RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, April 19, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- At the 2005 CDMA Latin America Regional Conference taking place in Rio de Janeiro this week, the CDMA Development Group (CDG) (www.cdg.org) reported that CDMA2000(R) operators continue to be leaders in bringing advanced voice and data services in Latin America and the Caribbean. With advantages in network capacity and high-speed data capabilities, they are growing their subscriber base rapidly and introducing a broad range of data services at a lower cost than their competitors. Their success is contributing to the rapid growth of CDMA in the region; the CDMA base is expanding more than 30% per year and the subscriber base will surpass TDMA soon.
"CDMA2000 is the most advanced wireless technology available in Latin America and the Caribbean today and has become the platform for innovation in the region," said Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDG. "Throughout the continent, CDMA2000 has enhanced the lives of millions and provided new market and revenue opportunities for operators. CDMA2000 will continue to dominate the 3G landscape in the Latin American region for the near future."
There are 31 CDMA2000 operators in 18 countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, and many of them are migrating to 1xEV-DO, the most advanced wireless data technology worldwide. There are already 6 commercial 1xEV-DO networks in South America, Central America and the Caribbean, and 6 more are in deployment. CDMA2000 operators are rapidly building their data services portfolio, which today includes broadband and broadcast services, advanced MMS, audio streaming and multiplayer games.
VIVO, the largest operator in Latin America and 10th largest operator worldwide, has used CDMA2000 high-speed data to differentiate its services and expand its market share in high revenue-generating market segments such as enterprise. VIVO offers a broad range of data applications including Messenger Instant Messaging service, Photo Torpedo MMS services, Downloads, chat services, VIVO Wap browsing services and VIVO Zap broadband Internet access. Last year, the operator launched location-based services (LBS), virtual and multiplayer games, Push to Talk over cellular, Synchronized Agenda, video monitoring and introduced TV streaming services, the first in Brazil. The demand for these services is growing exponentially and, as a result, data revenues continue to grow and contribute a larger portion of the total revenue. The operator has deployed CDMA2000 1xEV-DO in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and will expand coverage to other major cities by the end of the year.
Telefonica Moviles Peru launched CDMA2000 1X in November 2003 and CDMA2000 1xEV-DO one year later, in October 2004. With the deployment of CDMA2000, the operator has strengthened its leadership in innovation and further expanded its market share. Today, Telefonica Moviles Peru offers a broad range of advanced data services, including ring-tones, music and video downloads, film trailers and soccer games. These services represent 30% of total data traffic for the operator. Telefonica Moviles services the highest-profile corporate clients in Peru.
Centennial was the first wireless operator to deploy a CDMA2000 1X network in the Dominican Republic. The time-to-market advantage in offering advanced voice and data services has allowed this Caribbean operator to gain share in both the consumer and enterprise markets. Supported by successful marketing strategies, CDMA2000 1X contributed to a 400% increase in monthly sales and 100% growth of the customer base in just 16 months of service. Being the first to offer nationwide 3G wireless Internet access also gave the operator competitive advantage in the corporate market. Centennial Dominicana will be launching value-added data services, like MMS and content downloads, in the near future and will deploy CDMA2000 1xEV-DO in the second half of this year.
LaForge concluded, "CDMA2000 is an ideal platform to meet the needs of the Latin American market today and in the future. It delivers high-quality voice, advanced data services, and offers an opportunity to bring telecommunication services, including broadband access to the Internet, to areas that previously had none."
About CDMA2000
CDMA2000 is by far the most widely deployed 3G technology, serving more than 160 million users worldwide. There are 119 CDMA2000 operators, including 18 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO systems, and 22 more are being deployed. CDMA2000 has become the technology of choice for cdmaOne(TM), TDMA, analog and Greenfield operators, and is deployed in the 450, 800, 1700, 1900 and 2100 MHz bands. More than 850 CDMA2000 devices are available on the market worldwide.
About CDG
The CDMA Development Group is a nonprofit trade association formed to foster the worldwide development, implementation and use of CDMA technologies. The 100-plus member companies of the CDG include many of the world's largest wireless operators and equipment manufacturers. The primary activities of the CDG include development of CDMA features and services, public relations, education and seminars, regulatory affairs and international support. Currently, there are more than 500 individuals working within various CDG subcommittees on CDMA-related matters. For more information about the CDG, contact Valerie Christopherson of the CDG News Bureau at +1-714-540-1030, ext. 14, e-mail vchristopherson@bockpr.com, or visit the CDG Web site at www.cdg.org.
Note: cdmaOne is a trademark of the CDG. CDMA2000 is a registered trademark of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA-USA).