Demand Assigned Multiple Access
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Demand Assigned Multiple Access (DAMA) is a technology used to assign a bandwidth to clients which don't need to use it constantly. DAMA systems quickly and transparently assign communication links or circuits based on requests issued from user terminals to a network control system. When the circuit is no longer in use, the channels are immediately returned to the central pool, for reuse by others. It allows utilizing of one channel (frequency band, timeslot, etc.) by many users at different times. This technology is mainly used by small clients, as opposed to PAMA (Permanently Assigned Multiple Access). By using DAMA technology the amount of users that can use a limited pool of circuits can be greatly increased.
DAMA and PAMA are related only to bandwidth assignment and are not to be mixed with the Multiple access methods intended to divide a bandwidth between several users at one time, which include FDMA, TDMA, CDMA and others.
DAMA is widely used in satellite communications, especially in VSAT systems.
