Welcome to Qualcomm's inaugural, newly revamped Southeast Asia newsletter! Whether you have been our loyal readers over the months and years, or have just joined us, I'm very pleased that we will be sharing news, developments and experiences in 3G and the wireless sector in the Southeast Asia region.
I have been with Qualcomm as head of Southeast Asia and Pacific for several months now, and these are indeed exciting times! I believe that the opportunities for the wireless sector in this region are endless. From Australia to Indonesia, from Thailand to Cambodia, we are perhaps witnessing one of the most dynamic, fastest-growing regions in the world.
3G technologies are an ideal fit for the region's long-term telecommunications objectives of providing high-quality services through advanced and cost-effective technology. 3G also increases tele-density, which in turn generates substantial social and economic benefits. According to data from ITU and the Telecommunications Management Group, every 1 percent increase in mobile penetration leads to a 4.7 percent increase in average per capita income, while every 1 percent increase of internet penetration leads to a 10.5 percent increase in average per capita income. This is a compelling proposition for many markets in the region, as 3G continues to develop its economy and enhancing people's daily lives.
Qualcomm is firmly committed to assisting the wireless industry in these countries in achieving these goals. Our collaboration with our industry partners has resulted in a thriving 3G ecosystem, which includes many successful operators and innovative vendors/developers motivated by the prospects of achieving significant scale, with 3,125 CDMA-based device models , and 480 commercial 3G operators in 144 countries serving 670 million 3G CDMA subscribers .
I hope you will enjoy this edition of our newsletter, and many more to come, and I look forward to any comments and suggestions on how to make this even more informative and relevant to you.
Last but certainly not least - I wish you all a happy, prosperous and safe Year of the Ox!
John