Operators getting ready to embrace LTE in second half of year

The transition to 4G LTE started in 2009 with TeliaSonera’s launch in December. Although it is going slow but up to 22 LTE networks are expected to be in service by end 2010, further at least 45 are expected to be in service by end 2012. According to a GSA LTE report, 110 operators in 48 countries are currently investing in LTE networks.

3.6% of mobile devices with baseband connectivity are expected to be using 4G standards in 2014, according to ABI Research report. Despite the early lead of WiMAX, LTE is expected to account for over 60% of 4G-enabled mobile devices in 2014.

In addition to the well established commitment to new 2.6 GHz and digital dividend spectrum (800 MHz in Europe, 700 MHz in the Americas) for LTE, a number of operators are also considering deploying LTE in the 1800 MHz band.

A number of LTE trials & launch has been reported in last couple of months and it appears that operators around the world are ready to embrace LTE, 2010 & 2011 are certainly going to be year of LTE. LTE has clearly defeated its 4G rival WiMAX with a number of vendors & operators switching the side in first half of this year. Now TD-LTE is being seen as successor of already deployed or planned WiMAX networks.

TeliaSonera is expanding its LTE coverage in Sweden as planned and have launched LTE in Visby on June 30. A total of 25 locations in Sweden have been planned for LTE coverage by TeliaSonera before the end of the year.

Verizon Wireless is on track to commercially launch its LTE 4G network in 25 to 30 markets in 2010 and says that by 2013 the LTE coverage map will match it's current 3G coverage map. According to a rumor Verizon Wireless will begin rolling out its LTE network starting on November 15th this year.

Australia's Telstra and Huawei recently reported LTE trials using 1800MHz spectrum in Victoria.

Last week Ericsson conducted first trials of TDD LTE in India using 2.3GHz band while Mobilkom & Telekom Austria conducted a live LTE demonstration on the A1 network.

NTT DOCOMO had also began trial of its LTE commercial network in June and appears to be on track for launch in 2010 as well.

Ofcourse there is huge list of reported trials so far this year, I just mentioned few recent ones.

source: LteWorld