radio channel of 1.25 MHz. The successor to the first revision of the standard, 1xEV-DO Rev. 0, is called 1xEV-DO Rev. A, and is currently being commercially deployed in Japan. Rev. A will be deployed in the United States by Sprint and Verizon Wireless in 2006. Rev. A offers fast packet establishment on both the forward and reverse links along with air interface enhancements that reduce latency and improve data rates. In addition to the increase in the maximum downlink (forward link) data rate from 2.4576 Mb/s in Rev. 0 to 3.1 Mb/s, Rev. A has a 12-times improvement in the maximum uplink (reverse link) data rate, from .15 Mb/s to 1.8 Mb/s. EV-DO Rev. A supports low latency services including VoIP and Video Telephony on the same carrier with traditional Internet packet data services. EV-DO Rev. The air-interface latency specifications have not been published, however several Qualcomm documents note latency in the "low double digit" with the highest RSVP settings. This compares favorably with Release 0 air-interface latencies of 150-200 ms.

Potential Competing Standards

At the time, there was much debate as to the favorability of DV and DO. Traditional operators with an existing voice network preferred deploying DV, since it does not require an overlay. Other design engineers, and newer operators without a 1x voice network felt that EV-DO was a superior choice to 1xEV-DV because it did not have to be backward compatible, and thus was free to explore different pilot structures, reverse link silence periods, improved control channels, etc. In addition, since 1xEV-DO uses an IP network and does not require a SS7 network and complex network switches such as an MSC (mobile switching center), the network cost is less than that of 1xEV-DV. Another factor that affected operators' decision to use 1xEV-DO was equipment was not available for 1xEV-DV in time to meet market demands whereas the 1xEV-DO equipment and mobile ASICs were available and tested by the time the 1xEV-DV standard was completed. As a result, the 1xEV-DV standard was less attractive to operators, and has not been implemented. With the announcement by Verizon Wireless and later Sprint Nextel in 2004 of plans for deployment of 1xEV-DO, and similar announcements by smaller operators in 2005, Qualcomm in March 2005 suspended development of 1xEV-DV chipsets, and focused its efforts toward improving the 1xEV-DO product line.

EV-DO Service Providers

Companies with 1xEV-DO networks in service

• Sprint - branded as Power Vision and Mobile Broadband—check EV-DO coverage in your area, Coverage reaches over 153 Million People, and is offered in 220 cities. Sprint has announced aggressive plans for next generation EV-DO Rev A.
• Verizon Wireless - branded as BroadbandAccess and V CAST—check EV-DO coverage in your area, Coverage reaches 148 Million People, and is offered in 181 cities.
• Embarq - check EV-DO coverage in your area follows Sprint coverage
• Bell Mobility - coverage in Canada
• Cellular South - coverage in Starkville, MS and surrounding areas.
• Centennial de Puerto Rico Instant Internet - coverage in metropolitan San Juan, Aguadilla, Caguas, Dorado, Mayagüez, Fajardo, Humacao, and Ponce.
• CANTV Movilnet in Venezuela. Product name is Aba Móvil and is available in all major cities. More information about the product and coverage can be found here.
• Movistar in Venezuela. More information can be found (in Spanish) here
• Movistar Guatemala. More information can be found (in Spanish) here
• Iusacell - coverage in México City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Villahermosa
• ACS Wireless - coverage in Alaska
• Alltel - coverage in 11 markets
• Telecom New Zealand - coverage in all major metropolitan areas and many other towns around New Zealand.
• Telstra - coverage in major metropolitan areas of Australia
• VIVO - limited coverage
• Worldcall Telecom Ltd. - Pakistan
• Telecard - limited coverage in Islamabad, Pakistan
• TELUS Mobility launched its 1xEV-DO network in Canada in November 2005.
• Pelephone - full rollout in Egypt and Israel finished in 2005.
• Zapp Radiomóvel - coverage in major cities and 90% of populated area of Portugal—check coverage in your area here (in Portuguese).
• Zapp Mobile - coverage in major cities and 87% of the area of Romania—check coverage in your area here.
• Triatel - coverage in major cities of Latvia
• SaskTel - coverage limited to Regina and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
• Manitoba Telecom Services - coverage in Winnipeg and Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
• MIO - island-wide(<--lokual ta un kaka) coverage in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles
• Eurotel in the Czech Republic has been operating a 1xEV-DO network that runs at 450 MHz since 2004.
• SkyLink - coverage in St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia
• SK Telecom - coverage in 84 major cities in South Korea here(in Korean)
• KTF - in South Korea. {stub}
• KDDI - Coverage over Japan. Currently providing a Rev. A network, the first carrier to do so