The number of LTE subscriptions increased almost 10-fold in the year to September 2012, reaching 44 million.

Alan Hadden, President of the GSA, said: “With 145 LTE networks commercially launched and over 560 user devices announced in the market supporting millions of customers worldwide, LTE technology is mainstream and firmly established as the fastest developing mobile system technology ever.”

The majority of network deployments use the FDD mode of the LTE standard, operating in paired spectrum. 1800 MHz (3GPP band 3) has emerged as the dominant band for LTE network deployments in virtually all regions of the world. The report confirms that 58 operators i.e. 40% of all commercial LTE operators, use 1800 MHz spectrum either as a single band system, or as part of a multi-band deployment, in 39 countries. At least another 22 LTE1800 network deployments are in progress in the Asia Pacific region, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Manufacturers including all the leading brands have ensured a wide choice of LTE user devices which can operate in 1800 MHz spectrum. GSA earlier confirmed that 130 LTE products, almost 1 in 4, support LTE1800. Many additional operators are engaged in trials or studies, therefore 1800 MHz is likely to remain the prime band for LTE, and a key enabler for international roaming, in the foreseeable future.

Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GSA)