GSA January 2009 Market Update Shows 3G Evolution Steps Confirmed by Multiple Operators for HSPA+, LTE and EDGE Evolution

New GSA Surveys Confirm Expanding Rollouts of WCDMA-HSPA, GSM/EDGE

The latest issue of the GSA GSM/3G Market Update is now available for download with the latest facts on the progress of mobile broadband network deployments globally, devices availability, global and regional mobile subscriptions, and commitments to future evolution including HSPA+, EDGE Evolution, and LTE.

This GSM/3G Market Update references results from several new surveys by GSA. Highlights include:

WCDMA increased its share of commercial 3G networks to over 70%
254 operators have launched WCDMA in 110 countries
Over 93% of commercial WCDMA networks have launched HSPA
237 operators have commercially launched HSPA in 105 countries
Over 70% of HSDPA networks support 3.6 Mbps (peak) or higher
Over 34 % of HSDPA networks support 7.2 Mbps (peak) or higher
66 commercial HSUPA systems commercially launched in 47 countries
1,095 HSPA devices launched by 148 suppliers. This is broadly equivalent to one new device announcement every day since the first HSPA mobile broadband system was launched on October 18, 2005.
The number of HSUPA-capable devices more than quadrupled in just over a year and has reached 153 announced products
Opportunities are opening for UMTS (WCDMA-HSPA) deployments in the 900 MHz band (UMTS900)
Seven operators have launched UMTS900 services
74 UMTS-HSPA 900/2100 MHz user devices launched
Over 1.75 billion GSM, GPRS, EDGE, WCDMA and HSPA subscribers in commercial HSPA-enabled networks
New GSA survey confirms 413 EDGE network launches in 177 countries (January 2007 = 196 launched in 105 countries)
Over 80% of GPRS operators committed to EDGE
Over 62% of commercial HSPA networks also launched EDGE for service continuity and the best user experience

The mobile industry is consolidating around the LTE system with several leading operators committing to LTE deployment. LTE is a natural evolution for GSM/WCDMA-HSPA operators. The LTE path is also supported by the leading CDMA operators

The first HSPA Evolved (HSPA+) systems will shortly enter commercial service, delivering 21 Mbps peak on the downlink

The first step in EDGE Evolution (Dual Carrier) brings the promise of doubling today’s EDGE speeds to 592 kbps on existing EDGE-capable networks

For more information download the GSM/3G Market Update at www.gsacom.com/gsm_3g/market_update.php4#GSM_3G_Market_Update

Several updated charts, and some new, are now available at www.gsacom.com/news/statistics.php4

KEY FACTS SUMMARY

NETWORKS (Latest GSA surveys – WCDMA, HSPA, EDGE)

254 WCDMA networks launched in 110 countries = 70.7% share of global commercial 3G networks
267 HSDPA network commitments in 114 countries, including 237 commercial launches in 105 countries
Over 93% of commercial WCDMA networks have launched HSDPA
167 HSDPA networks i.e. over 70% have launched 3.6 Mbps (peak) or higher.
81 HSDPA networks i.e. over 34% have launched 7.2 Mbps (peak) or higher
66 HSUPA networks have launched in 47 countries; with a further 12 HSUPA network commitments
7 UMTS900 (WCDMA-HSPA) networks are commercially launched – in Australia, Finland, Estonia, Iceland, New Zealand and Thailand.
Over 62% of WCDMA-HSPA networks combine with EDGE for service continuity and the best user experience
441 GSM/EDGE network commitments in 184 countries
413 EDGE networks commercially launched in 177 countries
Over 80% of GPRS operators committed to EDGE
There are over 1.75 billion GSM, GPRS, EDGE, WCDMA and HSPA subscribers in commercial HSPA-enabled networks

DEVICES (GSA survey December 9, 2008)

1,700+ WCDMA user devices launched
1,095 HSDPA devices launched by 148 suppliers, including 467 mobile phones and UMPCs, and 218 notebooks
671 HSDPA devices support 3.6 Mbps (excluding notebooks)
337 HSDPA devices support 7.2 Mbps (excluding notebooks)
189 HSPA devices incorporate GPS/navigation capabilities
246 HSPA devices i.e. over 28%, incorporate 802.11 WiFi (excluding notebooks)
153 HSUPA devices (compared to 33 in October 2007)
816 devices (over 93%) operate in 2100 MHz band
393 devices (over 44%) operate in 850 MHz band
281 tri-band 850/1900/2100 MHz for global roaming
74 devices operate in 900 MHz band (compared to 9 six months previously)
Over 2,000 GSM/EDGE devices launched
Over 83% of HSPA devices also support GSM/EDGE

SUBSCRIPTIONS (Q3 2008 – source Informa Telecoms and Media)

Over 3.38 billion GSM, WCDMA-HSPA subscriptions worldwide
GSM, WCDMA, HSPA has 88.5% market share of mobile communications subscriptions worldwide, and continues to grow
The BRIC countries – Brazil, Russia, India, and China together account for over 1.1 Billion GSM subscriptions
Over 262 million WCDMA subs including HSPA worldwide; 102.6 million or over 64% annual growth
WCDMA – including HSPA, has over 70% market share of global 3G subscriptions
Over 65 million HSPA subscriptions (Q2 2008)

For more information download the GSM/3G Market Update at www.gsacom.com/gsm_3g/market_update.php4#GSM_3G_Market_Update

Maps and charts, updates at www.gsacom.com/news/statistics.php4

ABOUT GSA

GSA represents leading GSM/3G/WCDMA-HSPA/LTE suppliers worldwide, covering close to 100% of mobile market share. The member companies are Aeroflex, AnyDATA Inc, Broadcom, Business Logic Systems, Comsys Communication & Signal Processing, EDO-EVI, Ericsson, Hewlett Packard, LSI Logic Corporation, Motorola, Nokia Siemens Networks, ST-NXP Wireless, Panasonic, Qualcomm Inc., Talking Eye, and Telcordia.

GSA delivers authoritative facts, market intelligence, objective analysis and information. Over 56,700 professionals from 198 countries used www.gsacom.com in 2008. Interaction and enhanced information-sharing with fixed and mobile operators is facilitated by seminars and relationship events, including the GSA Mobile Broadband Forum, and via the Operators Zone for immediate global reach. GSA advises governments, regulators and policy-makers on optimum conditions for market development. Briefings are given to media and analysts.

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