CDMA450 expansion raises demand for broader 3G device selection

COSTA MESA, USA: The CDMA Development Group (CDG) announced that increased demand for CDMA2000 3G telephony and mobile broadband services in the 450 MHz frequency band, also known as CDMA450, is placing an increased focus on new multi-mode and multi-band devices to further support both rural and urban communications as well as international roaming.

CDMA450 continues to expand rapidly around the world to meet the need for affordable telecommunication services in remote and rural markets, with 105 operators offering 3G services to more than 20 million people worldwide.

As a result, the addressable market for CDMA450 is increasing and the global solution is spanning the entire spectrum of 3G devices and services, including voice-centric applications, broadband Internet access, multimedia applications, location-based services and inter-standard roaming services.

To date, over 110 CDMA450 devices have been introduced to the market, including 87 CDMA2000 1X devices, 29 1xEV-DO (Rel. 0 or Rev. A) mobile broadband-enabled devices and 2 WorldMode devices.

The next wave includes CDMA450 EV-DO Rev. A fixed wireless terminals, data cards, modems and handsets; low-cost voice-centric CDMA2000 1X handsets; dual and tri-band capabilities for roaming onto networks using other frequencies such as 800, 1900 and 1900/2100 MHz; and multi-mode capabilities for inter-standard roaming onto GSM/GPRS, EDGE, WCDMA and HSPA networks.

"We see new opportunities throughout the world where CDMA450 can fulfill the need for affordable 3G telephony and mobile broadband services," said Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDG.

"Our focus now is to help bring a broader selection of devices with multi-mode and multi-band capabilities to market, allowing operators to leverage the propagation capabilities of CDMA450 in their rural and urban markets, while also enabling them to offer inter-standard and international roaming services."

CDMA450 is expanding its footprint around the world in underserved growth markets as well as in those with high mobile telephony and Internet penetration rates.

With its commercial launch this month, Mobilink will make Chile the seventh country in South America to offer CDMA450 services, while ANATEL in Brazil is currently seeking to allocate 450 MHz spectrum as part of its "digital inclusion" initiative for both urban and rural areas.

In Russia, Sky Link operates the largest 3G network in the federation, delivering 82 percent of all 3G traffic and growing its subscriber base by 130 percent year-on-year. 21 operators in 17 European countries are offering CDMA450 primarily to deliver 3G mobile broadband services using EV-DO Rev. A, which is the intent of the recent Serbian 450 MHz license-purchasers Telekom Srbija and Media Works.

CDMA450 networks are operating in another 23 countries across Africa and the Middle East and in 20 Asian countries, many of which have gone commercial over the past two years and are trialing EV-DO Rev. A.