HONG KONG-Hutchison Whampoa Ltd., which operates several third-generation networks around the world, has signed 1.73 million 3G users globally, according to press reports, which signals strong recent uptake of its next-generation services after a sluggish start. The carrier said it had 1.04 million 3G users in mid-March.
The carrier’s main 3G subscriber bases are in the United Kingdom and Italy, although it also offers 3G services in Sweden, Austria, Hong Kong and Australia. The carrier will soon see competition in the U.K. market, as Vodafone Group plc recently launched 3G services in Germany and Portugal, with plans to expand its 3G reach to the United Kingdom in the coming months.
Hutchison said its U.K. monthly average revenue per user is $78, and Italy’s ARPU stands at $51.
After a slower start for its offerings due to a lack of handsets and high prices, the carrier, which offers phones from Motorola Inc. and NEC Corp., recently ordered an additional 3 million handset units from LG Electronics and has drastically cut its prices for services and phones.
Hutchison also holds 3G spectrum licenses in Denmark, Ireland, Israel and Norway.
