A recent report for 4G Americas showed Latin America has 72 commercial deployments of HSPA technology in 31 countries, and of those, 32 have been upgraded to HSPA+ in 20 countries. In addition, there are five commercial LTE networks and 300,000 LTE connections are expected by the end of 2012.
At the end of 2011, Latin America had more than 74 million HSPA connections included in the 604 million subscriptions to GSM/HSPA, a technology combination that accounted for 95% market share of all mobile connections in the region. The 4G Americas report also noted that of the 21 million GSM/HSPA connections added during the final three months of 2011, 9.5 million were to HSPA-based services.
In line with the 4G Americas numbers, the Global Mobile Suppliers Association released a report showing 300 operators worldwide have committed to commercial LTE network deployments or are engaged in trials, technology testing or studies. That number is a 50% increase over the past year and includes TDD and FDD versions of the LTE standard.
According to the GSA, LTE services are now available in 32 countries and there are 242 firm commercial LTE network deployments either in deployment, commercially launched or are planned in 81 countries.
Another 59 operators in 14 additional countries are engaged in LTE technology trials, tests or studies, the GSA noted, adding that 57 LTE operators have launched commercial services, which is 40% higher than one year ago.
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