MARRAKESH, Morocco, May 2, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Today, at the Middle East and North Africa 3G CDMA Conference, the CDMA Development Group (CDG) congratulated WANA on the launch and overwhelming success of 3G CDMA2000(r) services in Morocco. Within three months of deploying CDMA2000 1X on February 9, WANA has introduced a broad range of 3G devices and services and has signed-up more than 400,000 subscribers. On March 19, the operator deployed CDMA2000 1xEV-DO to offer high-speed broadband access to the Internet and other advanced fixed and limited mobility data services to its customers.
"The CDG applauds WANA's successful deployment of CDMA2000 in Morocco, offering its citizens telephone and broadband Internet access services that they want and can afford," said Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDG. "This is another testimonial of the benefits CDMA2000 brings to users and service providers in North Africa and the Middle East. On all six continents, CDMA2000 has proven to be the 3G technology of choice for expanding the reach of telecommunication services to all."
"Our decision to deploy 3G CDMA services reflects our desire to deliver the best performing and most cost-effective services to our subscribers," said Karim Zaz, chief executive officer, WANA. "We are excited to see the tremendous success we are having and we intend to continue expanding our network and product portfolio to offer the latest in 3G services to all of the people of Morocco."
WANA is delivering its state-of-the-art 3G telephone and broadband access service to the citizens and businesses of Morocco under the brand name "Bayn," meaning "clear" in Arabic. The service provider offers both a personal telephone that can be used outside of the house within the city's perimeter, and a family telephone to be used within the home. Both devices offer high-speed Internet access that is comparable to the performance of DSL.
CDMA2000 is leading in migration from 2G to 3G, serving up to 70 percent of all 3G subscribers worldwide. It is rapidly expanding throughout the Middle East and North Africa region, with 20 operators in 12 countries which have or are deploying CDMA2000 systems; 11 of them have deployed or are planning to deploy CDMA2000 1xEV-DO broadband technologies. As of 2006, there were more than 5 million CDMA subscribers in the region and this number is expected to more than quadruple within the next four years.
About CDMA2000
CDMA2000 is the most widely deployed 3G technology, with 207 operators in 90 countries, including 57 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO systems, serving more than 325 million subscribers. Counting 2G cdmaOne(tm) subscribers, there are more than 375 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. Around 1,650 CDMA2000 devices from more than 90 suppliers have been introduced to the market, including more than 450 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.
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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).