Business News Americas | January 18, 2011 | Patrick Nixon
LTE is the fastest-developing system in the history of mobile telecommunications, with 180 operators around the world investing in the technology, but a lack of regulatory clarity is the main obstacle holding back Latin America, Alan Hadden, president of the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA), told BNamericas.
The GSA’s most recent report confirmed 128 operator commitments to deploy commercial LTE systems in 52 countries, and a further 52 “pre-commitment trials” or pilots in an additional 18 countries.
By comparing the number of operator commitments six months and 12 months after the first commercial launches for HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+ and LTE, the latter is the fastest-developing mobile communications system technology ever, Hadden said.
“LTE technology has achieved maturity. Several networks have been launched; there are commitments and trials around the world. From a technical point of view it is understood. The market knows it has to go there and the markets that are really pressing ahead are those where regulatory conditions are clear. That’s the only part that is missing in Latin America,” Hadden said.
According to the GSA, Brazil, Colombia and Chile are the countries in the region that have made firm commitments to deploy commercial LTE networks, while Mexico, Peru and Argentina are at the pre-commitment or trial stage.
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