List of mobile network operators

Last updated

For a more comprehensive list of mobile phone operators, see Mobile country codes.

Contents

Terrestrial

This is a list of the world's 25 largest terrestrial mobile phone network operators measured by number of subscriptions.

RankCompanyMain marketsTechnologyTotal
subscriptions
(in millions)
Ownership
(100% ownership unless stated otherwise)
1 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China Mobile
Communications Corporation
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China (China Mobile)
Flag of Hong Kong.svg Hong Kong (CMHK)
Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan (Zong)
List
1003.9 [1]
(September 2024)
Government of the People's Republic of China (74.25%)
Public stock (25.75%)
2 Flag of India.svg Bharti Airtel Limited
List
  • Flag of Chad.svg Chad (Airtel)
  • Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg DR Congo (Airtel)
  • Flag of Gabon.svg Gabon (Airtel)
  • Flag of India.svg  India (Airtel)
  • Flag of Kenya.svg Kenya (Airtel Kenya)
  • Flag of Madagascar.svg Madagascar (Airtel)
  • Flag of Malawi.svg Malawi (Airtel)
  • Flag of Niger.svg Niger (Airtel)
  • Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria (Airtel)
  • Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg Republic of the Congo (Airtel)
  • Flag of Rwanda.svg Rwanda (Airtel)
  • Flag of Seychelles.svg Seychelles (Airtel)
  • Flag of Tanzania.svg Tanzania (Airtel Tanzania)
  • Flag of Uganda.svg Uganda (Airtel Uganda)
  • Flag of Zambia.svg Zambia (Airtel)
563.2 [2]
(September 2024)
Bharti Enterprises (66.57%)
Singtel (32.15%)
Google (1.28%)
3 Flag of India.svg Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited Flag of India.svg India461.2 [3]
(November 2024)
Jio Platforms
4 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China Telecom Corp., Ltd Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China
Flag of Macau.svg Macau
423.4 [4]
(September 2024)
China Telecommunications Corporation (State Owned) (70.89%)
5 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China Unicom Limited Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China
List
345.0 [5]
(September 2024)
China Unicom Limited (40.92%)
China Netcom Group (29.49%)
Telefónica (0.6%)
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Vodafone Group plc
List
323.0 [6]
(December 2023)
7 Flag of Mexico.svg América Móvil, S.A.B. de C.V
List
  • Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina (Claro)
  • Flag of Austria.svg Austria (Telekom Austria)
  • Flag of Belarus.svg Belarus (A1)
  • Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil (Claro)
  • Flag of Bulgaria.svg Bulgaria (A1)
  • Flag of Chile.svg Chile (Claro)
  • Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia (Claro)
  • Flag of Costa Rica.svg Costa Rica (Claro)
  • Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia (A1)
  • Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Dominican Republic (Claro)
  • Flag of Ecuador.svg Ecuador (Claro)
  • Flag of El Salvador.svg El Salvador (Claro)
  • Flag of Guatemala.svg Guatemala (Claro)
  • Flag of Honduras.svg Honduras (Claro)
  • Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico (Telcel)
  • Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua (Claro)
  • Flag of North Macedonia.svg North Macedonia (A1)
  • Flag of Paraguay.svg Paraguay (Claro)
  • Flag of Peru.svg Peru (Claro)
  • Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Puerto Rico (Claro)
  • Flag of Serbia.svg Serbia (A1)
  • Flag of Slovenia.svg Slovenia (A1 Slovenija)
  • Flag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay (Claro)
315.8 [7]
(September 2024)
Helu Slim (36.50%)
Carlos Slim (6.84%)
Public stock (56.66%)
8 Flag of France.svg Orange S.A.
List
305.3 [8]
(December 2024)
Public stock (77%)
Government of France (23%)
9 Flag of Spain.svg Telefónica S.A.
List
  • Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina (Movistar)
  • Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil (Vivo)
  • Flag of Chile.svg Chile (Movistar)
  • Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia (Movistar)
  • Flag of Ecuador.svg Ecuador (Movistar)
  • Flag of Germany.svg Germany (O2)
  • Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico (Movistar)
  • Flag of Peru.svg Peru (Movistar)
  • Flag of Spain.svg Spain (Movistar)
  • Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom (O2)
  • Flag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay (Movistar)
  • Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela (Movistar)
303.2 [9]
(September 2024)
10 Flag of South Africa.svg MTN Group Limited
List
  • Flag of Benin.svg Benin
  • Flag of Botswana.svg Botswana
  • Flag of Cameroon.svg Cameroon
  • Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg Republic of the Congo
  • Flag of Eswatini.svg Eswatini (30%)
  • Flag of Ghana.svg Ghana
  • Flag of Guinea.svg Guinea
  • Flag of Iran.svg Iran (49%)
  • Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Ivory Coast
  • Flag of Liberia.svg Liberia
  • Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria
  • Flag of Rwanda.svg Rwanda
  • Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
  • Flag of South Sudan.svg South Sudan
  • Flag of Sudan.svg Sudan
  • Flag of Uganda.svg Uganda
  • Flag of Zambia.svg Zambia
List
288.0 [10]
(September 2024)
Public stock (60.02%)
Government Employees Pension Fund (25.33%)
M1 (10.05%)
11 Flag of Germany.svg Deutsche Telekom AG
List
258.8 [11]
(September 2024)
Free float (68.1%)
Federal Republic of Germany (31.9%)
12 Flag of India.svg Vodafone Idea Ltd Flag of India.svg India209.0 [12]
(November 2024)
Government of India (23.8%)
Vodafone Group Plc (23.2%)
Aditya Birla Group (15%)
13 Flag of Malaysia.svg Axiata Group Berhad
List
162.5 [13]
(December 2023)
Public stock (54.91%)
Government of Malaysia (45.09%)
14 Flag of Indonesia.svg PT Telekomunikasi Selular (Telkomsel) Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia
Flag of East Timor.svg East Timor
List
159.3 [14]
(December 2023)
Telkom Indonesia (65%)
Singtel (35%)
15 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Emirates Telecommunication
Group Company PJSC
(Etisalat)
List
  • Flag of the Taliban.svg Afghanistan (etisalat)
  • Flag of Benin.svg Benin (Moov)
  • Flag of Burkina Faso.svg Burkina Faso (Moov)
  • Flag of the Central African Republic.svg Central African Republic (Moov)
  • Flag of Chad.svg Chad (Moov)
  • Flag of Egypt.svg Egypt (e& Egypt)
  • Flag of Gabon.svg Gabon (Moov)
  • Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Côte d'Ivoire (Moov)
  • Flag of Mali.svg Mali (Sotelma)
  • Flag of Mauritania.svg Mauritania (Mauritel)
  • Flag of Morocco.svg Morocco (Maroc Telecom)
  • Flag of Niger.svg Niger (Moov)
  • Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan (Ufone)
  • Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Saudi Arabia (Mobily)
  • Flag of Togo (3-2).svg Togo (Moov)
  • Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg United Arab Emirates (e&)
List
159 [15]
(2021)
Emirates Investment Authority (60.03%)
Public stock (39.97%)
16 Flag of the Netherlands.svg VEON Ltd.
List
  • Flag of Bangladesh.svg Bangladesh (Banglalink)
  • Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Kazakhstan (Beeline)
  • Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg Kyrgyzstan (Beeline)
  • Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan (Jazz)
  • Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine (Kyivstar)
  • Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Uzbekistan (Beeline)
154.2
(November 2024)
Letterone Investment Holdings S.A. (47.9%)
Public stock (43.8%)
Stichting Administratiekantoor Mobile Telecommunications Investor (8.3%)
17 Flag of Qatar.svg Ooredoo QSC
List
149.4 [16]
(Q3 2024)
Government of Qatar
18 Flag of the United States.svg Verizon Communications Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of the United States Virgin Islands.svg United States Virgin Islands
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Puerto Rico
146 [17]
(December 2024)
Verizon Communications
19 Flag of the United States.svg AT&T Inc. Flag of the United States.svg United States (AT&T Mobility LLC)
Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico (AT&T Mexico)
139.0 [18]
(September 2024)
Institutional Shares (59.28%)
Vanguard Group Inc (14.12%)
Blackrock Inc (11.49%) [19]
20 Flag of Norway.svg Telenor ASA
List
138.31 [20]
(Q3 2024)
Government of Norway (53.97%)
Public stock (41.74%)
The Government Pension Fund of Norway (4.79%)
21 Flag of Vietnam.svg Viettel Group
List
  • Flag of Burundi.svg Burundi (Lumitel)
  • Flag of Cambodia.svg Cambodia (Metfone)
  • Flag of Cameroon.svg Cameroon (Nexttel)
  • Flag of East Timor.svg East Timor (Telemor)
  • Flag of Haiti.svg Haiti (Natcom)
  • Flag of Laos.svg Laos (Unitel)
  • Flag of Mozambique.svg Mozambique (Movitel)
  • Flag of Myanmar.svg Myanmar (Mytel)
  • Flag of Peru.svg Peru (Bitel)
  • Flag of Tanzania.svg Tanzania (Halotel)
  • Flag of Vietnam.svg Vietnam
110.0 [21]
(Q1 2022)
Government of Vietnam
22 Flag of India.svg BSNL Mobile Flag of India.svg India88.94 [22]
(April 2024) [Note 1]
Government of India
23 Flag of Japan.svg NTT Docomo Inc. Flag of Japan.svg Japan89.9 [23]
(Q1 2024)
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone
24 Flag of Russia.svg Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) Flag of Russia.svg Russia
Flag of Belarus.svg Belarus
List
87.60 [24]
(Q3 2024)
Sistema (50.8%)
25 Flag of Russia.svg MegaFon Flag of Russia.svg Russia
Flag of Tajikistan.svg Tajikistan
77.26 [25]
(Q2 2024)
AF Telecom Holding LLC (56.32%)
USM Telecom LLC (43.68%)

Satellite based

This is a list of the world's five largest satellite phone network operators measured by number of subscribers.

RankOperatorTechnologySubscribers
(in millions)
Ownership
1 Iridium Proprietary TDMA 0.824 (June 2016) [26]
2 Globalstar Proprietary CDMA 0.638 (March 2015) [27]
3 Thuraya Proprietary FDMA/GSM 0.260 (December 2007) [28] Etisalat (28%)
4 Inmarsat Proprietary GSM 0.254 (September 2009) [29]
5 ACeS Dual-mode Satellite/GSM 0.020 (December 2007)

See also

Footnotes

  1. After adding subscribers of MTNL to BSNL, because MTNL will merge with BSNL.

References

  1. "Monthly Customer Data". 30 September 2024.
  2. "Quarterly Highlights" (PDF). 30 September 2024.
  3. "Trai Press Release 89/2024" (PDF). 30 September 2024.
  4. "China Telecom Monthly Reports". China Telecom Corporation. 30 September 2024.
  5. "Key Financial and Performance Indicators for the First Three Quarters of 2024" (PDF). 30 September 2024.
  6. "Annual Report 2023" (PDF). 31 December 2023.
  7. "3Q 2024 Reports" (PDF). 30 September 2024.
  8. "Q3 Press Release 2024". 29 December 2024.
  9. "3Q Results 2024". 30 September 2024.
  10. "Q3 Results 2024" (PDF). 30 September 2024.
  11. "Interim Group Report 3Q 2024" (PDF). 30 September 2024.
  12. "Trai Press Release 89/2024" (PDF). 30 September 2024.
  13. "Axiata Integrated 2019 Annual Report 2023" (PDF).
  14. "Annual Report 2023" (PDF). December 2023.
  15. "Etisalat 2Q Report 2020" (PDF). p. 4. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  16. "Q3 2024 Results" (PDF). Ooredoo. October 2024. p. 12.
  17. "Financial and Operating Information". Verizon. 24 January 2025. Archived from the original on 24 January 2025.
  18. "AT&T Financial and Operational Schedules 3Q 2024" (PDF). Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  19. "AT&T INC. Ownership summary| NASDAQ". nasdaq.com. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  20. "Telenor Group's Results Q3 2024" (PDF). 30 October 2024.
  21. "Viettel Global network Q1 2022". Viettel Group. 29 March 2022.
  22. "TRAI subscription data". April 2022.
  23. "NTT subscribers". 12 May 2021.
  24. "Финансовые и операционные результаты Группы МТС за 3 квартал 2024". mts.ru. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  25. "МегаФон подвёл финансовые итоги первого полугодия 2024 года". MegaFon. 16 August 2024.
  26. "Iridium Q2 2016 Results" (PDF). 30 June 2016.
  27. "Globestar Announces Q1 2015 Results". Globalstar.com. 31 March 2015.
  28. "Thuraya Launches SMS Info Service with CNN" (Press release). Thuraya. 27 November 2007. Archived from the original on 3 January 2010.
  29. "INMARSAT HOLDINGS LIMITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL RESULTS For the three and nine months ended 30 September 2009 (unaudited)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 November 2012.

For a more comprehensive list of mobile phone operators, see Mobile country codes.