The number of 4G LTE connections worldwide will pass the one billion mark by 2017, according to a study by research firm GSMA Intelligence.
GSMA Intelligence is a branch of the GSMA, which represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide.
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In its study, it forecast that 4G will account for one in eight mobile connections in 2017, of which there are expected to be eight billion.
GSMA says that there are currently 176 million LTE connections across nearly 250 LTE networks worldwide, but that this will almost double to 465 LTE networks in 128 countries by 2017.
The study found that 20 per cent of the global population is within LTE network coverage range, and this is forecast to increase to 50 per cent by 2017. The US leads the way with its LTE network covering more than 90 per cent of the population, compared with 47 per cent coverage in Europe and 10 per cent in Asia.
However, South Korea is the most advanced LTE market in the world, with half of its total mobile connections running on LTE networks, compared to 20 per cent in Japan and the US. The three countries account for 80 per cent of the LTE total today.
Asia is predicted to account for almost half (47 per cent) of all LTE connections by 2017, as China and India roll out 4G services.
GSMA also found that migration to 4G LTE is happening faster than the earlier migration from 2G to 3G. Meanwhile, LTE users in developed markets consume an average of 1.5GB of data per month - which is almost twice the average amount consumed by non-LTE users.
The study found that 4G is also helping operators to maximise revenues. In developing economies, mobile networks have noted that LTE users can generate average revenue per user (APRU) seven-to-20 times greater than non-4G users. In developed markets ARPU uplift ranges from 10 per cent to 40 per cent.
GSMA notes that the average retail price before discounts and subsidies of LTE smartphones in developed markets such as the US has remained unchanged at about $450 (£278) for the last few years.
