The number of 4G-LTE connections worldwide is forecast to pass one billion by 2017, according to a new study by GSMA Intelligence.<\/p>\n
LTE users consume 1.5GB of data per month on average \u2013 almost twice the average amount consumed by non-LTE users, the GSMA found.<\/p>\n
By 2017, it is expected that LTE will account for about one in eight of the more than eight billion total mobile connections forecast by that point, up from 176 million LTE connections at the end of 2013.<\/p>\n
Nearly 500 LTE networks are forecast to be in service across 128 countries, roughly double the number of live LTE networks today.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince the launch of the first commercial 4G-LTE networks in late 2009 we are seeing deployments accelerate across the globe,\u201d said Hyunmi Yang, chief strategy officer at the GSMA.<\/p>\n
The study calculates that about 20% of the global population is currently within LTE network coverage range. As operators continue to expand LTE coverage over the next few years, it is forecast that LTE networks will be available to half of the world\u2019s population by 2017.<\/p>\n
In the United States, LTE networks already cover more than 90% of the population, compared to 47% population coverage in Europe and 10% in Asia.<\/p>\n
The US currently accounts for almost half (46%) of global LTE connections, while the US, South Korea and Japan combined account for 80%.<\/p>\n
Asia, however, \u00a0is expected to account for almost half (47%) of all LTE connections by 2017, as LTE networks are rolled out in major markets such as China and India.<\/p>\n
The study also found that:<\/p>\n
African LTE pushes past obstacles<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n 4G to fly past 3G in 2016<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Global LTE revenues set to reach $1 trillion<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n