More entry-level TD-LTE smartphones are expected to hit the market in China soon, and the ASP of entry-level TD-LTE models will drop to CNY1,000 (US$163) in the second half of 2014, according to industry observers.

　　Buoyed by fast declining chipset solution prices and active promotion by China Mobile, total shipments of LTE-enabled phones in China are expected to top 50-100 million units in 2014, the observers estimated.

　　A total of 16 chipset suppliers have engaged in the development of TD-LTE chips and are expected to roll out solutions for entry-level and mid-range TD-LTE models before year-end 2013, the sources noted.

　　Qualcomm has recently released an entry-level LTE solution based on its Snapdragon 400 CPU, noted the sources, adding that the chip has been adopted by handset vendors in China, including Tianyu Communication Equipment.