4G LTE deployments stall

Key deployments of TD-LTE systems, the backbone of 3G and burgeoning 4G mobile technologies, have recently stalled, both globally and nationally.

In the U.S., the 4G mobile network carrier Clearwire has announced that it may deploy portions of its latest TD-LTE network build. As reported by CED Magazine, the company is delaying the roll-out of 5,000 TD-LTE cell sites for a network that will will eventually overlay 8,000 WiMAX cell sites after the first phase of construction is complete.

Across the oceans, the government of India is also reportedly planning to stall major TD-LTE deployments till 2014, as are other countries in the region, as reported by Telecom Lead. The report cites analysis from TBR saying that "for the remainder of 2012, activity in Asia Pacific region will slow as Japan and South Korea complete their initial LTE builds and China and India stall TD-LTE deployment until at least 2014 due to a variety of political factors."

The report also cites an analyst note from ABI Research which says that "fuelled by investments by Bharti Airtel and Reliance Industries, TD-LTE subscriber adoption in India will reach 5 million by 2013. The telecom research firm said WCDMA and TD-LTE subscriber adoption will eclipse 90 million and 5 million by 2013, respectively."

Also cited in theTelecom Lead report, associated analysis from Parks Associates contends that the Asia Pacific region will lead the 4G LTE market by 2016, with largest gains in South Korea and Japan; and that the Asia and Pacific region will eventually overtake North America in number of 4G/LTE subscribers, with more than 53 percent of 4G/LTE subscribers. Globally, the total number of subscribers to the technology is projected to be over 560 million by 2016.

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