Indian operator Tikona Digital Networks plans to buy $200M worth of LTE equipments from top vendors, reports the Economic Times. Operator has floated a request for proposals (RFP) from vendors for LTE network gear to deploy wireless broadband networks in the five circles it has license to operate.
Following yesterday's MetroPCS announcement of unlimited data, T-Mobile USA also unveiled a truly Unlimited Nationwide Data plan over it 4G HSPA+ Network. Available starting Sept.
MetroPCS has unveiled a promotional 4G LTE service plan with unlimited talk, text and 4G LTE data for only $55 per month for a single line however it is only available for a limited time. Families can get this offer for $50 per month on the account’s second, third and fourth lines.
Research In Motion (RIM) has introduced the new 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook tablet with built-in support for cellular networks. Company is launching the LTE tablet in Canada first.
Sprint and Motorola Mobility have announced Motorola PHOTON Q™ 4G LTE, the next generation of last summer’s popular Motorola PHOTON™ 4G. The new device will boast a five-row, PC-like QWERTY keyboard, international capabilities and a generous 4.3-inch ColorBoost™ display, as well as the ability to operate on Sprint’s new lightning-fast 4G LTE network2.
The number of LTE user devices announced in the market has more than tripled over the past year and 67 manufacturers have so far announced 417 LTE-enabled user devices, confirmed GSA. The figures include 83 LTE smartphones and 31 tablets. 68 out of 417 devices can operate in the TDD mode.
TD-LTE has now wider acceptance across the globe and is expected to make significant part of LTE subscriber growth in coming years thanks to Asia-Pacific market, the main growth engine for TD-LTE. According to study of Ovum 25% of all LTE connections will include LTE TDD by 2016.
The TD-LTE subscriber base in India will reach 67 million by the end of 2017, predicts Maravedis-Rethink. With overall stagnant 2011 broadband penetration at 13.35 million primarily DSL subscribers, the Indian market represents a significant growth opportunity for the broadband wireless sector, says the new report.
A recent LTE report from GSA confirms that commercial networks quadrupled in 12 months and so far 80 LTE operators have launched commercial services. In 2012, 33 networks has been launched till June 4. This figure includes 7 commercial LTE TDD systems which are launched in Brazil, India, Japan, Poland, Saudi Arabia and Sweden.
A new Traffic and Market Report from Ericsson says that 85 percent of the world's population will have internet coverage via 3G by 2017 and there will be close to nine billion mobile subscriptions, compared to six billion by the end of 2011. Report expects mobile data traffic to grow by 15 times between 2011 and 2017.
LTE subscriptions around the world may exceed 40 million by the end of 2012 says ABI Research. This will represent a fourfold increase over the nine million global LTE subscriptions in 2011. The wide range of expected LTE smartphone launches in 2012 from major mobile manufacturers are the main reason behind the increase in LTE subscriptions.
GSA has confirmed that 72 LTE operators have launched commercial LTE services, including 25 networks launched so far in 2012. Commercial LTE services are now available today in 37 countries.
Sony Mobile Communications has launched two new LTE Android smartphones Xperia GX and Xperia SX for the Japanese market. LTE enabled Xperia smartphones support download speeds of up to 75mbps and comes with 1.5GHz dual core processors for faster performance and Reality Display. Xperia GX and Xperia SX will be available in the Japanese market from summer 2012.
The Small Cell Forum says that public access small cells could play a key role in providing additional mobile coverage, capacity and new services in both urban and rural areas.