A 4G Americas Blueprint for Securing Mobile Broadband Spectrum in this Decade
4G Americas has released a white paper on strategies and policies related to additional spectrum for mobile broadband services. “Sustaining the Mobile Miracle: A 4G Americas Blueprint for Securing Mobile Broadband Spectrum in this Decade” explores growing demand for wireless data services and the impact of meeting this demand on existing mobile broadband networks. The paper also highlights the need for countries in the region to secure spectrum to provide these services.

New Car Connectivity Consortium Aims to Put In-vehicle Infotainment into High Gear
Nokia has teamed up with 11 car manufacturers and consumer electronics companies to create the Car Connectivity Consortium, which will develop and promote in-vehicle connectivity solutions, such as Terminal Mode, NFC (Near Field Communication) and wireless charging. The new consortium will release its first specifications within the next few months in a move considered crucial to the development of the in-vehicle connectivity and infotainment.

The ThunderBolt™ By HTC, The First 4G LTE Smartphone For Verizon Wireless Arrives March 17
Verizon Wireless has unveiled its first LTE smartphone, the ThunderBolt, manufactured by Taiwan’s HTC. The device runs on the Android 2.2 “Froyo” operating system and features a 4.3-inch display, 8-megapixel rear facing camera and 1.3-megapixel front facing camera, as well as a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor and mobile hotspot capability. It will retail at US$249.99 on a two-year contract and can be purchased with a standard monthly voice plan starting at US$39.99 and unlimited data at US$29.99.

U Mobile and ZTE Announce Strategic Partnership to Build a 100 MBPS Wireless Network in Malaysia
U Mobile has selected ZTE to deploy its LTE network across metropolitan areas in Malaysia. In the first phase, the Malaysian mobile operator will extend its HSPA+ Dual Carrier network in Central, Negeri Sembilan and the Northern region by the second half of 2011, which will be followed by the LTE rollout. Within the next 12 months, the HSPA+ Dual Carrier network, capable of peak downlink speeds of up to 42 Mbps, will be upgraded to support 84 Mbps.

RUSNANO, Micran, Nokia Siemens Networks, and Tomsk Administration Sign Agreement to Manufacture 4G LTE Equipment
Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has signed an agreement with local partners, RUSNANO, Micranand the Tomsk Oblast Administration, to manufacture LTE equipment in Russia. RUSNANO is a state-owned company set up to promote Russia’s nanotechnology industry, while Micran develops radio equipment, including radio-relay links, microwave frequency test instrumentation and transmitter-receiver modules. Hardware will be produced in the Tomsk Special Economic Zone.

T-Mobile Offers an ADSL Modem with 3G Backup in the Czech Republic
T-Mobile Czech Republic has launched its first ADSL2+ modem with WCDMA/HSPA+ backup. The new ZyXEL modem supports ADSL2+ and offers 3G backup using the operator’s WCDMA/HSPA+ network. When ADSL access is unavailable, users can connect any 3G USB dongle (Huawei E1823, which supports HSPA+, Huawei E1750 or ZTE MF637) via the modem’s USB port. 

LightSquared and Open Range Partner to Expand Deployment of Nation’s First 4G-LTE Wireless Broadband and Satellite Network to Rural American Communities
US wholesale LTE network provider LightSquared has partnered with Open Range Communications to bring mobile broadband to the remote parts of the US via satellite and terrestrial wireless networks.Open Range will lease LightSquared’s L-band spectrum and resell the company’s planned satellite-based mobile service. With a nationwide LTE reciprocal roaming agreement in place, the partners will also jointly roll out Open Range's mobile broadband network, products and services.