COSTA MESA, Calif., Nov. 6, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The CDMA Development Group (CDG) (www.cdg.org) today announced that CDMA2000(r) has quickly become the technology of choice as African operators pair unparalleled customer growth potential with CDMA's crystal clear voice communications, broadband performance and ease of deployment. Currently, there are 33 CDMA2000 operators in commercial operation in Africa's most populace countries, representing a subscriber base of around 5.4 million people. Another 18 operators are expected to launch CDMA2000 services within the next six months. The CDMA subscriber base is expected to grow substantially within the next five years within its addressable market of over 600 million people.
According to the ITU's World Telecommunications Indicators, only ten in every 100 people have access to a telephone and two in every 100 people in Africa have access to the Internet. CDMA2000 is satisfying the growing demand from both market segments, especially as it supports broadband data services via fixed wireless terminals, PC cards and modems. The technology, which is accessible in large coverage areas, has become vital to supporting communications for nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), international agencies, and government institutions. In addition, consumer-driven operators such as Movicel Telecomunicacoes in Angola, Starcomms in Nigeria, and Kasapa Telecom in Ghana are witnessing massive uptake of CDMA2000 services.
"The CDG is pleased to witness CDMA2000's rapid expansion across Africa," said Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDG. "The technology's voice clarity and broadband power makes it ideal for emerging economies that want to set up durable wireless communications infrastructure in a short period of time. Deploying CDMA in the lower 450 MHz and 800 MHz frequency bands is significantly less expensive and more secure than deploying fixed telecommunications infrastructure. We expect this growth to continue in Africa and beyond."
As a case in point, Starcomms in Nigeria and Terracom in Rwanda have demonstrated that their markets are ready for more than just low-cost voice and short messaging services (SMS). Their clients are demanding affordable broadband access to the Internet. They met this pent-up demand for broadband access by supplementing their voice-centric networks with EV-DO technology. The resulting deployments have served as showcases for the full power and flexibility that CDMA offers as a 3G technology in Africa. As a result, another 8 operators on the continent are now planning to maximize their network potential within the next year by offering affordable broadband data services using EV-DO technology.
Following is a list of the CDMA operators in Africa that have commercially deployed or are planning to deploy CDMA2000 services within the next six months:
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Country Operator Network
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Algeria Algerie Telecom 1X (Commercial)
EV-DO (To Launch)
Algeria Consortium Algerian de 1X (Commercial)
Telecommunications (Lacom) EV-DO (To Launch)
Angola Movicel Telecomunicacoes Lda 1X (Commercial)
EV-DO (To Launch)
Angola Mundo Startel 1X (To Launch)
Benin Bell Benin Communications 1X (To Launch)
(BBCOM)
Botswana Botswana Telcommunications 1X (To Launch)
Corp. (BTC)
Cameroon CAMTEL (CTPhone) 1X (Commercial)
EV-DO (Planned)
Cote d'lvoire Arobase Telecom S. A. 1X (Commercial)
Dem. Rep. of Tatem 1X (To Launch)
the Congo
Djibouti Djibouti Telecom 1X (To Launch)
Egypt Telecom Egypt 1X (Commercial)
Ethiopia Ethiopian Telecommunications 1X (Commercial)
Corp. (ETC)
Ghana Kasapa Telecom Ltd. 1X (Commercial)
Kenya E.M. Communications Ltd. 1X (Commercial)
(Popote Wireless)
Kenya Flashcom Ltd. 1X (Commercial)
Kenya Telkom Kenya Ltd. 1X (Commercial)
Madagascar Telecom Malagasy S.A. (Telma) 1X (Commercial)
Mali Sotelma 1X (Commercial)
Mauritania Mauritel 1X (Commercial)
Morocco Maroc Connect 1X (To Launch)
Mozambique Telecomunicacoes de Mozambique 1X (To Launch)
Namibia Telecom Namibia 1X (To Launch)
Niger Sonitel 1X (Commercial)
Nigeria Bourdex Telecom 1X (Commercial)
EV-DO (Planned)
Nigeria Cell Communications Ltd. 1X (Commercial)
Nigeria Independent Telephone 1X (Commercial)
Network Ltd.
Nigeria Intercellular Nigeria Ltd. 1X (Commercial)
Nigeria Ministry of Communications 1X (To Launch)
Nigeria MTS First Wireless 1X (Commercial)
Nigeria Multi-Links 1X (Commercial)
Telecommunications Ltd.
Nigeria Nigerian Telecommunications 1X (Commercial)
Ltd. (Nitel)
Nigeria Oud'a Tel 1X (To Launch)
Nigeria Prestel 1X (To Launch)
Nigeria Rainbownet Ltd. 1X (Commercial)
Nigeria Reliance Telecommunications 1X (Commercial)
Ltd. (Reltel)
Nigeria Starcomms Ltd. 1X (Commercial)
EV-DO (Commerical)
Rwanda Terracom 1X (Commercial)
EV-DO (Commerical)
Sierra Leone Datatel 1X (To Launch)
South Africa Neotel 1X (Planned)
EV-DO (Planned)
Sudan Canar Telecommunications 1X (Commercial)
Co. Ltd. (Canar)
Sudan Mobitel Sudan 1X (Commercial)
Sudan Sudatel (Sudani) 1X (Commercial)
Tanzania Benson Online 1X (To Launch)
Tanzania MyCell 1X (To Launch)
Tanzania Tanzania Telecommunications 1X (Commercial)
Company Ltd. (TTCL) EV-DO (To Launch)
Tanzania Zanzibar Telecom Ltd. (ZANTEL) 1X (To Launch)
Togo Togo Telecom 1X (To Launch)
Tunisia Telecom Tunisia 1X (Commercial)
Uganda MTN Uganda 1X (Commercial)
Uganda Uganda Telecom Ltd. 1X (Commercial)
EV-DO (Planned)
Zambia Telecommunications Ltd. 1X (Planned)
(ZAMTEL)
More information on CDMA2000 is available on the CDG Web site at www.cdg.org.
About CDMA
CDMA2000 is the most widely deployed 3G technology, with 177 operators in 76 countries, including 51 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO systems, serving more than 275 million subscribers. Counting 2G cdmaOne subscribers, there are more than 335 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 1,460 CDMA2000 devices from more than 85 suppliers have been introduced to the market, including more than 350 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.
The CDG logo is available at http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2911
Note to editors
cdmaOne is a registered trademark of the CDMA Development Group. CDMA2000 is a registered trademark of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA-USA). All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.