CTIA-The Wireless Association® Semi-Annual Survey Shows U.S. Wireless Providers Invested Almost Six Times More Per Subscriber than Rest of World

U.S. wireless providers invested $30.1 billion in 2012, which was 25 percent of the world’s total wireless capital expenditures, even though the U.S. has only five percent of the world’s wireless users

WASHINGTON, – Today, CTIA-The Wireless Association® released its semi-annual survey, which showed U.S. wireless providers increased their annual network investments from $25.3 billion in 2011 to $30.1 billion in 2012 (up 19 percent). The $30.1 billion is the highest amount since the survey began in 1985, which is approximately 25 percent of the world’s total wireless capital expenditures, even though the U.S. has only five percent of the world’s wireless users. The U.S. wireless providers invested approximately $94 per subscriber, compared with $16 per subscriber for the rest of the world. Since 2000, wireless providers invested more than $296 billion, not including the more than $35 billion in spectrum auction revenues paid to the U.S. government.

“The U.S. wireless industry’s record-setting level of network investment is clear proof of its continued commitment to providing Americans with superior 4G coverage. The wireless industry invested billions of dollars to improve their networks and their customers’ coverage in 2012, fueling the ‘virtuous cycle’ of innovation. New devices, apps and content were developed so consumers could take advantage of the faster network speeds and capabilities. That’s why the U.S. leads the world in wireless innovation and competition,” said Steve Largent, President and CEO, CTIA. “The numbers clearly prove our members are key drivers of the U.S. economy, which will be enhanced by making more spectrum available for commercial use. We look forward to working with the Administration, FCC, NTIA, DoD and members of Congress to ensuring our members may purchase spectrum and ultimately, benefit Americans and wireless consumers.”

The year-end 2012 annual survey results:

-Wireless subscriber connections: 326.4 million (102 percent penetration); 2011: 315.9 million (3.3 percent increase).
-Total prepaid / pay-as-you-go subscribers: 76.4 million (23.4 percent of subscribers); 2011: 71.7 million (6.6 percent increase).
-Wireless network data traffic: 1.468 trillion megabytes; 2011: 866.8 billion (69.3 percent increase).
-Active smartphones and wireless-enabled PDAs: 152.1 million; 2011: 111.5 million (36.4 percent increase).
-Wireless-enabled tablets, laptops and modems: 22.3 million; 2011: 20.2 million (10.2 percent increase).
-Minutes of Use (MOU): 2.2999 trillion; 2011: 2.2955 trillion (4.4 billion minute increase or .2 percent).
-SMS sent and received: 2.19 trillion; 2011: 2.3 trillion (4.9 percent decrease).
-MMS sent and received: 74.5 billion; 2011: 52.8 billion (41 percent increase).

An image of the U.S. wireless industry’s capital expenditures compared to the rest of the world is available here: http://ctia.it/ZrGnSx. To see a summary of the report or to purchase the full report from the CTIA Research eStore, please visit: http://www.ctia.org/advocacy/research/index.cfm/AID/10316.

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CTIA-The Wireless Association® (www.ctia.org) is an international organization representing the wireless communications industry. Membership in the association includes wireless carriers and their suppliers, as well as providers and manufacturers of wireless data services and products. CTIA advocates on behalf of its members at all levels of government. The association also coordinates the industry’s voluntary best practices and initiatives, and sponsors the industry’s leading wireless tradeshows. CTIA was founded in 1984 and is based in Washington, D.C.

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