4G numbers could jump to 90M by 2013, ABI says

Fourth-generation subscribers, including LTE and WiMAX users, could exceed 90 million in 2013 if a number of milestones are met, according to a report by ABI Research.
The study said there were 3.4 billion mobile subscribers worldwide at the end of last year, including 2.7 billion users on GSM/EDGE/GPRS networks and 180 million users on W-CDMA networks.
ABI said it expects migration to HSPA+ technology to begin in early 2010, and migration to LTE will begin mid-year 2010. The firm said it expects W-CDMA subscribers, including HSPA users, to approach 720 million by 2013.
“Some operators may not be ready to move on to LTE, as the peak data rates of 100 Mbps downlink and 50 Mbps uplink are achievable only with a 20-megahertz spectrum band,” said Hwai Lin Khor, research analyst at ABI Research. “That is a luxury that most operators may not have, and many may be content with the capabilities of HSPA+ or settle for suboptimal LTE data rates with whatever they have at the time.”
“While the long-term roadmap for CDMA2000, especially in relation to UMB, looks more uncertain, CDMA operators are taking advantage of current upgrade possibilities,” said Jake Saunders, vice president of Asia-Pacific at ABI. ABI expects the number of CDMA2000 subscribers (including 1x and various versions of EV-DO) to approach 800 million by the end of 2013