List of mobile network operators
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) - 158.6 million
- Vodafone (GSM) - 125.3 million
- T-Mobile (GSM) - 87 million
- Orange (GSM) - 40 million
- Cingular (IS-136, GSM, UMTS) (Joint venture: 60% owned by SBC, 40% owned by BellSouth) - 46.9 million ***
- mmO2 (GSM)
- TIM (GSM)
Germany
These are the largest mobile phone companies in Germany. The present telecommunication standard in Germany is GSM, called "D-Netz" (900 MHz) and "E-Netz" (1800 MHz). It is the successor of the analogous "C-Netz".
- T-Mobile (GSM) - 26.7 million subscribers (3/2004)
- Vodafone (GSM) - 25 million subscribers (3/2004)
- E-Plus (GSM) - 8.5 million subscribers (5/2004)
- O2 (GSM) - 6 million subscribers (3/2004)
Greece
In September 2003 there were 10.88 million active lines, which makes 99% market penetration.
- Cosmote (GSM) - 4.05 million active lines
- Vodafone (GSM) - 3.78 million active lines
- TIM (GSM) - 2.75 million active lines
- Was Telestet until February 2004.
- Q-Telekom (GSM) - 289 thousand active lines
- The newest mobile telecom in Greece uses Vodafones infrastructure until it builds its own network.
Romania
These are the largest mobile phone companies in Romania. Romania has 8,375,118 subscribers in total (July 2004), or 37.44% penetration rate.
- Connex GSM Romania (GSM) - 4,089,948 subscribers (49.16% market share)
- Orange Romania (GSM) - 4,000,000 subscribers (47.48% market share)
- Zapp Mobile (IS-2000) - 200,000 subscribers (2.40% market share)
- Cosmorom, a division of Romtelecom (GSM) - 85,170 subscribers (0.96% market share)
Russian Federation
These are the largest mobile phone companies in Russia, by number of subscribers. The primary cellular technology used by each carrier is shown in parentheses.
- Mobile TeleSystems - MTS (GSM) - 26.6 million
- VimpelCom - Bee Line GSM (GSM) - 18.25 million
- Megafon (GSM) - 11.5 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.
- Cingular (IS-136, GSM, UMTS) (Joint venture: 60% owned by SBC, 40% owned by BellSouth) - 46.9 million ***
- Verizon Wireless (IS-2000) (44% owned by Vodafone, 56% owned by Verizon Communications) - 40.4 million
- Sprint PCS (IS-2000) - 19.3 million
- T-Mobile (GSM) - 15.4 million (8/2004)
- Nextel (iDEN) - 12.3 million
- ALLTEL (IS-2000) - 8 million
- US Cellular (IS-136, IS-2000) - 4.4 million
*** Inlcudes AT&T Wireless customers. AT&T Wireless has been purchased by Cingular on October 26, 2004
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.