Polarization-division multiple access (PDMA) is a

channel access method In telecommunications and computer networks, a channel access method or multiple access method allows more than two terminals connected to the same transmission medium to transmit over it and to share its capacity. Examples of shared physical m ...

used in some cellular networks and broadcast satellite services. Separate antennas are used in this type, each with different polarization and followed by separate receivers, allowing simultaneous regional access of

satellite A satellite or artificial satellite is an object intentionally placed into orbit in outer space. Except for passive satellites, most satellites have an electricity generation system for equipment on board, such as solar panels or radioi ...

s. Each corresponding ground station antenna needs to be polarized in the same way as its counterpart in the satellite. This is generally accomplished by providing each participating ground station with an antenna that has dual polarization. The

frequency band A frequency band is an interval in the frequency domain, delimited by a lower frequency and an upper frequency. The term may refer to a radio band or an interval of some other spectrum. The frequency range of a system is the range over which i ...

allocated to each antenna beam can be identical because the uplink signals are orthogonal in polarization. This technique allows frequency reuse.

See also