Telefónica O2 is currently trialing LTE in Slough, UK. O2 has deployed six 4G mobile cell towers and are capable of handling the same volume of traffic as O2's entire UK 3G network.
Global LTE phone shipments will grow tenfold from 6.8 million units in 2011 to reach 67 million units in 2012, Strategy Analytics said last week. Companies leading the growth spurt will include Apple, Samsung, HTC and others. Major countries driving LTE growth this year will include the United States, Japan and South Korea.
While India's Telecom Industry was recently in news due to recent 3G & BWA auctions and expected TD-LTE deployments from winners Qualcomm & RIL (Infotel), another giant step by TELECOM REGU
87 million 4G devices are expected to be sold in 2012, says ABI Research. With 294% year-on-year increase, 4G subscriptions are really going to take off in 2012. LTE will take major share of this market as WiMAX is running out of favor from vendors and operators.
Recently published GSA report confirms that 63 manufacturers have announced 347 LTE-enabled user devices so far. In 2011. around 250 new LTE user devices were added. GSA further says that the number of smartphones has increased by one third since January 2012. The number of LTE-capable tablets increased 72% in the same period.
T-Mobile, USA is offering HSPA+ services in almost 50 major metropolitan areas now (claiming 4G speeds) and its first HSPA+ smartphone is planned for this summer (rumored Android device from HTC).<
United Mobile Apps, a Bangalore, India based startup has raised series A funding of $1 million, led by Mumbai Angels. Company plans to use this funding to focus on 4G LTE Technology and also to scale up its employee count in the next few months.
MetroPCS plans to release a Android-based LTE smartphone in the first quarter of 2011. Last month MetroPCS launched It's first Android smartphone LG Optimus M(TM).