Procurement Market Intelligence Report
Cellular Telephone Services
Sourcing Guide & Market Intelligence
Smarter cost management starts with comprehensive market intelligence
United States
Europe
Global
Quick Navigation
Cellular Telephone Services Global Overview
Definition
Summary
Suppliers of cellular telephone services provide direct communication through radio-based cellular networks. Services include wireless mobile telephone services, paging services and wireless internet access. The key buyers of market services include businesses of all sizes, individual consumers and public entities.
This Report Includes:
- Wireless Mobile Telephone Services
- Paging Services
- Wireless Internet Access
Not in this Report:
- Smartphone Retail
- Wireline (Landline) Telephone Services
Global Cellular Telephone Services Procurement Trends
Discover the top international trends affecting procurement in the global Cellular Telephone Services market.
Warning Trends
Russian invasion of Ukraine is putting additional strain on US chip supply
- Until recently, the United States sourced nearly all of its neon gas (an essential material in the laser imprinting process to produce semiconductors) from Ukrainian and Russian producers. Previous conflicts between the two nations, specifically related to the Crimea conflict in 2014, resulted in a nearly 600.0% increase in the price of neon.
- The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade announced in early June that it would be limiting neon gas exports as part of its sanctions against countries it views as unfriendly. This move will add to lead times and prices for neon.
- Downstream semiconductor manufacturers keep stockpiles of neon gas that have allowed them to continue manufacturing chips, though it is unknown how long these stockpiles will last. Semiconductor manufacturers will likely pay higher prices for neon gas outside Ukraine as global supplies dwindle.
- Micron plans to build to largest microchip production complex in US history.
Global Cellular Telephone Services Market - Suppliers by Region
| Country/Region | Number of Suppliers |
|---|---|
| #1 Oceania & Southeast Asia | 9,675 |
| #2 India | 3,355 |
| #3 Europe | 3,005 |
Explore supplier concentration across the globe
We've uncovered the 11 top regions for global procurement, based on feedback from our most strategic clients. Access vendor counts for each unique region when you subscribe.
2
Geography Drilldown - US & Europe
Average Cost of Cellular Telephone Services
United States
2026 Market Pricing$5.00 to $XXX.XX
per line per monthEurope
Average Price
Prices in the Cellular Telephone Services market range from $5.00 to $XXX.XX, depending on Service Plan, Data Package, Number of Lines and Type of Device. For example, lower prices are associated with Basic services plan (voice, messaging and voicemail) ($5.00 to $75.00 per line per month), whereas higher prices are associated with Data, voice and messaging plan ($40.00 to $250 per line per month).
Need the scoop on international price trends?
Between our Europe and Canada collections, we provide price data for 350 markets so you can instantly compare prices across borders. Or, use our custom research services for intel on prices in any region across the globe.
Cellular Telephone Services Category Price Trends
Pricing trends are indicated by the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during a set period of time. For the Cellular Telephone Services market, prices in the US have grown 1.0% from 2022 to 2025. and +0.0% in Europe.
United States (2022-2025)
Canada (2017-2020)
Compound Annual Growth Rate
Europe (2022-2025)
Compound Annual Growth Rate
Wondering where prices are heading?
Price trend forecasts are available to subscribers, along with price driver projections and forward-looking cost structure data.
Cost Analysis - Total Cost of Ownership for Cellular Telephone Services
Total cost of ownership is Medium in the Cellular Telephone Services market. The average cost of ownership differs depending on the contract but generally includes costs negotiated before the contract begins, costs billed during the contract period and unforeseen costs. For example, unforeseen costs in the form of Cancellations may raise the total cost of ownership unexpectedly.
Negotiated Before
Financing
Implementation
Billed During
Hardware
Compliance
Unforeseen
Cancellations
Buyer Power in Procurement Negotiations
In 2026, buyer power amounts to 0.8 in the United States. Buyer power is most positively impacted by Recent Developments. It is most negatively impacted by Product Specialization. Subscribers can access details on eight other factors that impact buyer power. Learn more
United States
Europe
Buyer power forecasts: your glimpse into the future
Develop strategies for the upcoming year and identify unforeseen opportunities for buying now
- Actionable "Buy Now" and "Buy Later" insights
- Near-real-time updates to current and forecast Buyer Power Scores
- Methodology and weightings for Buyer Power Score Components
Supply Chain Risk
The average level of supply chain risk is assessed as Low, which has a positive impact on buyer power. The level of supply chain risk is affected by industry volatility, barriers to entry, competition, import penetration, regulation and industry financial risk. Buyers in this market can mitigate procurement and supply chain management risks by monitoring risk levels for individual first and second tier suppliers:
1st
Tier Suppliers
- Telecom Networking Equipment Manufacturers
- Semiconductor & Circuit Manufacturers
- Wireless Telecommunication Carriers
2nd
Tier Suppliers
- Circuit Board & Electronic Component Manufacturers
- Copper Rolling, Drawing & Extruding Firms
- Transmission Line Construction Firms
Biggest Cellular Telephone Services Suppliers in the US by Revenue
The largest Cellular Telephone Services vendors by revenue in the US are Consumer Cellular Inc., Telapex Inc. and Working Assets Inc. Subscribers can sort and filter by market share concentration, profit level and other factors. Learn more
| Supplier | Operational Size | Headquarters | Number of Employees | Market Share (%) | Market Share Performance (3yr trend) | Total Revenue ($ million) | Profit Level (%) | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon Communications Inc. | Global | NEW YORK, NY | >10,000 | 25+ | ||||
| At&T Inc. | Global | DALLAS, TX | >10,000 | 25+ | ||||
| T-Mobile Us, Inc. | BELLEVUE, WA | >10,000 | 5-10 | |||||
| Comcast Corporation | Global | PHILADELPHIA, PA | >10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Lumen Technologies, Inc. | Global | MONROE | >10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| United States Cellular Corporation | Regional | CHICAGO, IL | 1,001-10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Consumer Cellular Inc. | National | Scottsdale, AZ | 1,001-10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Telapex Inc. | Local | Ridgeland, MS | 251-500 | < 5 | ||||
| Working Assets Inc. | National | San Francisco, CA | 101-250 | < 5 | ||||
Looking for a list of suppliers by country?
Subscribers can access vendor information on Canadian and European suppliers, too. We also offer custom research services to help with vendor sourcing anywhere in the world.
Profit Analysis
The average profit margin across vendors in the Cellular Telephone Services market is 11.6% and steady. Profit levels shift depending on suppliers' spend on wages, purchases and overhead. The highest cost component for vendors is Overhead. The cost trend for this component is rising, when considering movement between 2025 and 2026. To understand cost forecasts for 2027 and uncover the implications on profit, start your subscription. Learn more
Vendor & Supply Chain Analysis
Suppliers are vulnerable to tariffs placed on telecom networking equipment and semiconductor and circuit equipment manufactured in China. The tariffs on these inputs have raised overhead costs for suppliers, thus placing downward pressure on profit margins.
Businesses of all sizes in the United States use wireless telephone services and service providers do not depend on any one segment or industry for demand. With more activities being performed on mobile devices, the demand for wireless telephone services has been increasing steadily, indicating strong sales for providers.
Risk for small businesses and consumers was elevated in 2020 due to the economic shutdown, which resulted in a number of small business bankruptcies and massive job losses. Fortunately for suppliers, demand surged for higher data packages as services conducted online increased due to people working remotely.
Providers have been gaining substantial economies of scale by acquiring smaller companies thus allowing them to lower their variable operating costs and offer wireless telephone services at competitive prices. As these trends continue, buyer power will increase in large metropolitan areas due to intense competition among the top four service providers.
Most providers are large public companies that offer a wide variety of telecommunication services, and the materials and goods required to provide wireless telephone services are widely available. With low supply chain risk, buyers can expect steady access to wireless telephone services.
The United States is a net importer of smartphones, offering a diverse range of product choices to buyers with competitive pricing. The heavy foreign presence of smartphones encourages price competition and innovation in the market, however, the reliance on imports poses risks such as supply chain disruptions, currency fluctuations, and trade policy uncertainties.
Supplier Information
At&T Inc.
At&T Inc. is a public company operating globally in the manufacturing, information and professional, scientific and technical services sectors. The company's offerings include electronic logging devices, smartphones, office phones, air cards, mobile enterprise application platforms. Founded in 1885, the company... Subscribe to learn more
Verizon Communications Inc.
Verizon Communications Inc. is a public company operating globally in the manufacturing, information and professional, scientific and technical services sectors. The company's offerings include electronic logging devices, smartphones, gps antennas, air cards, asset tracking software. Founded in 2000, the Subscribe to learn more
T-Mobile Us, Inc.
T-Mobile US Inc. is a public company operating in the manufacturing and information sectors. The company's offerings include gps antennas, air cards, fleet telematics systems, internet services, network voice services. Founded in 2017, the company is currently headquartered in BELLEVUE, Washington, United... Subscribe to learn more
Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation is a public company operating globally in the information and accommodation and food services sectors. The company's offerings include air cards, pbx phone systems, online advertising, internet services, network voice services. Founded in 1963, the company is currently headquartered in... Subscribe to learn more
Consumer Cellular Inc.
Consumer Cellular Inc. is a private company operating nationally in the information sector. The company's offerings include cellular telephone services. Founded in 1995, the company is currently headquartered in Scottsdale, Azerbaijan, United States of America with an estimated 5500 employees. Subscribe to learn more
Lumen Technologies, Inc.
Lumen Technologies, Inc. is a technology and communications company serving domestic and global business customers. It operates under three brands: Lumen, its flagship brand for the enterprise and wholesale markets, Quantum Fiber, which provides fiber-based services to residential and small business customers;... Subscribe to learn more
Telapex Inc.
Telapex Inc. is a private company operating locally in the information sector. The company's offerings include cellular telephone services. Founded in 1959, the company is currently headquartered in Ridgeland, Mississippi, United States of America with an estimated 375 employees. Subscribe to learn more
United States Cellular Corporation
Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. is a tower owner and operator of shared wireless communications infrastructure in the United States. It owns and leases a portfolio of cell towers, including monopole, self-support (lattice), and guyed towers, primarily in New England, as well as the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest,... Subscribe to learn more
Working Assets Inc.
Working Assets Inc. is a private company operating nationally in the information sector. The company's offerings include cellular telephone services. Founded in 1985, the company is currently headquartered in San Francisco, California, United States of America with an estimated 175 employees. Subscribe to learn more
Accelerate the vendor selection process
Get a clear picture of the competition in a market and discover which vendors are best-suited for your sourcing needs. Our supplier profiles include hard-to-find financial ranges for private companies, cover public company data and feature an interactive competitor matrix.
Procurement Management KPIs for the Cellular Telephone Services Market
Managing vendor performance throughout the contract period is easier when tracking specific key performance indicators (KPIs). For example, buyers should monitor Average Resolution Time and Customer Satisfaction (CSAT). Buyers may experience better performance throughout their contracts if they establish service level agreements (SLAs) based on Geographic Coverage and other factors.
| KPI | Level of Importance (1-5) | Measurements | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Resolution Time |
|
Total number of services issues submitted to the supplier Total time to resolve these issues |
The average resolution time measures how long it takes for the supplier to correct issues with cellular telephone services after the buyer has submitted a ticket bringing attention to the issue. The average resolution time can be used as an indicator to assess how quickly a supplier makes efforts to correct issues with a buyer's telephone service. A poor average resolution time can lead to extended periods of downtime. |
| Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) |
|
Total number of customer reviews Total number of positive customer reviews |
Customer satisfaction scores measure how satisfied a customer is with the telephone service. The customer satisfaction score can be used to assess the supplier’s overall cellular telephone service quality and can highlight specific areas where the supplier falls short. |
|
|||
Questions to Ask During Procurement Negotiations
How can I gain leverage during negotiations?
Experience and Expertise
Can you describe the telecommunication services you implemented for similar clients?
What additional service offerings do you provide?
Customer Service
Who will be on hand to manage my account and answer billing questions? Will someone be assigned solely to my account?
During implementation, will there be staff on site to provide support for employees?
Budget
Are there additional charges for employee training after the service is implemented?
Is maintenance and support included in the plan price?
The ultimate prep for procurement negotations
View all 27 negotiation questions for this category when you subscribe.
Cellular Telephone Services RFP Guidelines
What should my RFP include?
Organizational Overview
Buyers should give an overview of their organization.
All buyers should provide a list of products or services they provide.
Statement Of Need
Buyers should delineate the breadth of services required, including their talk, text and data requirements.
Buyers should describe the desired qualifications of the wireless service provider, such as the number of years of experience and call quality.
Project Budget
Buyers should include the budget for the contract.
Buyers should suggest the best method of billing.
The RFP process made easy
Find out how you can access RFP templates for 800+ procurement categories to start writing better, more consistent RFPs.
We display average pricing information, trends and market data.
Our Reports include:
- Opportunity assessment
- Market dynamics
- Recent developments
- Positive and warning trends
- Buyer power levers
- Price environment and market pricing
- Geographic wage rates
- Global market updates
- Total cost of ownership
- Cost structure benchmarks and analysis
- Supply chain and vendors
- Global supplier breakdown
- Market share concentration
- Regulation and business requirements
- Vendor management and KPIs
- Sourcing strategy guidance
