Planned LTE deployments double in 12 months

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 13 April 2010 15:05

IT Industry - Development

Mobile operators around the world are becoming increasingly eager to roll out the next generation of mobile broadband technology, LTE.

The number committing to deploying LTE in their mobile networks has doubled in 12 months to 64 in 31 countries, according to the latest figures from the Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GSA). GSA forecasts that 22 of these will be in commercial operation by the end of 2010.

In addition to commited deployments, GSA says a further 22 operators " are engaged in trials or other planning/preparatory activities." At the end of 2009, there were only two commercial networks in operation, both run by TeliaSonera, in Stockholm and Oslo.

"LTE networks are now being installed or planned for commercial service in Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, China, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, The Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan, UAE, USA, and Uzbekistan," GSA says. A detailed report is available as a free download the GSA web site (registration is required).

In Australia, Telstra recently announced plans for an extensive field trial of LTE technology, and Optus has also indicated it will launch trials soon.

With all this frenetic activity the major vendors are falling over themselves to claim leadership by various criteria.


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