LTE is on the horizon, and will be adopted by at least a dozen operators next year. What is motivating so many carriers to take on the cost of deploying the 4G technology? For some, it will be a service that augments current 3G technologies by offering greater spectral efficiency, according to Maravedis analyst Cintia Garza. LTE also clocks in at a lower cost to deploy than comparable 3G upgrades. And another major benefit is the lower cost per bit that LTE promises to deliver. Whatever the specific circumstances, it's clear carriers have a lot of motivation to move to LTE. Commentary