COSTA MESA, Calif., May 7, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The CDMA Development Group (CDG) (www.cdg.org) today congratulated the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) on announcing the plan to release spectrum through an open auction to enable the provision of CDMA2000(r) services in Hong Kong beginning November 2008. The auction is expected to be held in Q4 2007 when the OFTA will grant one license to a CDMA2000 operator in the standard 850 MHz band for voice and advanced broadband data services.
"We are very pleased with OFTA's decision," said Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDG. "CDMA2000 leads the world in the availability and use of 3G mobile data services. Introducing CDMA2000 services in the 850 MHz band will enhance Hong Kong's status as a mobile services hub in Asia and will align the region with the spectrum allocation planning for CDMA2000 systems deployed in mainland China, throughout Asia and other parts of the world."
Currently, CDMA voice services and roaming are available in Hong Kong. However, this spectrum allocation will enable the provision of CDMA2000 1xEV-DO advanced broadband data services and international data roaming. Hong Kong will join nearby Macau, which has already launched CDMA2000 1X services and will soon introduce 1xEV-DO Rev A broadband data services, and mainland China, which is expected to award 3G licenses within the next 12 months.
Asia Pacific is the largest region for CDMA2000 with 63 commercial CDMA2000 1X and 13 1xEV-DO networks and nearly 150 million users, and CDMA2000 is expanding rapidly in the region, growing at 34 percent annually, fueled by the rapid subscriber growth in China and India.
More information on CDMA subscriber statistics and CDMA2000 deployment is available on the CDG website at http://www.cdg.org/technology/cdma_technology/cdma_stats.asp and www.cdg.org.
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.
The CDG logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2911
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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.