US : W-CDMA and CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 3G technologies are on target to reach 167 million users by the end of this year, climbing to pass the one billion mark in 2010 according to new research from the Wireless Network Strategies service at Strategy Analytics. In this report, "Worldwide Cellular User Forecasts 2006-2011," Strategy Analytics also predicts that 3G users will account for more than half of all cellular service revenues by 2010, despite the fact that 3G users only account for just one-third of a 3 billion user wireless market.

Phil Kendall, Director, Global Wireless Practice, notes, "Having passed the 100 million subscriber mark in early June 2006, the 3G market will now enjoy a period of sustained growth. Verizon Wireless is driving a real surge in 3G demand in the US, while China and India will start 3G services next year. With Indonesian 3G services already live, and more of the world's major population centers, such as Brazil, Pakistan and Russia, coming online later in the decade, by 2009, we will see more than one quarter of a billion subscribers being added to 3G networks each year."

David Kerr, VP Global Wireless Practice, adds, "3G still has its detractors, but it is starting to make a significant contribution to the wireless market place. Even in emerging markets it will generate more than one quarter of service revenues by the end of this decade, providing an important source of ARPU uplift as more and more marginal users enter the market."

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This Weeks 3G News