GSA Evolution to LTE report: 163 commercial networks launched; 415 operators investing in LTE

This latest update of the GSA Evolution to LTE report confirms 361 firm LTE network deployments are planned or in progress in 114 countries, including 163 networks which are commercially launched in 67 countries. MVNOs are excluded. Multi-band networks are counted as one network.

A further 54 operators in 10 additional countries are engaged in pre-commercial LTE technology pilot trials, tests or studies.

Taken together, it means that 415 operators in 124 countries are now investing in LTE.

Market outlook: GSA forecasts there will be 248 commercial LTE networks in 87 countries by end 2013.

LTE is the fastest developing mobile system technology ever and is now mainstream. The total number of LTE subscriptions reached 68.33 million in Q4 2012.

74 operators have launched commercial LTE1800 (band 3) systems in 43 countries either as a single band system, or as part of a multi-band deployment. 1800 MHz is the most widely used band for LTE deployments globally. LTE1800 serves millions of subscribers (Q4 2012 = 14.27 million) on over 45% of commercially launched LTE networks today.

The next most widely used band for LTE deployments is 2.6 GHz (50 networks i.e. over 30% of networks in service).

15 LTE TDD systems are commercially launched (within the total of 163 commercial networks) including 6 that are deployed in combined LTE FDD and TDD operations.

The Evolution to LTE report, which covers both FDD and TDD modes, is researched and published by the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA), and provides a concise update of the business drivers, objectives and targets for LTE - Long Term Evolution and the evolved packet system, standardized by 3GPP and now in commercial service and mainstream, including network operator commitments and deployment/launch plans, trials, the growing eco-system including device and platforms availability, spectrum requirements and developments, 3GPP standardization activities including LTE Advanced, and more.

Published April 7, 2013, by GSA, via LTE-Depot

Source: http://www.gsacom.com/news/gsa_375.php 

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Number of LTE commercial networks worldwide: https://sites.google.com/site/ltedepot/home/country 

Number of LTE connections worldwide: https://sites.google.com/site/ltedepot/home/marketing/lte-subs-number 

Number of LTE 1800 networks and list: https://sites.google.com/site/ltedepot/home/by-spectrum/lte-1800 

Number of TD-LTE networks:  https://sites.google.com/site/ltedepot/home/by-technology/lte-tdd 

LTE subs to climb from 114 M in 2013 to 258 M in 2014

The Yankee Group's report notes that the Global Mobile Suppliers Association forecasts there will be 152 commercial LTE networks in 65 countries by the end of 2012, up from 47 networks at the end of 2011. As a result, Yankee predicts there will be 114 million active LTE connections globally by the end of 2013, increasing to 258 million by the end of 2014.

//fiercewireless.com

List of commercial LTE networks worldwide by Nov.2 2012

113 commercial LTE networks by 2012.11.02, Source: GSA

1. Norway, TeliaSonera (NetCom), 2009.12.14
2. Sweden, TeliaSonera, 2009.12.14 
3. Uzbekistan, MTS, 2010.07.28 (out of service as of 2012.09)
4. Uzbekistan, UCell, 2010.08.09
5. Poland, Aero2 (LTE FDD and TDD), 2010.09.07
6. USA, MetroPCS, 2010.09.21
7. Austria, A1 Telekom, 2010.11.05
8. Sweden, Telenor Sweden, 2010.11.15
9. Sweden, Tele2 Sweden, 2010.11.15
10. Hong Kong, CSL Limited, 2010.11.25
11. Finland, TeliaSonera, 2010.11.30
12. Germany, Vodafone, 2010.12.01
13. USA, Verizon Wireless, 2010.12.05
14. Finland, Elisa, 2010.12.08
15. Denmark. TeliaSonera, 2010.12.09
16. Estonia, EMT, 2010.12.17
17. Japan, NTT DoCoMo, 2010.12.24
18. Germany, Deutsche Telekom, 2011.04.05
19. Philippines, Smart Communications, 2011.04.16
20. Lithuania, Omnitel, 2011.04.28
21. Latvia, LMT, 2011.05.31
22. Singapore, M1, 2011.06.21
23. South Korea, SK Telecom, 2011.07.01
24. South Korea, LG U+, 2011.07.01
25. Germany, O2, 2011.07.01
26. Canada, Rogers Wireless, 2011.07.07
27. Austria, T-Mobile, 2011.07.28
28. USA, Mosaic Telecom, 2011.07 ??
29. Canada, Bell Mobility, 2011.09.14
30. Saudi Arabia, Mobily (LTE TDD), 2011.09.14
31. Saudi Arabia, STC (LTE TDD), 2011.09.14
32. Saudia Arabia, Zain, 2011.09.14
33. USA, AT&T Mobility, 2011.09.18
34. UAE, Etisalat, 2011.09.25
35. Australia, Telstra, 2011.09.27
36. Denmark, TDC, 2011.10.10
37. Austria, 3, 2011.11.18
38. Puerto Rico, AT&T Mobility, 2011.11.20
39. Puerto Rico, Claro, 2011.11.24 
40. Kyrgyzstan, Saima Telecom, 2011.12.09
41. Brazil, Sky Brazil (LTE TDD), 2011.12.13
42. Finland, DNA, 2011.12.13
43. Uruguay, Antel, 2011.12.13
44. USA, Cricket, 2011.12.21
45. Singapore, SingTel, 2011.12.22
46. Kuwait, Viva, 2011.12.27
47. Armenia, VivaCell-MTS, 2011.12.28
48. Bahrain, Viva Bahrain, 2012.01.01
49. Hungary, T Mobile, 2012.01.01
50. South Korea, KT, 2012.01.03
51. Russia, Yota, 2012.01.15
52. Canada, TELUS, 2012.02.10
53. USA, Peoples Telephone Co-op, 2012.02.14
54. Japan, Softbank Mobile XGP / LTE TDD, 2012.02.24
55. Portugal, TMN (Portugal Telecom), 2012.03.12
56. Portugal, Vodafone Portugal, 2012.03.12
57. Portugal, Optimus, 2012.03.15 
58. Japan, eAccess, 2012.03.15
59. USA, US Cellular, 2012.03.22
60. Croatia, T Mobile / T-Hrvatski Telekom, 2012.03.23
61. Croatia, VIPNet, 2012.03.22 
62. USA, Panhandle (PTCI), 2012.03 ??
63. Australia, NBN Co. (LTE TDD), 2012.04.02
64. India, Bharti Airtel  (LTE TDD), 2012.04.10
65. Angola, Movicel, 2012.04.14
66. Puerto Rico, Open Mobile, 2012.04.19
67. Moldova, IDC, 2012.04.21
68. Sweden, 3, FDD and TDD, 2012.04.23
69. Hong Kong (China), China Mobile HK, 2012.04.25
70. Hong Kong (China), PCCW, 2012.04.25
71. USA, Cellcom, 2012.04.30
72. USA, Pioneer Cellular, 2012.04.30
73. Netherlands, Vodafone, 2012.05.01
74. Hong Kong (China), Hutchison 3 HK, 2012.05.02
75. Netherlands, Ziggo, 2012.05.01
76. Netherlands, Tele2, 2012.05.08
77. Netherlands, KPN, 2012.05.11
78. Netherlands, T-Mobile, 2012.05.11
79. Namibia, MTC, 2012.05.16
80. USA, BendBroadband, 2012.05.17
81. Tanzania, Smile, 2012.05.30
82. UAE, Du, 2012.06.12
83. Colombia, Une-UPM, 2012.06.14
84. Azerbaijan, Azercell, 2012.06.19
85. Czech Republic, Telefonica O2, 2012.06.19
86. Mauritius, Orange. 2012.06.21
87. UK, UK Broadband (LTE TDD), 2012.06.28
88. Guam, IT&E, 2012.06.28
89. Hungary, Telecom Hungary, 2012.07.05
90. Dominican Republica, Orange Dominicana, 2012.07.09
91. Slovenia, Si.mobil, 2012.07.12
92. USA, Sprint, 2012.07.15
93. Oman, Omantel (LTE TDD), 2012.07.16
94. Australia, Optus, 2012.07.31
95. Mauritius, Emtel, 2012.07. ??
96. Slovak Republic, Telefonica O2, 2012.08.02
97. Hong Kong (China), Smartone, 2012.08.28
98. Russia, MTS (LTE TDD), 2012.09.01
99. USA, C Spire Wireless, 2012.09.10
100. Singapore, StarHub, 2012.09.19
101. Japan, KDDI, 2012.09.21
102. Japan, Softbank Mobile, 2012.09.21
103. Canada, MTS, 2012.09.25
104. Denmark, 3 Denmark, 2012.09.28
105. Philipines, Globe, 2012.09.28
106. Luxembourg, Tango, 2012.10.01
107. Guam, DoCoMo Pacific, 2012.10.04
108. Tajikistan, Babilon-Mobile, 2012.10.06
109. Norway, Telenor. 2012.10.10
110. South Africa, Vodacom, 2012.10.10
111. USA, Alaska Communications, 2012.10.12
112. Luxembourg, Orange, 2012.10.29
113. UK, EE, 2012.10.30

GSA confirms 113 commercial LTE networks are launched; over 500 user devices announced

360 operators are investing in LTE, a figure which is 45% more than a year ago, according to the GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association) in an update to its Evolution to LTE report released on November 2, 2012.

The report confirms that 113 operators have launched commercial LTE networks in 51 countries.
A further 195 commercial network deployments are in progress. GSA forecasts that 209 networks will be commercially launched in 75 countries by the end of 2013.
A total of 308 operators are firmly committed to deploy commercial LTE networks in 94 countries, including those who have launched services. A further 52 operators in 11 more countries are at a pre-commitment stage, engaged in LTE technology trials, tests or studies, etc. Many of them are expected to also decide to introduce LTE services.
77 operators have launched commercial LTE services in the past 12 months.
Summary of commercial LTE network launches annually:

• 2009 = 2
• 2010 = 15 (year-end cumulative total = 17)
• 2011 = 30 (year-end cumulative total = 47)
• 2012 to November 2 = 66 (cumulative total to date = 113)
• GSA end 2012 outlook = 166 commercial LTE networks in 70 countries
• GSA end 2013 outlook = 209 commercial LTE networks in 75 countries

LTE is the fastest developing mobile system technology ever and entering a new phase as a mainstream technology by end of 2012.
Alan Hadden, President of the GSA, said: “Regulators are responding to the need for more spectrum for mobile broadband services in all regions. Spectrum auctions were completed in recent months in Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Lithuania, Romania, and Russia and further auctions will be held over the next few months. The move towards technology-neutral licensing policy, e.g. refarming of the 1800 MHz band provides a further significant boost to spectrum supply for LTE deployments.”
The benefits from deploying LTE networks in re-farmed spectrum are increasingly recognized by regulators and the industry, emphasizing the flexibility and growing importance of 1800 MHz as a prime band for mobile broadband services delivery. LTE1800 (LTE technology deployed in 1800 MHz spectrum) is launched on 36% of all commercial LTE networks. Forty-one operators have commercially launched LTE1800 either as a single band system, or as part of a multi-band deployment, and commercial LTE1800 services are now available in 29 countries.
Eleven operators have launched commercial service using the LTE TDD mode in unpaired spectrum. The LTE standard was specified by 3GPP with an FDD mode for use in paired spectrum, and a TDD mode being the optimal solution for use in unpaired spectrum. FDD and TDD modes are fully complementary. TDD shares most of the FDD design and standards and uses a common core network, and industry commitment is strong. Some operators have commercially launched LTE service using both FDD and TDD.
According to its related research, GSA also confirms that 521 LTE user devices (including operator and frequency variants) have been announced by 79 manufacturers (November 2, 2012), representing 164% increase compared to the number of products reported by GSA one year ago (197 devices at that time).
The Evolution to LTE report was 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. The report is available as a free download to registered site users at www.gsacom.com/gsm_3g/info_papers

GSA confirms 105 commercial LTE networks are launched

October 1, 2012: 351 operators are investing in LTE, a figure which is 41% more than a year ago, according to the GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association) in an update to its Evolution to LTE report which is released today.

The report confirms that 105 operators have launched commercial LTE networks in 48 countries. (AB: See list of deployments at LTE-depot)

A further 194 network deployments are in progress. GSA forecasts that 159 networks will be commercially launched in 68 countries by the end of 2012, which is expected to rise to 195 live networks in 72 countries by the end of the following year. 

A total of 299 operators are firmly committed to deploy commercial LTE networks in 93 countries, including those who have launched services. A further 52 operators in 11 more countries are at a pre-commitment stage, engaged in LTE technology trials, tests or studies, etc. Many of them are expected to also decide to introduce LTE services.

Alan Hadden, President of the GSA, said: “LTE is providing unprecedented performance and efficiency levels for operators in both developing and mature markets, and raising the mobile broadband experience for millions of consumers and enterprise users worldwide. Businesses in the sectors beyond traditional telecoms are giving a lot of attention to how LTE can help their customers and operations.“

70 operators have launched commercial LTE services in the past 12 months.

Summary of commercial LTE network launches annually:

• 2009 = 2
• 2010 = 15 (year-end cumulative total = 17)
• 2011 = 30 (year-end cumulative total = 47)
• 2012 to October 1 = 58 (cumulative total to date = 105)
• GSA end 2012 outlook = 159 commercial LTE networks in 68 countries
• GSA end 2013 outlook = 195 commercial LTE networks in 72 countries

GSA re-affirms LTE as the fastest developing mobile system technology ever which is entering a new phase as a mainstream technology by end of 2012. 

The benefits from deploying LTE networks in re-farmed spectrum are increasingly recognized by regulators and the industry, emphasizing the flexibility and growing importance of 1800 MHz as a prime band for mobile broadband services delivery. LTE1800 (LTE in 1800 MHz spectrum) is launched on more than a third of all commercial LTE networks. Thirty-eight operators have commercially launched LTE1800 either as a single band system, or as part of a multi-band deployment. Commercial LTE1800 services are now available in 26 countries: Angola, Australia, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mauritius, Namibia, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Korea, and UAE.

Eleven operators have launched commercial service using the LTE TDD mode in unpaired spectrum, with at least another 16 commercial network deployments in progress.