This is a list of mobile network operators (MNOs) in the United States. The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA), lists approximately 30 facilities-based wireless service providers in the United States as members. Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) has over 100 members. [1] Aside from the facilities-based providers, there are over 50 virtual operators that use the top three networks to provide service.
The top five wireless telecommunications facilities-based service providers by subscriber count in the United States are:
Company | Subscribers | Date | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
Verizon | ![]() | Q2 2024 | [2] |
T-Mobile | ![]() | Q2 2024 | [3] |
AT&T | ![]() | Q2 2024 | [4] |
Boost Mobile | ![]() | Q2 2024 | [5] |
UScellular | ![]() | Q2 2024 | [6] |
Each active SIM card is considered a subscriber. [7] Wholesale customers include users of machine to machine networks and mobile virtual network operators that operate on the host network, but are managed by wholesale partners. Subscriber counts are sourced from each companies quarterly reports. Subscriber counts include what each companies quarterly report states, whether it be just postpaid and prepaid (as in the case of Boost Mobile and UScellular) or a combination of postpaid, prepaid and fixed-wireless access as in the case of AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon).
Four of the top five wireless providers have all standardized on 4G LTE and 5G NR as their wireless communication standards, where as Boost Mobile uses only 5G NR. Of which, LTE has been deployed across their entire coverage area; however, the LTE bands used by each provider remain largely incompatible. Four of the top five carriers have enabled VoLTE and VoNR on their networks, while Boost uses strictly VoNR. AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Boost Mobile, and UScellular also sell SIM cards through their retail channels, both in-store and online.
The top five wireless providers operate nationwide wireless networks which cover most of the population in the United States, while smaller carriers provide native network coverage across selected regions of the United States while supplementing nationwide coverage through roaming agreements with other carriers.
The following tables lists service providers that own and manage their network equipment and facilities. Unless specified otherwise the subscriber count includes subscribers on the virtual networks hosted.
Operator | Voice technology | Data technology | Subscribers (in millions) | Coverage (excluding roaming) | Ownership |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Claro (formerly Verizon) | GSM, UMTS | EDGE, HSPA+, LTE | 1.6 [32] (Q2 2020) | PR | América Móvil |
Liberty Puerto Rico (formerly AT&T) | UMTS, VoLTE, Wi-Fi calling | HSPA+, LTE, NR | 1.0 [33] (Q1 2021) | PR, VI | Liberty Latin America [34] |
T-Mobile | GSM, VoLTE, VoNR, [35] VoIP, Wi-Fi calling | EDGE, LTE, NR | See above | Contiguous US; HI, PR, VI | Deutsche Telekom AG (48%) SoftBank Group Corporation (4%) free float (48%) [26] |
Viya | GSM, UMTS | EDGE, HSPA+, LTE | Unknown | VI | ATN International [36] |
Operator | Voice technology | Data technology | Subscribers (in millions) | Coverage (excluding roaming) | Ownership |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Docomo Pacific | GSM, UMTS | EDGE, HSPA+, LTE, NR | 0.065 [37] | GU, MP | NTT Docomo |
GTA | GSM, UMTS | EDGE, HSPA+, LTE | Unknown | GU | TeleGuam Holdings LLC |
IT&E | GSM, UMTS | EDGE, HSPA+, LTE | Unknown | GU, MP | IT&E Overseas, Inc |
Operator | Voice technology | Data technology | Subscribers (in millions) | Coverage (excluding roaming) | Ownership |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ASTCA | CDMA2000 | EV-DO | Unknown | AS | Government of American Samoa |
Bluesky | GSM, UMTS | EDGE, HSPA+, LTE | 0.032 | AS | Amper SpA |
Some operators listed below may still function as a separate brand but they no longer own any infrastructure (towers, network, etc.).
Operator | Voice technology | Data technology | Subscribers (millions) | End date | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Airfire Mobile | GSM | EDGE | 0.02 | June 2014 | Acquired by U.S. Cellular. [38] |
Alaska Communications | GSM, UMTS (legacy: CDMA2000 [39] ) | EDGE, HSPA+, LTE (legacy: EV-DO [39] ) | 0.103 [40] (December 2014) | February 2015 | Acquired by GCI [41] |
Alltel | CDMA | CDMA2000, EV-DO | 13 (at peak) | September 2013 | Acquired by Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility. [42] |
AT&T Wireless Services | GSM | EDGE | 22 | October 2004 | Acquired by Cingular Wireless, which later rebranded to AT&T Mobility. [43] |
Big Sky Mobile | GSM | EDGE | Unknown | 2017 | Sold spectrum licenses to AT&T and T-Mobile and exited the business. [44] |
Blaze Wireless | GSM, UMTS | EDGE, HSPA+, LTE | Unknown | December 2019 | Parent company, Pinpoint Communications, discontinued cellular service and spectrum leases through Viaero Wireless were cancelled. |
Blue Wireless | CDMA2000 | EV-DO, LTE | Unknown | July 2020 | Exited business and sold spectrum licenses to Verizon. [45] |
Bluegrass Cellular | CDMA2000 | EV-DO, LTE | 0.210 (March 2021) [46] | March 2021 | Acquired by Verizon. [46] |
Breakaway Wireless | CDMA2000 | EV-DO | Unknown | 2018 | Discontinued cellular service. [47] |
Cellular One of East Central Illinois | GSM, UMTS | EDGE, HSPA+ | Unknown | January 2016 | Acquired by AT&T Mobility. [48] |
Cellular One of Northeast Pennsylvania | CDMA | CDMA2000, EV-DO | Unknown | March 2012 | Acquired by Verizon Wireless. [49] |
Chariton Valley Wireless | CDMA2000 | EV-DO, LTE | Unknown | 2021 | Acquired by Verizon Wireless [50] |
Chat Mobility | CDMA2000 | EV-DO, LTE | Unknown | 2021 | Acquired by Verizon Wireless |
Choice Wireless former Amerilink Wireless | GSM | EDGE | Unknown | 2016 | Became a T-Mobile US MVNO. |
Cincinnati Bell Wireless | GSM, UMTS, GAN Wi-Fi calling [51] | EDGE, HSPA+ | 0.34 [52] (January 2014) | February 2015 | Spectrum assets acquired by Verizon Wireless, service to any customers remaining on the network was shut off after February 28, 2015. [53] |
Cleartalk affiliate of Clear Talk Wireless | CDMA2000 | EV-DO, LTE | Unknown | 2016 | WGH Communications sold South Carolina licenses to T-Mobile US and exited the business |
ClearTalk Wireless Flat Wireless | CDMA2000 | EV-DO, LTE | Unknown | 2017 | Flat Wireless assets acquired by Sprint. |
Clearwire | WiMAX | 11 [54] (June 2012) | December 2013 | Acquired by Sprint. [55] | |
Corr Wireless | GSM | EDGE | 0.02 [56] | 2013 | Acquired by AT&T Mobility. [56] |
CTC Wireless | CDMA2000 | EV-DO, LTE | Unknown | 2019 | Exited wireless business. |
DTC Wireless | GSM, UMTS | EDGE, HSPA+ | Unknown | 2017 | Discontinued cellular service, though still offers fixed wireless service. [57] |
Element Mobile | CDMA2000 | EV-DO | 0.077 [58] (August 2011) | 2013 | Acquired by AT&T Mobility. [59] [60] |
Epic PCS | GSM | EDGE | Unknown | 2015 | Acquired by United Wireless and PTCI. [61] |
Farmers Mutual Telephone Company | CDMA2000 | EV-DO, LTE | Unknown | 2018 | Sold spectrum licenses to Verizon Wireless and Eltopia Communications and became a Verizon Wireless MVNO. |
Fuego Wireless | LTE | Unknown | 2016 | Sold network and spectrum licenses to AT&T and Infrastructure Networks [62] | |
Golden State Cellular | CDMA2000 | EV-DO | 0.018 [63] | 2014 | Acquired by Verizon Wireless. [64] |
Indigo Wireless | GSM, UMTS | EDGE, HSPA+, LTE | 0.0004 (2023) [65] | 2023 | Acquired by AT&T Mobility [65] |
iWireless | GSM, UMTS | EDGE, HSPA+, LTE | Unknown | 2018 | Acquired by T-Mobile US. [66] |
KTC PACE | GSM | EDGE | Unknown | 2015 | Became an AT&T Mobility MVNO. [67] |
Leap Wireless (Cricket Communications, Inc.) •Includes Cricket PAYGo & RadioShack No Contract Wireless | CDMA, GSM, UMTS | EDGE, HSPA+, LTE | 4.57 [68] (February 2014) | 2014 | Acquired by AT&T Mobility. [68] |
Long Lines Wireless | GSM | EDGE | 0.018 [69] (November 2013) | December 2013 | Acquired by AT&T Mobility [70] |
MTA Solutions | CDMA2000 | EV-DO, LTE | Unknown | 2017 | Discontinued cellular service. [71] |
MetroPCS Communications, Inc. | CDMA | EV-DO, LTE | 9.5 | May 2013 | Acquired by T-Mobile US. [72] |
Mid-Rivers Communications | CDMA2000 | EV-DO, LTE | 0.001 | August 2019 | Exited wireless business and sold network to Verizon Wireless. [73] |
miSpot | LTE | Unknown | November 2014 | ||
MobileNation | CDMA2000 | EV-DO, LTE | 0.02 [20] | January 2020 | Exited wireless business. [74] |
Mosaic Telecom | UMTS | HSPA+, LTE | Unknown | 2016 | Discontinued cellular service [75] |
NEP Wireless | GSM | EDGE, LTE | 0.011 [76] (June 2010) | September 2015 | [77] |
Nextel | iDEN | WiDEN | 15 (Apr 2004) | 2004 | Acquired by Sprint. [78] |
NMobile | CDMA2000 | EV-DO | Unknown | June 2018 | Discontinued cellular service. [79] |
nTelos | CDMA2000 | EV-DO, LTE | 0.300 (September 2015) | May 2016 | Acquired by Shentel [80] |
Peoples Wireless | CDMA2000 | EV-DO, LTE | Unknown | 2015 | [81] |
Phoenix Communications | GSM, UMTS | EDGE, HSPA | Unknown | 2018 | Sold to Hillary Communications and cellular service discontinued. [82] |
Pioneer Cellular | CDMA2000 | EV-DO, LTE | 0.06 [9] (January 2014) | 2023 | Discountinued cellular service. [65] |
Plateau Wireless | GSM, UMTS | EDGE, HSPA+ | 0.042 [83] (September 2014) | 2014 | Acquired by AT&T Mobility. [84] |
Pocket Communications | CDMA2000 | 1xRTT | Unknown | October 2010 | Merged with Cricket. [85] |
PrimeCo Wireless | CDMA | Unknown | Unknown | 1999 | Became Verizon Wireless. [86] |
Revol Wireless | CDMA | CDMA2000, EV-DO | Unknown | January 2014 | Sold spectrum licenses to Sprint. [87] Subscribers transferred to Boost Mobile. [88] |
Shentel •T-Mobile Affiliate [89] | VoLTE, Wi-Fi calling (legacy: CDMA2000 [90] ) | LTE (legacy: EV-DO [90] ) | 0.84 [91] (July 2020) | July 2021 | Wireless assets acquired by T-Mobile US. [92] |
Sprint Corporation •Including hosted virtual operators, and Boost Mobile | VoLTE, Wi-Fi calling (legacy: CDMA2000 [90] ) | LTE, NR (legacy: EV-DO [90] ) | 54.1 [93] (December 2019) | April 2020 | Merged with T-Mobile US on April 1, 2020. [94] [95] [96] |
Standing Rock Telecom | CDMA2000 | EV-DO | Unknown | November 2014 | Shut down CDMA for UMTS/LTE and rebranded to Rock Wireless |
Stelera Wireless | HSPA | Unknown | April 2013 | Defunct. [97] | |
Syringa Wireless | CDMA2000 | EV-DO, LTE | 0.00135 | December 2015 | Discontinued cellular service [98] |
TerreStar | GSM | EDGE, HSPA | Unknown | 2010 | Acquired by Dish Network [99] |
Triangle Mobile | CDMA2000 | EV-DO, LTE | Unknown | 2021 | Acquired by Verizon. [100] |
West Central Wireless •Including Right Wireless and Five Star Wireless | GSM, UMTS, VoLTE | EDGE, HSPA+, LTE | 0.04 [101] (November 2012) | August 2023 | Acquired by Verizon. [102] |
Westlink Wireless | GSM | EDGE | Unknown | 2013 | Acquired by United Wireless. [103] |
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