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 Wireless, MetroPCS Wireless, and U.S. Cellular
- In Japan: NTT DoCoMo and KDDI
- In Europe: TeliaSonera, Tele2 and Telenor
- In South Korea: KT and SK Telecom
- 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, Ericsson, and Starent won the Verizon Wireless contract,
- NTT-DOCOMO choose Ericsson, NEC and Fujitsu,
- 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.