GSA confirms 5,614 LTE user devices, growth in LTE-Advanced and LTE-Advanced Pro models

4 Jul 2016
Joe Barrett

The latest update to the Status of the LTE Ecosystem report by GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association) published on June 24, 2016 confirms the mainstream and fast-growing LTE user devices ecosystem with growing support for LTE-Advanced and LTE-Advanced Pro technologies. 5,614 LTE user devices, including frequency and operator variants, from 455 suppliers are verified by GSA as announced in the market. 2,361 devices have been added to GSA’s LTE devices database (GAMBoD) since June 2015, confirming 72% annual growth. The number of manufacturers participating in the LTE devices market grew 49% in the same period.

Alan Hadden, VP, GSA, said: “25% of operators have launched LTE-Advanced including 7 LTE-Advanced Pro networks. New higher performing smartphones and other devices are expected to be announced in 2H 2016 in support of the introduction of Gigabit-capable LTE networks.”

The Smartphone is the largest LTE device category. 3,580 smartphones are announced for an improved 63.8% share of all LTE device types. 98.5% of LTE smartphones are multimode, capable of operating on at least one 3G technology in addition to LTE. 56.5% of LTE smartphones can operate on 42 Mbps DC-HSPA+ networks. The LTE-connected tablet PC segment (500 devices) is also growing rapidly.

Spectrum bands

Research for this report and the related GSA-owned GAMBoD database specifically covers:

• FDD bands 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,13,14,17,18,19,20,21,25,26,27,28,29,30,31 and 32
• TDD bands 38,39,40,41,42/43,44

1800 MHz (3GPP Band 3) remains the best supported spectrum for LTE deployments, with the largest devices ecosystem (LTE1800). 3,227 devices i.e. 57.4% of all LTE devices, can operate in band 3. The next most deployed bands are 2.6 GHz (band 7): 2,993 products, and 2.1GHz (band 1): 2,613 products.

LTE-Advanced

UE device Category 4 offers an enhanced user experience and a theoretical peak downlink rate up to 150 Mbps with peak uplink up to 50 Mbps on compatible networks. 2,864 devices support speeds up to UE Category 4, i.e. 51% of all LTE devices.

Deployment of LTE-Advanced systems for Category 6 user devices is a major trend. 314 devices support speeds up to UE Category 6 including small cells, routers, MiFis, smartphones and tablets. 43 Category 9 devices are launched (up to 450 Mbps downlink) plus 1 Category 11 and 8 Category 12 UE devices (up to 600 Mbps UL/100 Mbps UL).

APT700 (band 28)

372 APT700 devices are announced, confirming the industry traction for this near-global 700 MHz band.

LTE TDD (TD-LTE)

2,141 devices i.e. almost 40% of LTE devices support the LTE TDD (TD-LTE) mode.

The smartphone category is the dominant form factor for LTE TDD (TD-LTE) devices.

Bands 40 (2.3 GHz) and 38 (2.6 GHz) have the most mature ecosystems followed by bands 41 and 39. The 3.5 GHz ecosystem (bands 42 or 43) continues to grow and 82 user terminals now available. Convergence is a strong theme and a growing trend with several devices supporting both TDD and FDD modes.

VoLTE

Operators worldwide are investing in VoLTE enabling an HD voice experience for LTE users. 430 VoLTE-capable devices including 401 smartphones are announced across all price points.

The Status of the LTE Ecosystem report published by GSA on June 24, 2016 and related graphics are available free to download by registered site users via the link at http://www.gsacom.com

Details for all 5,614 LTE user devices identified for the report are available in the GAMBoD area of the GSA website (restricted access, see http://www.gsacom.com/gambod)

Over 500 LTE networks are commercially launched in 168 countries. GSA forecasts there will be at least 550 commercial networks by end 2016.

ABOUT GSA

GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association) represents GSM/EDGE/WCDMA-HSPA/HSPA+, LTE/LTE- Advanced and future 5G suppliers. GSA brings together a global industry community of telecoms professionals through its website, reports, information papers and practical activities to inform, influence, educate, explain and promote the opportunities enabled by mobile broadband systems. The GSA website www.gsacom.com has gained over 70,000 registered users for knowledge gathering and information sharing of key facts, trends and analysis, and over 27,000 connections on GSA’s social network platforms: LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Over 1 million GSA reports, presentations, information papers, maps, charts and other resources were downloaded from www.gsacom.com in under five years.

Website http://www.gsacom.com
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/gsacom
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Global-mobile-Suppliers-Association-GSA/123462771012551
GSA on LinkedIN http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2313721
LTE User Devices LinkedIN Group: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=4146472