The CDMA (code division multiple access) Development Group (CDG) set a target of 4.5-5 million subscribers, up from 2.5 million now, operating on CDMA-based systems by end-1997, as it said globalisation was the main goal on its agenda this year.
CDMA, a military communications standard of the 1970s, is the new modulation technique on the personal communication horizon with enormous cost and quality benefits.
Perry LaForge, the executive director of the CDG a grouping of 75 CDMA equipment manufacturers and service providers told the Business Standard here yesterday that the past year was very encouraging for the CDMA fraternity, which includes names like Motorola, NEC, Nortel, Hughes and Lucent Technologies, with more countries joining the bandwagon. Last year was commercialisation, this year it will be globalisation, he predicted.
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We have achieved a lot in terms of breadth; we have a footprint in several (17) countries now. In the years to come, we will be looking to expand this base and adding depth to the market, LaForge said.
CDMA-based personal communications systems which CDG members claim cost between 40-50 per cent of comparable systems are operational in 24 networks with another 57 networks in various phases of development.
LaForge was speaking to Business Standard after inaugurating the Second Annual CDMA World Congress here yesterday. The event is being organised by the CDG, a grouping formed in 1993, to promote and spread the use of CDMA technology for telecom applications.
LaForge announced a new universal term for IS-95 based CDMA specifications cdmaOne. IS-95 is a standard of specifications for CDMA-based telecom services set by the US-based Telecommunication Industries Association (TAI).