CDMA2000 Momentum Continues; Industry Milestone Achieved With Commercial Launch of CDMA2000 1xEV-DO in North America; CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Enables High-Speed Mobile Internet Access

Business Wire, Oct 29, 2002

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

DULUTH, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 29, 2002

Marking another milestone in the deployment of third-generation (3G) services, the CDMA Development Group (CDG)(www.cdg.org) today reported that CDMA2000 1xEV-DO is now commercially available in the United States.

CDMA2000 1xEV-DO enables mobile operators to offer broadband Internet access anytime, anywhere, faster than with any other access technology.

In Duluth, today, Monet Mobile Networks, a Seattle-based wireless Internet service provider, commercially launched the first high-speed, mobile Internet service via a CDMA2000 1xEV-DO network in North America.

During a cord-cutting ceremony marking the launch, CDG Executive Director, Perry LaForge said, "The demand for wireless data services is expected to grow exponentially over the next decade, and CDMA2000 1xEV-DO is an ideal solution to meet this demand as it provides high-speed access to Internet-based services more economically and efficiently than any other technology available today."

"We are pleased to see operators like Monet Mobile Networks capitalize on the capabilities of CDMA2000 in bringing advanced wireless data services to the market," continued LaForge.

"SK Telecom's CDMA2000 1xEV-DO service lets our users enjoy high-speed wireless Internet service comparable to DSL," said Jae Byun, vice president of access network systems for SK Telecom.

"SK Telecom is experiencing transmission rates of 500-1000 kbps, allowing our customers to download MP3 moving image files within 10 seconds and enjoy video at over 10 frames per second. We expect that these services will significantly contribute to continued growth in data revenue for our company."

CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, officially recognized by the ITU as an IMT-2000 (3G) standard in August 2001, is optimized for data services and provides a peak data rate of 2.4 Mbps within one 1.25 MHz frequency channel. It offers "always on" access to the Internet and intranets at speeds comparable to any fixed line broadband solution such as cable and DSL.

CDMA2000 1xEV-DO is a proven technology with two commercial networks in Asia. The first CDMA2000 1xEV-DO network was deployed by SK Telecom in January 2002. KT Freetel introduced its service four months later in time for the World Cup Games in Korea. Two other carriers in Asia and North America are building their CDMA2000 1xEV-DO networks and a number of others across the world are in trials with market deployments to follow.

CDMA2000 1xEV-DO is already a commercial success. Operators report that they achieve data speeds of up to 600 kbps in mobile and 1200 kbps in fixed environments, and are able to provide a full range of multimedia services such as live broadcasts, video-on-demand and music downloads. There are six CDMA2000 1xEV-DO devices commercially available and many more are scheduled to be released in the coming months.

CDMA2000 1xEV-DO is backwards compatible with CDMA2000 1X and therefore is a natural evolution for operators, such as SK Telecom and KT Freetel, requiring only minor upgrades to their network and small capital investment. It is also the technology of choice for service providers like Monet Mobile Networks who offer high-speed data services only.

The CDMA Development Group is a nonprofit trade association formed to foster the worldwide development, implementation and use of cdmaOne(TM) and CDMA2000. The more than 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 CDMA features and services, public relations, education and seminars, regulatory affairs and international support. Currently, there are more than 500 individuals working within various CDG subcommittees on CDMA-related matters.

For more information about the CDG, contact Valerie Christopherson of the CDG News Bureau at 714/540-1030, ext. 14, e-mail vchristopherson@bockpr.com.