7:35 AM -- It's possible that TD-LTE, the time division duplex version of Long Term Evolution (LTE) that uses unpaired spectrum, could find a home in more Asia/Pacific markets than previously thought.

The technology, which China Mobile Ltd. (NYSE: CHL) is keen to see deployed globally so that it's not an isolated purchaser, is already being trialed, considered, or promoted in China, India, and Taiwan. (See Moto Demos TD-LTE in Shanghai, NSN Tests TD-LTE in Taiwan, AsiaWatch: LTE Action Heats Up, ZTE, China Mobile Test TD-LTE, Qualcomm Unveils LTE Plans for India, APAC Operators Commit to LTE, and China Mobile Fast-Tracks TD-LTE .)

Now, according to a report from TelecomAsia, Japanese mobile operator SoftBank Mobile Corp. is also mulling its use.

NTT DoCoMo Inc. (NYSE: DCM) and KDDI Corp. are already planning to deploy the frequency division duplex (FDD) version of LTE in Japan. (See KDDI Picks Challengers for LTE Deployment and DoCoMo Shells Out on LTE.)

The technology could also find a home in the US, where it is being regarded by some as a potential next-generation replacement for WiMax. (See Clearwire Paves Way for LTE in US.)

— Ray Le Maistre, International Managing Editor, Light Reading