According to In-Stat Strong Growth in Wireless Subscriber Base Resumes.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Worldwide, wireless subscriber growth is experiencing robust expansion after several years of slower growth due to the economic downturn of the last few years, reports In-Stat (http://www.in-stat.com). By 2009, the high-tech market research firm forecasts the worldwide wireless market will grow to more than 2.3 billion subscribers. There will be no relief from the ongoing battles for airlink supremacy over the next several years.

"GSM's steady growth through 2007 will turn negative as operators move subscribers to third-generation (3G) WCDMA," said David Chamberlain, In-Stat senior analyst. "While the second-generation GSM system (including GPRS & EDGE) will remain the dominant airlink throughout the forecast period, CDMA airlink standards (CDMA & WCDMA) will soon encroach on GSM's numbers. By 2009, WCDMA networks will be providing service for over 40% of the world's CDMA users." However, those inroads are much less dramatic, Chamberlain pointed out, when classifying WCDMA as an evolution of the GSM system.

A recent report by In-Stat found the following:

--The total number of new subscribers in 2004-2009 is expected to be 777.7 million worldwide.

--While China continues to lead the world in overall subscriber growth, the percentage growth leaders continue to be found in other parts of Asia, particularly the southern Asia region that includes India. Nearly two-thirds of all new wireless users will be Asia.

--European subscriber growth will continue to slow, and will stall in Scandinavia and western Europe.

--Japan's rapid transition to 3G accounts for a great deal of the WCDMA growth in the short term.

The report, "Worldwide Mobile Subscriber Forecasts - 3G Makes an Appearance" (#IN0501705GW), provides a second-quarter update for worldwide mobile subscriber forecasts, with separate sections for countries in alphabetical order and grouped by geographic regions. The report also includes an updated look at GSM, WCDMA (UMTS), CDMA, PDC, TDMA and analog airlinks on a regional basis, including rapid subscriber conversions in Japan.

For more information on this report, please visit: http://www.instat.com/catalog/wcatalogue.asp?id=29 or contact Erin McKeighan at 480-609-4551; [e-mail]. The report price is $1,995.

About In-Stat

In-Stat (www.in-stat.com) is the leading provider of actionable research, assessments and market forecasts of semiconductors and advanced communications equipment and services. Our forecasts, analysis, and insights are derived from both a deep technology understanding and a unique research methodology, which examines each segment of the value chain for each market. Technology vendors, service providers, technology professionals and market specialists, worldwide, rely on In-Stat's tenured, experienced staff and in-depth research to support critical technology, product and success decisions.

In-Stat is a strategic segment of the $8 billion Reed Elsevier global information network, with access to an expansive worldwide electronic network, extensive technology databases and well-informed personnel. In-Stat analysts gain exceptional insight into geographic marketplaces and specific technologies within markets such as electronics, cable and wireless. As a member of Reed Business Information, In-Stat is a division of the largest business-to-business publisher in the United States.