WCDMA achieves 70% market share

WCDMA has achieved 70% market share of all commercial 3G networks, according to GSA, the Global mobile Suppliers Association.

A total of 182 WCDMA networks are commercially launched in 81 countries, of which 144 networks (almost 80%) in 68 countries have also launched HSDPA (high speed downlink packet access, an evolution of WCDMA). Forty HSDPA networks entered commercial service in the past six months (38% increase).

The 3G/HSDPA Operator Commitments survey released by GSA also claims 3.6 Mbps as the new benchmark in downlink peak data speed for mobile broadband services using HSPA (high speed packet access).

Seventy-five HSDPA networks support 3.6 Mbps or higher peak downlink data speeds in commercial service in 42 countries. This figure includes 23 commercial networks in 15 countries that support 7.2 Mbps or higher peak speeds.

A further 45 HSDPA networks are in various phases of rollout and testing, confirming a total of 189 HSDPA operator commitments in 82 countries.

GSA forecasts that the number of commercial HSDPA networks will reach 160 by the end of 2007.

The survey also claims that 41 operators have committed to deploying HSUPA (high speed uplink packet access). Sixteen HSUPA networks have entered commercial service in 15 countries.

GSA calculates that there are over 900 million GSM, WCDMA and HSPA subscribers in HSPA-enabled networks worldwide.