Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $2.0tr in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Competition in developed markets focuses on bundling and pricing wars
- A surge in demand for mobile data services has permeated the developed world since the widespread adoption of broadband-enabled smartphones and tablets. These trends have boosted average revenue per user (ARPU) and facilitated new mobile services through 4G and, in the past couple of years, 5G networks.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
The world’s move to wireless continues
- Wireless telecommunications' data transfer speeds are increasing so much that wired telecom's significant speed benefit has become almost unnecessary for most consumers.
Biggest companies in the Global Wireless Telecommunications Carriers
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 | Profit ($m)
2024 | Profit Margin (%)
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Verizon Communications Inc. | 131,300.0 | 32,200.0 | 24.5 | |
Deutsche Telekom AG | 127,500.0 | 28,100.0 | 22.0 | |
China Mobile Limited | 78,800.0 | 11,400.0 | 14.5 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Voice telephony, SMS and MMS, Data services and Equipment, rentals and other. Voice telephony, SMS and MMS is the largest segment of the Global Wireless Telecommunications Carriers.
Trends and Insights
Data services take a megabyte out of all wireless communication income
- Data services account for an increasingly prominent share of industry revenue and have expanded markedly as broadband-speed smartphones and tablets have proliferated across much of the developed world, especially during the pandemic.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Companies in this industry operate and maintain switching and transmission facilities to provide direct communications via wireless radio transmission. Wireless services include cellular voice telephony services, messaging services, broadband data services and mobile backhaul services (i.e. transferring data from small subnetworks to a network core). Carriers may also retail mobile handsets and other equipment to consumers. The industry does not include mobile virtual network operators.
What's included in this industry?
Providing voice telephony servicesProviding mobile messaging servicesProviding mobile data servicesProviding mobile backhaul servicesRetailing handsets and associated equipmentCompanies
Verizon Communications Inc.Deutsche Telekom AG China Mobile LimitedPurchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
AVERAGE REVENUE PER USER (ARPU)PREPAIDPOSTPAIDCHURN RATEM-COMMERCEPerformance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Although demand for telecom services is increasing, the global revenue growth in the wireless telecommunications industry is dynamic. This is due to intense competition, part...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
In 2024, consumers make up the biggest market segment for the mobile industry, primarily driven by younger demographics, prepaid plans and developing economies. Businesses an...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Most global mobile subscriptions come from developing economies, with growth concentrated in Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. Despite high average revenue per user, establ...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Business Locations Charts
- Share of global output by region in 2024
- Share of population compared to output in each region in 2024
- Data tables
- Share of global output by region in 2024
- Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Global, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Despite high market concentration nationally due to spectrum regulations, the industry has a notably low concentration level. But this is expected to rise as companies expand...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Wireless service is highly constrained by national borders and differing regulations, reducing international economies of scale. While some telecommunications clients dominat...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of Verizon Communications Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Deutsche Telekom AG 's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of China Mobile Limited 's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Verizon Communications Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Deutsche Telekom AG , and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for China Mobile Limited , and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
National government organizations regulate radio frequencies for specific uses, often selling these authorizations to wireless telecommunications entities. Internet service p...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Industry profit remains stable due to high profit margins and consolidation efforts, despite inflation and supply chain issues. Still, the telecommunications industry require...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Global Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in Global in 2024?
The market size of the Global Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in Global is $2.0tr in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Global Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in 2024?
There are 38,627 businesses in the Global Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in Global, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.0 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Global Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in Global grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Global Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in Global has been growing at a CAGR of 3.0 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Global Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in Global over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Global Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in Global is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Global Wireless Telecommunications Carriers market in Global?
The biggest companies operating in the Global Wireless Telecommunications Carriers market in Global are Verizon Communications Inc., Deutsche Telekom AG and China Mobile Limited
What does the Global Wireless Telecommunications Carriers in Global include?
Providing voice telephony services and Providing mobile messaging services are part of the Global Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Global Wireless Telecommunications Carriers in Global?
The company holding the most market share in Global is Verizon Communications Inc..
How competitive is the Global Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in Global?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Global Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in Global.
Related Industries
Widen your competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
Complementors
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources globally include:
- United Nations Comtrade
- Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development
- World Bank
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
