Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has joined the Global TD-LTE Initiative (GTI) Partner Forum, the industry body promoting 4G mobile broadband using the TD-LTE standard.

NSN has been an active participant in the forum since it was established but the formal membership strengthens the company’s commitment to engage with operators and other GTI members to influence the direction of TD-LTE technology. The company provides TD-LTE technology for network infrastructure, devices, applications and services, and said its work around TD-LTE demonstrates its new focus on becoming a mobile broadband specialist.

NSN has seven commercial TD-LTE deals globally – including Bharti Airtel in India, Mobily and STC in Saudi Arabia, and SKY Brazil – with most already live. The company is also working on large-scale field trials with China Mobile as well as operators in Russia, Taiwan and elsewhere.

NSN said it is already working with GTI technical taskforces addressing TD-LTE commercialisation and deployment issues such as network planning, voice technology for TD-LTE handsets and the coexistence of TD-LTE with FDD-LTE.

Next week sees the latest GTI Summit take place, running alongside the GSMA Mobile Asia Expo event in Shanghai. Mobile Business Briefing will be reporting live from the show.