LTE Network Deployment Worldwide Status

LTE came into picture sometime back but still the worldwide deployment did not catch up as expected. Starting from the first quarter of 2012 many network operators already showed their interest to deploy LTE in near future.

According to the latest GSA report:

  • 338 operators are investing in LTE in 101 countries
  • 280 operator commitments in 90 countries
  • 58 pre-commitment trials in 11 more countries
  • 89 commercial networks in 45 countries
  • GSA forecasts 150 commercial LTE networks in 64 countries by end 2012

The 3GPP LTE system, which comprises FDD and TDD modes, delivers capacity and data throughput enhancements and low latency to support new services and features requiring higher levels of capability and performance. The primary drive towards LTE from operators is the need for more capacity, performance management and improved efficiencies to lower the unit cost of delivering traffic. LTE is the next step in the user experience, enhancing more demanding applications such as interactive TV, mobile video blogging, advanced gaming, and professional services. LTE supports a full IP-based network and harmonization with other radio access technologies and is the natural evolution choice for GSM/HSPA, CDMA and WiMAXTM network operators, thereby enabling a single unifying global standard for even higher scale economies and simplifying roaming. LTE is a global phenomenon.

Design targets for first LTE deployments include:

  • Instantaneous downlink peak data rate of at least 100 Mb/s within 20 MHz allocation (5 bps/Hz)
  • Instantaneous uplink peak data rate of 50 Mb/s (2.5 bps/Hz within a 20MHz uplink allocation)
  • Downlink: average user throughput per MHz, 3 to 4 times Release 6 HSDPA
  • Uplink: average user throughput per MHz, 2-3 times Release 6 Enhanced Uplink
  • E-UTRAN optimized for low mobile speed: 0-15 km/h. Higher mobile speed between 15-120 km/h should be supported with high performance. Mobility across the cellular network shall be maintained at speeds 120 km/h-350 km/h (or even up to 500 km/h depending on the frequency band)
  • Spectrum flexibility: scalable to operate in 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 MHz allocations: uplink and downlink…paired and unpaired
  • Co-existence with GERAN/3G on adjacent channels; with other operators on adjacent channels; overlapping or adjacent spectrum at country borders; handover with UTRAN & GERAN

Global Deployment of LTE Networks

Country OperatorLaunch Date
Norway
TeliaSonera
14.12.09
Sweden
TeliaSonera
14.12.09
Uzbekistan
MTS
28.07.10
Uzbekistan
UCell
09.08.10
Poland
Aero2 (LTE FDD and TDD)
07.09.10
USA
MetroPCS
21.09.10
Austria
A1 Telekom
05.11.10
Sweden
TeleNor Sweden
15.11.10
Sweden
Tele2 Sweden
15.11.10
Hong Kong
CSL Limited
25.11.10
Finland
Elisa

30.11.10
Denmark
TeliaSonera
09.12.10
Estonia
EMT
17.12.10
Japan
NTT DoCoMo
24.12.10
Germany
Deutsche Telekom
05.04.11
Philippines
Smart Communications
16.04.11
Lithuania
Omnitel
28.04.11
Latvia
LMT
31.05.11
South Korea
SK Telecom
01.07.11
South Korea
LG U+
01.07.11
Germany
O2
01.07.11
Canada
Rogers Wireless
07.07.11
Austria
T-Mobile
28.07.11
USA
Mosaic Telecom
July 2011
Canada
Bell Mobility
14.09.11
Saudi Arabia
Mobily (LTE TDD)
14.09.11
Saudi Arabia
Zain
14.09.11
USA
AT&T Mobility
18.09.11
UAE
Etisalat
25.09.11
Australia Telstra27.09.11
Denmark
TDC
10.10.11
Austria
3
18.11.11
Puerto Rico
AT&T Mobility
20.11.11
Puerto Rico
Claro
24.11.11
Kyrgyzstan
Saima Telecom
09.12.11
Brazil
Sky Brazil (LTE TDD)
13.12.11
Finland
DNA
13.12.11
Uruguay
Antel
13.12.11
USA
Cricket
21.12.11
Singapore
SingTel
22.12.11
Kuwait
Viva
27.12.11
Armenia
Vivacell-MTS
28.12.11
Bahrain
Viva Bahrain
01.01.12
Hungary
T Mobile
01.01.12
South Korea
KT
03.01.12
Russia
Yota
15.01.12
Canada
TELUS
10.02.12
USA
Peoples Telephone Co-op
14.02.12
Japan
Softbank Mobile XGP/LTE TDD
24.02.12
Portugal
TMN (Portugal Telecom)
12.03.12
Portugal
Vodafone Portugal
12.03.12
Japan
eMobile
15.03.12
USA
US Cellular
2.03.12
Croatia
T Mobile/T-Hrvatski Telekom
23.03.12
Croatia
VIPNet
23.03.12
USA
Panhandle (PTCI)
March 2012
Belarus
Yota Bel
01.04.12
Australia
NBN Co (LTE TDD)
02.04.12
India
Bharti Airtel (LTE TDD)
10.04.12
Angola
Movicel
14.04.12
Puerto Rico
Open Mobile
19.04.12
Moldova
IDC
21.04.12
Sweden
3 (LTE FDD and TDD)
23.04.12
Hong Kong
China Mobile HK
25.04.12
Hong Kong
PCCW
25.04.12
USA
Cellcom
30.04.12
USA
Pioneer Cellular
30.04.12
Netherlands
Vodafone
01.05.12
Hong Kong
Hutchison 3 HK
02.05.12
Netherlands
Ziggo
03.05.12
Netherlands
Tele2
08.05.12
NetherlandsKPN
11.05.12
NetherlandsT-Mobile
11.05.12
Namibia
MTC
16.05.12
USA
BendBroadband
17.05.12
Tanzania
Smile
30.05.12
UAE
Du
12.06.12
Colombia
Une-UPM
14.06.12
Azerbaijan
Azercell
19.06.12
Czech Rep
Telefonica O2
19.06.12
Mauritius
Orange
21.06.12
UK
UK Broadband (LTE TDD)
28.06.12
Dominican R.
Orange Dominicana
09.07.12

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *