The UMTS Forum confirms that subscriptions to 3G/UMTS networks have reached 500 million. The milestone comes just over eight years after the world’s first commercial 3G/WCDMA network was launched by Japanese operator NTT DOCOMO. According to data from mobile information provider Wireless Intelligence (www.wirelessintelligence.com), there are now over 300 UMTS family networks worldwide. The half-billion total includes almost 40% of 3G/UMTS subscribers who are enjoying an enhanced mobile broadband experience via HSPA networks. Figures also confirm that over 35 HSPA+ networks are now commercialised, boosting theoretical peak data rates as high as 28 Mbits/s.
www.umts-forum.com