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07 Feb 2006

There are now 50 million 3G subscribers worldwide, according to the UMTS Forum.

The UMTS Forum also revealed that WCDMA, the technology 3G is based on, is more popular in Europe than the traditionally more advanced market of Japan. There are more than 25 million of the world's 3G users now living on the continent.

Jean-Pierre Bienaimé, chairman of the UMTS Forum, says that the boost in subscriber numbers is down to more and more operators choosing to roll out third generation networks in the run up to Christmas, as well as offering more high-end devices.

Bienaimé said he expects the number of subscribers to grow further with the introduction of HSDPA networks across Europe, expected later this year.

While 3G has made strides in achieving 50 million subscribers, it still remains a relatively small part of the overall mobile market, which recently reached two billion subscribers

From cnet.com