GSA, the Global mobile Suppliers Association confirms that the number of LTE and LTE-Advanced subscriptions reached 1.068 billion worldwide by end of last year. LTE gained almost 156 million connections in the final quarter of last year, which is 75% more than 3G/HSPA systems. At the same time, GSM subscriptions fell by 141 million in the quarter. The number of LTE and LTE-Advanced subscriptions is expected to surpass the 3G/WCDMA-HSPA global total in 2020, said GSA.
GSA anounced that a total of 480 operators have commercially launched LTE systems in 157 countries and it forecasts the number to grow to 550 by the end of 2016. At the same time, 116 operators, i.e. over 24% of all LTE operators, have commercially launched the LTE-Advanced service in 57 countries.
Alan Hadden, Vice President of Research, GSA
A daily average of almost 1.7 million LTE subscriptions were being signed up during Q4 2015 and the rate of LTE subscriptions growth is accelerating. LTE technology is now being used by 1 in 7 mobile subscriptions worldwide.
