LTE device announcements rocket 155% in six months – GSA

The number commercially announced LTE devices has surged by 155% since February, according to a report by the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA), with routers and mobile WiFi hotspots accounting for the largest growth of any product category, with a 294% increase in the number of devices unveiled during the last six months.
The report published by the industry body late last week revealed that 45 manufacturers have announced 161 LTE-enabled products; however, although the number of LTE devices is rising rapidly, the GSA said that demand is largely being driven by one operator: U.S. mobile giant Verizon. "The majority of LTE user devices are focused on the 700 MHz band where LTE networks and services are developing the fastest," said Alan Hadden, president of the GSA, in a statement.
Hadden told Total Telecom on Monday that this is because "Verizon has a very aggressive [network] rollout plan." However, he insisted that "when we see similar activity in other regions we'll see [devices] rollout in those areas too." Additionally, the report showed that there are around 100 devices that support both HSPA or HSPA+, as well as LTE. Hadden said it is unlikely that older 3G technologies will be replaced any time soon. "The evidence is clear that operators are committing to both LTE and HSPA," he said. "It's not either/or."
Despite the GSA's claims that LTE is the "fastest developing mobile system technology ever" there are currently only eight smartphones that utilise the technology - half of which have been developed by Samsung – and eight tablets – three of which are courtesy of China's ZTE. Most of the 161 devices that the GSA lists are either routers (39%), or USB modems (26%). The number of LTE smartphones and tablets announced has grown by just 33% since February.
The GSA maintains that LTE will continue to expand and develop faster than any other mobile network technology. Currently 218 operators across 81 countries are investing in LTE, and Hadden predicted at the beginning of July that 91 networks will be in commercial service by the end of 2012

---