FLORIANOPOLIS, Brazil, Oct. 2, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The CDMA Development Group (CDG) (www.cdg.org) announced today that the number of 2G cdmaOne(r) and 3G CDMA2000(r) subscribers has expanded its market share in Latin America and the Caribbean to 70.4 million users, or 26 percent of the technology market share in the region. CDMA2000, which currently serves 46.4 million of the total CDMA subscriber base, is the only 3G technology that is commercially available in the region. It offers subscribers in Latin America uninterrupted telephony, multimedia, and wireless broadband data services at an affordable price. Operators offering CDMA2000 services in the region are enjoying the performance of a competitive technology and a 2 to 3 years time-to-market leadership advantage.
Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDG, commented, "The CDMA industry is committed to enabling consumers and enterprises in the urban and rural areas of Latin America and the Caribbean to have access to the full benefits of 3G technology at the lowest possible cost." He added, "People across the region with limited purchasing power are reaping the lifestyle and economic benefits associated with universal access. And those with more purchasing power have access to the latest in advanced multimedia and broadband data services through a variety of feature-rich and low-cost wireless devices."
In Latin America and the Caribbean, CDMA2000 holds a strong position in key markets, with 35 operators in 21 countries. There are more than 32 CDMA2000 1X and 16 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO commercial networks in the region. The presence of CDMA2000 will continue to expand with the deployment of another 17 new commercial networks and the trial of another 10 networks.
Consumers, enterprises and small businesses are demanding that operators offer affordable and good quality voice services, as well as 3G services to improve their lifestyle and productivity. CDMA2000 is the technology of choice among operators to economically deliver multimedia and mobile broadband data services. Consumers and employees in Latin America and Caribbean are already enjoying advanced mobile applications such as high-speed web browsing, receiving mobile email with large attachments, recording personal videos, watching live TV and playing 3D games.
By the end of Q1 2007, 3G CDMA2000 services will be offered in the Caribbean by at least 18 operators on 12 islands with a combination of CDMA2000 1X and 1xEV-DO services. Currently in the Caribbean, close to four million CDMA2000 subscribers are paying for 3G voice, multimedia and broadband services on a monthly basis. This figure does not include the businessmen and women, plus vacationers that pay to roam onto these networks throughout the year.
CDMA continues to meet its promise to deliver advanced wireless services affordably to Latin Americans within all topologies and population densities. One way in which CDMA is expanding in the region is through the delivery of advanced wireless services using the 450 frequency band, known as CDMA450. CDMA450 is a 3G technology that offers information technology and public services at competitive prices for sparsely populated rural areas where providing coverage with the fewest number of base stations is paramount. The expanded coverage and economic advantages of CDMA450 are derived from the spectral efficiency of CDMA2000 and the propagation characteristics afforded by the lower 450 MHz frequency band.
CDMA operator and subscriber statistics are available at www.cdg.org.
About CDMA2000
CDMA2000 is the most widely deployed 3G technology, with 169 operators in 75 countries, including 49 CDMA2000 1x-EV-DO systems, serving more than 275 million subscribers. Counting 2G cdmaOne(tm) subscribers, there are more than 330 million CDMA users worldwide. CDMA2000 has become the technology of choice for cdmaOne, TDMA, analog and greenfield operators, and is deployed in the 450, 800, 1700, 1900 and 2100 MHz bands. Nearly 1,260 CDMA2000 devices from more than 80 suppliers have been introduced to the market, including more than 280 1xEV-DO devices. More information on CDMA2000 is available on the CDG Web site at www.cdg.org.
About CDG
The CDMA Development Group is a trade association formed to foster the worldwide development, implementation and use of CDMA2000 technologies. The more than 130 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 CDMA2000 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 CDMA2000-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.
Note to editors
cdmaOne and WorldMode is a registered trademark of the CDMA2000 Development Group. CDMA2000 is a registered trademark of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA-USA). All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.