COSTA MESA, Calif., Nov. 9, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- The CDMA Development Group (CDG) (www.cdg.org) announced today that the number of CDMA2000(r) subscribers surpassed 200 million worldwide in September, only 18 months since the industry celebrated the 100-million milestone in June 2004. The 1xEV-DO subscriber base expanded to 18 million users. CDMA2000 continues to strengthen its lead over WCDMA in regards to number of 3G and broadband subscribers; WCDMA base reached 35 million and the broadband solution equivalent to 1xEV-DO will not be commercial until 2006. CDMA2000 is also driving the overall growth of CDMA technologies, which reached 286 million users, a 26% increase over the past 12 months. Close to 70% of CDMA subscribers use 3G technologies today.
"CDMA2000 is the most successful wireless technology in the history of wireless services in regards to growth and impact on the market," said Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDG. "Looking at the first five years of deployment, you can see it is expanding faster than any other technology, including GSM and WCDMA, and it has a broader reach, serving both developed and developing regions. CDMA2000 is by far the most successful 3G technology, leading the industry in transition to data and now broadband wireless services. This is a tremendous achievement for the industry."
CDMA2000 controls 85% of the 3G market and adds 15 million new users per quarter -- three times as many as WCDMA. CDMA2000 is available in 61 countries across six continents. More than 21 million (greater than 10%) of CDMA2000 subscribers reside outside Asia and North America, and this number is growing rapidly, especially in Latin America. CDMA2000 has had a significant impact in markets where it is deployed. In Asia, with 92 million users, CDMA2000 commands 12% market share; in North America, CDMA2000 has 77 million subscribers, or 35% of the market share, and in Latin America, with 15 million users, the technology has captured 7% market share.
CDMA2000 also leads in commercialization of broadband 3G technologies. CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, which delivers the fastest data rates of any wireless technology deployed today, added 2.2 million subscribers in the past three months and 8 million in the past year. This is the biggest quarterly growth to date, and is the result of the broader deployments worldwide and accelerating demand for advanced wireless services.
The combined number of cdmaOne and CDMA2000 subscribers increased by 15.5 million in 3Q 2005 to reach 285.7 million. This represents 60 million new adds for the year and a 26% annual growth rate. With 125 million users, Asia Pacific remains the largest region for the CDMA technologies, and that base is expanding at 30% per year. In North America, CDMA has 102.6 million subscribers and now accounts for 48% of the wireless market. Caribbean and Latin America continues to be the fastest-growing region for CDMA with 53.4 million users and a 37% annual growth rate, and controls 25% of the total market.
By the end of 2005, the CDMA subscriber base will exceed 300 million users and CDMA2000 will reach 220 million, including 20 million 1xEV-DO users. CDMA and CDMA2000 statistics are available on the CDG's Web site at www.cdg.org.
CDMA2000 leaders will discuss their commercial successes and future network and service evolution at the 3G World Congress, taking place in Hong Kong, November 14 through 18. For more information on the Congress, please visit, www.3gcongress.com.
About CDMA
CDMA2000 is the most widely deployed 3G technology, with 131 CDMA2000 operators, with 124 1X and 24 1xEV-DO commercial networks in 61 countries; additionally, 29 1X and 30 1xEV-DO networks are in deployment. 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. 900 CDMA2000 devices are available on the market, including 150 for 1xEV-DO. For more information on CDMA2000, visit www.cdg.org.
About the CDG
The CDMA Development Group is a trade association formed to foster the worldwide development, implementation and use of CDMA technologies. The more than 100 member companies of the CDG include many of the world's largest wireless carriers 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 the CDG News Bureau at +1-714-540-1030 or visit the CDG Web site at www.cdg.org.