China Mobile believes TD-LTE is well on the way to achieving global adoption, after striking a deal this week to work with US operator Clearwire on devices for the standard.
Clearwire has confirmed it will adopt the 4G standard, announcing it will collaborate with China Mobile to foster the development of multi-mode TD-LTE devices.
The operators also aim to ensure data roaming across the TDD and FDD flavors of LTE, as well as 2G and 3G networks.
China Daily yesterday quoted China Mobile chairman Wang Jianzhou as saying that “the globalization of TD-LTE technology has already become a reality.”
China Mobile has now signed agreements with 32 international carriers to help roll out 27 TD-LTE trial networks. The first commercial TD-LTE network, from Japan's Softbank, is scheduled to launch by the end of the year.
Ironically, China Mobile itself could be prevented from launching large-scale commercial TD-LTE services in China for another three to five years, due to government restrictions.
TechCrunch has suggested that China Mobile could end up contributing a little to the $600 million Clearwire will need to roll out its planned LTE network as a result of the agreement. Clearwire has yet to announce a funding source for its LTE ambitions.
Sprint Nextel is rumored to be circling Clearwire, eyeing a possible acquisition.