3G Americas and NGMN Alliance Initiate Cooperation on Next Generation Mobile Networks

BELLEVUE, WA and FRANKFURT, GERMANY--(Marketwire - February 11, 2009) - 3G Americas, a wireless industry trade association representing the GSM family of technologies including LTE, and the Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) Alliance have today announced a cooperation agreement between the two associations in support of the development and commercialization of next generation mobile broadband technologies and services.

The cooperation agreement between NGMN and 3G Americas will focus on areas related to next generation mobile broadband, including information exchange, project-based cooperation and work on public relations, marketing and advocacy opportunities.

First joint activities will be around the NGMN Alliance's session "Tools for Success - Enablers and key success factors for deployment of next generation mobile networks" at the Broadband World Forum at CTIA Wireless 2009. On April 2, leading industry executives will be discussing technical options, implications and success factors related to the transition towards next generation networks with representatives of NGMN, 3G Americas and others during this featured session.

NGMN is an organization founded to evaluate candidate technologies to develop a common view of suitable solutions for the next evolution of wireless networks. In June 2008, LTE was confirmed by the NGMN as the first technology which meets its recommendations. Now, as both NGMN and 3G Americas support 3GPP LTE/SAE, the working agreement between the two bodies will enable development and deployment of commercial mobile broadband based on this standard.

"Our agreement with 3G Americas will allow us to work cohesively in the successful implementation of next generation mobile technology throughout the Americas region," stated Dr. Peter Meissner, Operating Officer of the NGMN Alliance. "There is already strong operator support by leading GSM and CDMA operators in adopting LTE for future evolutions. 3G Americas has proven itself successful in paving a smooth path for mobile operators adopting new 3GPP technologies and we are pleased to be able to work together to ensure future market success."

The Americas region currently has 45 commercial HSPA networks in 22 countries and the natural 3GPP evolution will lead these operators to deploy LTE. In addition, leading CDMA operators from around the globe have announced their next generation technology evolution to LTE. Worldwide, there are more than 100 operators who have announced plans to trial or deploy LTE for next generation mobile broadband. The vast majority of leading operators, device and infrastructure manufacturers support LTE as the mobile broadband technology of the future.

Chris Pearson, President of 3G Americas, commented, "Collaborating with NGMN Alliance on areas of common interest to both our organizations benefits the wireless industry and customers in the Americas region. Our joint focus is not only on wireless technology evolution, but will also include spectrum policies, regulation and establishing a complete mobile broadband ecosystem to support the social and economic development in this region. We are honored to be associated with this important global wireless organization."

About NGMN Alliance (www.ngmn.org):

The Next Generation Mobile Network (NGMN) Alliance currently consists of 56 world leading global network operators, technology vendors and universities. The network operators represent more than half of all mobile phone users worldwide and technology vendors represent more than 90 percent of implemented mobile wireless infrastructure. The key objective of the Alliance is to provide a platform for innovation for mobile broadband communications that enables an exceptional mobile user experience -- cost-effective and user-friendly services and a range of end user devices like mobile phones and embedded mobile devices for laptops, consumer electronics, game consoles, etc. The NGMN White Paper summarizes the vision for mobile broadband communications and includes common operator recommendations as well as requirements for the standards for the next generation of mobile broadband networks, devices and services.

About 3G Americas: Unifying the Americas through Wireless Technology

3G Americas is an industry trade organization composed of telecommunications service providers and manufacturers. The organization's mission is to promote, facilitate and advocate for the deployment of the GSM family of technologies including LTE throughout the Americas. 3G Americas has contributed to the successful commercial rollout of GSM across the Americas and its place as the number one technology in the region, as well as the global adoption of EDGE. The organization aims to develop the expansive wireless ecosystem of networks, devices, and applications enabled by GSM and its evolution to LTE. 3G Americas is headquartered in Bellevue, WA with an office for Latin America and the Caribbean in Dallas, Texas. More information is available at www.3gamericas.org.

Contact Information: 3G Americas Contact: Vicki Livingston +1 (262) 242 3458 NGMN Media Relations Contact: Marie-Luise Mueller NGMN Ltd. Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage 58 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany Phone: +49 69/9074998-23 E-mail: