The number of subscribers to the so-called long-term evolution (LTE) mobile network in the country reached 27 million last month, with over 50 percent of mobile phone users using the faster wireless coverage, industry data showed on Wednesday.

According to the data compiled by the country's three mobile carriers, some 27.35 million people subscribed to the LTE service as of end-November, accounting for slightly more than half of the country's 54.4 million mobile phone users.

The end-November figure was up from 26.58 million in October, the data showed. The LTE service was introduced in the country in July 2011.

The data showed the comparable figure for the 3G mobile network service stood at 19.72 million in October.

Meanwhile, the country's mobile operators are offering an upgraded LTE mobile network service, called LTE-Advanced technology.

For the first time in the world, SK Telecom, the country's top mobile operator, introduced the LTE-A mobile network this year, offering speeds twice as fast as the existing LTE network.

LG Uplus Corp., the country's smallest mobile operator, followed suit in July offering its own LTE-A service.

More smartphone users are also expected to adopt the LTE-A service as their two-year contracts to the existing LTE mobile network began to expire in September. (Yonhap News)