According to Research and Markets forecast, the worldwide LTE subscriber base is expected to grow at a phenomenal CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 187.7 percent between 2010 and 2015.

This growth will see the worldwide LTE subscriber base pass the 200 million-mark by end-2015 within the first six years of its launch in late 2009; whereas the worldwide 3G subscriber base reached only the 100 million mark in the first six years after its launch, says a new report "LTE and the Road to 4G 2010-2015" from Research and Markets.

LTE and WiMAX are the main pathways to 4G that MNOs have to pick between, and on which they can build their data handling capacities. While WiMAX has enjoyed a first mover advantage and a clear head-start, LTEs benefits not least that LTE is a natural progression for MNOs operating on GSM/UMTS networks, and offers the ability to lower the cost of delivering data services are expected to drive a surge in LTE network deployments in the coming years.

Migrating to LTE technology is not just the preserve of the developed and saturated markets in North America and Western Europe, with MNOs in developing markets also proactively doing the same; though understandably LTEs scale and use will markedly vary between markets.