According to the GSA, in December 2005 there were 100 3G networks in operation in 40 countries in the world. In Asia, Europe, and the USA, telecommunication companies use WCDMA technology with the support of around 100 terminal designs to operate 3G mobile networks.
In 2001, NTT DoCoMo—one of the giant telecommunication companies in Japan—was the first telecommunication company to launch a commercial WCDMA network. The introduction of 3G services within Europe began in early 2003.
The official 3G mobile network is the systems and services based on the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) family of standards under the International Mobile Telecommunications programme, "IMT-2000". A boost was given to 3G mobile networks in Europe when the European Union council suggested that the 3G operators should cover 80% of the European national populations by the end of 2005. In Africa, Vodafone Egypt (also known as CLICK GSM) will provide the service in Egypt in the middle of 2007. Early 2007, Vodacom Tanzania switched on its 3G HSPDA in Dar ea salaam. With the installation of a 3G HSDPA network, Tanzania is only the second country in Africa with such technology, the first being South Africa.
Even though 3G has successfully been introduced to European and Asian mobile users, there are some issues that are debated by 3G providers and users:
* High input fees for the 3G service licenses
* Great differences in the licensing terms
* Current high debt of many telecommunication companies, making it more of a challenge to build the necessary infrastructure for 3G
* Member State support to the financially troubled operators
* Health aspects of the effects of electromagnetic waves
* Expense of 3G phones
* Lack of 2G mobile user buy-in for 3G wireless service
* Lack of coverage because it is still new service
* High prices of 3G mobile services in some countries, including Internet access (see flat rate)
On October 13, 2000, the President executed a memorandum that articulated the need to select radio frequency spectrum to satisfy the United States' future needs for mobile voice, high-speed data, and Internet-accessible wireless capability. The Presidential Memorandum established for the Executive Agencies guiding principles to be used in selecting spectrum that could be made available for 3G wireless systems, and strongly encouraged independent federal agencies to follow the same principles in any actions they take related to the development of 3G systems.
Noting the joint spectrum management responsibilities of the Executive Branch and the Commission, the Presidential Memorandum directed the Secretary of Commerce to work cooperatively with the FCC: (1) to develop a plan to select spectrum for third generation wireless systems by October 20, 2000; and (2) to issue by November 15, 2000 an interim report on the current spectrum uses and potential for reallocation or sharing of the bands identified at the 2000 World Radiocommunication Conference that could be used for 3G systems. These actions were taken to enable the Commission to identify spectrum for 3G systems by July 2001 and auction licenses by September 30, 2002.
In accordance with the Presidential Memorandum, the Department of Commerce released a "Plan to Select Spectrum for Third Generation (3G) Wireless Systems in the United States" (Study Plan) on October 20, 2000. The Study Plan noted that although various frequency bands have been identified for possible 3G use, the Commission and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) needed to undertake studies of the 2500-2690 MHz and the 1755-1850 MHz frequency bands in order to provide a full understanding of all the spectrum options available. The Study Plan called for the Commission to complete an Interim Report on the 2500-2690 MHz band and for NTIA to complete an Interim Report on the 1755-1850 MHz band by November 15, 2000.
In March 2001, the Commission issued a Final Report on the 2500-2690 MHZ band and NTIA issued a Final Report on the 1755-1850 MHz band. The NTIA Final Report also addressed the 1710-1755 MHz Federal Government band. Comments were received on these reports in April 2001. In July 2001, FCC Chairman Powell and Commerce Secretary Evans exchanged letters, in which they agreed to postpone the July 2001 deadline for the Commission to identify spectrum for 3G systems. Secretary Evans informed Chairman Powell that he has directed the Acting Administrator of NTIA to work with the FCC to develop a new plan for the selection of 3G spectrum, to be executed as quickly as possible.
In September 2001, the Commission added a mobile allocation to the 2500-2690 MHz band to provide additional near-term and long-term flexibility for use of this spectrum, thereby making this band potentially available for advanced mobile and fixed terrestrial wireless services, including 3G and future generations of wireless systems. However, because the 2500-2690 MHz band is extensively used by incumbent Instructional Television Fixed Service and Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Services licensees, and in order to preserve the viability of the incumbent services, the Commission did not relocate the existing licensees or otherwise modify their licenses.