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05/18/2012

TelecoWorld: United States (US)

This page: Cellular Statistics and results of the Cellular Operators in the United States.

Cellular Statistics in the in 2011

For the first time in history, CTIA's survey show that the number of mobile accesses (331,6 million), increasing 6.6% over 2010.

The survey also shows the growth in mobile data traffic of about 123.3%, reaching 866.7 billion Megabytes, over 388 billion Megabytes in 2010. It highlights the need of more spectrum for the industry.

Mobile statistics in the United States

	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	∆Sem
Mobile Accesses*	233,041	255,396	270,334	290,841	310,971	331,595	6.6%
Cell/100 inhab	77.8	84.4	88.7	94.67	100.24	105.31	5.1%
Cell Sites*	196	213	242	247	253	283	12.0%
Call Time (Min.)	3.03	3.13	2.27	1.81	1.79	1.78	(0.6%)
Service Revenue (US$ Millions)	125,457	138,869	148,084	152,552	159,930	169.767	6.2%
Average Count (US$)	50.56	49.79	50.70	48,16	47.21	47	(0.4%)
Employees*	254	267	268	249	250	238	(4.9%)

*Thousands;

Source: CTIA

Cellular Operators in the United States

Verizon, which is the leader in mobile accesses, counted 109.4 million accesses in 1Q12, growth of 6.3% over 1Q11.

Followed by AT&T that held 103.9 million accesses in 1Q12, growth of 6.6% in comparison with 1Q11.

Sprint is in the third position with 56.1 million accesses in 1Q12, what represented increase of 9.9%.

In December 2011, AT&T had to pay Deutsce Telekom € 3.9 million due to giving up the purchase of T-Mobile, which is DT's subsidiary, that costed US$ 39.0 million.

Cellular Operators in the United States

There are about 180 cellular providers in the United States. The main providers are:

Millions	1Q11	2Q11	3Q11	4Q11	1Q12	∆Qter	∆Year
Verizon Wireless*	104.0	106.3	107.7	108.7	109.4*	0.9%	6.3%
AT&T (Cingular)	97.5	98.6	100.7	103.2	103.9	0.7%	6.6%
Sprint Nextel	51.0	52.1	53.4	55.0	56.1	2.0%	9.9%
T-Mobile	33.6	33.6	33.7	33.2	33.4	0.6%	(0.8%)
Metro PCS	8.9	9.1	9.2	9.3	9.5	1.9%	6.7%
Leap Wireless	5.8	5.7	5.8	5.93	6.2	4.3%	5.9%
U.S. Cellular	6.0	6.0	5.9	5.89	5.8	(0.9%)	(3.2%)

Note I: Including Resales and Partners

Note II: Verizon acquired Alltel and Rural Cellular, by this Verizon became leader in number of mobile accesses.

*Estimated by Teleco.

**Are included in this total: prepaid, postpaid cellulars, retail and data terminals.

Millions	1Q11	2Q11	3Q11	4Q11	1Q12	∆Qter	∆Year
Verizon Wireless*	88.4	89.7	90.7	92.2	93.0	0.9%	5.2%
AT&T (Cingular)	74.7	75.1	75.7	76.5	76.8	0.3%	2.8%
Sprint Nextel	46.1	46.7	47.1	47.8	48.1	0.6%	4.3%
T-Mobile	30.5	30.1	30.2	29.6	29.6	0.0%	(2.8%)

Note I: I doesn't include retail and afiliated.

Note II: Verizon acquired Alltel and Rurall Cellular, after that Verizon became the leader in number of cellulars.

Mobile Accesses (Thousands)	Techno.	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	∆Year
AT&T (Cingular)	TDMA GSM	54,144	60,962	70,052	77,009	85,120	95,536	103,247	8.1%
Verizon Wireless*	CDMA	51,337	59,052	65,707	72,056	91,249	102,200	108,667	6.3%
Sprint Nextel	CDMA	47,636	53,074	53,450	49,265	48,133	49,910	55,021	10.2%
Sprint Nextel	IDEN	47,636	53,074	53,450	49,265	48,133	49,910	55,021	10.2%
T-Mobile	GSM	21,690	25,041	28,685	32,758	33,790	33,734	33,185	(1.6%)

* Verizon (55%) and Vodafone (45%),

Note: Including Resales and partners.

In 12/15/05 Sprint and Nextel announced an agreement for merging both companies.

AT&T acquirred Dobson per US$ 2.8 billions and T-Mobile SunCom per 2.4 bilions. Verizon is acquiring Rural Cellular (700 thousand cell phones).

In Jun/08 Verizon Wireless acquired Alltel per US$ 22.2 billions more due (US$ 28.1 billion total). The operation was approved by FCC in Nov/08.

In Nov/08, AT&T Inc. announced the acquisition of Centennial Communications Corp. for US$ 944 million in cash.

With this acquisition Verizon Wireless, joint venture of Verizon and Vodafone, became the biggest cellular operator of the United States counting 84 million cellulars, surpassing AT&T Wireless (75.9 millions).

Operators Accesses in the United States - 4Q10

Thousands	Total	Postpaid	Prepaid	Resale	Data Terminals	ARPU (US$)	Monthly Churn (%)
Verizon Wireless*	102.2	-	-	-	-	50.61	1.3
AT&T Mobility	95.5	68.0	6.5	11.7	9.3	48.98	1.3
Sprint Nextel	49.9	33.1	12.3	-	-	55.0	1.9
T-Mobile	33.7	26.4	7.4	-	-	48.2	3.6
Metro PCS	7.9*	-	-	-	-	-	-
Leap Wireless	5.1*	-	-	-	-	-	-

Source: Operators and Wireless Intelligence.

Note: data about 3Q10

2008

Data revenue in 2008 was US$ 32 billions, with 39% growth in comparison with US$ 23.2 billions in 2007. Data revenue represented 22% of the service revenue.

In 2008, more than 1 trillion text messages were sent (3.5 billions a day). In the 1st semester of 2008, 5.6 billion MMS were sent.

In 2008, the minutes of use counted 2.2 trillion of minutes.

1st semester of 2008

The data revenue in the first semester of 2008 was US$ 14.8 billion, with a growth of 40% in comparison to the US$ 10.5 billion from the first semester of 2007. The data revenues represented 20% of the service revenues.

In June/08 were sent 75 billion text messages (2.5 billion a day). In first semester of this year 5.6 billion MMS were sent.

In this first semester, the minutes of use counted 1.12 trillion of minutes.

2007

The data revenue in 2007 was US$ 23 billions, 17% of the revenue services in 2007.

In Dec/07 were sent 48 billions SMS in the United States (188 SMS per cellular/month). In the second semester of 2007 were sent 4 billion MMS.

According to CTIA data the United States ended 2006 with 233 million cellulars and density of 77 cell/100 inhab. In 8.4% of the houses there are only cell phone.

Revenue data in 2006 was US$ 15.2 billion and 1st semester 2007 US$ 10.5 billion. In the 1st sem/07 2.6 billion MMS and voice traffic was 1.1 trillion minutes (MOU 770 minutes). In Jun/07 28.8 billion SMS (118 SMS/Cell in the month).

In 2006 more than 158 Billion messages SMS (60 per cellular/month), with growth of 95% comparing to 2005. MMs in 2006 were 2.7 billions and 1.1 billion in 2005.

Auction of 700 MHz frequencies

FCC made a 700 MHz licitation of frequencies in the United States which ended in 03/18/2008 after 261 turns getting a collection of US$ 19.59 billion. 1090 from 1091 licenses were sold in dispute. D license was left because the offers didn't reach the minimum price. This remaining license was supposed to be shared with public sector and security services.

Verizon Wireless (US$ 9.63 bi) and AT&T (US$ 6.64 bi) were the main winners. Among the others stands out EchoStar, Qualcomm, Leap and Alltel Corp. Google participated of the licitation, though it didn't get any of the licenses.

Cellphones in 2007

CTIA announced in 11/13/2007 that United States exceeded 250 millions cell phones.

- Americans speak 834 minutes per month (MOU) US$ 0.05 per minute. Europeans speak 153 minutes US$ 0.19 per minute.

- 98% of the americans can choose between 4 cellular operators.

- There is 22 million mobile broadband users in the United States.

Teleco estimates that, in 2007, the United States will have 253 million of cellphones.

Other pages

Verizon's Quarterly Results
AT&T (Cingular)'s Quarterly Results