A Practical Perspective on Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) Systems

Abstract

Early Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) deployments have been a valuable learning experience for the cellular carriers that established them. The purpose of this paper, is to discuss the practical aspects of CDPD systems, based on such experience. Guidelines for the planning, deployment and management of cellular data networks are presented. This paper is intended for cellular service providers but may also benefit application developers who wish to understand the issues faced by carriers with respect to wireless data. The specific topics covered in this paper include deployment strategies, frequency planning and customer engineering. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of a well-developed strategy, coupled with the adaptability to meet the changing needs of an evolving customer base.