Korean CDMA2000 1x System Sweeping Across U.S.
By Lee, Eun-yong
Wednesday, May 30, 2001
A Korean 2.5-generation mobile
phone (cdma2000 1x) system is
pounding the very market where
synchronous mobile communication
originated - the U.S. As Samsung
Electronics and LG Electronics have
established themselves in the cdma
1x system market in the U.S.,
currently undergoing a generation
change (from second to third) in
mobile communications, the outlook for the export of 1x terminals is looking
rosier.
LG Electronics (chaired by Gu Ja-hong, lge.com) announced on May
29, that it has cut a supply deal with a U.S. high-speed wireless Internet service
operator, Monet Mobile Networks, to supply 50 million dollars worth of
cdma2000 1x technology over the next 3 years. This marks the largest export
volume of domestic cdma2000 1x systems in a single contract.
Initially, the two sides are to set up the system in the central region, such as the
Dakotas, by the second half of this year, prior to the launch of local commercial
services scheduled for December this year. The domestic business is drawing
attention as it plans to introduce an upgraded cdma2000 1x model, EV
(Evolution)-DO (Data Only) in the local market by the first half of next year.
Earlier, Samsung Electronics (chaired by Yun Jong-yong, sec.co.kr)
secured a 22 million dollar export contract with the largest U.S. PCS (personal
communication service) operator, Sprint PCS. The local company plans to
launch an early form of its third mobile communication (IMT2000) commercial
service from this coming October, using the cdma2000 1x system.
As the domestic next-generation mobile communication systems continue to
penetrate the North American market, expectations are also rising regarding the
export of 2.5-generation terminals. LG Electronics is already planning to ship
the first of a total of 200,000 to 300,000 cdma2000 1x terminals, to the U.S.
Varizone Wireless, in August or September this year. Samsung Electronics also
expects to provide Sprint PCS with 1x terminals within the year.
"We plan to steadily secure data service business licenses in the U.S. so as to
become a nationwide service operator. This will lay the groundwork for system
exports in the future" said Park Jeong-geon, vice CEO of LG Electronics. "Our
goal is to provide the equipment to all of the synchronous mobile
communication service operators in the U.S. market," he added.
etienglish.com |
