Largest mobile phone companies

Table of contents

1 World
2 United States
3 Romania
4 Sources of information

World

These are the world's largest mobile phone companies, by number of subscribers. The primary cellular technology used by each carrier is shown in parentheses.

China Mobile (GSM) - 137.1 million
Vodafone (GSM) - 125.3 million
T-Mobile (GSM) - 87 million

United States

These are the largest mobile phone companies in the United States, by number of subscribers. The primary cellular technology used by each carrier is shown in parentheses.

Verizon Wireless (IS-2000) - 36 million
Cingular (IS-136, GSM) - 23 million
AT&T Wireless (IS-136, GSM) - 21.9 million
Sprint PCS (IS-2000) - 19.3 million
Nextel (iDEN) - 12.3 million
T-Mobile (GSM) - 12.1 million

Note: AT&T Wireless has agreed to be purchased by Cingular. The deal, subject to regulatory approval, is expected to close in late 2004 or early 2005. The new Cingular will leapfrog Verizon Wireless to become the largest wireless carrier in the U.S.

In North America, IS-2000 is commonly known as CDMA. IS-136 is known as TDMA. However, CDMA and TDMA are general terms that can refer to several different technologies.

Romania

These are the largest mobile phone companies in Romania. Romania has 6,024,000 subscribers in total (July 2003).

Connex GSM Romania (GSM) - 3,457,000 subscribers (57.39% market share)
Orange Romania (GSM) - 2,375,000 subscribers (39.43% market share)
Zapp Mobile (IS-2000) - over 100,000 subscribers
Cosmorom, a division of Romtelecom (GSM) - 92,000 subscribers (1.53% market share)

NOTE: Connex subscriber figure of 3,457,000 is as of December 2003.

Sources of information

China Mobile subscriber numbers

Vodafone company data

T-Mobile company data

Verizon company data

Cingular company data

AT&T Wireless company data

Sprint PCS company data

Nextel company data

T-Mobile USA company data