IHS has stated that the next-generation 4G wireless standard known as long term evolution (LTE) will enjoy massive growth during the next few years and will allow the technology to account for 10% of worldwide mobile subscribers by 2015.
It would be driven by global support drawn from mobile network operators, according to an IHS iSuppli Smartphones & Converged Devices Market Tracker report from the market intelligence firm.
It forecasts subscribers to 4G LTE at the end of 2011 will number a 11.6 million world over, an increase of 4,062% from just 300,000 in 2010. It anticipates 442% growth for the year 2012 when the technology increases its subscriber base to touch 62.8 million.
Growth will remain at 214% in 2013, 105% in 2014 and 84% in 2015, as per IHS.
By 2015, LTE is expected have a total of 744.2 million users worldwide, equivalent to 10% of the approximately 7.3 billion total mobile handset subscribers.
Although LTE usage in 2015 will be behind those of older wireless technologies the pace of expansion for LTE will be unmatched, especially because subscriber growth is slowing for legacy wireless standards, IHS data reveals.
Francis Sideco senior principal analyst for wireless communications at IHS said with its widespread industry support, LTE is emerging as the standard of choice to provide these and other compelling content offerings.
