Info Image

Global LTE Records 28% Growth to Reach 2.16 billion Connections by Q1 2017

Global LTE Records 28% Growth to Reach 2.16 billion Connections by Q1 2017 Image Credit: 5G Americas

The Global LTE market share has reached 28 percent compared to all other mobile wireless technologies, at the end of the first quarter of 2017, an increase of 11 percentage points in one year, according to 5G Americas, the industry trade association and voice of 5G and LTE for the Americas.

There were 2.16 billion LTE connections globally accounting for an increase of 863 million new LTE subscriptions in one year, according to data from Ovum for the first quarter of 2017.

The North America region achieved 308.5 million LTE subscriptions by the end of March 2017 with some of the highest penetration rates, most extensive coverage and largest market share for LTE in the world. Latin America doubled LTE connections to 139.8 million from 68.6 million year-over-year at 1Q 2017 and grew LTE market share by 100 percent from 9.7 percent to 20 percent.

Worldwide, LTE is forecast to continue its momentum, reaching close to 2.5 billion connections by the end of 2017, 3 billion in 2018 and 4.2 billion connections in 2020 (Ovum). 5G is expected to accumulate connections starting in 2020 and by 2021, it is forecast to have 25 million connections worldwide.

Chris Pearson, President of 5G Americas
Yet, LTE continues to make great strides throughout the world in terms of providing a mobile broadband wireless foundation of advanced capabilities that subscribers are using every day.

Kristin Paulin, Senior Analyst, Ovum 
In the first quarter, Central and Southern Asia saw the fastest year-over-year rate by far with 1,804 percent. Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East all grew more than 100% in the past twelve months.

Author

Ray is a news editor at The Fast Mode, bringing with him more than 10 years of experience in the wireless industry.

For tips and feedback, email Ray at ray.sharma(at)thefastmode.com, or reach him on LinkedIn @raysharma10, Facebook @1RaySharma

PREVIOUS POST

CSPs Should Target 6-8% Margin Improvements from Digital Transformation, says Strategy Analytics

NEXT POST

China, India to Account 50% of New Mobile Subscribers Added by 2020, says GSMA