360 telecom operators have commercially launched 4G LTE networks and service in 124 countries in 2014 against 264 in 2013, said GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association).
# 312 operators deployed FDD mode only
# 31 operators deployed TDD mode only
# 17 operators deployed both FDD and TDD modes
96 operators launched LTE networks in 2014 alone.
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1800 MHz is the most widely used spectrum for LTE deployments with 158 LTE1800 networks in 76 countries. Almost 44 percent of LTE network deployments are using 1800 MHz. Over 42 percent of LTE user terminals can operate in the 1800 MHz band.
2.6 GHz (band 7) is the next most popular contiguous band for LTE deployments — used in over 25 percent of networks. 800 MHz (band 20) is by far the most popular sub 1 GHz coverage choice for LTE and continued to gain share with almost 1 in 5 operators globally deploying networks using this spectrum.
49 operators have commercially launched LTE-Advanced in 31 countries. 30 percent of LTE operators are currently investing in LTE-Advanced technology.
80 operators in 42 countries i.e. over 22 percent of operators are investing in VoLTE deployments, studies or trials, with 14 operators having launched HD voice service using VoLTE in 7 countries, said GSA.
107 operators i.e. almost 30 percent of LTE operators have launched, are deploying or are trialling LTE-Advanced technologies. 49 operators have commercially launched LTE-Advanced carrier aggregation in 31 countries, and this figure could double in 2015.
Earlier, Ovum said LTE subscriptions globally grew 131 percent to 373 million in Q3 2014.
Baburajan K
editor@telecomlead.com
