As many as half of the 3 million new iPads Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) has sold are Long Term Evolution (LTE)-capable, a UBS AG research note suggests Wednesday.

Apple has said that it sold 3 million new iPads in 10 countries since the launch last Friday (March 16). UBS analyst John Hodulik writes that up to half were sold in the U.S., and both AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and Verizon Wireless saw strong sales.

Many of the new iPads sold were 4G models, Hodulik writes:

The new iPad is available with Wi-Fi only or with 4G connectivity (LTE and HSPA+). While roughly 60% of prior iPad sales were Wi-Fi only, we believe the mix for the new device is closer to 50/50. With an HD screen, faster processor and higher-resolution camera, we believe this device will drive demand for faster connectivity.

Why this matters
Strong LTE sales would instantly make the new iPad a major device on the AT&T and Verizon 4G networks. Tablets typically use up to five times as much data as a similar smartphone. (See What We Mean When We Say '4G', Mapping LTE: AT&T & Verizon's 4G Footprints and Cisco: Tablets Hog More Data Than Smart Phones.) For more

• Apple Ships 3M iPads in Opening Weekend
• Why Apple's iPad Can't LTE Band Hop
• The New Apple iPad: Wi-Fi or LTE?
• Apple's New LTE iPad Draws Crowds in NYC
• iPad: No 4G Switcheroo for You!

— Dan Jones, Site Editor, Light Reading Mobile