Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Market Driven by Rapid Urbanization and Rising Demand for High-Speed Internet
The global Long-Term Evolution (LTE) market is estimated to be valued at US$ 55.94 Billion in 2024, exhibiting a CAGR of 21.3% over the forecast period (2024-2031). Rapid urbanization coupled with the rising demand for high-speed internet connectivity across various industry verticals are major factors driving the growth of the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Market. Furthermore, the increasing adoption of advanced technologies such as 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), and connected devices also boosts the demand for low latency and high-speed LTE network worldwide.
Market Dynamics:
The growth of the global Long-Term Evolution (LTE) market is driven by rapid urbanization and rising demand for high-speed internet. Rapid urbanization has led to a marked increase in smartphone penetration and data consumption. It has also propelled the demand for reliable and fast connectivity in urban as well as rural areas. As a result, mobile operators are increasingly adopting LTE networks to meet consumer demand for high-speed connectivity. Additionally, the emergence of technologies such as 5G, IoT, and M2M communication have augmented the need for robust networks that support large network capacities as well as low latency connectivity. LTE plays a crucial role in delivering the required network speeds and capacities for such technologies to thrive. These developments are expected to significantly fuel investments in the LTE infrastructure worldwide in the coming years.
Increasing smartphone and mobile data usage is driving LTE adoption
One of the major drivers for the growth of the global Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Market is the rising smartphone usage and increasing mobile data consumption. As more and more people are using smartphones for various purposes like social networking, online shopping, streaming music and videos, mobile gaming etc., the demand for high-speed mobile internet is growing significantly. LTE technology enables much faster data download and upload speeds compared to 3G technology, allowing users to access data-heavy applications and content seamlessly. The rapid growth in the number of smartphone users globally is directly fueling the adoption of LTE networks by telecom operators.
Infrastructural upgrades of telecom networks are another key driver
Another major factor propelling the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Market growth is the massive investments being made by telecom operators worldwide in upgrading their network infrastructures to support 4G LTE technologies. While most developed markets already have widespread LTE coverage, developing regions still have a long way to go. Telecom operators in these areas are spending heavily on deploying new LTE base stations and towers as well as purchasing fiber backhaul to extend high-speed 4G connectivity to rural and remote locations. The infrastructural upgrades ensure enhanced quality of coverage and user experience for 4G services. This is attracting more subscribers and encouraging the transition from 3G to faster 4G networks.
Interoperability issues pose a challenge
One of the key restraints affecting the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Market is the lack of interoperability between different vendors' equipment. Since LTE networking gear is sourced from multiple suppliers, there are inherent compatibility issues that arise. Operators face challenges in integrating different elements like routers, switches, antennas etc. from diverse manufacturers into a cohesive network architecture. This leads to technical limitations, difficulty in expanding coverage, and increased operational expenses to manage such heterogeneous infrastructures. The interoperability problems hamper the seamless rollout of advanced LTE networks on a wider scale.
High capital expenditure burden on operators
The heavy upfront investment needs for establishing LTE network infrastructure are another major challenge faced by telecom operators. Deploying extensive LTE infrastructure requires massive capital expenditure for purchasing radio access network equipment, optical fiber backhaul, core network gear and managing spectrum expenses. This places significant financial burden on the operators, especially in developing markets. The high capital costs associated with building and maintaining LTE networks restrain the expansion plans of cash-strapped telcos in price-sensitive markets. Sourcing low-cost equipment and services can help alleviate this restraint.
IoT connectivity opportunities
One of the key opportunities provided by LTE technology is the ability to support burgeoning IoT applications by offering high-speed mobile broadband connectivity to diverse ‘things. The growth of IoT solutions across various sectors like manufacturing, utilities, logistics, healthcare is generating exponential demand for reliable, scalable and secure wireless connectivity. Here, LTE with its high data capacity and low latency characteristics compared to previous generations is well-suited to power large IoT deployments. This opens up a massive market potential for LTE network providers to tap into lucrative networking requirements of IoT.
Opportunities in rural connectivity
There is a large opportunity for LTE networks to bridge the urban-rural digital divide and expand connectivity footprint to remote/rural areas. Vast regions in developing nations still lack access to high-speed internet. LTE with its ability to deliver cost-effective coverage across sparsely populated areas provides an ideal solution to fulfill the demand for wireless broadband in rural agriculture and villages. This supports various social and economically enabling applications. Telecom operators can tap funding and partnerships available through government rural programs to expand LTE coverage and grasp the opportunities in boosting rural connectivity.
Link: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/lte-market-4112
Key Developments:
- In February 2020, Ethio Telecom announced the launch of its state-of-the-art LTE advanced mobile internet service, which aimed to expand the existing limited LTE network coverage to meet the growing customer demands across regional cities. This new service is designed to enhance customer experience by providing reliable connections with exceptional data speeds, enabling seamless downloading and uploading, high-quality live streaming, and real-time video conferencing.
- In July 2022, Nokia and AT&T Mexico established a strategic partnership to bring the benefits of 5G technology to the Mexican market. As part of this collaboration, Nokia was chosen as a key partner for AT&T Mexico's 5G Innovation Lab. In this role, Nokia and AT&T Mexico will work together to develop 5G use cases specifically tailored to Mexico's unique requirements, with the aim of fostering the growth of the local 5G ecosystem.
- In January 2023, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), the state-owned Indian telecom operator, entered into an agreement with Echelon Edge, an IT product development and solutions provider, to enable the deployment of private 5G networks for enterprise customers. Under this collaboration, Echelon Edge has been appointed as a Captive Non-Public Network Provider (CNPNP) to offer Captive Non-Public Network (CNPN) services to corporate clients. This partnership empowers Echelon Edge to provide private Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and 5G services utilizing the BSNL spectrum allocated for captive networks.
- In August 2022, Nokia and AT&T Mexico, a mobile telephone operator successfully implemented an industrial-grade LTE private wireless network solution at the APM Terminals port in Mexico. This deployment utilizes Nokia's Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) technology and leverages 4.9G LTE to provide pervasive high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity, and improve network predictability across piers and yards. The network connects hundreds of workers, sensors, equipment, and vehicles over 11.5 hectares reliably and securely, enabling future use cases such as remote and autonomous crane operations within the piers and yards.
- In January 2020, Rakuten Mobile, a Japanese mobile network operator announced the launch of its full commercial services, accompanied by the expansion of its greenfield 4G LTE network to cater to its growing customer base of 25,000 subscribers. The company is focused on deploying a fully virtualized, cloud-native mobile network, which aims to enhance efficiency standards compared to traditional telecom networks.
Key Players:
Apple Inc., AT&T Inc., Broadcom Corporation, Ericsson Inc., Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., HTC Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, NTT DoCoMo Inc., Nokia Corporation, Qualcomm Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Verizon Communications Inc., Vodafone Inc., ZTE Corporation, and China Mobile Ltd.
