CellularOne yesterday marked the launch of its new 3G/UMTS network in an unusual way — by posting people around Hamilton to "freeze" on the spot during lunch hour.

The "freeze", which involves 25 performers and will be repeated between 1.30 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. today, marks the wireless services provider's upgrade to a network that the company says matches the most advanced networks available in other parts of the world.

The network boasts Internet download speeds of up to 3.6 Mpps (millions of packets per second) — the fastest available on the island. A video calling service, which captures both video and voice of the other calling party, is another feature.

It will also allow the use of SIM cards to enable customers to switch handsets and carry their contacts wherever they go, as well as providing roaming in more than 200 countries.

The company said it would hand out giveaways in front of CellularOne's Reid and Burnaby Street stores.

Passers-by can see the frozen performers at 10 Hamilton sidewalk locations, including Church Street (in front of City Hall) and Front Street (outside Bank of Bermuda HSBC head office).

The company's existing CDMA EVDO network will continue to operate alongside the new 3G/UMTS platform, so that existing CellularOne customers who are happy with their current service will not be required to make a change.

CellularOne chief executive officer Kurt Eve said: "This is an important day in CellularOne's history as we have invested over $7 million and a tremendous amount of manpower in the launch of our 3G network.

"We are also particularly pleased that we can introduce this innovative technology during our 10th anniversary year. In fact, this trend is one of the fundamental values on which the company was founded and represents our ongoing commitment to provide our customers with the best products and services."

The freeze event is part of an unusual advertising campaign for the new network. Chief operating officer Frank Amaral commented: "The people of Bermuda will obviously benefit most from our 3G service. So we wanted our ad campaign to feature the familiar faces of locals depicting those 3G features that will benefit them the most."