2014/11/10 TD-LTE will increasingly be used to support the delivery of superfast mobile broadband services

The increasing consumption of high-speed mobile data applications by LTE devices (video on demand (VoD) for example, which typically requires 5Mbps1) requires operators to consider how best to satisfy demand. Analysys Mason anticipates that worldwide wireless network traffic will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 42.6% between 2013 and 20182, with LTE devices in North America, developed Asia–Pacific and elsewhere accounting for up to 90% of mobile traffic in 2018.

Many mobile networks were planned to carry voice, and operators therefore typically used ‘low-order’ spectrum (sub-1GHz) to maximise coverage and acquired spectrum in small channel sizes (5–10MHz). Voice-orientated (FD) networks are not necessarily conducive to supporting users’ bandwidth and ubiquitous data availability needs. This means operators need to think how best to use spectrum and network assets to satisfy users’ data needs.

Operators can use TD-LTE to combine spectrum from different bands to create larger channels

TD-LTE enables operators to combine spectrum from different frequency bands, using carrier aggregation (CA), to create larger channels of up to 100MHz. This supplements what is possible through using FD-LTE alone, since there is a greater abundance of TD-LTE spectrum available in different bands compared with FD-LTE. Unpaired spectrum in higher-frequency bands is also often available more cheaply than spectrum in lower bands.

Operators can also use TD-LTE to deliver coverage in dense locations using small cells and FD-LTE to provide wide-area coverage. Spectrum above 2GHz is ideally suited to small cells since shorter propagation distances minimise interference, which simplifies radio planning and ongoing management and support.

Forty operators worldwide had deployed TD-LTE networks at the end of September 2014 (see Figure 1).3  This includes Bharti Airtel (India), Optus (Australia) and Sprint (USA), with CA being used to deliver high bandwidth. Optus has been able to achieve speeds of 220Mbps using CA technology.

Figure 1: Status of TD-LTE network deployments worldwide, September 2014 [Source: GSA, Analysys Mason, 2014]

A combination of TD-LTE and FD-LTE enables operators to avoid network congestion and improve QoE

Combining TD-LTE with FD-LTE as ‘One LTE’ enables operators to manage network resources more efficiently, compared with using FD-LTE alone. This is possible by switching dual-mode devices from one network technology to another, matching resources to user data needs. One LTE provides operators with an opportunity to route heavy mobile broadband users to TD-LTE and lighter users to FD-LTE. This means operators can avoid network congestion and maximise users’ quality of experience (QoE).

The increasing availability of multi-band and multi-technology devices supports the opportunity for operators to deploy TD-LTE and One LTE. At the end of July 2014, TD-LTE accounted for more than 20% of all LTE handsets, and more than 300 multi-mode TD/FD-LTE devices were available from vendors including Huawei, Samsung and ZTE.

We expect more operators to deploy TD-LTE and One LTE networks, which can deliver speeds well above 150Mbps; in fact some operators are already offering speeds in excess of 200Mbps, with roadmaps in place to offer more than 1Gbps. Device manufacturers are continuing to expand the number and range of devices that support TD-LTE and One LTE, providing the strong ecosystem that operators need to address the varied requirements of the global mobile economy.

For more information about the drivers for deploying TD-LTE, the operators that have deployed multi-mode and multi-technology networks, the benefits of deploying these networks, and vendors’ support for TD-LTE technologies, please download Analysys Mason’s white paper TD-LTE networks will drive the rise of superfast mobile broadband networks.


Source: Analysys Mason