How often do you focus on the underlying infrastructure used by mobile network operators? Be honest now, we know the true answer is somewhere between “Rarely” and “Never.”

Going a bit of way to rectifying that, a recent global survey released by BroadSoft (News - Alert) looks at Long Term Evolution deployments by MNOs. The survey was conducted by analyst firm MobileSQUARED, and found that about three-quarters of mobile operators globally are currently deploying, trialing or planning to deploy LTE (News - Alert).

Yes, we’ll explain or better yet, we’ll let NetworkWorld explain:”LTE is a 4G wireless technology developed by the Third Generation Partnership Project to deliver mobile broadband services with potential for 100Mbps downstream and 30Mbps upstream, with even faster speeds possible.”

What this means for you: Faster LTE speeds mean mobile operators can offer more stuff to you in the way of communication options, such as Unified Communications (News - Alert) or Rich Communications Suites -- services offered to mobile subscribers with defined standard capabilities like enhanced calls using technology like HD Voice, enhanced messaging and enhanced phonebook.

So voice is going away, right? Not so fast. Scott Hoffpauir, BroadSoft's CTO, said the results of the BroadSoft survey reinforce the view that “LTE offers significant opportunities for mobile network operators to use an all-IP environment to deliver communications services that enhance, rather than replace, voice."

Because no matter how furiously the younger users text, preferring that to voice, there will always be a need for actual voice. As Hoffpauir said, given the proliferation of mobile tablets and smartphones, “Voice over LTE (VoLTE, a nice acronym) can be a game changer for mobile carriers, as they are ideally positioned to provide a single communications identity -- a phone number -- through which their customers can always be reached, regardless of the communication app, voice, video, texting, IM, or device they choose.”