Until now, there have been more than 188 trial WiMAX networks around the world, whereas the number of trial commercial LTE markets is at only 132, a number that is predicted to double within the next two years. An increasing number of operators are planning to migrate from WiMAX to the LTE standard on account of LTE’s technical superiority of high bandwidth, low latency, and high spectrum efficiency. With increasing competitive pressures from LTE, WiMAX seems to be in great danger in the battle of 4G networks, especially now that Intel has dispersed its WiMAX Program Office. The biggest threat WiMAX faces is TD-LTE, an alternative technology championed by China and Qualcomm that operates on the same bandwidth and spectrum.

It can be assumed that LTE will begin replacing WiMAX networks, but there are still many insiders supporting the notion that the WiMAX standard is more mature than TD-LTE technology. Recently, in India, auction winners of BWA spectrum have tended to commercialize dual-band network service with both WiMAX and TD-LTE. Among the winners, RIL Infotel is leaning towards TD-LTE, on the condition that the industrial chain of TD-LTE is mature enough, or otherwise it will choose WiMAX.

When evaluating the maturity of the TD-LTE industry chain, the primary factor to consider is the end-to-end connection between terminals and the manufacturer. Up until the present moment, plenty of large manufacturers have announced that TD-LTE eNodeB can be produced and have actually demonstrated TD-LTE data calls.

The TD-LTE network as demonstrated by these manufacturers in the Shanghai World Expo shows that the technology is ready to go:

Alcatel-Lucent, during the World Expo in Shanghai, demonstrated the TD-LTE based HD video telephone in single 20MHz spectrum with peak downlink speeds of up to 80Mbps.

Alcatel-Lucent offers end-to-end TD-LTE solutions, including eNodeB (base station), EPC, radio module based on SDR technology which enables operators to provide 2G GSM, 3GWCDMA/HSPA +, and LTE service.

In the activities organized by China Mobile in Shanghai, Ericsson, for the first time, implemented a complete end-to-end solution for TD-LTE.  With the ST-Ericsson devices, the system successfully demonstrated VOD, video communication, and other high-speed mobile broadband applications.

Ericsson’s new base station solution, RBS6000, is part of this TD-LTE solution, with peak download speeds of up to 110Mbps.

Huawei is exclusively responsible for deploying the demo TD-LTE network within the entire outdoor network coverage of the Shanghai World Expo Park.

With its rich experience in deploying commercial and trial LTE networks worldwide, Huawei provides industry-leading end-to-end LTE solutions including fourth-generation BTS platform based eNodeB base stations and EPC.

Motorola demonstrated TD-LTE based 24-channel video streaming in Shanghai World Expo. Its end-to-end 2.3GHz TD-LTE solutions include eNodeB, EPC, Radius Server, home subscriber servers, and LTE Manager.

Motorola also provides operators with the evolution program of the WiMAX standard, from existing WiMAX 802.16e / 802.16e enhanced technology to 802.16m or TD-LTE, or they simply add LTE technology to original WiMAX networks. Motorola also announced that their WiMAX access point can be easily upgraded to 802.16m (WiMAX 2), TD-LTE, FDD LTE or LTE-Advanced Technology.

In May, Nokia Siemens implemented Mobile HD video conferencing via the connectivity between its pre-commercial TD-LTE network at the Shanghai World Expro and its trail TD-LTE network in the National Chiao Tung University.

Nokia Siemens’s integral TD-LTE solution includes base stations and core network.  Its Single RAN solution supports both paired and unpaired spectrum between identical Flexi Multiradio base stations.

During the Shanghai World Expo, ZTE and Innofidei jointly delivered a significant breakthrough for the TD-LTE industry with an Inter-Operability test (IOT) of multiple TD-LTE USB dongles in a single mobile network cell.

ZTE launched two commercial TD-LTE base stations, BBU- B8300 and RRU- R8962. ZTE’s SDR platform based B8300 base station can be upgraded from TD-SCDMA to TD-LTE or TD/TD-LTE dual mode. Two channels with 20W transmission power can be supported by R8962 base station.

ZTE provides end-to-end TD-LTE solution, such as EPC, eUTRAN, Terminals, and Chipsets.