COSTA MESA, Calif., May 8, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The CDMA Development Group (CDG) today congratulates the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) for allocating spectrum in the 800 MHz frequency band to Neotel and Thinta Thinta. Neotel will become the first CDMA fixed wireless operator to offer affordable 3G telephony and broadband data services to South Africa's more than 47 million citizens nationwide. Thinta Thinta, the first CDMA service provider to be awarded an Underserved Area License (USAL), will provide similar advanced 3G services within the Kwa Zulu-Natal Province. With these spectrum allocations, Neotel and Thinta Thinta will join the 207 CDMA2000(r) operators currently offering cost-effective 3G CDMA services to more than 325 million subscribers worldwide. Today, there are 34 CDMA operators in 22 African countries who are providing affordable telephony and high-speed Internet access to millions of people who live within the densely populated urban areas and remote, underserved and sparsely populated rural areas of the region.
"The allocation of the 800 MHz band will have a significant, positive impact on South Africa's telecommunications business, and the entire African continent," said Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDG. "The use of CDMA2000 in the 800 MHz spectrum will drive vast improvements in the performance, economics and quality of service of delivering wireless telephone and broadband data services. CDMA2000 has become the global standard for fixed, WLL and limited mobility services, with more than 140 of these networks in operation worldwide. It has proven to be the most economical 3G solution for providing high-quality voice and data services. We applaud ICASA, Neotel and Thinta Thinta for their roles in enabling the expansion of South Africa's telecommunications industry and economy."
CDMA2000 is a world-class technology that is ideal for developing countries, such as South Africa, because of its mature ecosystem, spectral efficiency, network deployment flexibility, total cost of ownership and economies of scale. CDMA2000 economically enables a complete suite of revenue generating telecommunication services that allows operators to generate profits in markets with low purchasing power. Some of the advantages of CDMA2000 for developing markets include:
* Superior voice quality: CDMA2000 1X provides the best voice clarity, voice capacity and call quality performance of any other wireless technology. This enables operators to serve more users with better quality of service using less network resources, thus significantly reducing the total cost of deploying and maintaining the network. CDMA2000's superior call quality ensures fewer dropped/disconnected calls, less static or interference, fewer failed connections on the first try, and reduced voice distortion or echo. * High-speed broadband connectivity: CDMA2000 1X and 1xEV-DO provide for secure high-speed Internet access and broadband data services, enabling operators to economically offer a broad range of revenue-generating broadband data and low-latency applications to consumers, government, education, small business and enterprise users, especially in hard to reach remote areas. EV-DO Rev. A enables average data throughputs of 600-1400 kbps in the forward link and 350-500 kbps in the reverse link across large coverage areas, offering significantly higher speeds and a better user experience than most other emerging market broadband technologies. * IP-based Services: With EV-DO Rev. A, emerging market operators can leapfrog other technologies in the migration to next-generation all-IP voice and broadband data services, such as VoIP, real-time multimedia, and broadband Internet access that is comparable to or better than DSL and cable. These advanced capabilities make Rev. A ideal for accessing the Internet and enabling delay-sensitive and bandwidth-intensive applications such as sending email with large attachments, rich multimedia messaging, webcam streaming video, push-to-talk, television, radio, info casting, distance learning and telemedicine. * Affordable devices: There is a large selection of affordable devices ranging from sub-US$35 handsets to PC notebooks with EV-DO broadband connectivity. CDMA2000's maturity and substantial global economies of scale enable the delivery of affordable devices.
"CDMA is the technology of choice for operators the world over," said Ajay Pandey, managing director of Neotel. "We are very pleased to receive the 800 MHz assignment and look forward to introducing a variety of telephony and broadband data services to the citizens of South Africa by mid-year. For the first time, they will be able to experience the value of crystal clear voice communications and true broadband access services."
"We look forward to using CDMA2000 technology in the 800 MHz frequency band to satisfy the pent up demand for telephone and broadband Internet access in the underserved rural areas of the Kwa Zulu-Natal Province," commented Sbonelo Mvuyana, chief operating officer of Thinta Thinta. "The favorable economics of the technology and its mature ecosystem enables us to create a healthy business case that will bridge the digital divide and strengthen the economy of the region."
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
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).