The Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) has published a report, “Status of the LTE Ecosystem.” As per the findings of the report, in 2013, 154 mobile handset vendors forayed into the manufacturing of long term evolution (LTE) based handsets. Going forward, these manufacturers plan to introduce about 1,563 LTE-enabled user devices. In the past year, the LTE device market witnessed a growth of 90 per cent with the launch of 742 LTE user devices.

The number of LTE-enabled device manufacturers increased by 58 per cent and stood at 154 companies in 2013. According to GSA, smartphones emerged as the largest device category with 40 per cent share in the LTE-enabled handset market. The numbers of LTE-connected personal hotspots (Mi-Fi) and tablets also witnessed significant growth. At present, 1800 MHz (3 GPP band 3) is the most widely used spectrum band by LTE operators in most regions.  GSA states that 43 per cent of LTE networks use 1800 MHz band, either as a single band, or as part of a multi-band deployment.

The findings of the report indicate that in 2013, handset vendors announced the launch of 589 LTE-enabled devices supporting 1800 MHz band (band 3), representing annual growth of 152 per cent. Currently, the majority of terminals operate in the frequency division duplex (FDD) mode. However, 387 devices support the LTE time division duplex (LTE-TDD) and LTE-FDD mode. Over 11 per cent of LTE operators have deployed the TDD mode in their networks. Almost 90 per cent of LTE operators have also deployed 3G network technologies (high speed packet access (HSPA), HSPA+, enhanced voice-data optimised or time division synchronous code division multiple access). The report underlines that multimode LTE/3G user terminals help deliver enhanced mobile broadband for customers throughout an operator’s service area. As a result, at the end of 2013, 99 per cent of LTE smartphones were multimode, capable of operating on 3G networks.

Further, GSA states that HSPA is the most widely used 3G technologies. At present, HSPA technology has been deployed in 547 commercially launched networks across the world. Over two thirds of these operators have introduced HSPA+ technology.

Increasingly, operators are investing in 42 Mbps DC-HSPA+ systems. Operators are also investing in LTE-Advanced technologies, initially using carrier aggregation to increase data throughput, improve utilisation of assets and network efficiency, and enhance user experience. Operators in 25 countries have commercially launched networks which support Category 4 user devices, with a peak downlink rate up to 150 Mbps. A total of 233 Category 4 user devices (about 15 per cent of all LTE user devices) are going to be launched over the next year.

Further, currently worldwide 57 mobile phones support voice over LTE. At the end of 2013, the number of global LTE networks stood at 275. About 101 countries have support for commercial LTE networks. GSA forecasts that by end of 2014, the number of commercial LTE networks will stand at 350.