Samsung Electronics Co., the world's top smartphone maker, claimed the biggest share in the global market for long-term evolution (LTE) devices for the fifth straight quarter, data showed Tuesday.

The company topped the LTE market with a 40 percent share in the third quarter, but its stake slipped from 50.9 percent in the previous quarter amid growing competition, according to the data by research firm Strategy Analytics.

Handset makers have been racing to roll out LTE devices betting on the fast-growing market. Global subscription for LTE devices is likely to surge more than five-fold to reach roughly 50 million from last year's 9 million.

In the third quarter, Apple Inc. rolled out the iPhone 5, its first LTE-backed phone. Local handset makers LG Electronics Inc. and Pantech Corp. also released flagship LTE phones, such as the Optimus G and the Vega R3, in the three-month period.

The data showed that Apple chalked up a 26.7 percent market share. Apple's entrance, however, ate into the market shares of existing players.

LG Electronics saw its market share reach 9.1 percent, down from 15.1 percent three months earlier, while Motorola Mobility claimed 6.7 percent, also slipping from 15.1 percent.

Pantech, meanwhile, saw its market share inch up to 5.8 percent from 5.7 percent.

The global LTE market reached 22.5 million units in the third quarter, more than doubling from 10.6 million units three months earlier, according to the data. (Yonhap)