Over the next four years, the move from 2G to 3G technologies will be more of a leap than a transition, according to a report from analyst firm, Strategy Analytics.

The firm says the 3G market is entering a period of sustained growth and predicts that users of W-CDMA and CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 3G technologies are on target to reach 167 million by the end of this year. That number will jump beyond the one billion mark in 2010, the firm says.

Strategy Analytics also predicts that 3G users will account for more than half of all cellular service revenues by 2010, despite the fact that 3G users only account for just one-third of a 3 billion user wireless market

Phil Kendall, director of global wireless practice said: “Having passed the 100 million subscriber mark in early June 2006, the 3G market will now enjoy a period of sustained growth. Verizon Wireless is driving a real surge in 3G demand in the US, while China and India will start 3G services next year. With Indonesian 3G services already live, and more of the world’s major population centers, such as Brazil, Pakistan and Russia, coming online later in the decade, by 2009, we will see more than one quarter of a billion subscribers being added to 3G networks each year.”

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