Originated from the early 3rd generation wireless research activities in Europe and Japan, WCDMA is an open wireless access technology, which provides internet access services and various multimedia operations such as music, TV and video entertainment. For service providers, WCDMA means increased network capacity, enhanced efficiency and more sales revenues, which is the natural evolvement of GSM operation.
Commercial WCDMA network development
WCDMA is the major incentive to the commercialized 3G services. Elaborately, in 2005, more than forty commercial WCDMA networks were released worldwide; accounting for about 80% or more of all 2005 released 3G networks. By December 2005, there had been 100 WCDMA networks released in 42 countries all over the world, which illustrates over two-thirds of WCDMA license holders have already released their own 3G business operations. Furthermore, it also reflects the maturity of this technology and the rapid development of the global market.
Commercial 3G Network Development worldwide (By the end of 2005)
WCDMA subscribers base evolution
By the end of 2005, nearly 50 telecom manufacturers worldwide had been involved into commercial applications of WCDMA, developing more than 40 million WCDMA subscribers. The figure has increased by 140% since the end of 2004. On average, there are 2.1 million new subscribers each month.
WCDMA Subscribers base evolution Worldwide in Nov, 2004-Oct, 2005 (Unit: Million)
Only from the end of June 2005 to the end of September, the number of subscribers increased by 15%. At present, the growth rate of 3G/UMTS (WCDMA) subscribers still maintains a remarkably rapid speed and the operational performance is evidently better than the early stage of 2G/GSM network.
WCDMA Subscribers Growth Worldwide in 2001-2005 (Unit: 10,000 households)
Analysis of WCDMA network development
Compared with CDMA 2000, WCDMA is gaining momentum gradually. The reasons are as follows:
1. Of the 137 released licenses for 3G frequency bands by the end of 2005, there are 128 WCDMA permits and 3 CDMA permits while the remaining CDMA operators opened CDMA2000 1X and CDMA2000 1X EV-DO businesses based on previous CDMA frequency bands.
2.CDMA2000 EV-DO subscribers totaled 20 million while WCDMA subscribers exceeded 40 million. The latter have increased by 140% since the end of 2004, far higher than EV-DO growth.
3. The tough period of WCDMA development in Europe has gone away, which accelerates the commercial applications of WCDMA. Among the 268 3G commercial networks, there are 100 WCDMA networks, 29 CDMA2000 1X EV-DO and 139 cdma2000 1X. In 2005, commercial WCDMA networks were far over EV-DO.
4. In virtue of widespread GSM subscribers and China's joining-in, WCDMA will be developing significantly.
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