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

Synopsis

Growth in the US mobile subscriber base remains strong despite penetration levels of above 120%. Declining revenue from voice services is compensated for by high growth in mobile data use, itself supported by upgraded networks supporting LTE-based services. Smartphone penetration is also high, which also encourages mobile data use among subscribers. A number of operators, led by AT&T, have partnered with vendors to trial 5G technologies and services. AT&T aimed to develop commercial services by late 2018, which would make it one of the firs carriers globally to do so. In addition, operators are working on the potential of NB-IoT, LTE-U and LTE-A technologies, in some respects as a precursor to 5G.

A major development in early 2017 was 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.

This report provides analyses as well as key statistics and forecasts on the US mobile market, including CTIA data for 2015, telcos’ financial and operating data to Q4 2016 and recent market data from the regulator. It also provides an assessment of telcos’ strategies, regulatory policies, and developments in the deployment of emerging technologies.

Key developments:

AT&T expecting to provide 5G services by late 2018; FCC authorises the use of LTE-U devices in the under-utilised 5GHz band; Sprint’s 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; FCC considers both low-end and high-end spectrum bands for possible 5G use; FCC proceeds with Citizens Broadband Radio Service, securing an additional 100MHz in the 3.5GHz-3.7GHz bands; 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 Q4 2016, 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.

1. Synopsis
2. Market analysis
3. Mobile statistics
- 3.1 General statistics
- 3.2 Mobile voice
  - 3.2.1 Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE)
- 3.3 Mobile data
  - 3.3.1 SMS and MMS
- 3.4 Mobile broadband
- 3.5 Forecasts – mobile subscribers – 2018; 2020; 2022
  - 3.5.1 Notes on scenario forecasts
4. Regulatory issues
- 4.1 FCC and NTIA develop Model City Program
- 4.2 Public Safety Network
- 4.3 Spectrum
  - 4.3.1 AWS spectrum
  - 4.3.2 600MHz
  - 4.3.3 800MHz
  - 4.3.4 2GHz
  - 4.3.5 700MHz
  - 4.3.6 1900MHz
  - 4.3.7 3.5GHz
- 4.4 Spectrum swaps and acquisitions
  - 4.4.1 T-Mobile US
  - 4.4.2 AT&T
  - 4.4.3 Verizon
5. Mobile infrastructure
- 5.1 Digital networks
  - 5.1.1 3G/UMTS
  - 5.1.2 Long-term Evolution (LTE)
  - 5.1.3 5G developments
- 5.2 Other infrastructure developments
  - 5.2.1 High Seed Packet Access (HSPA)
  - 5.2.2 CDMA
  - 5.2.3 Push-to-Talk (PTT)
- 5.3 Machine-to-Machine (M2M)
6. Major mobile operators
- 6.1 Industry body
- 6.2 AT&T
  - 6.2.1 Acquisitions and sales
- 6.3 Verizon Wireless
- 6.4 T-Mobile US
  - 6.4.1 Merger with MetroPCS
  - 6.4.2 Interest from Softbank
  - 6.4.3 Interest from Iliad
- 6.5 Sprint Corporation
- 6.6 MVNOs
  - 6.6.1 Google
7. Mobile content and applications
- 7.1 Mobile music
- 7.2 Mobile TV
- 7.3 M-payment
- 7.4 M-commerce
8. Mobile handsets
9. Related reports

Table 1 – Mobile market revenue, roaming revenue, ARPU – 2000 - 2015
Table 2 – Mobile subscribers and penetration – 2002 - 2017
Table 3 – Mobile voice traffic – 2012 - 2017
Table 4 – Mobile data traffic – 2011 - 2016
Table 5 – Messaging traffic (SMS, MMS) – 2009 - 2017
Table 6 – Forecast mobile subscribers – 2018; 2020; 2022
Table 7 – Verizon Wireless LTE devices on network– 2011 - 2016
Table 8 – M2M connections – 2009 - 2016
Table 9 – AT&T Mobility financial data – 2009 - 2016
Table 10 – AT&T wireless subscribers – 2002 - 2016
Table 11 – Verizon wireless financial data by sector – 2010 - 2016
Table 12 – Verizon wireless subscribers – 2005 - 2016
Table 13 – T-Mobile US wireless subscribers – 2003 - 2016
Table 14 – T-Mobile US own-branded subscribers – 2003 - 2016
Table 15 – T-Mobile US ARPU (€, annualised) – 2009 - 2016
Table 16 – T-Mobile US ARPU ($, annualised) – 2012 - 2016
Table 17 – T-Mobile US financial data – 2010 - 2016
Table 18 – MetroPCS financial data – 2007 - 2012
Table 19 – MetroPCS subscribers – 2007 - 2012
Table 20 – Sprint financial data – 2009 - 2017
Table 21 – Sprint subscribers – 2010 - 2016
Table 22 – Sprint blended ARPU – 2010 - 2016
Table 23 - Online retail sales – 2012 – 2018
Table 24 – Tablets, smartphones in use – 2009 - 2015
Table 25 – Handset market share by platform – 2012 – 2013; 2015

Chart 1 – Mobile subscribers and penetration – 2002 – 2017
Chart 2 – AT&T Mobility financial data – 2004 – 2016
Chart 3 – Verizon wireless financial data by sector– 2010 – 2016
Chart 4 – Verizon wireless subscribers – 2010 – 2016
Chart 5 – T-Mobile US subscribers – 2009 – 2016
Chart 6 – Sprint financial data – 2009 – 2017

Exhibit 1 – AWS spectrum auction – January 2015

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Number of pages 49

Status Current

Last updated 22 May 2017
Update History

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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