Ron, MarginMike *News CDMA growth*
Guys, here's what is moving the stock. And Ron, you might want to do a little calculating of 12 month forward P/E. Suggest you work up your own EPS estimate.
Future of Wireless on Fast Track as cdmaOne Subscribers Near 30
Million Worldwide
Fastest Growing Wireless Technology Increases More than 300 Percent in One Year
COSTA MESA, Calif., May 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The CDMA Development Group (CDG) today announced
that worldwide cdmaOne(TM) subscribers reached almost 30 million, totaling 28.5 million at the end of
March 1999, a one-year increase of 309 percent. Rapid growth of the technology is occurring in every
world region as operators have added more than 19 million subscribers since March 1998. Within the last
year, cdmaOne subscriber numbers in North America alone grew by 440 percent, increasing 6.8 million.
After only four years in the wireless market, cdmaOne technology's global adoption and seamless
evolution path have contributed significantly to the rapid increase of the technology's subscriber base. In
particular, cdmaOne technology's ubiquitous coverage and cross-border roaming capabilities have driven
the technology's North American subscriber base, now reaching 8.8 million. To date, cdmaOne
deployments are underway in more than 35 countries around the world, with 27 countries already in
commercial service, sustaining the technology's position as the fastest growing wireless standard to
market.
"We are not surprised by the rapid expansion of cdmaOne in every region of the world. As the most
advanced digital technology in commercial service today, it offers consumers advantages that other
technologies can't match," said Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDMA Development Group.
"Japan's recent introduction of 64 kbps data is just one example of the superior services operators are
offering consumers with cdmaOne. With 3G capabilities already standardized and set for market
introduction next year, cdmaOne operators will be able to maintain the competitive edge the technology
brings them. cdmaOne is poised to become the wireless pipeline to the Internet."
In the first quarter of 1999, 5.5 million new subscribers around the world began experiencing the benefits
of cdmaOne technology. The North America region, comprised of Canada and the United States, now has
8.8 million subscribers, which is a quarterly increase of 124 percent with 2 million net additions. The Asia
Pacific, which was the first region to commercially deploy cdmaOne, showed a net increase of 3.1 million
for the quarter, elevating the region's total subscribers to 18 million.
The Caribbean and Latin America regions, including Puerto Rico and Mexico, have seen growth skyrocket
1245 percent in the past year to more than 1.5 million subscribers. Europe, the Middle East and Africa,
the most recent world region to offer commercial cdmaOne service, have all followed the technology's
trend of accelerated growth with the past three months seeing an increase of 194 percent.
"This tremendous growth represents the net subscriber additions of more than 50 operators around the
world offering commercial cdmaOne cellular, PCS and wireless local loop service," LaForge concluded. "In
the past few months, new operators have launched service in Japan, India, Argentina, Russia,
Bangladesh, Mexico, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic. Continued introduction in new cities in the
United States and Canada, the near-term Australia launch and China's plans for commercial expansion of
cdmaOne ensure that the unprecedented growth will continue unabated. We expect to reach the 50
million mark by the end of this year."
The CDMA Development Group (CDG) is a nonprofit trade association formed to foster the worldwide
development, implementation and use of cdmaOne. The 100 member companies of the CDG include
many of the world's largest wireless operators and equipment manufacturers. The primary activities of the
CDG include development of cdmaOne 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 cdmaOne-related matters. For more information about the CDG, contact
Christine Bock of the CDG News Bureau at +1 714-540-1030, ext. 11, e-mail chrisbock@bockpr.com or
visit the CDG Web site at cdg.org.
*cdmaOne is a trademark
SOURCE CDMA Development Group |
