Latest GSA report states that LTE TDD is not following the same global deployment trend as LTE FDD. According to the latest status 113 LTE operators have launched commercial services in 51 countries and most of the deployments used LTE FDD (Paired Spectrum). Out of 113 only 11 LTE deployments are done in unpaired spectrum (LTE TDD).
Significant spectrum resources are suitable for LTE TDD within globally assigned IMT bands for mobile communications. The largest contiguous bands are at 2.3 GHz (100 MHz i.e. 3GPP band 40) and within the 2.6 GHz band (50 MHz according to the CEPT band plan i.e. 3GPP band 38). These are the main bands for LTE TDD systems deployments in Europe, India, China and elsewhere in Asia Pacific region, in the Middle East, and beyond.
China also has spectrum suitable for TDD deployments in band 39 (1880-1920 MHz). An LTE TDD system is being deployed using 2496-2690 MHz spectrum (band 41) in the USA. A commercial LTE TDD network has been launched in the UK using 3.5/3.6 GHz spectrum. In the USA, the FCC is considering making 100 MHz of 3.5 GHz spectrum available to meet the high-speed data.
List of LTE TDD systems lunched till now
| Country | Operator | Frequency | 3GPP band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poland | Aero2 (FDD and TDD) | 2.6 GHz | Band 38 |
| Saudi Arabia | Mobily | 2.6 GHz | Band 38 |
| Saudi Arabia | STC | 2.3 GHz | Band 40 |
| Brazil | Sky Brasil Servicos | 2.6 GHz | Band 38 |
| Japan | Softbank Mobile XGP/LTE TDD | 2.6 GHz | Band 41 |
| Australia | NBN Co | 2.3 GHz | Band 40 |
| India | Bharti Airtel | 2.3 GHz | Band 40 |
| Sweden | 3 Sweden (FDD and TDD) | 2.6 GHz | Band 38 |
| UK | UK Broadband | 3.5 GHz, 3.6 GHz | Bands 42, 43 |
| Oman | Omantel | 2.3 GHz | Band 40 |
| Russia | MTS (Moscow) | 2.6 GHz | Band 38 |
According to GSA forecast there will be 200+ commercial deployments of LTE systems in more than 75 countries by 2013.