List of United States wireless communications service providers

This is an incomplete list that may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

This is a list of United States wireless communications service providers. 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] Besides the facilities-based providers there are 50+ virtual operators that use the top four networks to provide the service.

Largest U.S. wireless provider

The top 5 wireless telecommunications facilities-based service providers by subscriber count in the United States are:

The top 5 wireless providers have all standardized on 4G LTE as their wireless communication standard, which has been deployed in most major population centers. All 5 wireless providers also maintain legacy voice networks. Of these, AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM, while Verizon, Sprint, and U.S. Cellular use CDMA. While the top 4 wireless providers operate nationwide wireless networks which cover most of the population in the United States, U.S. Cellular and other smaller carriers provide native network coverage across selected regions of the United States while supplementing nationwide coverage through roaming agreements with other carriers.

Facilities-based service providers

The following table lists service providers that own and manage their network equipment and facilities. See also the complete list of virtual operators. 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
Adams Networks LTE Unknown IL Adams NetWorks, Inc.
Appalachian Wireless CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE 0.120[7] (January 2014) KY, WV Appalachian Wireless
ASTAC GSM GPRS Unknown AK The Arctic Slope Telephone Association Cooperative
AT&T Mobility
•Includes Cricket Wireless, GoPhone Prepaid and hosted virtual operators 		GSM, UMTS, LTE EDGE, HSPA+, LTE 117.6[3] (March 2015) Contiguous US; AK, HI, PR, VI AT&T
Big River Broadband LTE Unknown MO Big River Telephone
Big Sky Mobile GSM Unknown MT iSmart Mobile, LLC
Blue Wireless CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE Unknown NY, PA Buffalo-Lake Erie Wireless
Bluegrass Cellular CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE 0.180[8] (April 2014) KY Bluegrass Cellular, Inc.
Breakaway Wireless CDMA2000 EV-DO Unknown UT Manti Tele Communications
Bristol Bay Cellular Partnership CDMA2000 EV-DO Unknown AK BBTC Inc.
C Spire Wireless CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE 0.887[9] (September 2011) MS, TN, FL, AL, GA, LA, AR, Telapex
Carolina West Wireless CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE 0.08 (April 2013)[10] NC Carolina West Wireless Partnership between Skyline Telephone, Surry Telephone and Wilkes Telephone
Cellcom CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE 0.3[11] (July 2013) WI NSight Telservices
Cellular One of East Arizona GSM, UMTS EDGE, HSPA+ 0.1[7] (January 2014) AZ, NM Smith Bagley Inc.
Cellular One of East Central Illinois GSM, UMTS EDGE, HSPA+ Unknown IL Cellular Properties Inc.
Cellular One
•Subscriber count includes Broadpoint 		GSM, UMTS, wholesale CDMA2000[12] EDGE, HSPA+ Unknown TX, LA TX-10, LLC, Central Louisiana Cellular LLC, MTPCS, LLC.
Chariton Valley Wireless CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE Unknown MO Chariton Valley Telephone Company
Chat Mobility CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE Unknown IA Chatmobility
Choice Wireless (former Cellular One TXOK) GSM EDGE Unknown TX Choice Wireless, LLC
Choice Wireless CDMA2000 EV-DO, WiMAX, LTE Unknown AZ, CO, NV, NM, Navajo Nation (LTE), VI (WiMAX) Commnet Wireless
Clear Talk (Flat Wireless) CDMA2000 EV-DO Unknown SC, AZ, CO, TX, TN, CA NTCH
Colorado Valley Communications LTE Unknown TX Colorado Valley Telephone Coop
Commnet Wireless (wholesale) CDMA2000, GSM EV-DO, EDGE, UMTS Unknown Various states Atlantic Tele-Network
Copper Valley Telecom CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE Unknown AK Copper Valley Telephone Cooperative, Inc
Cordova Wireless GSM, UMTS EDGE, HSPA+, WiMAX Unknown AK Cordova Telephone
CTC Wireless CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE Unknown ID Cambridge Telephone Company
Custer Telephone Cooperative CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE Unknown ID Custer Telephone Cooperative, Inc
DTC Wireless GSM EDGE Unknown TN DTC Wireless Systems
Epic PCS GSM EDGE Unknown KS, OK Epic Touch
ETC (Enhanced Telecommunication Corporation) CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE Unknown IN ETC Miles Communications
Evolve Broadband LTE Unknown TX Evolve Broadband Worldcall Interconnect Inc.
Farmers Mutual Telephone Company CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE Unknown ID Farmers Mutual Telephone Company
Fuego Wireless LTE Unknown NM, TX Fuego Wireless, LLC
GCI Wireless GSM, UMTS
(legacy: CDMA2000[13]) 		EDGE, HSPA+, LTE
(legacy: EV-DO[13]) 		0.149 (December 2014)[14] AK General Communication (100%)[15]
i wireless GSM, UMTS EDGE, HSPA Unknown IA, WI, IL Iowa Wireless Services and T-Mobile US (Partnership)
Illinois Valley Cellular CDMA2000 EV-DO Unknown IL Illinois Valley Cellular RSA 2-III Partnership
Indigo Wireless GSM, UMTS EDGE, HSPA Unknown PA Indigo Wireless
Infrastructure Networks LTE Unknown TX, ND Infrastructure Networks, Inc.
Inland Cellular CDMA2000 EV-DO 0.013[16](July 2013) WA, ID Inland Cellular
Innovative Wireless GSM, UMTS EDGE, HSPA Unknown VI, PR Vitelcom Cellular, Inc.
KTC PACE GSM EDGE Unknown LA Kaplan Telephone Company
Limitless Mobile GSM EDGE Unknown PA Limitless Mobile Ltd.
Mid-Rivers Communications CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE Unknown MT Mid-Rivers Telephone Cooperative. Inc
miSpot LTE Unknown MI miSpot Agri-Valley Communications, Inc
MobileNation CDMA2000 EV-DO Unknown TN MobileNation
Mosaic Telecom UMTS HSPA+, LTE Unknown WI CTC Telcom, Inc. dba Mosaic Telecom
MTA Solutions CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE Unknown AK Matanuska Telephone Association, Inc
Nemont CDMA2000 EV-DO Unknown MT, ND, SD Sagebrush Cellular
Nex-Tech Wireless CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE Unknown KS Nex-Tech
NMobile CDMA2000 EV-DO Unknown NM Leaco Wireless, Inc.
NEP Wireless GSM EDGE, LTE 0.011[17] (June 2010) PA North-Eastern Pennsylvania Telephone
NNTC Wireless CDMA2000 EV-DO Unknown CO Nucla Naturita Telephone Company
NorthwestCell CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE Unknown MO NorthwestCell
nTelos CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE 0.449[18] (December 2014) VA, WV, MD, OH, KY, NC nTelos Holdings Corp.
NVC CDMA2000 EV-DO Unknown SD James Valley Telecommunications
OTZ Cellular GSM Unknown AK OTZ Telephone Cooperative
Peoples Wireless CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE Unknown TX Peoples Telephone Cooperative Peoples & Epex Telephone Cooperative, Inc.
Pine Belt Wireless CDMA2000 EV-DO Unknown AL Pine Belt Communications
Pine Cellular GSM, UMTS EDGE, HSPA, LTE Unknown OK Pine Cellular, Inc
Pioneer Cellular CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE 0.06[7] (January 2014) OK, KS Pioneer Cellular
PTCI GSM, UMTS EDGE, HSPA, LTE Unknown OK Panhandle Telecommunication Systems, Inc
Rock Wireless UMTS HSPA+, LTE[19] Unknown ND, SD Standing Rock Telecom Tribally Owned
S and R Communications LTE Unknown IN S and R Communications, LLC
Shentel
•Sprint Affiliate [20] 		CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE 0.433[21] (December 2014) VA, PA, MD, WV Shenandoah Telecommunications Company
Silver Star Communications CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE Unknown WY Silver Star Telephone Company, Inc
Snake River PCS CDMA2000 EV-DO Unknown OR Eagle Telephone System
SouthernLINC iDEN 0.17[22] (April 2011) AL, GA, MS, FL Southern Company
Sprint Corporation
•Including hosted virtual operators 		CDMA2000,
IMS Wi-Fi calling[23] 		EV-DO, WiMAX, LTE 41.93 (March 2015) Contiguous US; HI, PR, VI SoftBank Corporation (80%)
Sprocket Wireless/Cross Wireless CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE Unknown OK Cross Communications
SRT Communications CDMA2000 EV-DO Unknown MT, ND SRT Communications
STRATA Networks CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE Unknown UT, WY, CO STRATA Networks
Syringa Wireless CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE 0.00135 ID, WY Syringa Wireless Project Mutual Telephone Cooperative Association, Inc.
Horizon Communications, Inc
Filer Mutual Telephone Company
Direct Communications Rockland, Inc.
NTCH-Idaho, LLC
T-Mobile US
•Including hosted virtual operators and affiliates
•Subscriber count includes MetroPCS 		GSM, UMTS, LTE[24]
HD Voice, IMS Wi-Fi calling[25] 		EDGE, HSPA+, LTE 57[5] (March 2015) Contiguous US; HI, PR Deutsche Telekom (67%)
TelAlaska Cellular GSM EDGE Unknown AK American Broadband
Thumb Cellular CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE 0.037 MI Agri-Valley Communications
Union Wireless GSM, UMTS, LTE EDGE, UMTS, LTE 0.041 WY, CO, UT, MT Union Telephone
United Wireless
•Includes Westlink Communications 		CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE 0.016[26] (June 2012) KS United Wireless
U.S. Cellular CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE 4.06[6] (March 2015) 23 states
Verizon Wireless
•Including hosted virtual operators 		CDMA2000 EV-DO, LTE 139.9[27] (March 2015) Contiguous US; AK, HI Verizon
Viaero Wireless GSM, UMTS EDGE, HSPA+ 0.04[28] CO, NE, KS Viaero Wireless
VTel LTE Unknown VT Vermont Telephone Company, Inc.
West Central Wireless GSM, UMTS EDGE, HSPA+, LTE 0.04[29] (November 2012) TX Central Texas Telephone Cooperative, Inc.

Defunct, merged and acquired operators

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
(in millions) 		End date Notes
Airfire Mobile GSM EDGE 0.02 June 2014 Acquired by U.S. Cellular.[30]
Alaska Communications GSM, UMTS
(legacy: CDMA2000[13]) 		EDGE, HSPA+, LTE
(legacy: EV-DO[13]) 		0.103[31] (December 2014) February 2015 Acquired by General Communication[32]
Alltel CDMA CDMA2000, EV-DO 0.585 September 2013 Acquired by AT&T Mobility.[33]
Cellular One of Northeast Pennsylvania CDMA CDMA2000, EV-DO Unknown March 2012 Acquired by Verizon Wireless.[34]
Cincinnati Bell Wireless GSM, UMTS,
GAN Wi-Fi calling[35] 		EDGE, HSPA+ 0.34[36] (January 2014) October 2014 Acquired by Verizon Wireless.[37]
Clearwire WiMAX 11[38] (June 2012) December 2013 Acquired by Sprint.[39]
Corr Wireless GSM EDGE 0.02[40] 2013 Acquired by AT&T Mobility.[40]
Element Mobile CDMA2000 EV-DO 0.077[41] (August 2011) 2013 Acquired by AT&T Mobility.[42][43]
Golden State Cellular CDMA2000 EV-DO 0.018[44] 2014 Acquired by Verizon Wireless.[45]
Leap Wireless International (Cricket Communications, Inc.)
•Includes Cricket PAYGo & RadioShack No Contract Wireless 		CDMA,
GSM,
UMTS 		EDGE,
HSPA+,
LTE 		4.57[46] (February 2014) 2014 Acquired by AT&T Mobility.[46]
Long Lines Wireless GSM EDGE 0.018[47](November 2013) December 2013 Acquired by AT&T Mobility[48]
MetroPCS Communications, Inc. CDMA EV-DO, LTE 9.5 May 2013 Acquired by T-Mobile US.[49]
Mobi PCS CDMA2000 EV-DO 0.065[50] (July 2013) 2014 Acquired by Verizon Wireless.[45]
Plateau Wireless GSM, UMTS EDGE, HSPA+ 0.042[51] (September 2014) 2014 Acquired by AT&T Mobility.[52]
Pocket Communications CDMA2000 1xRTT Unknown October 2010 Merged with Cricket.[53]
PrimeCo Wireless CDMA Unknown Unknown 1999 Became Verizon Wireless.[54]
Revol Wireless CDMA CDMA2000, EV-DO Unknown January 2014 Sold spectrum licenses to Sprint.[55] Boost to pick up subscribers[56]
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.[57]
TerreStar GSM EDGE, HSPA Unknown 2010 Acquired by Dish Network[58]
Westlink Wireless GSM EDGE Unknown 2013 Acquired by United Wireless.[59]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "About CCA". CCA. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
  2. ↑ "Verizon Reports Strong Balanced Results; Delivers Customer, Earnings and Cash Flow Growth in First Quarter". Verizon. March 3, 2015. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "AT&T Financial and Operational Results" (PDF). AT&T. January 27, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Sprint's Claure: It doesn't matter if T-Mobile passes us as No. 3 carrier - we're focused on improving". FierceWireless. February 6, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Un-Carrier Momentum Continues as Customers Continue to Choose T-Mobile Over the Competition". T-Mobile US. January 7, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "U.S. Cellular Reports Fourth Quarter 2014 Results". U.S. Cellular. February 25, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Comments in Response to White Paper" (PDF). 2914-01-31. Retrieved 2014-02-28. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ↑ "Ex Parte Presentation". FCC. 2014-04-10. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  9. ↑ Hachman, Mark (2011-09-11). "Cellular South Sues to Block AT&T, T-Mobile Merger". PC Magazine.
  10. ↑ "Small operators prep for LTE, despite uncertainties". 2013-04-17. Retrieved 2013-12-18.
  11. ↑ "Squeezed by wireless giants, have the regional mobile carriers just given up?". 2013-07-30. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
  12. ↑ "Verizon Wireless Adds New Rural 4G LTE Partner". 2012-11-12. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 "AWN – Questions and Answers - After the Transaction Closes, What Will AWN Do?". Retrieved 2013-12-16.
  14. ↑ "GCI REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER 2014 FINANCIAL RESULTS". 2015-03-04. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
  15. ↑ "GCI To Purchase Wireless Subscriber Base From Alaska Communications". 2014-12-04. Retrieved 2014-12-05.
  16. ↑ http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/7/prweb10966079.htm
  17. ↑ http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2365264,00.asp
  18. ↑ "NTELOS Holdings Corp. Reports Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2014 Results". Ir.ntelos.com. 2014-02-26. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
  19. ↑ "Rock Wireless launches LTE service in remote areas of the Dakotas thanks to Mobility Fund". 2014-10-23. Retrieved 2014-12-01.
  20. ↑ "Shentel to become Sprint LTE affiliate". FierceWireless. 2012-02-03. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
  21. ↑ "Shenandoah Telecommunications Company Reports Fourth Quarter 2014 Net Income Increase of 30% to $8.6 Million and Diluted Earnings Per Share of $0.35". Shentel. 2014-02-27. Retrieved 2015-03-14.
  22. ↑ "SouthernLINC Wireless at a Glance | SouthernLINC Wireless". Southernlinc.com. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
  23. ↑ "Sprint Selects Kineto for Wi-Fi Calling". 2014-02-25. Retrieved 2014-02-27.
  24. ↑ "T-Mobile Brings Voice over LTE to Seattle - T-Mobile Newsroom". 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
  25. ↑ "Overview: IMS Wi-Fi Calling". 2011-06-30. Retrieved 2012-03-31.
  26. ↑ "LTE Interoperability: the Fix Regional Carriers Count On". 2012-06-01. Retrieved 2014-02-27.
  27. ↑ "Grading the top 8 U.S. wireless carriers in the fourth quarter of 2014". FierceWireless. March 3, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  28. ↑ http://www.nprg.com/Company/3483-viaero-wireless
  29. ↑ http://www.cedmagazine.com/articles/2012/11/telecompetition-top-concern-at-telcotv
  30. ↑ "Wisconsin's AirFire Mobile to shut down, will sell spectrum, tower assets to U.S. Cellular for $91.5M". FierceWireless. 2014-05-30. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
  31. ↑ "Alaska Communications Reports Strong 4Q and Year-End 2014 Results". alaskacommunications.com. 2015-03-04. Retrieved 2015-03-14.
  32. ↑ "Alaska Communications Closes Transaction of Selling Wireless Business to GCI for $300 Million". 2015-02-02. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
  33. ↑ "Let the spectrum harvest begin: FCC okays AT&T’s purchase of Alltel". 2013-09-20. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  34. ↑ "Verizon Wireless Completes Purchase Of Cellular One Of Northeast Pennsylvania". News.verizonwireless.com. 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
  35. ↑ Commercial name: Fusion Wi-Fi. Available only on two BlackBerry phone models as of Dec 2013
  36. ↑ "Cincinnati Bell Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2013 Results". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2014-02-27.
  37. ↑ "Cincinnati Bell closes wireless sale to Verizon". 2014-10-02. Retrieved 2014-10-20.
  38. ↑ "Clearwire Reports Second Quarter 2012 Results (NASDAQ:CLWR)". Corporate.clearwire.com. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
  39. ↑ "The CLEAR – Clearwire Brand Name Ends December 31, 2013". 2013-08-24. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 "Corr Wireless Acquired By AT&T; Wireless Industry Consolidation Continues". 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  41. ↑ "Consumer complaints continue to rise against Element Mobile". 2011-08-27. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
  42. ↑ "AT&T taking over Element Mobile in Wisconsin, will replace CDMA network with HSPA". 2013-09-16. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  43. ↑ "Welcome Element". Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  44. ↑ http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/verizon-wireless-consumes-golden-state-cellular-and-mobi-pcs/2014-04-21
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 "Verizon Wireless consumes Golden State Cellular and Mobi PCS". 2014-04-21. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 "AT&T Completes Acquisition of Leap Wireless". Leap Wireless. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
  47. ↑ http://www.fcc.gov/document/att-long-lines-transaction-applications-accepted-filing
  48. ↑ http://www.longlines.com/AT&T-Update20140116.pdf
  49. ↑ "T-MOBILE AND METROPCS COMBINATION COMPLETE - WIRELESS REVOLUTION JUST BEGINNING". 2013-05-01. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  50. ↑ http://www.danrichardsjr.com/?portfolio=mobi-pcs
  51. ↑ "Plateau: Your premier telecomm provider for Eastern New Mexico and West Texas.". Plateautel.com. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  52. ↑ "AT&T scoops up 40,000 customers, spectrum assets of Plateau Wireless". 2014-06-24. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  53. ↑ "Cricket, Pocket merge operations; joint venture said to boost South Texas prepaid wireless". The Brownsville Herald. 2010-10-06. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
  54. ↑ "PrimeCo customers head for Verizon". St. Petersburg Times. 2000-04-05. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
  55. ↑ "Sprint buys Revol's PCS spectrum licenses in Ohio as Revol winds down". 2013-11-14. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  56. ↑ "Regional wireless carrier Revol to shutter operations Jan. 16, Boost to pick up subs". 2013-12-17. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
  57. ↑ "Stelera Wireless Internet Folds In Southwest Kansas". 2013-05-10. Retrieved 2013-12-18.
  58. ↑ http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2011/07/07/bankruptcy-court-oks-dish-networks.html
  59. ↑ "Westlink Wireless Gives Up". 2013-12-06. Retrieved 2013-12-18.