GSA, the Global mobile Suppliers Association announced that LTE gained 182 million connections in Q1 2016, almost 4 times faster than 3G/HSPA systems. 3G/HSPA subscriptions grew by 48 million while GSM subscriptions fell by 120 million in the same quarter.
GSA predicts that the number of LTE and LTE-Advanced subscriptions is expected to pass the 3G/WCDMA-HSPA global total in 2020, and possibly sooner.
Analysing mobile subscriptions data provided to GSA by Ovum for Q1 2016, GSA revealed that the number of LTE and LTE-Advanced subscriptions reached 1.29 billion worldwide by 31 March 2016. Over 645 million LTE subscriptions worldwide were gained during the past year, representing 100% annual growth.
Alan Hadden, Vice President, GSA said, “LTE subscriptions were signed up during Q1 2016 at an average of 2 million per day and the rate is accelerating. LTE is now connecting over 1 in 6 mobile subscribers worldwide (17.4%).”
Details of LTE subscription by regions;
- The Asia region, with over 734 million LTE subscriptions further grew its share of global LTE subscriptions quarter on quarter to reach 56.8%.
- By March 2016 China had passed 511 million LTE subscriptions, adding 96.3 million in the quarter.
- North America remains the second largest LTE market with 253 million, though its share of the world market further declined by 2.6% in the quarter to 19.6% of the global total.
- The European share of the global total is 14%.
- Strong growth was recorded again in the Latin America and Caribbean region to reach 68.5 million 4G/LTE subscriptions.
- 11.1 million LTE subscriptions were added in the Middle East region in Q1 to reach 46.6 million.
- Russia has 16.7 million LTE subscriptions
- Africa has 9 million LTE subscriptions
- India has almost 4 million.