Global LTE-A devices increase rapidly – GSA

The global mobile suppliers association (GSA) has revealed that over a thousand LTE devices have been launched globally in the past year and that a rapidly increasing proportion of those are LTE cat 4 and cat 6.

In its latest Status of the LTE Ecosystem report, the GSA said there have been 1,364 LTE user device product launches since July 2014, pushing the total up to 3,253. Additionally the number of device manufacturers jumped by 80% in the same period, taking the total to 305.

“Dozens of new LTE terminals are being launched every week with a growing share incorporating LTE-Advanced technology,” said Alan Hadden, VP of Research at the GSA. “The number of Category 4 devices rose 63% in the past 4 months, however the range of Category 6 devices quadrupled in the same period.”

The report also detailed the most supported LTE bands: 1800 MHz (3GPP band 3) is the most widely used band for LTE network deployments and benefits from having the support of the largest devices ecosystem of 1,543 devices. The next most used band is 2.6 GHz (band 7: 1,381 products) then 2.1 GHz (band 1: 1,185 products)…1,132 devices support UE Category 4, (150 Mbps downlink) i.e. 35% of all LTE devices, including 108 terminals that also support UE category 6.

In other news the ITU announced the establishment of a roadmap for the development of 5G and gave it an official name: IMT-2020.

“The buzz in the industry on future steps in mobile technology – 5G – has seen a sharp increase, with attention now focused on enabling a seamlessly connected society in the 2020 timeframe and beyond that brings together people along with things, data, applications, transport systems and cities in a smart networked communications environment,” said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao. “ITU will continue its partnership with the global mobile industry and governmental bodies to bring IMT-2020 to realization.”