GSA confirms LTE user devices doubled: 1,371 products launched, LTE TDD grows share

January 24, 2014: The latest update to the ‘Status of the LTE Ecosystem’ report published today by the GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association) confirms that 132 manufacturers have announced 1,371 LTE-enabled user devices, including frequency and carrier variants.

705 new LTE user devices were launched in the past year, representing 106% annual growth. The number of manufacturers increased by 52% in the same period.

Smartphones, the largest device category, increased th eir share to 39% of all LTE device types.

99% of LTE smartphones are multimode, capable of operating on 3G networks (i.e. HSPA/HSPA+ or EV-DO or TD-SCDMA technologies). 33% of LTE phones can operate on 42 Mbps DC-HSPA+ systems.

The report covers LTE FDD and/or TDD devices. The majority of terminals are designed for operation in the FDD mode. Importantly, 304 products can operate in the LTE TDD (TD-LTE) mode, which is 180 higher than a year ago and represents strong and accelerating growth. Over 10% of commercial LTE networks have deployed the LTE TDD mode, according to GSA data published earlier this month.

The largest LTE device ecosystems are as follows:

FDD bands:

2600 MHz band 7 = 493 devices
1800 MHz band 3 = 483 devices
2100 MHz band 1 = 354 devices
800 MHz band 20 = 335 devices
700 MHz bands 12, 17 = 308 devices
AWS band 4 = 303 devices
700 MHz band 13 = 261 devices
850 MHz band 5 = 243 devices900 MHz band 8 = 205 devices
1900 MHz band 2 = 149 devices
1900 MHz band 25 = 92 devices

TDD bands:

2600 MHz band 38 = 215 devices
2300 MHz band 40 = 207 devices
2600 MHz band 41 = 81 devices
1900 MHz band 39 = 80 devices
3500 MHz bands 42, 43 = 15 devices

(totals include carrier and operator variants)

Alan Hadden, President of the GSA, said: “We learned that over half of the latest LTE device announcements included support for 1800 MHz (Band 3), which is the most commonly used spectrum globally in LTE network deployments. Very soon 1800 MHz will have the largest device ecosystem. Support for LTE TDD (TD-LTE) devices has also significantly strengthened.”

Operators in at least 25 countries have commercially launched networks that support Category 4 user devices, which have a peak downlink rate up to 150 Mbps. A total of 142 user devices support Category 4.

For the first time GSA provides de tails about VoLTE-capable devices. Operators have generally launched or are planning to introduce HD voice as the first service offer enabled by VoLTE on their LTE networks. The report confirmed that 42 VoLTE phones, including carrier and frequency variants, have been launched.

GSA recently confirmed that 263 LTE networks have commercially launched in 93 countries (Evolution to LTE report, January 15, 2014). More than 10% of commercial LTE networks have deployed the LTE TDD mode. 28 LTE TDD systems are commercially launched in 21 countries, including 13 operators who use FDD and TDD modes in their operations.

GSA forecasts that there will be at least 350 LTE networks in commercial service by end 2014. Regular updates on market developments will be provided throughout the year.

The GSA Status of the LTE Ecosystem report (January 24, 2014) is available as a free download to registered site users via the link at http://www.gsacom.com/gsm3g/infop apers

(Registration page for new site users http://www.gsacom.com/php/register_form)

The Evolution to LTE report (January 15, 2014) is also available as a free download to registered site users via the link at http://www.gsacom.com/gsm3g/infopapers

Numerous charts, maps etc. confirming the progress of mobile broadband developments including LTE are also available at http://www.gsacom.com/news/statistics

LTE User Devices LinkedIN Group www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=4146472

GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association) represents GSM/EDGE, WCDMA-HSPA and LTE suppliers, providing reports, facts, analysis and information explaining market developments and trends. Through its website www.gsacom.com GSA supports a global community which includes over 61,000 registered users. More than 250,000 reports, information papers and other materials are downloaded from the GSA site annually.

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