Global LTE: Verizon dominates today, but which operators will lead in 2016?

The wireless industry is returning to its roots: The world is coalescing around LTE technology, creating a shared, global standard for the first time since the days of analog.

And the global move toward LTE comes as little surprise, since the technology promises more efficient and faster networks, lower equipment costs through economies of scale, and broad support from suppliers and carriers. Already, as of February, there were 52 fully commercial LTE networks in operation and more than 300 LTE-enabled devices available in the market, according to consulting firm Signals and Systems Telecom. Which operators are on the forefront of deploying the technology? And how many LTE subscribers and devices are currently in the market? Most importantly, where are things heading?