This latest figure of 272 WCDMA devices includes 14 products which support HSDPA for high speed wireless broadband applications.

WCDMA/HSDPA operators also emphasize the importance of GSM/EDGE for service continuity, and the number of devices that support WCDMA and GSM/EDGE has climbed to 31.

The pace of 3G commercialization globally is fuelled by WCDMA. GSA reported last month that 100 3G/WCDMA networks had launched commercial services in 42 countries.

The number of WCDMA subscribers passed 40 million in November 2005, an increase of 140 percent since end 2004, and is shortly expected to pass the 50 million milestone.