The number of LTE subscribers worldwide is rising rapidly, and will continue to do so through the next several years, according to a new report from IHS iSuppli, which predicts that the number of LTE users worldwide will hit 198.1m in 2013. LTE adoption is expected to surge to 1bn users in 2016.

According to IHS, in 2010 there were just 612,000 LTE subscribers worldwide, though that figure jumped to 13.2m in 2011, and then to 92.3m in 2012. The firm noted that the North American market has been a key driver for LTE adoption, with carriers like Verizon Wireless blazing the trail for competitors. Still, IHS noted that while carriers and network equipment makers have been rapidly pushing LTE, there remain several challenges.

FierceWireless: Report: LTE subscribers to hit 198M in 2013, then skyrocket to 1B in 2016; TelecomTV content partner.