The Global Certification Forum announced a partnership with the Global TD-LTE Initiative to “promote global harmonisation of testing and certification for TD-LTE devices”.

While TD-LTE is currently less widely deployed than the alternative LTE version, FDD-LTE, it does have a number of high-profile backers, including China Mobile and Bharti Airtel.

Samsung last week unveiled a pair of dual-mode TD-LTE and FDD-LTE devices, while a number of tier-one device makers are either supporting TD-LTE or plan to do so.

In a statement, it was said that the “key shared objectives” for the organisations is driving interoperability in single-mode TD-LTE devices and promoting convergence of TD-LTE and FDD-LTE in multi-mode devices.

“Establishing a high benchmark for TD-LTE interoperability will also facilitate multilateral co-operation among operators,” it was noted.

“Multi-mode, multi-band devices will be important to the take-up of TD-LTE. The greater availability of GCF-certified TD-LTE devices will help to propel TD-LTE technology into the mainstream internationally,” said Craig Ehrlich, chairman of GTI.