Teeing Up LTE TDD

LTE TDD News Analysis Michelle Donegan 11/15/2010

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:

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

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