At the end of 2014, LTE Advanced (LTE-A) networks covered 100 million people worldwide, just four years since the network's inception. According to ABI Research, coverage will reach 1 billion people in four more years. At the end of 2014, there were 49 commercially available LTE-A networks around the world. Western European operators lead the commercialisation with 20 operators, followed by 13 in Asia-Pacific. However, North America still commands the largest population coverage at 7.8 per cent. Meanwhile a number of major spectrum auctions are expected to take place in several markets in 2015. Release