Frequency-division multiple access

Frequency division multiple access or FDMA is a channel access method used in multiple-access protocols as a channelization protocol. FDMA gives users an individual allocation of one or several frequency bands, or channels. It is particularly commonplace in satellite communication. FDMA, like other multiple access systems, coordinates access between multiple users. Alternatives include TDMA, CDMA, or SDMA. These protocols are utilized differently, at different levels of the theoretical OSI model.

Disadvantage: Crosstalk may cause interference among frequencies and disrupt the transmission.


  • In FDMA, all users share the satellite transponder or frequency channel simultaneously but each user transmits at single frequency.
  • FDMA can be used with both analog and digital signal.
  • FDMA requires high-performing filters in the radio hardware, in contrast to TDMA and CDMA.
  • FDMA is not vulnerable to the timing problems that TDMA has. Since a predetermined frequency band is available for the entire period of communication, stream data (a continuous flow of data that may not be packetized) can easily be used with FDMA.
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