COSTA MESA, Calif., Aug. 21, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- The CDMA Development Group (CDG) (www.cdg.org) announced today the successful conclusion of the 2003 CDMA Latin America Regional Conference, where, for the second year, industry leaders gathered to discuss the rapid expansion and commercial successes of CDMA2000(r) in Latin America. Over 300 delegates from 14 countries in the region, North America and Asia, attended this year's event.
At the two-day conference, leading mobile carriers, major infrastructure and handset manufacturers and platform providers shared their experiences in deploying CDMA2000, and offered insights on how to monetize investments of 3G through voice and advanced data services. The discussion focused on handset and application availability, demand for data services, capacity improvements, market opportunities and successful marketing strategies, and the migration to CDMA2000 and beyond.
"CDMA2000 dominates the mobile data market in Latin America," said Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDG. "Operators are already generating positive returns on their CDMA2000 networks. Vivo, the largest cellular telephone group in South America, reported that their CDMA2000 1X subscriber base has grown by 53% to 525,000 users, 85% of which are high-revenue generating corporate customers, and data revenue increased by 131% in 2Q 2003 compared to 2Q 2002. In Colombia, the migration of TDMA to CDMA2000 has been a tremendous success, and as a result, CDMA2000 is gaining market share rapidly in that country."
CDMA2000 is the only 3G technology available in Latin America and the Caribbean today and it is expanding rapidly; there are 22 commercial CDMA2000 networks and four more will be operational by the end of 2003. Six TDMA operators in the region have already launched commercial CDMA2000 networks.
The number of subscribers migrating to CDMA2000 is growing exponentially in Latin America; the base increased by 300% in the first half of 2003. CDMA2000 1X data subscribers outnumbered GPRS customers four-to-one in the region at the end of 1Q 2003, according to EMC World Cellular Database.
"A number of key factors contribute to the success of CDMA2000 in Latin America including availability of handsets and infrastructure in the 800 MHz band and smooth migration path. Leading handset manufacturers have introduced well over 200 different CDMA2000 models for 800 MHz, a frequency band required by most operators in Latin America," said Celedonio von Wuthenau, CDG's regional director for Latin America. "CDMA2000 also allows an operator to preserve AMPS coverage and ANSI-41 network elements, unlike competing technologies."
"CDMA2000 will continue to expand throughout Latin America and provide revenue generating opportunities through advanced voice and data services," continued LaForge. "With 63 networks around the world and over 50 million subscribers, CDMA2000 providers have a wealth of experience in third generation services. We see a great opportunity for CDMA2000 in Latin America, and we are committed to providing support to carriers in the region for their migration to 3G."
Across Latin America and the Caribbean, there are 36 cdmaOne and 3G CDMA2000 carriers in 19 countries, delivering service to over 28 million subscribers. These countries include Argentina, Bermuda, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, U.S. Virgin Islands and Venezuela.
"CDMA2000 has a strong base in Latin America and the Caribbean on which to grow in the future," continued von Wuthenau. "CDMA2000 operators have a significant time-to-market lead over 2G operators, and are very well positioned to capitalize on the emerging opportunities in Latin America."
The CDMA Development Group is a trade association formed to foster the worldwide development, implementation and use of CDMA technologies. The 110 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 CDMA 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 CDMA-related matters. For more information about the CDG, contact Valerie Christopherson of the CDG News Bureau at +1-714-540-1030, ext. 14, e-mail vchristopherson@bockpr.com, or visit the CDG Web site at www.cdg.org.
Note to editors: cdmaOne is a trademark of the CDG. CDMA2000 is a registered trademark of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA-USA).