4G LTE is poised to become the leading source of wireless infrastructure spending by 2013. In a recent study by the analyst group HIS iSuppli, global capital spending on LTE technology is expected to reach $24.3 billion by 2013, nearly tripling the estimated $8.7 billion that is to be spent in 2012. This increased growth in LTE infrastructure spending is fueled by the large number of mobile network operators who are deploying 4G LTE networks worldwide. Within the US, the largest 4G LTE carriers include Verizon, AT&T and Sprint. Globally, the number of 4G LTE carriers has expanded from 160 in 2010 to around 200 in 2012.

Increased customer demand for LTE equipment will help the market to grow by over 45 percent over the next 5 years. Affordable smartphones and the innovation in the app community open up new markets in both developed and developing economies. This opening allows carriers to invest in 4G LTE infrastructure to accommodate the rising demand for data consumption via smartphones.

IHS director Jagdish Rebello stated in the released report that “while 3.5G remains the dominant air interface technology in the mobile infrastructure market, the 4G LTE space has been gaining momentum. This trend started in the second half of 2009 when some wireless operators in Europe, North America, Japan and South Korea started to deploy LTE technology…And such widespread support will drive carrier spending on LTE to surpass 3.5G by next year.” The domination of wireless infrastructure budgets by 4G LTE in 2013 is all but a reality.

LightSquared and Quantum Networks have signed a new wholesale network agreement that allows Quantum to bundle 4G wireless connectivity with its products. LightSquared, a wholesale carrier that plans to build a nationwide wireless broadband network and Quantum, a global leader in wireless solutions, are both thrilled by this mutually beneficial agreement. The deal allows Quantum to become a “one-stop-shop” by bundling connectivity with its retail devices to offer their customers access to reliable wireless broadband services.

By offering 4G connectivity as a wholesale service, LightSquared also allows its partner, Quantum to take advantage of a new access to wireless broadband service and offer services beyond the traditional offerings.

In a statement, Ari Zoldan, CEO of Quantum, said, “”With LightSquared, we can now go the final mile and deliver the most advanced wireless services to our customers.” He added, “Before, we were only able to meet customers halfway while they scrambled for reliable connectivity. Now we can offer a complete communications solution while also maximizing our revenue opportunity.”

Quantum is part of a growing number of companies who are looking to tap into LightSquared advanced 4G network. Quantum just became LightSquared’s 33^rd wholesale customer among other wireless carriers, device manufacturers and mobile content providers. Executives at both companies hope that the new partnership is one that opens up new revenue streams and fosters entrepreneurship and competition within the U.S wireless market.

LightSquared has expressed outrage at a leaked government report over the findings of GPS interference tests that were concluded last week. The report, that was leaked by Bloomberg News, stated that the tests had shown that LightSquared’s LTE network would interfere with 75 percent of GPS devices tested. LightSquared has retaliated by issuing a statement that confirms that the report was based on selective data and reflected power levels 32 times higher than LightSquared actually plans to use.

“It is apparent that this leak was intended to damage LightSquared’s reputation, spread false information in the marketplace, and prejudice public opinion against LightSquared” before a full analysis of the rest results is presented to the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) and other key agencies, LightSquared CEO Sanjiv Ahuja said in a letter to the co-chairs of the National Executive Committee for Space-based PNT. He asked for a public statement to clarify the information and an investigation into the circumstances of the leak.

The company believes that the FCC will make a decision in their favor sometime in the first quarter of next year. Last month, the National Coordination Office for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) oversaw the second set of tests to determine the danger of interference. The PNT will then report its conclusions to the FCC. LightSquared also contends that only 14 of the 93 GPS receivers tested were affected by the LTE network. LightSquared’s network is scheduled to undergo another round of testing in January, after which the FCC will make a final decision on the proposed LTE network.

Verizon Wireless is expanding its cache of expensive smartphones, all of which are priced at $299 with a two- year contract. The company hopes that customers will be drawn to Verizon because of its reputation for high- speed mobile connectivity and network quality. The latest phone to released from Verizon in this price range is Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus. Verizon is to start selling the device before the end of this month for $299.99 with the two-year contract, following the similar releases of the HTC Rezound and the Droid RAZR.

The increased cost of these phones with Verizon is helping the company to create a specific high-cost niche for itself. While most other carriers have slashed prices and even offered phones online at no cost, Verizon continues to offer a variety of smartphones priced significantly higher than phones at most other carriers like AT&T and Sprint Nextel.

“It used to be that $199 was the top of the heap, the most you were going to pay,” said Charles Golvin, a Forrester Research analyst. “Verizon clearly believes that with their 4G network coverage and reputation they can appeal to a segment that will pay a little more for the latest and greatest.”

The strategy allows Verizon to pay a lower subsidy, which is the difference in price that Verizon pays manufacturers from what customers pay for a phone with a contract. Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus is extremely anticipated by Verizon customers. Developed in conjunction with Google’s Ice Cream Sandwich Android platform, the Galaxy Nexus is also important for Samsung as it hopes to displace HTC as the US’ top smartphone seller. With Verizon’s 4G LTE service that guarantees high download speeds, customers will be more enticed by phones like the Galaxy Nexus which have more features like larger screens and faster processors. The promise of high-speed connectivity coupled with an advanced smartphone is what Verizon hopes will entice its customers to pay $299 for their mobile devices with contracts.

As Verizon celebrated the first anniversary of its 4G LTE network yesterday, it also confirmed the increase in its spectrum purchases. The company continued to invest in additional spectrum and exchanged spectrum licenses with Leap Wireless for $200 million. Under the terms of the deal, Leap will purchase 12 MHz of spectrum in Chicago from Verizon for $204 million. In turn, Verizon will buy spectrum from Leap for $188 million in a number of U.S markets. The deal is seen as a financial boost for Leap.

“Together, these transactions will allow us to strengthen our spectrum position in our Chicago market and receive net cash proceeds of more than $100 million, after repayment of indebtedness and estimated transaction fees,” Doug Hutcheson, Leap’s president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

“We plan to use the net cash proceeds to support our ongoing deployment of LTE network technology,” Hutcheson said. “As we have previously announced, we plan to cover approximately two-thirds of our current network footprint with LTE technology over the next two to three years.”

Verizon, with this deal, primarily looks to gain additional spectrum across the country with the expansion of its LTE network. The deal comes only days after Verizon concluded payments with three of the country’s top cable companies of $3.6 billion for 122 spectrum licenses. Under the terms of the deal, Comcast was given $2.3 billion, Time Warner given $1.1 billion and Bright House $189 million for the additional spectrum. The extra spectrum is vital for Verizon as increased numbers of users switch to data- intensive devices such as smartphones and tablets. Verizon’s 4G LTE network has enjoyed success and has wide reach across the nation, covering 198 markets. The additional spectrum will help extend Verizon’s dominance of the LTE market, especially as rivals like AT&T are still embroiled in legal battles regarding its merger with T- Mobile.

Clearwire Corp. and Sprint Nextel have concluded a new deal that resolves their protracted struggle, which had threatened to push Sprint into bankruptcy. Disagreements between the two partners had flared up on the issue of wireless service. Sprint relies on Clearwire for high-speed wireless service, and Clearwire relies on Sprint for monetary funding. But recently, issues over financial commitments, business strategies and wireless service deals had caused rifts between the two.

Under the new four-year deal disclosed Thursday, Sprint will pay Clearwire upwards of $1.6 billion in network fees and other investments. The deal alleviates investor fears that Sprint was looking to distance itself from Clearwire after 2012 as Sprint is building its own independent high-speed network. The deal was released the same day that Clearwire was scheduled to make a $237 million interest payment, one, which many feared that the company could not afford and which would have pushed the company into a restructuring. But Clearwire revealed on Thursday that it indeed has made the payment.

“We should take comfort that not only have we identified additional funding, we’ve extended the relationship with Sprint, we’ve got a commitment to LTE,” Clearwire Chief Executive Erik Prusch said in an interview.

The deal also ensures that Sprint will pay Clearwire $926 million for unlimited use of Clearwire’s WiMAX network through 2013 and also pay $350 million for access to Clearwire’s LTE network, giving Clearwire a much-needed financial boost. For Sprint, unlimited access to the network will allow it to sell low-cost smartphones connecting to the LTE network. The deal, which is beneficial to both companies is seen as a strengthening of the relationship between the two, at least until 2015, when the deal will expire.

Sprint Nextel may soon be forced to let go of its highly popular unlimited data services because of its extended LTE upgrade. The company offers unlimited data services for a flat fee, but this generous offer might have to be abandoned as its LTE upgrade will only have half the wireless airwaves that its larger rivals Verizon Wireless and AT&T have for their LTE networks. Because Sprint’s data plan is so popular, the large number of users coupled with the shortage of wireless airwaves could put a heavy strain on the network and slow down Web surfing speeds.

Sprint has assigned 10 mHz of spectrum for the LTE lauch in comparison with the 20 mHz that its rivals have for their LTE networks. To expand its capacity, Sprint will most likely have to reassign airwaves being used for other services. Unlike Verizon and AT&T, who cap their data use to prevent overcapacity issues; Sprint remains the only national carrier to offer unlimited data to users for smartphones, including the iPhone on its network. The unlimited data plan is an important part of Sprint’s marketing strategy, as the company has struggled for years to retain customers. A viable option to keep this advantage would be for Sprint to institute higher caps on data usage than those used by its rivals.

Sprint, on the other hand responds to these concerns about the capacity of its LTE network by emphasizing that advanced technology will allow it to make the best use of its spectrum resources. Bob Azzi, a Sprint executive, told reporters that the company plans to retain its unlimited data service throughout the LTE rollout. Azzi also pointed out that Sprint was in the process of concluding an agreement with Clearwire Corp. that would help it to expand its LTE capacity. However, Sprint has already begun shifting away from unlimited offerings. Beginning December, Sprint stated that mobile broadband devices such as tablets, mobile hotspots and netbooks would no longer have access to Clearwire’s mobile WiMAX network.  These plans do not yet apply to smartphones and it remains to be seen if Sprint’s LTE rollout will allow it to keep the unlimited data plan for long.

The anticipation for the sales on electronic and mobile devices on Cyber Monday seems to be reaching a fever pitch. With a large number of sites offering shopping deals and discounts, the choices can often seem dizzying. After scouring the web, here is a compilation of the best deals on 4G cell phones from major retailers across the nation. For new customers, the best deal is the Amazon Wireless Penny- Pincher sale. The sale, which lasts from Nov 21^st to Nov 28^th offers a number of phones from Verizon, Sprint and AT&T for a penny with a new line of service. In addition to the standard two-day free shipping, Amazon is also offering a $100 Amazon.com gift card if a customer purchases a hotspot ready smartphone and activates the hotspot feature. Here are the best phones from the sale:

The Droid RAZR 4G (Verizon Wireless)- This Android powered phone by Motorola is touted as the thinnest 4G LTE smartphone. Costing only a penny, the phone boasts the ultra-fast connectivity of the Verizon 4G LTE broadband network. Designed with a dual core 1.2 GHz processor, the phone has the brilliant optics of the Super AMOLED display, a 8-megapixel camera and full HD 1080p video capabilities. Its multiplayer gaming capabilities and preloaded apps such as QuickOffice make the device perfect for both leisure and business.  The Droid RAZR is being offered for a penny on the Amazon Wireless sale.

The Samsung Galaxy S II 4G (AT&T)- This Android phone with its AMOLED multi- touch display is sale at  Amazon Wireless for a penny as well. With AT&T’s 4G network, the phone is perfect for wireless streaming, mobile entertainment and is also equipped with photo and vie capture with a 8- megapixel camera.

The HTC Vivid (AT&T)- Offered at Amazon Wireless for a penny, the HTC Vivid supports AT&T’s new 4G LTE network and is packed with cutting edge technology. With a brilliant display, well made apps and the HTC Sense user experience, the phone allows for super fast connectivity, on the go entertainment and quick access to social media information.

Both the AT&T phones have no activation fees on new lines of service until Nov 28^th while Verizon Wireless is still offering its generous data plan that allows for twice the amount of data access for the price of a normal data plan. Renewing customers are offered relatively few discounts from online retailers such as Amazon, so checking the individual carrier sites for sales is wise. Both Verizon Wireless and AT&T have started their individual carrier sales on Thursday and Friday respectively. AT&T specifically is offering some of its most popular smartphones include the Motorola Atrix, Samsung Infuse, BlackBerry 9810, HTC Inspire and LG Thrill—all for  one cent with a contract, on Cyber Monday. Amazon sometimes does sell out and puts certain models on back- order, at which point the online retailer Wirefly.com is a good alternative for sales on the phones listed above.

Data from Juniper Research forecasts a rapid increase in LTE broadband technology within the next five years. Subscriber levels are to reach 428 million by 2016, but will only account for six percent of the global population, as the uptake will be limited to a number of large cities and only in certain countries. The majority of this growth is expected to occur from 2012 onwards, as various mobile operators are gearing up to realize their roll out targets for the LTE network. The research also points out that the rate of LTE network commitments was significantly higher as network vendors have jockeyed each other to offer products and solutions to network operators.

LTE is also expected to be dominated by consumer subscribers from 2013 onwards and will soon overtake business subscribers to LTE. This growth is fueled by the embedded LTE technology within mobile devices and the improved data speeds and service guarantees that are offered with the LTE network. LTE smartphones and tablets will come to dominate the user device market and will account for 50% of total LTE subscribers by 2016. LTE smartphones are expected to achieve the most notable early market traction in the business market, with consumers following suit as devices and network costs become more affordable.

Rumors of the possibility of bringing LTE to the iPhone and the iPad were fanned when Qualcomm’s next- generation mobile device modem chips were released. Qualcomm announced on Wednesday that updated chips with integrated LTE and 3G support will offer greater power efficiency for mobile devices, a specific consideration that has kept Apple from extending compatibility to high speed LTE networks so far. As Qualcomm is the company that produces the baseband chips for Apple in its current designs of the iPhone 4, iPhone 4S and the iPad2, the new chip should open an easy upgrade path to LTE for Apple in 2012.

The chip, called the 4G LTE Gobi 4000 chip, is designed to “give customers an uncompromised mobile connectivity experience, both in terms of download speeds and flexibility,” according to Cristiano Amon, the senior vice president of product management at Qualcomm.  Apple was not specifically mentioned in the press release, though the company did note that the chip was perfect for personal computing and tablet and e- reader operating systems.

The chip is slated to be available in the first quarter of 2012, which could make Apple’s next generation iPad the first mobile device to incorporate it. Apple’s qualms about incorporating LTE into its devices seem to have been addressed with the new chip. The chip’s improvements in LTE speed without causing additional battery problems are an integrated solution to the problem. Though Apple has not yet released any specifics on the new iPad 3, it is expected that Apple may make the jump to 4G LTE with the iPad 3 next year.