Study: A Dozen Ops Launching LTE in 2010

The tally of wireless operators committed to deploying LTE (Long Term Evolution) networks and offering LTE-based services to their subscribers in 2010 has climbed to at least 12, according to a study from ABI Research. By the following year, nearly 34 million users worldwide are forecast to subscribe to the new data services, which promise speeds rivaling those available via cable or DSL.

The first operators intending to deploy LTE include Verizon Wireless, MetroPCS Wireless, and U.S. Cellular in the United States; NTT-DOCOMO and KDDI in Japan; TeliaSonera, Tele2 and Telenor in Europe; and the world's largest operator, China Mobile, which intends to launch in 2011. KT and SK Telecom are expected to launch in Korea 2010, but there has been little fanfare so far.