LTE will enter mainstream in 2012

The Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) has published an update to its Evolution to LTE report which confirms 319 operators have committed to commercial LTE network deployments or are engaged in trials, technology testing or studies. The report covers LTE FDD and LTE TDD system modes.

Out of this total, 258 firm commercial LTE network deployments are either in deployment, commercially launched or are planned in 84 countries. Another 61 operators in 13 additional countries are engaged in LTE technology trials, tests or studies.

Seventy-two LTE operators have launched commercial services, including 25 networks launched so far in 2012. Commercial LTE services are currently available in 37 countries, in developing and developed markets in all regions: Angola, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, UAE, Uruguay, USA and Uzbekistan.

Alan Hadden, president of the GSA, said, “Fifty-two operators launched commercial LTE service in the past 12 months and dozens more operators are preparing to commercially launch LTE networks this year. With hundreds of LTE user devices available now, addressing all market segments with fast subscriptions growth, LTE will enter a new phase as a mainstream technology in 2012.”

LTE commercial network launches per year include:

• 2009 = two networks launched;
• 2010 = 15 networks launched (year-end cumulative total = 17);
• 2011 = 30 networks launched (year-end cumulative total = 47);
• 2012 to 8 May = 25 networks launched (total to date = 72);
• GSA end 2012 forecast = 134 networks in 57 countries.