3GPP based technologies are driving wireless growth in Americas. 91.1 million new subscriptions were added in the region during 12 months ending March 2011. 90 percent of these new connections belong to 3GPP standards according to a 4G Americas report.

In Q1 2011, North America added 535,000 new LTE connections while an additional 6.5 million UMTS-HSPA subscriptions were added.By end of Q1 2011 NA had 610,000 LTE subscriptions and 653,000 LTE subscriptions across the globe.

Currently only MetroPCS & Verizon Wireless are offering LTE services. However additional 9 LTE networks are expected in the U.S. and one each in Canada and Latin America by the end of 2011.

Globally 3GPP technologies reached 4.9 billion of the world’s 5.5 billion mobile subscriptions or 90 percent market share at the end of 1Q 2011.

Today, 141 operators in 73 countries have upgraded their networks to HSPA+ and 4G Americas expects most HSPA networks will be upgraded; 22 operators in 16 countries have deployed LTE to date.