Industry Description
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in operating and maintaining switching and transmission facilities to provide communications via the airwaves. Establishments in this industry have spectrum licenses and provide services using that spectrum, such as cellular phone services, paging services, wireless Internet access, and wireless video services.
Illustrative Examples:
Cellular telephone services
Paging services, except satellite
Wireless Internet service providers, except satellite
Wireless telephone communications carriers, except satellite
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in--
Business Examples
Common types of business activities within NAICS 517312 - Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite are:
- Paging services (except satellite)
- Cellular telephone stores, primarily selling cellular phone service plans
- Wireless telephone communications carriers (except satellite)
- Telephone communications carriers, wireless (except satellite)
- Wireless phone stores, primarily selling wireless phone service plans
- Two-way paging communication carriers (except satellite)
- Wireless video services (except satellite)
- Wireless data communication carriers (except satellite)
- Telecommunications carriers, cellular telephone
- Beeper (i.e., radio pager) communication carriers
- Wireless Internet service providers (except satellite)
- Mobile phone stores, primarily selling mobile phone service plans
- Ship-to-shore broadcasting communication carriers (except satellite)
- Cellular telephone services
- Cellular telephone communication carriers
- Mobile telephone communication carriers (except satellite)
- Radio paging services communications carriers
IBISWorld Industry Research Report
Wireless Telecommunications Carriers in the US (51721)
Revenue 2025
$326.4bn
Growth 2025
1.76%
Key Trends
The industry has been defined by a transition from primarily providing voice services to focusing on providing data services
Demand for mobile data services has proliferated
The percentage of US households with only wireless service will continue increasing
Products and Services
Similar Industries
For some business types, there may be a similar industry to 517312 - Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite that is a better classification match. Establishments primarily engaged in:
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NAICS Cross Reference
Operating and maintaining wired telecommunications networks--are classified in U.S. Industry 517311, Wired Telecommunications Carriers;
IBISWorld industry research report
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NAICS Cross Reference
Providing satellite television distribution services--are classified in U.S. Industry 517311, Wired Telecommunications Carriers; and
IBISWorld industry research report
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NAICS Cross Reference
Operating and maintaining satellite networks--are classified in Industry 517410, Satellite Telecommunications;
IBISWorld industry research report
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NAICS Cross Reference
Operating as mobile virtual network operations (MVNO)--are classified in U.S. Industry 517911, Telecommunications Resellers.
IBISWorld industry research report
NAICS Hierarchy 517312 - Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite
NAICS Code 517312 - Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite sits in the 2-digit Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite sector. NAICS codes can be 2- to 6-digits and the further along the hierarchy, the more detailed and specific the category will be. Learn more about the structure of NAICS codes
2 Digits: 51
Sector Title: Information
3 Digits 4 Digits 5 Digits 6 Digits
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5111 Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers
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51111 Newspaper Publishers
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51112 Periodical Publishers
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51113 Book Publishers
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51114 Directory and Mailing List Publishers
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51119 Other Publishers
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5112 Software Publishers
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51121 Software Publishers
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5121 Motion Picture and Video Industries
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51211 Motion Picture and Video Production
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51212 Motion Picture and Video Distribution
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51213 Motion Picture and Video Exhibition
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51219 Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries
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5122 Sound Recording Industries
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51223 Music Publishers
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51224 Sound Recording Studios
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51225 Record Production and Distribution
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51229 Other Sound Recording Industries
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5151 Radio and Television Broadcasting
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51511 Radio Broadcasting
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51512 Television Broadcasting
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5152 Cable and Other Subscription Programming
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51521 Cable and Other Subscription Programming
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5173 Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers
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51731 Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers
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5174 Satellite Telecommunications
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51741 Satellite Telecommunications
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5179 Other Telecommunications
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51791 Other Telecommunications
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5182 Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services
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51821 Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services
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5191 Other Information Services
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51911 News Syndicates
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51912 Libraries and Archives
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51913 Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals
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51919 All Other Information Services
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Similar Industries Niche and Emerging
IBISWorld provides research on hundreds of niche and emerging industries, including the following for 517312 - Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite.
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