KDDI, Japan's second largest wireless network operator, has surpassed its initial projections by signing 334,000 third generation (3G) subscribers in the first 30 days in which the company has offered 3G voice and data services.

KDDI launched its Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 2000 1xRTT voice and data services on April 1, after having offered nationwide packet data mobile services since Jan. 7, 2000 on its IS-95B network.

"The response from our new 1X customers about the 3G data services has been overwhelmingly positive. The tremendous and quick growth in the first month of offerings is better than we had forecast," said Tadashi Onodera, president of KDDI Corp.

"We have surpassed the 280,000 subscribers we projected in April, and it remains our goal to reach seven million subscribers by March 31, 2003