Nokia Siemens Networks has formally become a member of industry body the Global TD-LTE Initiative (GTI) Partner Forum.

The GTI promotes TD-LTE technology, which alongside FD-LTE is part of the 3GPP family, but marketed as 4G.

The Finland-based vendor said becoming a formal member demonstrated its commitment to the technology.

It is also hoping to further commercialise TD-LTE, particularly around network planning, voice solutions for TD-LTE handsets, co-existence of TDD and FDD, and multi-antenna solutions.

“We have significantly invested in advancing TD-LTE so operators can reap the benefits of delivering mobile broadband using unpaired spectrum,” said Tommi Uitto, head of the LTE business line at NSN.

The company has seven commercial TD-LTE deals around the world, in Asia, the Middle East, South America and Europe.

“Most” of these deployments are already live, according to a statement.

It is also engaged in over 16 major field trials in countries including China, Russia and Taiwan.

Craig Ehrlich, chairman of GTI steering committee, said TD-LTE was gaining momentum as “an efficient technology for superior mobile broadband”.