The GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association) has published an update to its Evolution to LTE report, confirming that 49 LTE operators worldwide have now launched commercial services.
285 operators have committed to commercial LTE network deployments or are engaged in trials, technology testing or studies – 30 percent more than in mid 2011. The GSA report covers LTE FDD and LTE TDD system modes.
The GSA report confirms 226 firm commercial LTE network deployments – a 36 percent increase in 6 months – are in progress or planned in 76 countries, which includes 49 launched networks. Another 59 operators in 17 additional countries are engaged in LTE technology trials, tests or studies.
49 LTE networks – twice as many as 6 months ago – have launched commercial services in 29 countries, which include: Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, UAE, Uruguay, USA, and Uzbekistan.
Alan Hadden, President of the GSA, said: “The number of commercial networks more than doubled as operators obtained new spectrum, and many were also able to re-farm existing spectrum (particularly in the 1800 MHz band) for LTE deployment.”
LTE commercial network launches per year:
- 2009 = 2 networks launched
- 2010 = 15 networks launched
- 2011 = 29 networks launched
- 2012 = 3 networks launched (to January 3)
- GSA forecast for end 2012 = 119 commercial LTE networks in over 50 countries
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