Airtel 4G LTE Reach 20K Subscribers – Challenges Galore – Sunil Mittal

There is a strong industry collaboration between operators, handset vendors and component makers to accelerate TD-LTE momentum. One must note that the focus is on multi-mode solutions, given the majority of operators will launch TD-LTE as an adjunct to another service. LG Electronics noted that it has worked closely with China Mobile and Qualcomm on stabilizing the LTE network.

Intel and Broadcom have announced TD-LTE Modems. Qualcomm has announced its new RF360 chip that offers support for seven cellular modes (including TD-LTE) and all 40 cellular radio bands currently in use.

On the Mobile Handset Side, Samsung and Nokia have committed to a Dual-mode FD / TD-LTE handset due by mid-2013. The Notable support comes from LG Electronics which holds large number of 4G Mobile SmartPhone Patents. LG has demonstrated a modified Optimus G TD-LTE phone at Mobile World Congress. While it did not confirm a launch date, it pledged a full line of TD-LTE handsets for China Mobile, including both high-end and low-end models.

Bharti Airtel Chairman Mr.Sunil Mittal on India’s First 4G LTE Network

• Mittal stressed that TD-LTE will be a key part of the solution to India’s broadband challenge as the fixed-line infrastructure will never be strong
• 3G take off a bit slower than expected due in part to the limited supply of low-cost smartphones – he suggested they need to get handset supply at the USD50 level
• TD-LTE signal propagation at 2.3GHz has been worse than they expected and that the industry needs to come up with cheaper, small-cell solutions to make the technology viable in markets such as India
• Airtel 4G has 20,000 customers on TD-LTE, with no churn, as the user experience is a huge step up from weak wireline services

So if you are a RF / Networking Major, you should be thinking out of the the box to design Small Cell Data Network Solutions for the price sensitive Indian market. Any other thoughts to take the go Affordable Broadband in India ?