Strategy Analytics: Global 3G Subscribers to Pass 100 Million Mark in June

According to Strategy Analytics, "more than 100 million people around the globe are now using WCDMA and CDMA2000 1x EV-DO 3G technology on their mobile phone. 3G-user momentum is ramping up with a strong operator push complementing a rich portfolio of handsets."

The firm found that "the number of 3G subscribers is growing fast - faster than the growth of GSM subscribers in the early 1990s" and predicted "reaching 106 million 3G users by the end of Q2, with the total number of 3G users worldwide hitting the magic 100 million mark for this populist technology in early June 2006."

Sara Harris at Strategy Analytics said, "Reaching the 100 million subscriber mark is a significant milestone for 3G, proving that it is finally beginning to come into its own. Much of this success is due to the strong pushes by influential carriers like NTT DoCoMo, Hutchison 3G and SK Telecom, and more recently Vodafone and Verizon Wireless, who have worked hard to drive 3G uptake among their subscribers."

David Kerr at Strategy Analytics added, "Western Europe has overtaken Japan as 3G leader over the first half of 2006. However, the US market is set to grow rapidly in 2007, when Cingular rolls-out its HSDPA coverage in an attempt to catch up to the first mover advantages enjoyed by Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel, companies which have benefited from Qualcomm leadership in EV-DO."