UMTS stands for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. It is the 3G successor to the GSM standard, utilizing W-CDMA technology to offer higher spectral efficiency and bandwidth to mobile operators. This architecture introduced the ability to handle simultaneous voice and data streams over the cellular network.
We're sunsetting the UMTS towers next quarter to free up spectrum for the new 5G rollout.
Related terms
3G
The third generation of mobile telecommunications technology, known for introducing mobile broadband to cellular networks.
GSM
Global System for Mobile communications is a standard for digital cellular networks.
CDMA
A channel access method where multiple transmitters send information simultaneously over a single communication channel.
3GPP
A global consortium that develops protocols for mobile telecommunications.