The CDMA Development Group (CDG) (www.cdg.org) is pleased to announce that China Unicom received one of the first 3G spectrum licenses in China, in the region of Macau.
China Unicom is expected to deploy CDMA2000 1xEV-DO technology in this densely populated region, further confirming CDMA2000's rapid expansion across China. The 3G license was issued on October 24, by the Bureau of Telecommunications Regulation of Macau.
'The CDG is pleased that China Unicom plans to expand its CDMA2000 service into Macau,' said Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDG. 'This is another example of how a world-class operator can take advantage of CDMA2000's performance, flexibility, handset selection, and two-to-three year lead over competing technologies.'
China represents one of the fastest growth markets for CDMA2000. By September 2006, the total number of CDMA2000 1X subscribers reached 36.1 million. The monthly net addition of CDMA users for that month was 340,000, and 670,000 new handsets were sold.
The average revenue per user (ARPU) generated from China Unicom's CDMA2000 network is approximately 68 RMB (US$8.60), which is 30% higher than the ARPU they generate from GSM.
Once CDMA2000 1xEV-DO broadband data services become available, China Unicom's subscriber growth is expected to increase substantially.
'We are pleased to have been awarded a 3G license to operate CDMA2000 1xEV-DO in Macau,' remarked Dr. Zhengmao Li, Director of the Board and Vice President, China Unicom.
'We look forward to serving our valued customers in this region with the latest CDMA2000 technology and advanced mobile broadband services.'