5G Americas announced that global LTE market share compared to all other mobile wireless technologies reached 28 percent at the end of the first quarter of 2017, an increase of 11 percentage points in one year. There were 2.16 billion LTE connections globally accounting for an increase of 863 million new LTE subscriptions in one year according to data from Ovum for the first quarter of 2017.

The North America region achieved 308.5 million LTE subscriptions by the end of March 2017 with some of the highest penetration rates, most extensive coverage and largest market share for LTE in the world. Latin America doubled LTE connections to 139.8 million from 68.6 million year-over-year at Q1 2017 and grew LTE market share by 100 percent from 9.7 percent to 20 percent.

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Worldwide, LTE is forecast to continue its momentum, reaching close to 2.5 billion connections by the end of 2017, 3 billion in 2018 and 4.2 billion connections in 2020 (Ovum). 5G is expected to accumulate connections starting in 2020 and by 2021, it is forecast to have 25 million connections worldwide.

“There is great progress in the development of 5G by operators, vendors and 3GPP standards,” remarked Chris Pearson, president of 5G Americas. “Yet, LTE continues to make great strides throughout the world in terms of providing a mobile broadband wireless foundation of advanced capabilities that subscribers are using every day.”

Q1 2017—North America

LTE achieved a penetration rate of 85 percent with 308.5 million connections compared to the population of 361.1 million in North America. This penetration rate compares to the next two highest regions of Western Europe, and Oceania, Eastern and Southeastern Asia, both with 50 percent. In North America, LTE penetration is expected to pass 100 percent in 2018.

In addition to having a significantly higher penetration rate, the U.S. and Canada also have the highest market share for LTE in comparison to all mobile wireless technologies with 67 percent versus Oceania, Eastern and Southeastern Asia at 45 percent and 37 percent in Western Europe. Market share represents the percentage of mobile wireless connections that are LTE technology versus all other mobile technologies.

  • 308.5 million LTE connections for net gain of 55 million new LTE customers from Q1 2016 to 1Q 2017
  • LTE is forecast to reach 452 million connections at the end of 2021 (including M2M)
  • 11 million 5G connections forecast in 2021—nearly 44 percent of all global 5G connections

Q1 2017—Latin America and the Caribbean

“LTE accelerated growth continues in Latin America and the Caribbean surpassing 20 percent regional penetration,” noted Jose Otero, director of Latin America and the Caribbean for 5G Americas. “The success of LTE will continue with the proliferation of LTE-Advanced networks, which are commercially deployed in eight markets including Brazil, Chile, Peru and Puerto Rico with a total of more than twelve markets expected by the end of 2017.”

LTE’s market share increased from 9.7 percent to 20 percent year-over-year at the end of March 2017, thus more than doubling in the region. LTE connections rose significantly at 16.5 percent growth in one quarter alone (Q4 2016 to Q1 2017).

  • 699 million total mobile wireless subscriptions
  • 140 million LTE connections; 71.2 million new LTE connections added year-over-year from Q1 2016
  • LTE is forecast to reach 171 million connections at the end of 2017 (forecast includes M2M) and a 24 percent share of market
  • By the end of 2021, LTE is forecast to reach 449 million connections (forecast includes M2M) and a 58 percent share of market

Q1 2017—Global

“LTE is experiencing high growth rates in developing areas of the world,” said Kristin Paulin, senior analyst at Ovum. “In the first quarter, Central and Southern Asia saw the fastest year-over-year rate by far with 1,804 percent. Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Middle East all grew more than 100% in the past twelve months.”

  • 2.16 Billion LTE connections out of a total of 7.7 billion total cellular connections worldwide
  • 863 million new LTE subscriptions year-over-year from Q1 2016; 40 percent growth
  • LTE connections forecast to reach 4.7 billion by year-end 2021 (forecast includes M2M)
  • LTE global market share forecast to reach 53 percent by year end 2021