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spread-spectrum multiple access

communications
Also known as: SSMA

Quick Summary

Spread-spectrum multiple access (SSMA), also known as code-division multiple access (CDMA), is a method for sharing a communications channel among multiple users. In CDMA, signals are transmitted simultaneously within the same frequency band. Each user is assigned a unique signature waveform, generated by a spreading code, which allows the receiver to distinguish and select specific signals while rejecting others.1

This technique is used in advanced mobile cellular systems. The process involves multiplying the signal by a code sequence, which spreads the signal's power over a larger bandwidth. This eliminates the need for frequency management, allowing new users to transmit immediately upon being assigned a code, rather than waiting for an available frequency slot.1

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