A dedicated channel in a UMTS cellular network provides a reserved path for a specific user's traffic and upper-layer control signaling. It operates in both the uplink and downlink directions. Because it reserves network resources exclusively for one connection, it guarantees bandwidth but reduces overall cell capacity compared to shared channels.
The trace shows the handset dropping the call immediately after the radio network controller attempts to allocate the DCH.
Also heard as
- dedicated channel
Related terms
UMTS
A third-generation cellular standard based on wideband code division multiple access.
DPCH
Dedicated Physical Channel is the combined radio link carrying both user data and control signaling for a specific mobile user.
DPCCH
Dedicated Physical Control Channel carries signaling and control information between a mobile device and a UMTS base station.