ABI Research: A dozen operators launching LTE next year
By Dusan Belic on Saturday, June 27th, 2009 at 2:28 AM PST In Research
ABI Research is out with the new report, suggesting that mobile operators will start deploying LTE (Long Term Evolution) networks and offering LTE-based services to their subscribers during next year. As a matter of fact, they argue that at least 12 operators from around the world will do so:
- In the US: Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless, MetroPCS Wireless, and U.S. Cellular
- In Japan: NTT DoCoMo (NYSE: DCM) and KDDI
- In Europe: TeliaSonera, Tele2 and Telenor
- In South Korea: KT and SK Telecom (NYSE: SKM)
- China Mobile will start building its LTE network as well, but will start offering LTE-based services in 2011
These commitments are good news for the infrastructure equipment vendors, and a few operators have already announced the contracts they have awarded. For instance:
- Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU), Ericsson, and Starent won the Verizon Wireless contract,
- NTT-DOCOMO choose Ericsson, NEC and Fujitsu (OTCPK: FJTSY),
- TeliaSonera – Ericsson and Huawei,
- while Tele2 and Telenor are thought likely to settle on Huawei.
More information about ABI’s report titled “LTE – GSM Long Term Evolution” is available from their website.
