spread spectrum 
A wireless communications technology that scatters data transmissions across the available frequency band in a pseudorandom pattern. Spreading the data across the frequency spectrum greatly increases the bandwidth (amount of data that can be transmitted at one time), and it also makes the signal resistant to noise, interference, and snooping. Spread-spectrum modulation schemes are commonly used with personal communications devices such as digital cellular phones, as well as with WLANs and cable modems. See FHSS, DSSS, and CDMA for examples of spread-spectrum techniques.