SAN DIEGO, Nov. 19, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The CDMA Development Group (CDG) today announced that subscribers to the CDMA family of technologies are at 475 million worldwide, continuing a growth trend toward half a billion subscribers fueled by rapid growth in both developed and emerging markets. The CDMA2000(r) subscriber base added 13 million users during the third quarter of 2008 to exceed 463 million, while CDMA2000 1xEV-DO grew by 5 million net subscribers to more than 105 million users. The announcement was made at the 2008 3G CDMA North America Regional Conference being held in San Diego this week.
CDMA2000 subscriptions grew at pace of 15.7 percent between September 2007 and September 2008. Asia Pacific accounts for almost 53 percent of the global CDMA market, adding more than 47.2 million new CDMA2000 subscribers during the same period. North America (including the U.S. and Canada) saw an addition of 16 million new CDMA2000 users over the year and, with over 145 million subscribers, CDMA now accounts for more than 52 percent of the wireless market in the region. Europe, the Middle East and Africa continues to be the most rapidly-growing region for CDMA, adding more than 14 million CDMA2000 subscribers in the past year representing a 125 percent growth rate. This is a strong testimonial to the value of CDMA2000 and its growth in emerging markets underserved by wireline voice and data services.
"CDMA continues to grow at a consistent and healthy pace around the world, particularly in emerging markets that are seeing the value proposition that CDMA2000 services provide," said Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDG. "Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia are seeing impressive demand for EV-DO, as economies of scale enable the delivery of more affordable mobile broadband services. We expect to see similar uptake in China and India as operators begin offering EV-DO Rev. A services in early 2009."
CDMA operators worldwide added over 22 million EV-DO users from September 2007 to September 2008, representing a 27 percent annual increase. With more than 105 million subscribers, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO is the leading mobile broadband technology worldwide, with 124 operators in 62 countries offering high-speed CDMA services. 48 of these operators have deployed CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rev. A networks to offer advanced mobile broadband services, and another 35 operators are in the process of deploying the industry-leading solution to receive the substantial revenue being generated by most current Rev. A operators. Europe, the Middle East and Africa saw an increase of almost 3 million EV-DO subscribers, a dramatic rise from less than 1 million subscribers a year ago. North American operators continued impressive gains with more than 15 million subscribers at a 36 percent growth rate, while Asia Pacific users increased by 12 percent.
More information on CDMA is available at www.cdg.org.
About CDMA2000
CDMA2000 is the most widely deployed 3G technology, with 277 operators in 102 countries and territories serving more than 463 million subscribers. Counting 2G cdmaOne(tm) subscribers, there are 475 million CDMA users worldwide. CDMA2000 has become the technology of choice for developed and emerging market operators, and is deployable in the 450, 700, 800, 1700, 1900, AWS and 2100 MHz bands. More than 2,050 CDMA2000 devices from over 110 suppliers have been introduced to the market, including more than 526 Rel. 0 and 95 Rev. A devices on 105 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rel. 0 and 48 Rev. A systems. 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 140 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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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.