The number of mobile operators committed to deploying LTE (Long Term Evolution) networks and offering LTE-based services to their subscribers in 2010 is now up to twelve, according to a new study from ABI Research. 

The report goes on to predict that by 2011 the number of LTE customers will reach nearly 34 million. "Spectrum availability is the primary factor impacting deployment plans," comments senior analyst Nadine Manjaro. "In countries where telecommunications regulators are making appropriate spectrum available, many operators have announced plans to launch LTE. These include the US , Sweden , China , and others. Where no such spectrum allocations exist, operators are postponing LTE plans."

The first operators intending to deploy LTE include Verizon Wireless, MetroPCS Wireless, and U.S. Cellular in the United States; NTT-DOCOMO and KDDI in Japan; TeliaSonera, Tele2 and Telenor in Europe; and the world's largest operator, China Mobile, which intends to launch in 2011. KT and SK Telecom are expected to launch in Korea 2010, but there has been little fanfare so far.

These commitments are good news for the infrastructure equipment vendors. A few operators have already announced the contracts they have awarded. Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, and Starent are the winners of a major set of contracts from Verizon Wireless. In Japan , NTT-DOCOMO, in addition to tapping the world's largest network infrastructure supplier, Ericsson, is also supporting local vendors NEC and Fujitsu.

TeliaSonera has chosen Ericsson and Huawei, while its fellow Scandinavian operators Tele2 and Telenor are also thought likely to settle on Huawei, which is proving a formidable competitor.

"The operators are looking for strong partners," says Manjaro. "Operators want to know their vendors be staying in business, that they'll have the equipment ready early, and that they are financially strong enough to collaborate in developing new services and solutions."
Ian Channing