LTE smartphones will top 65 million units in 2012 and will help push the total royalty 14% higher in 2012, says ABI Research. Mobile wireless royalties for GSM, WCDMA, and LTE smartphones were just under $20 billion in 2011. LTE handsets will make only total 4% of the total handsets shipped in 2012 however total royalty revenue will be higher.

It is expected that power will shift over the next five years from companies with patent portfolios for GSM and WCDMA like Motorola to those with strong 4G positions, including Samsung and Panasonic.  

ABI Research has also forecasted mobile capital expenditure to grow 9% to US$111.1 billion in 2012, supported by renewed investment in RAN infrastructure and in-building wireless access. A large proportion of the increased capital expenditure is expected from Asia-Pacific region. China Mobile is still spending 57% of in annual CAPEX on radio network infrastructure, followed by 18% on its transmission and backbone network. The North American market is the next growing market for CAPEX, although overall CAPEX will soften 1.3% over the year.