Global Mobile Broadband Connections to Pass 150 Million

LONDON -

- HSPA confirmed as fastest adopted mobile technology of all time

Global HSPA connections will pass the 150 million mark by the end of the summer, the GSM Association announced today. With more than 300 networks across 127 countries and approaching 1500 HSPA enabled devices readily available, HSPA has firmly established itself as the world’s dominant mobile broadband technology and the fastest adopted mobile technology of all time.

According to Wireless Intelligence, the following regions are driving global HSPA connection growth:

- AsiaPac accounts for almost 50 million live HSPA connections today and will have over 56 million by this September - EMEA HSPA connections will pass the 50 million mark any day and will have reached almost 60 million by the end of September this year - The US currently has almost 32 million HSPA connections with the number expected to rise to nearly 37 million by this September - The Americas will have just over four million connections by the end of September

“The tremendous success of HSPA demonstrates the enormous ongoing demand for truly mobile broadband access, ” said Dan Warren, Director of Technology, GSMA. “HSPA’s leading position is not just important to the mobile industry - by using a single technology for mobile broadband services globally, we avoid the fragmentation that limits its potential to improve the quality of people’s lives.”

The phenomenal growth of HSPA is set to continue, with 200 million connections expected by Q1 2010.

Indeed, with the number of mobile operators in and vendors committed to the GSM family of technologies (HSPA, HSPA+ and LTE) the success of HSPA mobile broadband is attracting a lot of attention from outside the ‘traditional’ mobile industry:

- The consumer electronics, automotive, energy and utility industries are beginning to understand the possibilities of embedding mobile broadband into their products - Governments around the world are making the right spectrum available to support mobile broadband services today and into the future, ensuring their economies benefit from the GDP growth associated with the technology - Businesses and end users are embracing the freedom and productivity benefits offered by mobile broadband, driving flexible working practices and enabling impulsive mobile consumers to access the mobile internet on the move

HSPA mobile broadband technology continues to drive diversification across new markets as the true benefits of mobility continue to be embraced in new and innovative ways.

WCDMA HSPA data and forecasts from Wireless Intelligence and are correct as at 20 July 2009.

About the GSMA

The GSMA represents the interests of the worldwide mobile communications industry. Spanning 219 countries, the GSMA unites nearly 800 of the world’s mobile operators, as well as more than 200 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset makers, software companies, equipment providers, Internet companies, and media and entertainment organisations. The GSMA is focused on innovating, incubating and creating new opportunities for its membership, all with the end goal of driving the growth of the mobile communications industry.

About Wireless Intelligence

Wireless Intelligence is a comprehensive database on the global mobile market which delivers a granular view of the operational performance of the world’s mobile network operators. It is the de facto industry tool for market intelligence with a subscriber base of over 550 of the world’s mobile operators, leading equipment manufacturers, software vendors, content suppliers and consultancies. The service covers all cellular technologies and includes 2,215,000 individual data points spanning 800 mobile network operators and 1,300 networks in over 200 countries.

For more information, please visit www.gsmworld.com/, hspa.gsmworld.com/

Source: GSMA

Paul Nolan, or Becky Kiely, or Alexia da Silva, all of CCgroup, +44-118-9207650, mobilebroadband at ccgrouppr.com, for GSMA