LG Electronics said Sunday that it sold more than 3 million LTE handsets worldwide.

The company plans on rolling out more smartphones running on the fourth-generation Long Term Evolution networks in 20 different countries, including nations in the Middle East, up from the current 10.

The electronics manufacturer has mainly targeted two different markets with its high-speed handsets ― North America and Korea.

It also announced earlier this month that sales of the Optimus LTE had topped the 1 million mark in Korea, becoming the first LG-manufactured smartphone to become a million-seller.

Since launching the Revolution smartphone in the U.S. in May 2011 ― its first global smartphone running on the LTE network ― it has launched LTE handsets in 10 nations.

Backed by the firm’s strong LTE portfolio, LG’s Optimus LTE has ranked No.1 among LTE smartphones in Japan, according to data released by Nikkei BP Consulting.

“We’re planning to take the leading position in LTE handsets by showing off innovative products that also focus on improving the user’s experience like the Optimus LTE 2 unveiled in Korea,” said LG’s mobile chief Park Jong-seok.

The firm showcased its new flagship smartphone Optimus LTE 2 in the local market earlier this month. The phone is the world’s first equipped with 2 gigabytes of RAM.

Stating that it is designed exclusively for the Korean market, the new model also carries the 1.5 gigahertz Snapdragon S4 processor and is running on Google’s latest Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, said company officials.

The roll-out of the new LTE wireless gadgets follows LG Electronics’ plan to sell up to 35 million smartphones globally this year, with 8 million units of them being the high-speed LTE handsets.

Market research firm Strategy Analytics also said in a recent study that about 67 million LTE handsets are estimated to be sold this year, around 10 times the number sold during the previous year.

By Cho Ji-hyun (sharon@heraldcorp.com)