USA - Mobile Infrastructure, Broadband, Operators - Statistics and Analyses

Last updated: 2 Apr 2020 Update History

Report Status: Archived

Report Pages: 83

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Synopsis

Growth in the US mobile subscriber base remains strong, with a penetration rate of about 127%. Declining revenue from voice services is compensated for by high growth in mobile data use, itself supported by upgraded networks based on LTE technologies. Smartphone penetration is also high, which had encouraged mobile data use among subscribers. The major operators, led by AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile US, have partnered with vendors to trial 5G technologies and services and will be expanding their commercial services into 2019 or 2020. In addition, operators are working on the potential of NB-IoT, LTE-U and LTE-A technologies, in some respects as complementary technologies supported by 5G.

Major recent developments include the complex reserve auction for spectrum in the 600MHz band, which raised more than $19 billion. Although network operators must wait for spectrum allocations to be concluded, the additional 70MHz made available will go far to supporting mobile broadband in rural areas and improving network capacity.

In addition to the auction of 28GHz spectrum in late 2018 the FCC plans other auction in 2019 (for spectrum in the 24GHz, 37GHz, 39GHz and 49GHz bands) to increase the amount of spectrum available for 5G.

This report provides analyses as well as key statistics and forecasts on the US mobile market. It also assesses telcos’ strategies, regulatory policies, and developments in the deployment of emerging technologies.

Key developments:

T-Mobile US merger with Sprint concluded;
Sprint signs MVNO deal with Altice USA;
Auction 103 finishes, raising $7.56 billion;
FCC authorises the use of LTE-U devices in the under-utilised 5GHz band;
AT&T launches national LTE-M service;
T-Mobile US secures additional 700MHz blocks for $1.3 billion;
AT&T closes down 2G infrastructure, reassigns spectrum for LTE;
Report update includes telcos' operating and financial data to Q4 2019, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

AT&T Mobility, Verizon Wireless, Sprint Corporation, T-Mobile US, TracFone, MetroPCS Communications, Leap Wireless, Frontline, Alltel, US Cellular; Clearwire.

Market analysis
Mobile statistics

General statistics
Mobile voice

Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE)

Mobile data

SMS and MMS

Mobile broadband

Regulatory issues

Public Safety Network
Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
Spectrum

AWS spectrum
600MHz
800MHz
2GHz
700MHz
1900MHz
3.5GHz
mmWave spectrum

Spectrum swaps and acquisitions

T-Mobile US
AT&T
Verizon

Mobile infrastructure

Verizon
US Cellular
AT&T
T-Mobile US
Sprint

4G (LTE)
3G
Other infrastructure developments

Machine-to-Machine (M2M)
NB-IoT

Major mobile operators

Industry body
AT&T

Acquisitions and sale

Verizon Wireless
T-Mobile US

Failed merger with MetroPCS
Interest from Iliad
Interest from Softbank

Sprint Corporation
MVNOs

Google

Mobile content and applications

Mobile music
M-payment
M-commerce

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List of Tables

Table 1 – Mobile market revenue, roaming revenue, ARPU – 2010 – 2017
Table 2 – Mobile subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2020
Table 3 – Mobile voice traffic – 2012 – 2018
Table 4 – Mobile data traffic – 2011 – 2017
Table 5 – Mobile data-only devices in use – 2013 – 2017
Table 6 – Messaging traffic (SMS, MMS) – 2005 – 2018
Table 7 – Active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2008 – 2020
Table 8 – LTE mobile broadband coverage broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 - 2016
Table 9 – Verizon Wireless LTE devices on network– 2011 – 2016
Table 10 – M2M connections – 2009 – 2016
Table 11 – Development of AT&T Mobility’s financial data – 2010 – 2019
Table 12 – AT&T wireless subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Table 13 – Verizon wireless financial data by sector – 2010 – 2019
Table 14 – Verizon wireless subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Table 15 – T-Mobile US wireless subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Table 16 – T-Mobile US own-branded subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Table 17 – T-Mobile US ARPU (€, annualised) – 2009 – 2019
Table 18 – T-Mobile US ARPU ($, annualised) – 2012 – 2019
Table 19 – T-Mobile US financial data – 2010 – 2019
Table 20 – Sprint wireless financial data – 2009 – 2019
Table 21 – Sprint subscribers – 2010 – 2018
Table 22 – Sprint blended ARPU – 2011 – 2018
Table 23 – Historic - Mobile market revenue, roaming revenue, ARPU – 2000 – 2009
Table 24 – Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration – 2002 – 2009
Table 25 – Historic - AT&T Mobility financial data – 2004 – 2009
Table 26 – Historic - AT&T wireless subscribers – 2002 – 2009
Table 27 – Historic - Verizon wireless subscribers – 2005 – 2009
Table 28 – Historic - T-Mobile US wireless subscribers – 2003 – 2009
Table 29 – Historic - MetroPCS financial data – 2007 – 2012
Table 30 – Historic - MetroPCS subscribers – 2007 – 2012

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Mobile subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2020
Chart 2 – Active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2008 – 2020
Chart 3 – Development of AT&T Mobility’ financial data – 2010 – 2019
Chart 4 – Verizon wireless financial data by sector– 2010 – 2019
Chart 5 – Verizon wireless subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Chart 6 – T-Mobile US subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Chart 7 – T-Mobile US financial data – 2010 – 2019
Chart 8 – Sprint financial data – 2009 – 2019

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – AWS spectrum auction – January 2015
Exhibit 2 – mmWave spectrum auctions – May/June 2019
Exhibit 3 – mmWave spectrum auction – February 2020

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USA - Mobile Infrastructure, Broadband, Operators - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

Synopsis

Key developments:

Companies mentioned in this report:

Market analysis

Mobile statistics

Regulatory issues

Mobile infrastructure

Major mobile operators

Mobile content and applications

Related reports

Purchase this Report

Share this Report

TMT Intelligence

A platform to scale your intelligence tasks

Research Methodology

Hot Topics

News & Views