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

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 receives government approvals;
Sprint signs MVNO deal with Altice USA;
AT&T preps for launch of commercial 5G services;
FCC authorises the use of LTE-U devices in the under-utilised 5GHz band;
5G trials supporting 4K ultra-high definition (UHD) video;
AT&T launches national LTE-M service;
T-Mobile US secures additional 700MHz blocks for $1.3 billion;
Google trials facial recognition m-payment system;
Google launches Project Fi MVNO;
FCC concludes 600MHz spectrum auction;
AT&T closes down 2G infrastructure, reassigns spectrum for LTE;
Report update includes telcos’ operating and financial data to Q3 2018, 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.

Table of Contents

1. Market analysis
2. Mobile statistics

2.1 General statistics
2.2 Mobile voice

2.2.1 Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE)

2.3 Mobile data

2.3.1 SMS and MMS

2.4 Mobile broadband
2.5 Forecasts – mobile subscribers – 2019; 2021; 2023

3. Regulatory issues

3.1 Public Safety Network
3.2 Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
3.3 Spectrum

3.3.1 AWS spectrum
3.3.2 600MHz
3.3.3 800MHz
3.3.4 2GHz
3.3.5 700MHz
3.3.6 1900MHz
3.3.7 3.5GHz
3.3.8 28GHz

3.4 Spectrum swaps and acquisitions

3.4.1 T-Mobile US
3.4.2 AT&T
3.4.3 Verizon

4. Mobile infrastructure

4.1 5G

4.1.1 Verizon
4.1.2 US Cellular
4.1.3 AT&T
4.1.4 T-Mobile US
4.1.5 Sprint

4.2 4G (LTE)
4.3 3G
4.4 Other infrastructure developments

4.4.1 Machine-to-Machine (M2M)
4.4.2 NB-IoT

5. Major mobile operators

5.1 Industry body
5.2 AT&T

5.2.1 Acquisitions and sales

5.3 Verizon Wireless
5.4 T-Mobile US

5.4.1 Merger with MetroPCS
5.4.2 Interest from Softbank
5.4.3 Interest from Iliad

5.5 Sprint Corporation
5.6 MVNOs

5.6.1 Google

6. Mobile content and applications

6.1 Mobile music
6.2 M-payment
6.3 M-commerce

7. Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Mobile market revenue, roaming revenue, ARPU – 2000 - 2017
Table 2 – Mobile subscribers and penetration – 2002 - 2019
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 - 2018
Table 8 – LTE mobile broadband coverage broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 - 2016
Table 9 – Forecast mobile subscribers – 2019; 2021; 2023
Table 10 – Verizon Wireless LTE devices on network– 2011 - 2016
Table 11 – M2M connections – 2009 - 2016
Table 12 – AT&T Mobility financial data – 2004 - 2018
Table 13 – AT&T wireless subscribers – 2002 - 2018
Table 14 – Verizon wireless financial data by sector – 2010 - 2018
Table 15 – Verizon wireless subscribers – 2005 - 2018
Table 16 – T-Mobile US wireless subscribers – 2003 - 2018
Table 17 – T-Mobile US own-branded subscribers – 2010 - 2018
Table 18 – T-Mobile US ARPU (€, annualised) – 2009 - 2018
Table 19 – T-Mobile US ARPU ($, annualised) – 2012 - 2018
Table 20 – T-Mobile US financial data – 2010 - 2018
Table 21 – MetroPCS financial data – 2007 - 2012
Table 22 – MetroPCS subscribers – 2007 - 2012
Table 23 – Sprint wireless financial data – 2009 - 2019
Table 24 – Sprint subscribers – 2010 - 2018
Table 25 – Sprint blended ARPU – 2011 - 2018
Table 26 - Online retail sales – 2012 – 2018