LTE will cover around 60% of the World Population by 2018: Ericsson Mobility Report
According to the Ericsson Mobility Report, June 2013, GSM/EDGE technology has by far the widest reach and today covers more than 85 percent of the world’s population. WCDMA/HSPA however covered 55 percent of the world’s population by the end of 2012. By the end of 2018, over 85 percent of the world’s population will have the opportunity to access the internet using WCDMA/HSPA networks, the report added.
Talking about LTE, despite being in the early days of roll-out, it is predicted that LTE will cover approximately 60 percent of the world’s population. According to Global Supplier Association (GSA) estimates, Q1 2013, it has now been launched on all continents (except Antarctica), by 156 operators active in 67 countries. LTE is now growing strongly, with around 20 million new subscriptions added in Q1 2013. GSM/EDGE-only subscriptions added ~30 million and WCDMA/HSPA ~60 million
DoT asks TRAI to conduct an Audit of Spectrum Use by Telcos
CAG in its recent report has criticized DoT for wasting spectrum resources, as a result Department of Telecom will now ask Telecom regulator to conduct an audit of spectrum used by telecom companies. (As reported by Business Line). According to CAG, there has been inefficient utilization of the spectrum allotted to telcos which has led to lower telecom revenues in the form of lower licence fees and spectrum charges to the Government. The report also added that while one service provider has been catering to 91 lakh mobile subscribers with 10 MHz of spectrum, another operator in the same service area of Delhi with 12.4 MHz spectrum was providing services to barely 26 lakh subscribers.
Lenovo launches a range of smartphones in India
Chinese PC maker Lenovo recently launched a range of smartphones in India priced between Rs 8,689 to Rs 32,999 targeting youths and professionals. The move has come following the launch of five android-based smartphones in the country, last year. Model K 9000, which was launched recently along with 5 others, is claimed to be thinnest phone in its class and the first smartphone to come powered by the Intel Z2580 processor. The company is also reportedly planning to launch smartphones below Rs.5, 000. With this, we may see Lenovo gaining foothold in the Indian Smartphone market.
