UMTS

3G sign shown in notification bar on an Android powered smartphone

The Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is a 3G mobile cellular system for networks based on the GSM standard.^[1] UMTS uses wideband code-division multiple access (W-CDMA) radio access technology to offer greater spectral efficiency and bandwidth to mobile network operators compared to previous 2G systems like GPRS and CSD.^[2] UMTS on its provides a peak theoretical data rate of 2 Mbit/s.^[3]

Developed and maintained by the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), UMTS is a component of the International Telecommunication Union IMT-2000 standard set and compares with the CDMA2000 standard set for networks based on the competing cdmaOne technology. The technology described in UMTS is sometimes also referred to as Freedom of Mobile Multimedia Access (FOMA)^[4] or 3GSM.

UMTS base station on the roof of a building

UMTS specifies a complete network system, which includes the radio access network (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network, or UTRAN), the core network (Mobile Application Part, or MAP) and the authentication of users via SIM (subscriber identity module) cards. Unlike EDGE (IMT Single-Carrier, based on GSM) and CDMA2000 (IMT Multi-Carrier), UMTS requires new base stations and new frequency allocations. UMTS has since been enhanced as High Speed Packet Access (HSPA).^[5]

^ "Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Forum (UMTS Forum)". UIA Global Civil Society Database. uia.org. Brussels, Belgium: Union of International Associations. Yearbook of International Organizations Online. 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
^ "UMTS/IMT". Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur). 2014-01-20. Archived from the original on 2025-03-03. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
^ Rysavy, Peter (November 19, 2002). "Data Capabilities for GSM Evolution to UMTS" (PDF).
^ "Draft summary minutes, decisions and actions from 3GPP Organizational Partners Meeting#6, Tokyo, 9 October 2001" (PDF). 3GPP. p. 7.
^ Tipper, David. "3G: HSPA, cdma 2000" (PDF).

[UIA-1] "Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Forum (UMTS Forum)". UIA Global Civil Society Database. uia.org. Brussels, Belgium: Union of International Associations. Yearbook of International Organizations Online. 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2025.

[2] "UMTS/IMT". Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur). 2014-01-20. Archived from the original on 2025-03-03. Retrieved 2025-02-26.

[3] Rysavy, Peter (November 19, 2002). "Data Capabilities for GSM Evolution to UMTS" (PDF).

[othernames-4] "Draft summary minutes, decisions and actions from 3GPP Organizational Partners Meeting#6, Tokyo, 9 October 2001" (PDF). 3GPP. p. 7.

[5] Tipper, David. "3G: HSPA, cdma 2000" (PDF).

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