SingTel subsidiary Optus yesterday launched a trial TD-LTE network in capital city Canberra, to complement its existing FDD LTE network.
The operator has revealed plans to expand LTE coverage using either technology to 70% of Australia's metro population by mid-2014.
The TD-LTE trial involves an initial 12 Canberra base stations. Optus will make the first dual-band modems available in June.
The company said its LTE upgrades will also focus on preparing the company's 4G network for the 700-MHz and 2.5-GHz spectrum it won in this month's Digital Dividend spectrum auction.
As of today Optus offers LTE services in five capital cities and a handful of major regional centers.
In China, TD-LTE trailblazer China Mobile will next month launch a new TD-LTE trial in Shanghai, Tech in Asiareported.
Around 5,000 people will be signed up to the trial. China Mobile has around 700 outdoor and 300 indoor TD-LTE base stations spanning the city.
China Mobile has been conducting large-scale live TD-LTE trials since 2012. Prior to this, its first trial network was coincidentally set up for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.
The operator has allocated 41.5 billion yuan ($6.76 billion) to spend on the rollout of TD-LTE networks this financial year.