LTE continues its impressive momentum in North Americas, Latin America and throughout the world. 5G Americas reported mobile subscriber data for the third quarter of 2016 which included significant regional milestones for LTE according to data and forecasts by Ovum. Global LTE connections rose 81 percent year-over-year in the third quarter. 

Association reports 1.7 billion LTE connections out of a total of 7.5 billion total cellular connections worldwide. 752 million new LTE subscriptions year-over-year; 81 percent growth. LTE connections forecast to reach 4.3 billion by year-end 2021 (forecast does not include M2M).

Latin America and the Caribbean added 59.4 million new LTE connections year-over-year in the third quarter —more than doubling the region’s LTE connections with a 154 percent growth rate. LTE’s penetration rate as a percentage of connections to the population of 360 million in North America reached 79 percent.  This penetration rate compares to Western Europe at 43 percent penetration and Oceania, Eastern and Southeastern Asia with 41 percent penetration. In North America, LTE penetration is expected to pass 100 percent in 2019.

In North America, 282 million LTE connections for net gain of 63 million new LTE customers in the last 12 months and a 29 percent growth rate. LTE is forecast to reach 394 million connections at the end of 2020 (forecast does not include M2M) or 92 percent share of market.

Latin America and the Caribbean had another healthy quarter for LTE growth in market share, increasing from 5.3 to 14 percent year-over-year.  703 million total mobile wireless subscriptions, 97.9 million LTE connections; 59.4 million added year-over-year. LTE is forecast to reach 109 million connections at the end of 2016 (forecast does not include M2M) and a 16 percent share of market.