Light Reading brings you the latest news and developments in next-gen mobile broadband technology LTE TDD

Michelle Donegan

November 15, 2010

2 Min Read
Teeing Up LTE TDD

This week, Light Reading launched its Long Term Evolution Time Division Duplex (LTE TDD) Briefing Center -- a special place at http://www.lightreading.com/lte-tdd -- that we'll run for the next several months to highlight the latest news and analysis of this up-and-coming next-generation mobile broadband technology.

The time is right to turn the spotlight on LTE TDD. In a relatively short time, LTE TDD, once just a variety of Long Term Evolution (LTE) that China Mobile Communications Corp. needed as a candidate for its next-generation mobile network, has become a potential alternative or migration option for WiMax operators worldwide, or any operator holding a license for unpaired spectrum.

China Mobile has been the driving force behind LTE TDD and, as the world's largest operator by subscribers, it is big enough to attract support for the technology from all the major equipment suppliers. But the market for this time division duplex (TDD) version of LTE is likely to go beyond China's borders, especially since Qualcomm Inc. (Nasdaq: QCOM) invested $1 billion for a 2.3GHz license in India to ensure that LTE TDD is deployed in the country. (See Qualcomm Unveils LTE Plans for India, Will Qualcomm Sell Its BWA Spectrum in India? , and Qualcomm Updates on India Exit Plan.)

That investment, made earlier this year, was a critical turning point for the technology. Even US WiMax operator Clearwire LLC (Nasdaq: CLWR) has said it will test the technology. (See Clearwire Clears Up LTE Plans and Clearwire Plans LTE Tests in the Fall.) Here's a snapshot of the most recent LTE TDD developments:

  • NSN Ups TD-LTE Ante in India

  • LTE Watch: Huawei Takes a Bullet

  • Alvarion to Support TD-LTE

  • Clearwire Paves Way for LTE in US

  • Motorola's Shanghai Hope

  • ST-Ericsson, Nokia Demo TD-LTE Devices

  • Huawei Integrates WiMax, TD-LTE

  • ZTE Unveils WiMax/TD-LTE Unit

  • Clearwire Preps TD-LTE Tests



For a refresher on China Mobile's early moves in LTE TDD, cast your eyes over these stories from the past:

  • China Mobile Flexes LTE Muscle

  • China Mobile Preps LTE Network

  • China Mobile Joins LTE Threesome

  • China Mobile Trials LTE



Be sure to keep checking in here, as we'll have more to report on LTE TDD. — Michelle Donegan, European Editor, Light Reading Mobile

About the Author(s)

Michelle Donegan

Michelle Donegan is an independent technology writer who has covered the communications industry for the last 20 years on both sides of the Pond. Her career began in Chicago in 1993 when Telephony magazine launched an international title, aptly named Global Telephony. Since then, she has upped sticks (as they say) to the UK and has written for various publications including Communications Week International, Total Telecom and, most recently, Light Reading.  

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