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CDMA vs GSM – What Is The Difference?
Once you read those abbreviations you start thinking a lot of things that may be true. But we are sure there are many details that you do not know yet about CDMA technology and GSM technology.
This classic technological battle between CDMA and GSM is largely over. All major US and global carriers have shut down their older 2G and 3G networks, which these technologies powered. This article explains the historical difference, but for any modern smartphone (4G LTE or 5G), the distinction is no longer a practical concern for consumers.
Now let’s start talking about the main details of these two technologies.
CDMA vs GSM Explained
What is CDMA?
CDMA (Code-division Multiple Access) is a digital radio system that supports a mobile phone network. The system was developed by the Allied from World War II. CDMA gives users total access to the network spectrum. This allows more users to connect to the network at the same time. It securely encrypts the individual conversation of each user through a random digital sequence. Therefore, the voice call data is kept protected in a way that just those who participate in the call can receive the data.
In the past, mobile phones with CDMA network capability did not use SIM cards. Each device is designed specifically to work for a specific network provider only. It means that the cell phones are linked to an operator and its network. Now, it changed because network provider operating on CDMA started to use SIM cards for their LTE coverage. If you decide to change the provider you can either buy a new mobile phone or ask to get your phone unlocked at your current provider.
CDMA networks, primarily operated by Verizon and Sprint in the US, were officially shut down in 2022. Modern devices no longer connect to these legacy networks.
What is GSM?
GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) is a time-division technology that breaks the transmission signal into separate time slots for each device (CDMA is code-division meaning that the users are separated by a specific digital code.). GSM was first created in Europe by the Telecommunications Standards Institute during the early ’80s. This European Institute formed a group called Groupe Speciale Mobile (also abbreviated as GSM) to create a digital mobile communication system. The main purpose was to develop a better network for the whole European continent with a more effective technical solution for wireless communication.
With the first introduction of the SIM cards in the ’90s, GSM phones have been characterized by having a SIM card that allows users to switch their phone number and personal information to any other unlocked GSM phone. As we already explained before, this is not possible with CDMA phones.
Cell phones that support three bands are usually called tri-band phones, while other ones are commonly known as quad-band phones or world phones because you can make international trips and use the same smartphone.
While GSM’s evolution (UMTS/HSPA) was more persistent, these 3G networks have also been largely shut down worldwide (including in the US by AT&T and T-Mobile) to free up spectrum for 4G and 5G.
The Evolution of Mobile Communication Technologies
What is 4G?
4G is the fourth generation of broadband cellular network technology and it evolved from 3G, which is the technology that was present in almost all mobile phones until now. Although 4G and LTE are not exactly the same, LTE is commonly marketed as 4G LTE. One of the main aspects of 4G is that you can reach a speed that is almost 10 times faster than 3G.
All the telecommunication companies currently count with a 4G connection even though its different coverage packages. With 4G, your mobile phone or any other device can browse the internet at a speed close to optical fiber. 4G has a lot of advantages and you will realize why users and telecommunication companies call it LTE.
Advantages of 4G
• While 3G connection can only reach 10Mb/s, with 4G users can browse on the internet at a 100Mb/s speed. So watching a video, downloading apps or just browsing on a website is faster. Some research says that 4G might reach up to 1 GB/s speed connection.
• It works better in real time. The delay in the connection is at least 70% minor than the 3G. You will never notice pauses in voice calls or in online games.
• Just a few users know that 4G will drop the network congestion so the data will move faster (from the client to the server and back) making our connection more stable. In this way, a lot of users can be connected at the same time in the same zone.
Disadvantages of 4G
• Despite that 4G has an excellent speed connection; it does not exceed the optical fiber. However, it is still the best way to browse on the internet using your mobile phone.
• No matter how fast 4G mobile internet is, it still has a data limit in most cases. Users can consume contents faster but not a greater amount.
What is LTE?
LTE (Long-Term Evolution) is a standard for wireless broadband communication for cell phones,data terminals and other devices , based on the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA technologies. 4G encompasses several types of connections, between them LTE. There is one conventional technology known as LTE Advanced, and it reaches up to 3GB/s. Unfortunately, there are just a few mobile phones that are compatible. You can find them in Russia or South Korea. Germany was one of the first countries that had LTE technology.
German telecommunications companies do not sell it as 4G, it is simply called LTE. Beyond this name, just having a mobile phone that can reach a high-speed connection almost comparable with an optical fiber is the best way of using the mobile internet nowadays. The only thing that you have to make sure is to have a compatible cell phone and live in a city with good coverage. It is important to mention that iPhones newer than the 5 and almost all Androids newer than the Samsung Galaxy S5 will be compatible with all major carriers’ 4G LTE bands.
What is 5G?
5G, the fifth generation of mobile network technology, is no longer a future concept—it is the established standard across the globe. While initial rollouts began around 2020, 5G deployment has since expanded dramatically, offering widespread coverage in urban and suburban areas and increasingly reaching rural communities.
This generation of mobile broadband has not only surpassed 4G in speed and capacity but was also the key catalyst for the retirement of older 3G networks, which were fully shut down between 2022 and 2024.
The impact of 5G extends far beyond faster download speeds on smartphones. It is the foundational technology enabling the next wave of digital innovation.
Understanding Modern Network Compatibility
The old distinction between CDMA and GSM is obsolete. Today, network compatibility is solely about whether your phone supports the specific 4G LTE and 5G frequency bands used by your carrier.
• SIM Cards Are Universal: All modern networks, including former CDMA carriers like Verizon, now use SIM cards (physical and eSIM), making switching phones easy for everyone.
• The only thing that matters now is: “Does my phone support the right LTE and 5G bands for my carrier?”
All major carriers have online tools that automatically check your phone’s IMEI/MEID number to confirm compatibility with their network.
How it works: Find your IMEI number in your phone’s settings (e.g., Settings > About Phone > IMEI). Enter it into the compatibility checker on your desired carrier’s website.
This is the most reliable method because it checks for all necessary technical requirements, not just band support.
