Taiwan makers need to venture into LTE technology

Taiwan-based chipmakers, handset makers and telecom CPE suppliers need to venture into LTE technology, as more and more carriers, including NTT DoCoMo and China Mobile, have announced they will step up their LTE and TD-LTE infrastructure deployments, market watchers have commented.

NTT DoCoMo CEO Ryuji Yamada has announced, at the Mobile Asia Congress currently being held in Hong Kong, that NTT DoCoMo has decided to skip deployment of HSPA+ networks and instead will directly roll out LTE infrastructure in 2010, indicated the observers.

At the same venue, Wang Jiangzhou, chairman of China Mobile, also stated that China Mobile will demonstrate trial operation of the world's first commercial TD-LTE network at the forthcoming Shanghai Expo 2010.

Additionally, Qualcomm will also launch chips supporting China's homegrown TD-LTE technology in 2010, according to CEO Paul Jacobs.

Although a total of seven Taiwan-based companies and organizations, including HTC (High Tech Computer), Asustek Computer, Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) and the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), have joined 3GPP for the development of related LTD technology and products, most Taiwan-based network equipment makers are still focusing on the deployment of WiMAX products, pointed out the industry watchers.

According to latest data from the GSM Association, there are now 42 LTE network commitments in 21 countries, with LTE deployments increasing by 35% over the past six months.