The CDMA Development Group (CDG) today congratulated PCCW-HKT Telephone on its successful bid for a 15-year CDMA2000(r) license from the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA), Hong Kong's telecoms regulator. PCCW was the only applicant to have met all of the pre-qualification requirements.

    The CDG applauds PCCW for making the successful bid for this valuable license," said Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDG. "Operating a CDMA2000 network in the 850 MHz band will give PCCW the performance, cost-effectiveness and network adaptability to own a decisive stake of Hong Kong's mobile telecommunications market."

    PCCW is the largest and most comprehensive provider of communications services in Hong Kong and one of Asia's leading players in information technology and telecommunications. The flexibility and power of CDMA2000, an IP-based advance mobile broadband network solution, will help enable PCCW to converge their fixed line, broadband Internet-access, pay-TV, media content, and large-scale IT business services across Hong Kong - one of the most advanced and lucrative markets in the world.

    According to the OFTA, PCCW is permitted to offer advanced broadband CDMA2000 services starting November 20, 2008-and to begin constructing the state-of-the-art 3G network in the meantime. With specific regard to roaming, the OFTA expects CDMA2000 to strengthen Hong Kong's strategic standing as a world city and commerce gateway to mainland China.

    "We are very pleased to have won Hong Kong's CDMA2000 license," said Richard Midgett, Managing Director of Mobility at PCCW. "CDMA2000 will enhance our capability in offering advanced broadband wireless services to subscribers. The technology will provide a valuable roaming footprint and help to further boost our brand."

    About CDMA2000，CDMA2000is the most widely deployed 3G technology, with 241 operators in 99 countries, including 79 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO systems, serving more than 378 million subscribers. Counting 2G cdmaOne(tm) subscribers, there are more than 400 million CDMA users worldwide.

    CDMA2000 has become the technology of choice for developed and emerging market operators, and is deployable in the 450, 700, 800, 1700, 1900 and 2100 MHz bands. More than 1,700 CDMA2000 devices from over 92 suppliers have been introduced to the market, including more than 460 1xEV-DO and 35 Rev. A devices. More information on CDMA 2000 is available on the CDG Web site at www.cdg.org.