GSM-Vs-CDMA
GSM-Vs-CDMA

Do CDMA Phones Work in the Philippines?

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CDMA or Code division multiple access is a channel access method used by various communication companies. It has significant data transfer rate and is very efficient in handling frequency resources not like GSM, which go “network busy” when data traffic is high. CDMA networks are also believed to be more secure than GSM. Philippines’ communication technology is one of the world’s most advanced and sophisticated for being one of the few countries who first launch 3G technology and WiMax networks and one of the firsts to implement mobile commerce and mobile payment systems. However, the country doesn’t seem to be open with CDMA technology.

Now, you are traveling to the Philippines and you would like to know if your CDMA phone will work here. The answers is, that depends. Yes, that will depend on your CDMA Network carrier.

Verizon wireless is the only foreign CDMA provider who has existing contract with a Philippine-based provider, Bayan Telecommunications. So if your carrier is Verizon, you can probably avail a roaming service. Sprint Nextel’s CDMA phone can also be used in the Philippines as shown on their website roaming inquiry page. You can inquire your CDMA network provider directly to check and verify if you can use your phone here.

However, if you have a CDMA phone and wanted to use it permanently in the Philippines, then consult BayanTel. BayanTel is the only Philippine company that offers CDMA with CDMA1900 base band. I am not sure if their CDMA signal is available nationwide.

I just hope that  Vodafone Philippines (if they’ll surely penetrate the Philippine mobile market) will offer CDMA network soon.
 

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