According to ABI Research, LTE subscriptions are racing ahead of expectations and point to strong demand for fast wireless data connections. In the first quarter of 2011, Verizon Wireless activated half a million LTE-enabled devices, while Japan’s NTT DoCoMo scored 25,000 LTE subscriptions.

“We believe LTE adoption will take off more rapidly than expected, with more operators announcing network launches and existing players widening network coverage,” says ABI Research analyst Fei Feng Seet. “And as mobile data speeds increase, the idea of replacing fixed lines with wireless connections becomes more popular among consumers.”

Overall, the wireless telecommunication industry continues its robust growth moving into the second half of 2011. The global mobile industry has now passed the 5.5 billion subscriptions milestone, according to the report. Even though some markets may have reached saturated penetration levels, new wireless technologies are expected to push subscriptions even higher.

According to ABI Research’s latest published figures, North America is forecast to reach 387 million mobile subscriptions by 2016, out of which close to 85 million are potentially LTE-enabled subscriptions.