3G CDMA Deployment On Fast Track With Successful Voice Communications Trials; 1X Will be First IMT 3G Standard to Make Commercial Debut.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

COSTA MESA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 13, 2000

Bell Mobility, Nortel Networks, QUALCOMM, Samsung, and Sprint PCS 

Demonstrate Capabilities of 3G CDMA 1X Technology

Following the successful completion of a series of the first third generation (3G) voice calls in North America, the CDMA Development Group (CDG) today announced that CDMA is evolving on the fast track with expectations of 1X commercial deployment in Korea late this year. 1X brings the first phase of 3G services to market and lays the foundation for a broad array of high-speed wireless information services.

Marking a historical milestone for CDMA technology, last week CDG member companies Bell Mobility, Nortel Networks, QUALCOMM, Samsung and Sprint PCS successfully completed a series of 3G wireless calls using CDMA 1X technology.

"3G is no longer a vision but rather a reality with CDMA 1X," said Perry LaForge, executive director for the CDG. "Over the next several months, the industry can expect to hear even more about the commercial rollout of 3G services using CDMA 1X. Existing CDMA operators will be the first to deploy 3G services around the world."

In two separate demonstrations last week, the first 3G voice calls were made using CDMA 1X. In Canada, Nortel Networks teamed with Bell Mobility and Samsung and completed a series of 3G wireless calls including wireless packet data sessions. Sprint PCS, Samsung and QUALCOMM also collaborated and successfully made voice calls in the United States. In addition to global trial activity, CDMA 1X will be the first IMT 3G standard to make a commercial debut as SK Telecom in Korea announced plans to introduce 3G services this year.

As the enabler for 3G services and global roaming, CDMA has made significant inroads with the technology's presence increasing at more than 118 percent in the last year. CDMA 1X provides operators the flexibility to introduce advanced data services to meet emerging market demands. The standard provides 144 kbps packet data in a mobile environment and significantly higher speeds in a fixed environment. Other features available with 1X are a two-fold increase in both voice capacity and standby time, advanced packet data services and greatly extended battery life.

While CDMA 1X is evolved from cdmaOne, under the family of systems umbrella emerging from the IMT-2000 work of the ITU, 1X provides a viable growth path for all operators, regardless of their 2G technology platform. The supported features are important elements in delivering advanced wireless Internet access and data services to the increasingly sophisticated wireless market.

The CDMA Development Group is a non-profit trade association formed to foster the worldwide development, implementation and use of CDMA. 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(TM) and IMT-2000 CDMA features and services, public relations, education and seminars, regulatory affairs and international support.

Currently, there are more than 500 individuals working within CDG subcommittees on second and third generation CDMA matters. For more information about the CDG, contact Christine Bock of the CDG News Bureau at 714/540-1030, ext. 11, e-mail [e-mail], or visit the CDG Web site at http://www.cdg.org.

-- cdmaOne is a trademark of the CDG

-- Editor's Note: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)