The Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) has published an update to its Evolution to LTE report, confirming 110 operators in 48 countries are currently investing in LTE networks.
The GSA said 80 operators have made solid commitments to deploy LTE networks in 33 countries. In April, the association reported that 64 operators were committed to LTE.
GSA predicts that up to 22 LTE networks will be up and running by the end of 2010, while at least 45 networks are expected to be in commercial service by the end of 2012. GSA anticipates that up to 22 LTE networks will be in service by end 2010, and at least 45 are expected to be in service by end 2012.
Governments in Denmark, Germany and The Netherlands have all completed auctions of spectrum in recent weeks including 2.6 GHz, the band LTE will be deployed in. Germany has also completed Europe's first auction of digital dividend spectrum in the 800 MHz band, which the winning operators also plan to deploy LTE networks.
The 2.6 GHz, 700 MHz and 800 MHz bands will be used around the world for LTE deployments, but the GSA report also notes that a number of operators are looking at deploying LTE in the 1800 MHz band.
For more:
- see this Mobile Europe article
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