The first-ever 4G network service was launched in 2009 in Sweden. Years have passed, and today 79 countries have set up a combined number of 209 LTE networks. Plus, 10 more countries have announced their plans to build 52 additional LTE test networks.
The momentum isn’t stopping here. According to GSMA, an association of mobile operators, there will be more than one billion 4G users by 2017, and we can expect more than 500 LTE networks offering services in almost 130 countries.
In total, in 2013, 20% of the world’s population is able to connect to 4G networks, and by 2017, this figure will rise to 50%.