4. GSA confirms 347 LTE user devices, with smartphones and tablets
leading growth
April 4, 2012: An update to the ‘Status of the LTE Ecosystem’ report published
this week by the GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association) confirms that 63
manufacturers have announced 347 LTE-enabled user devices.
Around 250 new LTE user devices have been announced over the past year.
Alan Hadden, President of the GSA, said: “The main growth trend in 2012 so far
is the launch of LTE-capable smartphones and tablets. We report that the
number of smartphones has increased by one third since January 2012. The
number of LTE-capable tablets increased 72% in the same period.“
According to the GSA report, there are 64 LTE smartphones and 31 tablets,
including frequency and carrier variants.
Research for the report considered user devices for FDD and TDD modes, form
factors, operating frequencies, and the fallback technologies which are supported
when customers move outside the LTE coverage areas (i.e. ability to access
HSPA, HSPA+, DC-HSPA+, EV-DO, or TD-SCDMA systems).
5. 347 LTE devices breakdown by form factor:
41 Modules
31 Tablets
13 Notebooks
2 PC Cards
1 Femtocell
64 Smartphones
131 Routers
64 Dongles
Note that certain products are carrier or country specific and are not available in all
markets.
217 LTE devices also operate on either HSPA, HSPA+ or 42 Mbps DC-HSPA+ networks.
Within this figure, 91 LTE devices support 42 Mbps HSPA+ technology.
108 LTE devices support EV-DO networks.
The report also considered the availability of devices by frequency band and support of the
likely required combinations. The report findings are summarized below for the main LTE
bands:
700 MHz (US Digital Dividend, various bands) 170 devices
800 MHz (EU Digital Dividend, Band 20) 72 devices
1800 MHz (Band 3) 75 devices
2600 MHz (Band 7) 94 devices
800/1800/2600 MHz 57 devices
AWS (Band 4) 72 devices
6. The majority of LTE user devices today support the 700 MHz band where LTE
networks and services are developing fastest, especially in North America. As
LTE network rollouts accelerate in other regions, particularly in Europe where
operators are primarily using 2600 MHz, 1800 MHz and 800 MHz digital
dividend spectrum, in many cases using all three bands, manufacturers are
responding with products for these markets. For example, the number of user
devices capable of operating in 2600 MHz spectrum (band 7) has increased by
44% since January 2012. The choice of LTE1800 (band 3) devices is rapidly
expanding as more operators focus on the opportunities from deploying LTE
systems in 1800 MHz spectrum. There are now 75 LTE1800 user devices,
which is 50% higher than GSA reported in January 2012.
The range of LTE TDD devices is also expanding as operators in all regions
are preparing for a wave of commercial launches of TDD systems. 53 LTE
TDD capable devices are included in the 347 total figure.
LTE is the fastest developing mobile system technology ever. According to
another GSA report (Evolution to LTE report – March 13, 2012), 301 operators
in 95 countries are currently investing in LTE.
8. LTE update: GSA confirms commercial networks quadrupled in
12 months, 80 commercial LTE systems now launched
June 8, 2012: The GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association) this week
published an update to its Evolution to LTE report which confirms 327
operators in 99 countries 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.
267 firm commercial LTE network deployments are in deployment,
commercially launched, or planned in 86 countries. Another 60 operators in 13
additional countries are engaged in LTE technology trials, tests or studies.
80 LTE operators have launched commercial services. This figure includes 7
commercial LTE TDD systems which are launched in Brazil, India,
Japan, Poland, Saudi Arabia and Sweden.
Alan Hadden, President of the GSA, said: “The number of commercial LTE
networks has quadrupled in just over a year. Commercial LTE services are
available in 38 countries. The pace of introduction of LTE is happening faster
than most people predicted a year ago.”
9. LTE commercial network launches per year:
2009 = 2 networks launched
2010 = 15 networks launched (year-end cumulative total = 17)
2011 = 30 networks launched (year-end cumulative total = 47)
2012 to June 4th = 33 networks launched (total to date = 80)
GSA end 2012 forecast = raised to 144 networks in 59 countries
GSA previously confirmed LTE as the fastest developing mobile system
technology ever.
The Evolution to LTE report is researched and published by GSA and
provides a concise update of the business drivers, objectives and targets
for LTE – Long Term Evolution and the evolved packet system, including
network operator commitments, deployments, launches, trials, the growing
eco-system including device availability, spectrum requirements and
developments, Voice over LTE developments, standardization activities
including LTE-Advanced, and more.