LTE’s big problem: spectrum fragmentation

LTE is a far more unified standard than 3G technologies but it has a big problem - the huge range of frequencies being deployed.

A GSMA study estimates that LTE will be used in 38 different spectrum combinations by 2015 – “a fragmented scenario fuelled by ongoing spectrum auctions, licence renewals and re-farming initiatives.”

"Given the backwards compatibility already required for either HSPA or EV-DO connectivity, we are unlikely to see a 'world' device in a handset form-factor soon," said Wireless Intelligence senior analyst Joss Gillet, lead author of the report.

Right now, the greatest fragmentation is in Asia-Pacific: Japanese networks use 2.1Ghz, China’s (including Hong Kong) 2.5Mhz and southeast Asia 1800MHz.

Indeed, 2.5-26GHz band is the most widely-used today, accounting for over half of live networks.

But by 2015, with more than 200 commercial networks in operation, that’s expected to fall to one-third, with re-farmed 2G and 3G spectrum accounting for another third and the 700/800MHz digital dividend band about one quarter.

One immediate response to this has been to spark up lobbying for the re-farming of 1800MHz, a widely-held 2G band.

Vendor group, the GSM Suppliers’ Association, last month published a report calling for 1800 to be deployed for LTE.

With Telstra, Deutsche Telekom, CSL and Qualcomm among its sponsors, the report was aimed at getting vendors and chip-makers to build 1800MHz products, CSL CTO Christian Daigneault told Electric Speech.