List of mobile network operators in the United States
| Company type | Trade association |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
Area served | United States |
This compilation presents mobile network operators (MNOs) within the United States. Approximately 30 facilities-based wireless service providers hold membership in the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA). The Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) represents over 100 members. Beyond these facilities-based companies, there are more than 50 virtual operators that utilize the networks of the three largest providers to deliver services.
Leading wireless providers in the United States
The four largest U.S. wireless providers with their subscriber numbers are:
| Provider | Subscribers | Reporting Period | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | Increase 146.1 million | Q2 2025 | |
| T-Mobile US | Increase 132.8 million | Q2 2025 | |
| AT&T Mobility | Increase 118.2 million | Q2 2025 | |
| Boost Mobile | Increase 7.36 million | Q2 2025 |
Subscriber figures include all active SIM cards. Wholesale subscribers encompass customers on machine to machine networks and mobile virtual network operators that function on host networks but are administered by wholesale partners. These totals derive from each company’s quarterly disclosures.
Network technologies employed
Among the top four wireless carriers, three have adopted 4G LTE alongside 5G NR as their primary wireless technologies, whereas Boost Mobile operates exclusively on 5G NR. LTE coverage spans their respective service areas, though the specific LTE bands differ significantly and are largely incompatible across providers. VoLTE and VoNR capabilities are supported by three major carriers, with Boost Mobile relying solely on VoNR technology. Additionally, all four—AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Boost Mobile—offer SIM cards through both retail outlets and online platforms.
These leading wireless companies maintain nationwide networks covering a substantial portion of the U.S. population, while smaller carriers focus on particular regions and bolster their reach through roaming partnerships.
Facilities-based service providers
The table below details providers that own and operate their own network infrastructure. Subscriber figures typically encompass users of virtual networks as well.
Active Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) within the Contiguous United States
Tampnet VoLTE LTE Unknown Gulf of Mexico Tampnet Thumb Cellular VoLTE LTE 0.037 MI Agri-Valley Communications T-Mobile•Includes Metro by T-Mobile, Assurance Wireless GSM, VoLTE, VoNR , VoIP , Wi-Fi calling EDGE , LTE , 5G NR 132.8 (Q2 2025) Contiguous US; HI , PR , VI Deutsche Telekom AG (51.4%) , SoftBank Group Corporation (7.6%) , free float (41%) Union Wireless UMTS HSPA+ , LTE 0.041 WY , CO Union Telephone United Wireless CDMA2000 EV-DO , LTE 0.022 (Sep 2016) KS United Wireless Communications Inc. Verizon (mobile network)
•Includes Verizon Fios , Visible by Verizon , TracFone Wireless VoLTE , VoNR , VoIP , Wi-Fi calling LTE , 5G NR 146.1 (Q2 2025) Contiguous US; AK , HI Verizon Communications Inc. Viaero Wireless UMTS , VoLTE HSPA+ , LTE 0.110 CO , KS , NE , SD , WY Northeast Colorado Cellular Inc. VTel Wireless VoLTE LTE Unknown VT Vermont Telephone Company Inc. WUE VoLTE LTE Unknown NV Wue Inc. %}
Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) Active in Alaska and Hawaii
| Operator | Voice technology | Data technology | Subscribers (millions) |
Coverage (excluding roaming) |
Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Wireless | VoLTE | LTE | 0.138 (Feb 2021) | KY, WV | East Kentucky Network, LLC |
| AT&T Mobility •Includes FirstNet, Cricket Wireless |
VoLTE, VoNR, VoIP, Wi-Fi calling | LTE, NR | 118.2 (Q2 2025) | Contiguous US; AK, HI | AT&T Inc. |
| Big River Broadband | VoLTE | LTE | Unknown | MO | Big River Telephone |
| Bravado Wireless | CDMA2000 | EV-DO, LTE | Unknown | OK | Cross Communications |
| Boost Mobile •Includes Gen Mobile, Ting Mobile |
VoNR, Wi-Fi calling | NR | 7.36 (Q2 2025) | Contiguous US | EchoStar Corporation |
| Bug Tussel Wireless | UMTS | HSPA+, LTE | Unknown | WI | Bug Tussel Wireless, LLC |
| C Spire | VoLTE, Wi-Fi calling | LTE, 5G NR | 1.2 (May 2016) | MS, TN, FL, AL | Telapex, Inc. |
| Carolina West Wireless | CDMA2000 | EV-DO, LTE | 0.08 (Apr 2013) | NC | Carolina West Wireless, Inc. |
| Cellcom | VoLTE, Wi-Fi calling | LTE, 5G NR | 0.3 (Jul 2013) | WI | NSight Telservices |
| Cellular One of North East Arizona | GSM, UMTS, VoLTE | EDGE, HSPA+, LTE | 0.1 (Jul 2018) | AZ, CO, NM, UT | Smith Bagley Inc. |
| Colorado Valley Communications | VoLTE | LTE | Unknown | TX | Colorado Valley Telephone Coop |
| Commnet Wireless | GSM, UMTS, VoLTE | EDGE, HSPA+, LTE | Unknown | AZ, CO, MT, NM, NV, TX, UT, WY | Atlantic Tele-Network |
| Custer Telephone Cooperative | CDMA2000 | EV-DO, LTE | Unknown | ID | Custer Telephone Cooperative |
| DTC Wireless | VoLTE | LTE | Unknown | TN | Advantage Cellular Systems |
| ETC | CDMA2000 | EV-DO, LTE | Unknown | IN | Miles Communications |
| Evolve Broadband | VoLTE | LTE | Unknown | TX | Worldcall Interconnect Inc. |
| FTC Wireless | UMTS | HSPA+, LTE | Unknown | SC | Farmers Telephone Cooperative Inc. |
| Infrastructure Networks | VoLTE | LTE | Unknown | TX, ND | Infrastructure Networks, Inc. |
| Inland Cellular | CDMA2000, VoLTE | EV-DO, LTE | 0.013 (Jul 2013) | WA, ID | Inland Cellular |
| Limitless Mobile | UMTS | HSPA+, LTE | Unknown | PA | Limitless Mobile, LLC |
| Sagebrush Cellular | CDMA2000 | EV-DO, LTE | 0.012 | MT, ND | Nemont Telephone Cooperative |
| Nex-Tech Wireless | (VoLTE) | LTE, 5G NR | (Unknown) | KS | (Nex-Tech) |
| NNTC Wireless | CDMA2000 | EV-DO | (Unknown) | CO | (Nucla Naturita Telephone Company) |
| Northern Pacific Wireless | VoIP, Wi-Fi calling | 802.11EX Hybrid Data Transfer | Unknown | CA | NorthernPW LLC. |
| NVC | CDMA2000 | EV-DO, LTE | 0.01 | SD | James Valley Telecommunications |
| Pine Belt Wireless | VoLTE | LTE | Unknown | AL | Pine Belt Communications |
| Pine Cellular | GSM, UMTS | EDGE, HSPA+, LTE | Unknown | OK | Pine Cellular Inc. |
| PTCI | GSM, UMTS | EDGE, HSPA+, LTE | Unknown | OK | Panhandle Telecommunication Systems Inc. |
| Redzone Wireless | VoLTE | LTE | Unknown | ME | Redzone Wireless LLC |
| Rock Wireless | UMTS | HSPA+, LTE | Unknown | ND, SD | Standing Rock Telecom (Tribally Owned) |
| RTC Communications | VoLTE | LTE | Unknown | IN | RTC Communications LLC |
| Silver Star Communications | VoLTE | LTE | Unknown | WY | Silver Star Telephone Company Inc. |
| Snake River PCS | CDMA2000 | EV-DO | Unknown | OR | Eagle Telephone System |
| Southern Linc | VoLTE | LTE | 0.17 (Apr 2011) | AL, GA, MS, FL | Southern Company |
| STRATA Networks | VoLTE | LTE | Unknown | UT, WY, CO
Uintah Basin Electronics Telecommunications Inc. |
| Operator | Voice Technology | Data Technology | Subscribers (in millions) |
Coverage (excluding roaming) |
Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claro (previously operated as Verizon) | GSM, UMTS | EDGE,HSPA+,LTE | 1.6 (Q2 2020) | PR | América Móvil |
| Liberty Puerto Rico (formerly AT&T) | VoLTE,Wi-Fi calling | LTE,NR | 0.9 (Q3 2024) | PR, VI | Liberty Latin America |
| T-Mobile | GSM,VoLTE,VoNR,VoIP,Wi-Fi calling | EDGE,LTE,NR | Refer above | Contiguous US; HI, PR, VI | Deutsche Telekom AG (48%) SoftBank Group Corporation (4%) Free float (48%) |
| Viya | GSM,UMTS | EDGE,HSPA+,LTE | Not disclosed | VI | ATN International |
Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) Currently Operating in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands
| Operator | Voice Technology | Data Technology | Subscriber Count (millions) |
Coverage Area (excluding roaming) |
Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Docomo Pacific | GSM, UMTS | EDGE, HSPA+, LTE, NR | 0.065 | GU, MP | NTT Docomo |
| GTA | GSM, UMTS | HSPA+, LTE, 5G | Not disclosed | GU | TeleGuam Holdings LLC |
| IT&E | GSM, UMTS | EDGE, HSPA+, LTE | Not disclosed | GU, MP | IT&E Overseas, Inc |
Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) Currently Active in American Samoa
| Operator | Voice Technology | Data Technology | Subscriber Count (millions) |
Coverage Area (excluding roaming) |
Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASTCA | CDMA2000 | EV-DO | Not disclosed | AS | Government of American Samoa |
| Bluesky | GSM, UMTS | EDGE, HSPA+, LTE | 0.032 | AS | Amper SpA |
Operators No Longer Active, Merged, or Acquired
The operators listed below might continue as brand names but have relinquished ownership of their network infrastructure.
Long Lines Wireless||||0.018 (November 2013)||December 2013|||| Acquired by AT&T Mobility. ... [table continues with additional entries omitted for brevity] ...| Operator | Voice Technology | Data Technology | Subscriber Count (millions) | Termination Date | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airfire Mobile | GSM | EDGE | 0.02 | June 2014 | Purchased by U.S. Cellular. | |
| Alaska Communications | GSM, UMTS (previously: CDMA2000) |
EDGE, HSPA+, LTE (previously: EV-DO) |
0.103 (December 2014) | February 2015 | Acquired by GCI. | |
| Alltel | CDMA | CDMA2000, EV-DO | 13 (peak) | September 2013 | Merged into operations of Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility. | |
| AT&T Wireless Services | GSM | EDGE | 22 | October 2004 | Taken over by Cingular Wireless, later rebranded as AT&T Mobility. | |
| Big Sky Mobile | GSM | EDGE | Unknown | 2017 | Spectrum licenses sold to AT&T and T-Mobile. | |
| Blaze Wireless | GSM, UMTS | EDGE, HSPA+, LTE | Unknown | December 2019 | Parent company ceased operations; spectrum leases terminated. | |
| Blue Wireless | CDMA2000 | EV-DO,LTE | Unknown | July 2020 | Exited market; spectrum sold to Verizon. | |
| Bluegrass Cellular | CDMA2000 | EV-DO,LTE | 0.210 (March 2021) | March 2021 | Purchased by Verizon. | |
| Breakaway Wireless | CDMA2000 | EV-DO | Unknown | 2018 | Service discontinued. | |
| Cellular One of East Central Illinois | GSM,UMTS | EDGE,HSPA+ | Unknown | January 2016 | Integrated into AT&T Mobility. | |
| Cellular One of Northeast Pennsylvania | CDMA | CDMA2000,EV-DO | Unknown | March 2012 | Acquired by Verizon Wireless. | |
| Chariton Valley Wireless | CDMA2000 | EV-DO,LTE | Unknown | 2021 | Purchased by Verizon Wireless. | |
| Chat Mobility | CDMA2000 | EV-DO,LTE | Unknown | 2021 | Acquired by Verizon Wireless. | |
| Choice Wireless formerly Amerilink Wireless |
GSM | EDGE | Unknown | 2016 | Transitioned to a T-Mobile US MVNO. | |
| Choice Wireless ATN International | GSM,UMTS,VoLTE | EDGE,HSPA+,LTE | Unknown | December 2024 | Discontinued wireless services as of December 31, 2024. | |
| Cincinnati Bell Wireless | GSM,UMTS, GAN Wi-Fi calling |
EDGE,HSPA+ | 0.34 (January 2014) | February 2015 | Network assets acquired by Verizon; network decommissioned after February 28, 2015. | |
| Cleartalk affiliate of Clear Talk Wireless |
CDMA2000 | EV-DO,LTE | Unknown | 2016 | Sold South Carolina licenses to T-Mobile US and exited the market. | |
| ClearTalk Wireless Flat Wireless |
CDMA2000 | EV-DO,LTE | Unknown | 2017 | Acquired by Sprint Corporation. | |
| Clearwire | WiMAX | 11 (June 2012) | December 2013 | Purchased by Sprint Corporation. | ||
| Corr Wireless | GSM | 0.02 | 2013 | Absorbed by AT&T Mobility. | ||
| CTC Wireless | CDMA2000] | Unknown | 2019 | Exited wireless operations. | ||
| DTC Wireless | GSM,UMTS] | Unknown | 2017 | Ceased cellular service; fixed wireless services remain active. | ||
| Element Mobile] | CDMA2000] | 0.077 (August 2011) | 2013 | Integrated into AT&T Mobility. | ||
| Epic PCS | GSM] | Unknown | 2015 | Acquired by United Wireless and PTCI. | ||
| Farmers Mutual Telephone Company | CDMA2000] | Unknown | 2018 | Spectrum sold to Verizon and Eltopia Communications; transitioned to Verizon MVNO. | ||
| Fuego Wireless | LTE | Unknown | 2016 | Network and spectrum assets sold to AT&T and Infrastructure Networks. | ||
| Golden State Cellular | CDMA2000] | 0.018 | 2014 | Purchased by Verizon Wireless. | ||
| Illinois Valley Cellular] | Unknown | December 2023 | Acquired by AT&T Mobility; network planned for shutdown. | |||
| Indigo Wireless] | 0.0004 (2023) | 2023 | Bought by AT&T Mobility; exited market operations. | |||
| iWireless] | Unknown | 2018 | Absorbed by T-Mobile US. | |||
| KTC PACE | Unknown | 2015 | Converted to an AT&T MVNO. | |||
| Leap Wireless] (Cricket Wireless) Includes Cricket PAYGo & RadioShack No Contract |
4.57 (February 2014) | 2014 | Purchased by AT&T Mobility. |
See also
- List of mobile virtual network operators in the United States
- List of CDMA2000 networks
- List of UMTS networks
- List of LTE networks
- List of mobile network operators
- List of mobile network operators of the Americas
- List of mobile network operators of the Asia Pacific region