Operator commitments, network deployments, commercial launches, trials, devices ecosystem, spectrum This updated report incorporates data and analysis from GSA's Evolution to LTE report (published July 16, 2013) and GSA's Status of the LTE Ecosystem report (published July 5, 2013). The report summarizes LTE TDD operator commitments, trials, studies, network deployments, commercial launches worldwide, the spectrum choices, and LTE TDD user devices availability. (c) Copyright Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) - www.gsacom.com

1. July 20, 2013
© GSA – Global mobile Suppliers Association
Status of the Global LTE TDD Market
59 commercial LTE TDD networks in deployment or firmly planned - including
18 commercially launched networks
Report published by GSA
Global mobile Suppliers Association
www.gsacom.com

2. StatusoftheGlobalLTETDDMarket|7/20/2013
Status of the Global LTE TDD Market
59 commercial LTE TDD networks in deployment or firmly planned -
including 18 commercially launched networks
LTE is a mainstream technology delivering capacity, data throughput enhancements and low
latency to support existing and new services and features requiring higher levels of capability
and performance to over 100 million users (May 2013). The primary drive to LTE from operators
is the need for more capacity, performance management and improved efficiencies. LTE is the
next step in the user experience, enhancing and enabling more demanding applications such as
interactive TV, mobile video blogging, advanced gaming, and professional services. LTE TDD
operator commitments, system and devices maturity are confirmed in this report.
(This report considers deployments, trials, studies etc. only by public telecommunications services operators)
194 LTE operators have commercially launched services in 75 countries (GSA Evolution to LTE
report: July 16, 2013). This includes 18 operators who have commercially launched LTE TDD.
Nine operators have launched combined FDD and TDD networks. Interest in LTE TDD is global.
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3. StatusoftheGlobalLTETDDMarket|7/20/2013
The 3GPP LTE standard is designed to deliver peak downlink data rates up to 300 Mbps,
improved spectrum efficiency, and reduced radio access delays (latency), and can operate in
paired spectrum (Frequency Division Duplex – FDD mode) or unpaired spectrum (Time Division
Duplex – TDD mode).
The TDD mode uses unpaired spectrum, whereby a single carrier frequency is used with
downlink and uplink transmissions separated in time. The two modes (i.e. FDD and TDD)
deliver similar performance and benefit equivalently from evolution of the standard. The TDD
mode of LTE is the most efficient and highest performing RAN technology for operators with
unpaired spectrum.
Within globally assigned IMT bands for mobile services, significant resources are suitable for
LTE TDD. The largest contiguous bands are 2.3 GHz (100 MHz – band 40) and 2.6 GHz (band
38). These are the main bands for LTE TDD systems deployments in Europe, India, China and
APAC, the Middle East, and Latin America.
An LTE TDD system is being deployed using 2496-2690 MHz spectrum (band 41) in the USA
and a network in this band is commercially launched in Japan. Band 41 has also been allocated
for TDD deployments in China, where band 39 (1880-1920 MHz) is also assigned for TDD
deployments. An LTE TDD network using 3.5/3.6 GHz spectrum (bands 42, 43) is commercially
launched in the UK and several other operators with 3.5 GHz spectrum assets are also planning
to deploy LTE TDD systems as confirmed in this report. In December 2012, the FCC (USA)
adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would make 100 MHz in the 3550-3650 MHz
band available for shared small cell use.
Due to the demand for radio technologies for unpaired bands and leveraging the commonalities
above, LTE TDD can exploit global economies of scale similar to LTE FDD, with a short time to
market as a mainstream technology. LTE TDD is an ideal path for WiMAX™ operators to grow
their business, and many have decided to deploy LTE TDD systems in their networks. LTE TDD
also provides a future-proof evolutionary path for TD-SCDMA, which is another 3GPP standard,
and which is widely deployed in China.
New allocations for spectrum suitable for LTE TDD deployments are being made in various
markets around the world, typically via auctions. Imminent examples include proposed auctions
in Bulgaria and Cyprus. See GSA’s Evolution to LTE report (July 16, 2013) for further
information about commitment level/deployment status per operator, GSA’s definition of
commercial launch, regulatory developments including spectrum management and allocations
(covering TDD and FDD deployments) – follow the link on www.gsacom.com
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4. StatusoftheGlobalLTETDDMarket|7/20/2013
18 commercially launched LTE TDD networks
41 LTE TDD commercial networks in deployment or planned
Country Operator Band Country Operator Band
Algeria Algeria Telecom To be confirmed Madagascar Blueline 40
Bahrain Menatelecom 42 Malaysia Asiaspace 40
Belgium b-lite 42 Malaysia P1 40
Belgium BUCD 38 Mongolia Ulusnet 42
China China Mobile Various Montenegro Velatel 42
Costa Rica IBW Intl 40 Nepal Nepal Telecom 40
Croatia Velatel 42 Nicaragua IBW Intl 40
Denmark 3 Denmark 38 Nigeria Mobitel 40
El Salvador IBW Intl 40 Nigeria Spectranet 40
Finland Datame 38 Nigeria Swift Networks 40, 42
France Bollore 42 Nigeria Zoda Fones 38
Germany DBD 42 Poland Milmex 42
Guatemala IBW Intl 40 Puerto Rico Aeronet 38
Hong Kong 3 HK 40 Romania 2K Telecom 38
India Aircel 40 Russia Osnova Tel. 40
India RIL 40 Russia Rostelecom 40
India Tikona Digital 40 Russia Smoltelecom 42
Indonesia IM2 40 Russia Vainakh 40
Iraq MaxyTel To be confirmed UK NSV (BT) 38
Ireland Imagine Group 42, 43 USA Clearwire 41
Italy AFT-Linkem 42, 43
Plus operators engaged in LTE TDD trials or studies including: 3 (Austria), Sazz (Azerbaijan), Sasktel, Xplornet (Canada), Orange (France), E Plus (Germany),
21 Vianet Group (Hong Kong), BSNL, MTNL (India), 3 Italia (Italy), Kordia, Woosh (New Zealand), Nawras (Oman), Enforta (Russia), Smart (Philippines), Neo-
Sky, R (Spain), Chunghwa, FarEasTone, Global Mobile Corp., Fitel (Taiwan), AIS-TOT (Thailand), Dedicado (Uruguay), Xplornet (USA), Movilmax (Venezuela)
Country Operator TDD frequency TDD band LTE mode
Australia NBN Co. 2.3 GHz 40 TDD
Australia Optus 2.3 GHz 40 TDD + FDD
Brazil On Telecomunicacoes 2.6 GHz 38 TDD
Brazil Sky Brasil Services 2.6 GHz 38 TDD
Hong Kong China Mobile Hong Kong 2.3 GHz 40 TDD + FDD
India Bharti Airtel 2.3 GHz 40 TDD
Japan Softbank XGP/LTE TDD 2.6 GHz 41 TDD
Oman Omantel 2.3 GHz 40 TDD + FDD
Poland Aero2 2.6 GHz 38 TDD + FDD
Russia Megafon / Moscow 2.6 GHz 38 TDD + FDD
Russia MTS / Moscow 2.6 GHz 38 TDD + FDD
Saudi Arabia Mobily 2.6 GHz 38 TDD
Saudi Arabia STC 2.3 GHz 40 TDD + FDD
South Africa Telkom Mobile (8ta) 2.3 GHz 40 TDD
Spain COTA/Murcia4G 2.6 GHz 38 TDD
Sri Lanka Dialog Axiata 2.3 GHz 40 TDD + FDD
Sweden 3 Sweden 2.6 GHz 38 TDD + FDD
UK UK Broadband 3.5 GHz 42, 43 TDD
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5. StatusoftheGlobalLTETDDMarket|7/20/2013
Maturing LTE TDD user devices ecosystem
GSA regularly updates the contents of its GAMBoD database of LTE user devices announced
by manufacturers. Key findings are published in the Status of the LTE Ecosystem report. The
report published on July 5, 2013 confirmed 948 products (including operator and frequency
variants) announced by 100 manufacturers. 531 new LTE products were announced in the past
year. FDD and TDD (TD-LTE) devices are included. Multi-band, multi-mode LTE-TDD dongles
and CPEs are commercially available from all major chipset and device manufacturers.
The report confirmed that 200 devices can
operate using the LTE TDD mode. Bands
38 (2.6 GHz) and 40 (2.3 GHz) have the
largest device ecosystems. LTE TDD
devices are available in all form factors
including smartphones, dongles, routers,
portable hotspots, embedded modules,
and mobile tablets – see chart (left).
Status of the LTE Ecosystem July 5, 2013
Press release:
http://www.gsacom.com/news/gsa_379.php
Detailed analysis of the LTE TDD (and FDD) devices ecosystem is possible using GSA’s
GAMBoD tool (access restrictions apply – see www.gsacom.com/gambod).
GSA calls upon semiconductor and device manufacturers to also support the many operators
who are deploying or planning LTE TDD systems in globally available 3.5 GHz spectrum (bands
42, 43) to ensure a good choice and timely availability of user devices.
Additional LTE TDD resources, useful links (first log in to www.gsacom.com)
◊ MAP: LTE TDD Investments Worldwide: – (www.gsacom.com)
◊ LTE TDD: Enabling Europe’s Radio Spectrum Policy Programme with the 2300 MHz
band for LTE (http://www.gsacom.com/gsm_3g/opinion_papers.php4)
◊ Mobile network design in the data world:
(http://www.gsacom.com/gsm_3g/info_papers.php4)
◊ LTE in the 3500 MHz band (http://www.gsacom.com/gsm_3g/opinion_papers.php4)
Register for updates, reports, information papers, maps, charts, etc. at:
www.gsacom.com/php/register_form.php4
LINKEDIN GROUPS
◊ LTE TDD www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=3978061
◊ LTE User Devices www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=4146472
GSA strives at all times to ensure that the information provided is always as accurate as possible. The content
contained in this report is based on information provided to GSA in good faith but such information cannot always be
fully guaranteed and at all times. Therefore such content is provided without warranty in currentness, completeness
or correctness. Errors and Omissions Excepted. Updates are welcome, by email to info@gsacom.com
Copyright © GSA – Global mobile Suppliers Association. Reproduction of this material for non-commercial use is
allowed if the source is stated. For other use please contact the GSA Secretariat via email to info@gsacom.com
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