Verizon Wireless has announced first quarter numbers of LTE subscribers. According to Verizon, it added 500,000subscribers for its 4G LTE network. It included 260K activations for its first LTE phone, the HTC Thunderbolt, in two weeks. Verizon also activated 2.2M iPhone 4 in first quarter.

Following the launch of its 4G LTE mobile broadband network in 38 markets in December 2010, the company so far has named more than 100 additional markets where 4G LTE is being rolled out. By year-end, Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network is expected to be available in more than 175 markets, covering a population of more than 185 million people throughout the country.

The company also introduced three 4G LTE devices  smartphone ThunderBolt by HTC,the Verizon modem USB551L by Novatel Wireless and a Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot.

Demand was strong for new LTE devices as well as for Apple’s iPhone 4, which produced the most successful first-day sales in Verizon Wireless history when it was i:ntroduced in February to existing customers.