As the new iPad supports LTE and a new version of iPhone to be launched in the second half of 2012 is very likely to support LTE as well, other vendors are expected to equip their new flagship smartphones with LTE functionality and this is likely to drive up global sales of LTE-enabled smartphones in 2012 from the originally projected 25-30 million units to 45-50 million units, according to Taiwan-based smartphone makers.

However, the new iPad can only support LTE networks in North America because networks in other regions adopt different frequency bands, the sources pointed out. Currently, 700MHz and 2,100MHz are used in North America, 800MHz and 2,600MHz in Western Europe, the Middle East and Africa, 800MHz, 1,800MHz, 2,300MHz and 2,600MHz in Eastern Europe, and 1,800MHz and 2,100MHz in Asia Pacific, the sources indicated. The frequency bands adopted for LTE networks around the world in 2015 will have 38 combinations, with 700MHz to have the largest proportion at 16%, 2,100MHz to have 13%, 2,600MHz 11% and 2,500MHz 10%, the sources cited Wireless Intelligence under the GSMA as indicating.

LTE smartphones not supporting the frequency bands adopted in a region cannot be used for roaming, an essential problem that chip designers and smartphone makers need to cooperate to solve, the sources noted.