Europe : The likelihood of Hutchison 3G ( 3 UK ) reaching its predicted 1 million subscribers by the end of 2003 looks a poor bet.

In August 2003, the company reported a 3G subscriber base of 155,000 in the UK. That meant they would need to sign up an additional 845,000 subscribers by the end of 2003. That is now clearly impossible.

However, in August 2003, that target seemed feasible with retailers like the Car Phone Warehouse signing up 5,000 new subscribers a week - as heavily discounted voice call tariffs were released by 3.

Subsequently, 3 has been severely hindered by a higher level of customer returned handsets than the industry expects - mainly due to handsets that don't perform and network issues, poor availability of handsets and later than predicted arrivals of new handsets like the NECe616, Motorola A920 and A835.

The two later handsets are, of course, now on sale in the UK.

Another factor which may be hurting current sales was a damning report on BBC TV's Watchdog programme in October this year. A programme which was watched by some 8 million UK consumers.

Meanwhile, Hutchison Whampoa Hong Kong, which owns Hutchison 3G ( 3 UK ) has just ploughed another £90 Million Pounds ( approx. US $150 million) to buy out its partner shareholder - KPN Mobile of the Netherlands. Prior to this, both parties decided to take legal action against each other over Hutchison 3G asking for a shareholder funding call from KPN Mobile for £150 Million pounds ( approx. $240 Million ).

Some believe that the target figure of 1 Million subscribers for the company will only be reached heading towards the summer of 2004.

3 remain confident with the future prospects of 3G technology and also it own future.