LTE to hit spending of $36.1bn in 2015

Up from $8.7bn in 2012.

As LTE adoption grows across the world, particularly in the US as operator Verizon recently staged a bulk rollout in new markets, spending on the tech is set to almost triple in the next year, according to researcher IHS iSuppli.

The report says LTE spending is set to reach $36.1 billion in 2015, compared to $24.3 billion in 2013 and just $8.7 billion in 2012. Meanwhile, 3.5G spending will be at $9.0 billion in 2015 generating revenues of $19.8 billion in 2013.

Jagdish Rebello, director and principal analyst for communications and consumer electronics research at IHS, said: "While 3.5G remains the dominant air interface technology in the mobile infrastructure market, the 4G LTE space has been gaining momentum.

"This trend started in the second half of 2009 when some wireless operators in Europe, North America, Japan and South Korea started to deploy LTE technology. The number of mobile network operators that are trialing, deploying or commercially operating 4G LTE networks now has grown to about 200 worldwide, up from 160 in 2010. And such widespread support will drive carrier spending on LTE to surpass 3.5G by next year.

"The vendors that will win in the transition to 4G will be those that can demonstrate cost-effective, upgradable solutions capable of delivering performance as defined by the LTE specifications."