In a recent report, ABI Research has announced that the spending on LTE base stations will hit US$ 12.3 billion in 2013 as countries across globe are rushing to embrace 4G technology. LTE is being deployed worldwide in both developed as well as in emerging markets.

GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association) reports that 97 manufacturers have announced 821 LTE-enabled user devices, including frequency and carrier variants. Of these, 474 new LTE user devices were launched in the past year. 

In a recent LTE report, GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association) has confirmed that 412 operators are investing in LTE technology in 125 countries across the globe. This year so far 11 commercial launches have taken place where as 98 operators commercially launched LTE service in the past 12 months.

Global LTE traffic will grow by over 200% in 2013, says ABI Research. Overall mobile data traffic had increased by 69% year-on-year in 2012. LTE has growth rate of 207% in 2013 compared to 99% for 3G traffic. 

Ericsson has announced today that it maintained share of global installed base of radio base stations at 40%, and the claims top position in both mobile equipment market as well as LTE specifically. The company calculated share of installed radio base stations worldwide based on the accumulated shipments of base stations since 2004.

Indian broadband wireless access (BWA) winners can offer voice over LTE network now. According to a NDTV report, 4G operators can provide voice services along with high-speed Internet if they pay a fee of 16.58 billion rupees.

In a recent report GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association) confirmed that 87 manufacturers have announced 666 LTE-enabled user devices, including frequency and carrier variants. Approximately 400 new LTE user devices were announced in 2012 and the number of manufacturers grew by 52% during the same period.

Research In Motion has changed its name and will now operate under the iconic name BlackBerry. Company also launched much awaited BlackBerry 10, the re-designed, re-engineered, and re-invented BlackBerry platform.

Apple has announced iOS 6.1, adding LTE capabilities to 36 additional iPhone carriers and 23 additional iPad carriers worldwide. OS 6.1 is available as a free software update today. iOS 6.1 is compatible with iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad (third and fourth generation), iPad mini, iPad 2 and iPod touch (fourth and fifth generation).

ABI Research has forecasted that outdoor small cells will reach 500,000 units in 2013 in its latest report on outdoor small cells and carrier Wi-Fi Market Data. 1W and below small cell class will represent almost two-thirds of unit shipments in 2013, and continue to grow to overtake the higher power 5-10W microcell shipments during 2014.

GSA has confirmed that 145 operators have launched commercial services in 66 countries so far. GSA further reports that 104 new operators have committed to invest in LTE network deployments in 2012, raising the total number of committed operators to 330 in 104 countries.

According to a new ABI Research finding, an estimated 103 Million 4G LTE mobile devices were shipped in 2012. Apple’s iPhone 5 and Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones provided LTE-enabled handset shipments a substantial lift in 2012. LTE-enabled handset contribution was put to 91 million in 2012 and the balance came from other mobile devices.

Along with LTE introduction, 3GPP also standardized Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SRVCC) in Release 8 specifications to provide seamless continuity when an UE handovers from LTE coverage (E-UTRAN) to UMTS/GSM coverage (UTRAN/GERAN).

Global LTE smartphone shipments will grow threefold to reach 275 million units in 2013, reports Strategy Analytics. 90.9 million units are expected to be shipped in 2012.  Company forecasts that it will be a record year for 4G technology.