COSTA MESA, Calif., Nov. 20, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The CDMA Development Group (CDG) (www.cdg.org) today announced that up to 39 GSM operators have deployed or are currently deploying CDMA2000(r) to deliver low-cost voice and generate revenue from value-added data services, marking a continued trend from 2G to 3G services.
"The CDG is pleased to witness the rapid migration from 2G to 3G services," said Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDG. "CDMA2000's voice clarity and broadband connectivity makes it ideal for emerging economies that want to increase their gross domestic production (GDP) per capita. Also, in today's competitive market, 2G GSM operators are looking towards 3G CDMA2000 to provide service differentiation and improve their average revenue per user (ARPU). We expect this trend to continue."
GSM operators are deploying CDMA2000 because of its ability to more competitively satisfy the diverse wireless communication needs of consumers, small businesses, and large enterprises in any market worldwide. CDMA2000 offers a broad range of applications, such as affordable telephony, broadband Internet access, multimedia messaging, entertainment, information, mobile commerce, and position location services. Deploying an IP-based CDMA2000 network in the 450 MHz and 800 MHz frequency bands is significantly less expensive than deploying other wireless technologies in the higher frequency bands.
Following is a list of GSM operators that have commercially deployed or are planning to deploy CDMA2000 services within the next six months:
Country Operator Network
1 Algeria Algerie Telecom 1X (Commercial)
EV-DO (To Launch)
2 Algeria Consortium Algerian de 1X (Commercial)
Telecommunications (Lacom) EV-DO (To Launch)
3 Aruba Setar 1X (To Launch)
4 Aruba Digicel 1X (To Launch)
5 Bahamas Bahamas Telecommunications 1X (To Launch)
Company Ltd.
6 Barbados Digicel 1X (To Launch)
7 Benin Bell Benin Communications 1X (To Launch)
(BBCOM)
8 Bermuda Digicel 1X (To Launch)
9 British Virgin CCT Global Communications 1X (To Launch)
Islands
10 Cambodia Cambodia Shinawatra 1X (Commercial)
Co. Ltd.
11 Cayman Islands Digicel 1X (To Launch)
12 China China Unicom 1X (Commercial)
13 Czech Republic Telefonica O2 Czech 1X (Commercial)
Republic (Eurotel Praha) EV-DO (Commercial)
14 Djibouti Djibouti Telecom 1X (To Launch)
15 Ethiopia Ethiopian 1X (Commercial)
Telecommunications Corp.
(ETC)
16 India Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. 1X (Commercial)
(BSNL)
17 India Mahangar Telephone Nigam 1X (Commercial)
Ltd. (MTNL)
18 India Reliance Communications(a) 1X (Commercial)
19 Indonesia PT Indosat (StarOne) 1X (Commercial)
20 Indonesia PT Telkom Indonesia 1X (Commercial)
(Telkom Flexi)
21 Jamaica Digicel 1X (To Launch)
22 Laos Lao Telecommunications 1X (Commercial)
23 Madagascar Telecom Malagasy S.A. 1X (Commercial)
(Telma)
24 Mali Soltema 1X (Commercial)
25 Mauritania Mauritel 1X (Commercial)
26 Nepal Nepal Telecom 1X (Commercial)
27 Pakistan PTCL 1X (Commercial)
28 Philippines Innove Communications 1X (To Launch)
(Globe subsidiary)
29 Saudi Arabia Saudi Telecom Company 1X (To Launch)
30 Sierra Leone Datatel 1X (To Launch)
31 Sudan Mobitel Sudan 1X (Commercial)
32 Tanzania Zanzibar Telecom Ltd. 1X (To Launch)
(ZANTEL)
33 Togo Togo Telecom 1X (To Launch)
34 Trinidad & Tobago TSTT 1X (Commercial)
35 Tunisia Telecom Tunisia 1X (Commercial)
36 Uganda MTN Uganda 1X (Commercial)
37 Uganda Uganda Telecom Ltd. 1X (Commercial)
EV-DO (Planned)
38 Ukraine Ukraine Mobile EV-DO (To Launch)
Communications (UMC)
39 Zambia Zambia Telecommunications 1X (Planned)
Ltd. (ZAMTEL)
(a) Reliance will continue to operate both GSM and CDMA2000 networks.
In addition to several fixed line telecommunications companies who have decided to deploy CDMA2000, several holding companies that have previously invested in GSM are investing in CDMA2000, including the Arfeen Group, Hutchison Whampoa Ltd., Mobile TeleSystems (MTS), MTN Group, Orascom Telelcom Holdings, and Sistema.
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 180 operators in 76 countries, including 52 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO systems, serving more than 275 million subscribers. Counting 2G cdmaOne(tm) 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, 1790, 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.