India becomes world’s second largest CDMA market, surpasses China

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: India has, according to a report, surpassed China to become world’s second largest CDMA market with a subscriber base of over 100 million. RCom and Tata Teleservices have also gained a position among the world’s top five CDMA operators, raking second and  fourth respectively. According to the rankings of CDMA Development Group, CDG, the USA based Verizon Wireless stood at number one and Chine Telecom grabbed the third position.
After the coming of CDMA to the Indian Telecom market in 2002, the market experienced a drastic change. Efforts by CDMA operators, device manufacturers, technology enablers and the CDG introduced an array of entry-level handsets to the market, while tariffs dropped by more than 40%, said CDG.
“The CDG is encouraged by the continued CDMA subscriber growth in India, and we are proud to have worked with operators and manufacturers to bring wireless voice and data services to over 100 million Indians. Efforts to bring a wide range of devices into the market have resulted in a tremendously rapid growth of voice telephony in the country. As we look to the next 100 million subscribers, CDMA mobile broadband is already satisfying the demand for affordable high-speed wireless data services, while CDG initiatives will further increase the selection of CDMA voice and data devices,” said Perry LaForge, Executive Director, CDG.
“Reliance has been a pioneer and the largest operator of a CDMA platform in India’s wireless sector. We remain committed to further grow and serve our ever-increasing CDMA customer base through innovative applications, superior network quality and service and attractive value-propositions,” said S.P. Shukla, President-Wireless Business, Reliance Communications.

India reached the 50 million CDMA subscriber mark at double the pace of any other competing market and created greater connectivity across the nation.