The LTE device eco-system has seen a 155 per cent rise in model  numbers over the last six months, a report from the GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association) has revealed. The GSA’s latest “Evolution to LTE” report shows that a total of 45 manufacturers are now producing a total of 161 LTE-enabled devices, an increase of 64 per cent since the last report in March 2011.

The full report, available as free download for registered users from the GSA web site, lists every device by manufacturer, model and form factor, the frequency of the device and whether it is based on FDD or TDD technology.

Alan Hadden, President of GSA, said in a statement, “The majority of LTE user devices are focused on the 700 MHz band where LTE networks and services are developing fastest. As LTE network rollouts accelerate in other regions, particularly in Europe and Asia Pacific where operators will primarily be using 2600 MHz, 1800 MHz and digital dividend spectrum, we expect manufacturers will quickly follow in support with products for those markets.”

The report also notes that 100 products support HSPA or HSPA+ as fall back.

The break down works out as:

Owners of the Motorola Xoom tablet have been waiting for some time for an LTE upgrade module to appear, even though the manufacturer has promised that it would arrive soon after the Xoom’s release back in February. The latest reports say the upgrade module will now arrive in September and will be retrofitted to existing devices by the vendor. Meanwhile, it is still unknown whether or not the next iPhone will feature LTE technology.

According to the last GSA report, there are now 218 operators across 81 countries investing in LTE.

The sixth annual LTE Asia conference, takes place in Suntec, Singapore, on the 5-7th September 2011