FDMA
Pronunciation: ef-dee-em-AY
Also written as: FDMA — Frequency Division Multiple Access
A channel access method in which multiple ground stations share satellite transponder capacity by transmitting on different, non-overlapping frequencies simultaneously.
Full Definition
Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) is the simplest and historically earliest multiple-access technique used in satellite communications. Each earth station is assigned a unique uplink carrier frequency (or frequency slot) within the transponder bandwidth, and stations transmit continuously or as needed on their assigned frequency. The satellite transponder amplifies all carriers simultaneously, making FDMA susceptible to intermodulation distortion when the transponder is operated near saturation. In satellite operations documents, editors should verify that FDMA is accurately distinguished from TDMA and CDMA, and that the correct hyphenated form is used for compound modifiers (e.g., 'FDMA-based network').
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from FDM (Frequency Division Multiplexing), which describes point-to-point signal combining rather than multi-station access. Use 'FDMA-based' (hyphenated) in attributive compounds.
In Context
- "The legacy C-band telephony network relied on FDMA, with each voice circuit occupying a dedicated 45 kHz carrier." — Network migration plan
- "When multiple FDMA carriers share a transponder, back-off from saturation is essential to limit intermodulation products." — RF engineering handbook