ABSTRACT
Following the widespread acceptance of 2G systems, the demands for voice service grew to the point where the existing systems could not meet the demand. This provided an incentive to develop systems that could support more voice channels. Developments began on new 3G systems that would offer higher capacity for voice but could also offer a new range of data services. However, it became clear that the new systems would not be ready in time to meet the exponentially growing market demand. A different solution was therefore needed. The required solution had to be simple to develop and it would be adequate, as an interim measure, to offer a marginal improvement over the existing 2G systems.
