List of United States wireless communications service providers


This is a list of United States wireless communications service providers. The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association, lists approximately 30 facilities-based wireless service providers in the United States as members. Competitive Carriers Association has over 100 members. Besides the facilities-based providers there are 50+ virtual operators that use the top four networks to provide the service.

Largest U.S. wireless providers

The top three wireless telecommunications facilities-based service providers by subscriber count in the United States are:
Each active SIM card is considered a subscriber. Wholesale customers include users of machine to machine networks and mobile virtual network operators that operate on the host network, but are managed by wholesale partners. Verizon Wireless does not report wholesale subscriber count. The counts above were taken from each provider’s quarterly reports. As such, it is unknown whether AT&T or Verizon has more customers on their own network, as Verizon does not include wholesale subscriber count, while AT&T does.

Technologies used

The top 4 wireless providers have all standardized on 4G LTE as their wireless communication standard, which has been deployed across the entire coverage; however, the LTE bands used by each provider remain largely incompatible. All 4 wireless providers also maintain legacy networks; of these, AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM and 3G UMTS, while Verizon, Sprint, and U.S. Cellular use cdmaOne/EV-DO/1xRTT. However, Verizon is in the process of shutting down their non-LTE networks. Their 1X and EV-DO networks are currently supported, but will be discontinued on December 31, 2020. On December 31, 2019, Verizon will no longer allow phones that don’t support VoLTE to be activated on their network. While the top 3 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.
As of 2016 all operators have adopted LTE. Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint sell SIM cards through their retail channels in-store and online, however the selection of devices compatible with Verizon and Sprint networks is limited. All carriers have enabled VoLTE on their networks.
AT&T shut its 2G GSM network down on December 31, 2016. T-Mobile plans to reduce spectrum allocated for GSM and use the network mostly for nomadic and non-mobile GSM services through 2020. Verizon introduced their first LTE-only phone, LG Exalt LTE, in June 2017.

Facilities-based service providers

The following tables lists service providers that own and manage their network equipment and facilities. Unless specified otherwise the subscriber count includes subscribers on the virtual networks hosted.

Contiguous US and Hawaii

Alaska

Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands

Guam and Northern Mariana Islands

American Samoa

Defunct, merged and acquired operators

Some operators listed below may still function as a separate brand but they no longer own any infrastructure.
OperatorVoice technologyData technologySubscribers
End dateNotes
Airfire MobileGSMEDGE0.02Acquired by U.S. Cellular.
Alaska CommunicationsGSM, UMTS
EDGE, HSPA+, LTE
0.103 Acquired by General Communication
AlltelCDMACDMA2000, EV-DO13 Acquired by Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility.
Big Sky MobileGSMEDGEUnknown2017Sold spectrum licenses to AT&T and T-Mobile and exited the business.
Breakaway WirelessCDMA2000EV-DOUnknownDiscontinued cellular service.
Cellular One of East Central IllinoisGSM, UMTSEDGE, HSPA+UnknownAcquired by AT&T Mobility.
Cellular One of Northeast PennsylvaniaCDMACDMA2000, EV-DOUnknownAcquired by Verizon Wireless.
Choice Wireless
former Amerilink Wireless		GSMEDGEUnknownBecame a T-Mobile US MVNO.
Cincinnati Bell WirelessGSM, UMTS,
GAN Wi-Fi calling		EDGE, HSPA+0.34 Spectrum assets acquired by Verizon Wireless, service to any customers remaining on the network was shut off after February 28, 2015.
Cleartalk
affiliate of Clear Talk Wireless		CDMA2000EV-DO, LTEUnknownWGH Communications sold South Carolina licenses to T-Mobile US and exited the business
ClearTalk Wireless
Flat Wireless		CDMA2000EV-DO, LTEUnknown2017Flat Wireless assets acquired by Sprint.
ClearwireWiMAX11 Acquired by Sprint.
Corr WirelessGSMEDGE0.02Acquired by AT&T Mobility.
DTC WirelessGSM, UMTSEDGE, HSPA+Unknown2017Discontinued cellular service, though still offers fixed wireless service.
Element MobileCDMA2000EV-DO0.077 Acquired by AT&T Mobility.
Epic PCSGSMEDGEUnknownAcquired by United Wireless and PTCI.
Farmers Mutual Telephone CompanyCDMA2000EV-DO, LTEUnknownSold spectrum licenses to Verizon Wireless and Eltopia Communications and became a Verizon Wireless MVNO.
Fuego WirelessLTEUnknownSold network and spectrum licenses to AT&T and Infrastructure Networks
Golden State CellularCDMA2000EV-DO0.018Acquired by Verizon Wireless.
iWirelessGSM, UMTSEDGE, HSPA+, LTEUnknown2018Acquired by T-Mobile US.
KTC PACEGSMEDGEUnknownBecame an AT&T Mobility MVNO.
Leap Wireless International
•Includes Cricket PAYGo & RadioShack No Contract Wireless		CDMA,
GSM,
UMTS		EDGE,
HSPA+,
LTE		4.57 Acquired by AT&T Mobility.
Long Lines WirelessGSMEDGE0.018Acquired by AT&T Mobility
MTA SolutionsCDMA2000EV-DO, LTEUnknown2017Discontinued cellular service.
MetroPCS Communications, Inc.CDMAEV-DO, LTE9.5Acquired by T-Mobile US.
Mid-Rivers CommunicationsCDMA2000EV-DO, LTE0.001Exited wireless business and sold network to Verizon Wireless.
miSpotLTEUnknown
Mosaic TelecomUMTSHSPA+, LTEUnknownDiscontinued cellular service
NEP WirelessGSMEDGE, LTE0.011
NexteliDENWiDEN15 Acquired by Sprint.
NMobileCDMA2000EV-DOUnknownDiscontinued cellular service.
nTelosCDMA2000EV-DO, LTE0.300 Acquired by Shentel
Peoples WirelessCDMA2000EV-DO, LTEUnknown
Phoenix CommunicationsGSM, UMTSEDGE, HSPAUnknownSold to Hillary Communications and cellular service discontinued.
Plateau WirelessGSM, UMTSEDGE, HSPA+0.042 Acquired by AT&T Mobility.
Pocket CommunicationsCDMA20001xRTTUnknownMerged with Cricket.
PrimeCo WirelessCDMAUnknownUnknownBecame Verizon Wireless.
Revol WirelessCDMACDMA2000, EV-DOUnknownSold spectrum licenses to Sprint. Boost to pick up subscribers
Sprint Corporation
•Including hosted virtual operators, and Boost Mobile		VoLTE, Wi-Fi calling
LTE
54.1 April 2020Merged with T-Mobile US on April 1, 2020.
Standing Rock TelecomCDMA2000EV-DOUnknownShut down CDMA for UMTS/LTE and rebranded to Rock Wireless
Stelera WirelessHSPAUnknownDefunct.
Syringa WirelessCDMA2000EV-DO, LTE0.00135Discontinued cellular service
TerreStarGSMEDGE, HSPAUnknownAcquired by Dish Network
Westlink WirelessGSMEDGEUnknownAcquired by United Wireless.