Global LTE connections rose 81 percent year-over-year in the third quarter of 2016, said 5G Americas.
Globally, there are 1.7 billion LTE connections out of a total of 7.5 billion total cellular connections worldwide.
There are 752 million new LTE subscriptions year-over-year with 81 percent growth.
LTE connections are forecast to reach 4.3 billion by year-end 2021 (forecast does not include M2M).
LTE global market share forecast to reach 52 percent by 2021.
North America
LTE’s penetration rate as a percentage of connections to the population of 360 million in North America reached 79 percent. This penetration rate compares to Western Europe at 43 percent penetration and Oceania, Eastern and Southeastern Asia with 41 percent penetration. In North America, LTE penetration is expected to pass 100 percent in 2019.
The U.S. and Canada also has the highest market share for LTE in comparison to all mobile wireless technologies with 62 percent versus Oceania, Eastern and Southeastern Asia at 38 percent and 32 percent in Western Europe.
North America added 282 million LTE connections for net gain of 63 million new LTE customers in the last 12 months and a 29 percent growth rate.
LTE is forecast to reach 394 million connections in North America at the end of 2020 (forecast does not include M2M) or 92 percent share of market.
There will be 1 million 5G connections in North America in 2020 – nearly 50 percent of global 5G connections followed by Oceania, Eastern and Southeastern Asia with 28 percent and Eastern Europe with nearly 19 percent.
Latin America
Latin America and the Caribbean added 59.4 million new LTE connections in the third quarter —more than doubling the region’s LTE connections with a 154 percent growth rate.
There are 703 million mobile wireless subscriptions in Latin America and the Caribbean.
There are 97.9 million LTE connections; 59.4 million added year-over-year in Latin America and the Caribbean.
LTE is forecast to reach 109 million connections at the end of 2016 (forecast does not include M2M) and a 16 percent share of market in Latin America and the Caribbean.
HSPA reached 47 percent share of market with 329 million connections
LTE is forecast to reach 438 million connections at end of 2021 (forecast does not include M2M) and a 58 percent share of market.
Baburajan K
editor@telecomlead.com
