CTIA, the Wireless Association, today announced at its IT conference that the number of wireless subscribers in the US increased 14.5% during twelve-month period ending June 2004. Total subscribership is now estimated to be more than 170 million. Networks are also growing to keep up with demand:
The survey showed that nearly 27,000 cell cites had been constructed in the previous year, an increase of 18%. Today there are more than 174,000 cell sites across the nation.
More statistics from the semi-annual survey are available after the jump.
CTIA-The Wireless Association announced today that subscribers to Wireless services grew by an estimated 14.5% in the twelve-month period ending June 2004. The industry released its Semi-Annual Wireless Industry Survey while gathered in San Francisco for the CTIA Wireless and Entertainment 2004 exhibition.
"Wireless communication continues to grow at a rapid pace," said CTIA President and CEO Steve Largent. "Not only are more people choosing to join the Wireless network, but those customers are also choosing to spend more time on the expanding Wireless network."
Largent pointed to the fact that while Wireless subscribership and minute usage posted strong gains, the average price of local monthly service continued to hold steady. In fact, over the past ten years, local monthly bills have decreased by 15.6%.
Largent also highlighted the Wireless industry's near 17% increase in cumulative capital investment as evidence of its commitment to network growth and quality. The survey showed that nearly 27,000 cell cites had been constructed in the previous year, an increase of 18%. Today there are more than 174,000 cell sites across the nation.
"This is an industry that is serious about re-investing in its core business," said Largent. "The industry is totally committed to expanding and constantly upgrading the Wireless network."
Total Wireless Subscribership Increased by 14.5% - Wireless subscribership increased by 21,401,569 between June 2003 and June 2004. Total subscribership is now estimated to be more than 170 million.
Wireless Capital Investment Increased by 16.8% - Wireless carrier capital investment increased by more than $22.5 billion between June 2003 and June 2004. As of June 2004, total cumulative capital investment stood at over $156 billion.
Use of Wireless Minutes Increased by 35% - More than 500 billion Wireless minutes were used in the first half of 2004. This is an increase of 35% between June 2003 and June 2004.
Total Cell Sites Increased by 18% - The total number of cell sites increased by 26,649 between June 2003 and June 2004. As of June 2004, there were 174,368 cell sites across the nation.
Direct Wireless Carrier Employment Increased by 13.4% - Direct Wireless carriers added 25,017 employees between June 2003 and June 2004. As of June 2004, direct carrier employment stood at 212,186.
Average Local Monthly Bill Increased by 0.1% - The average local monthly bill in June 2004 was $49.49. The average local monthly bill in June 2003 was $49.46. The average local monthly bill in June 1994 was $58.65.
Service Revenues Increased by 19.1% - Domestic Wireless Carriers reported six-month revenues of over $49.2 billion in June 2004. Six-month revenue in June 2003 was approximately $41.3 billion.
CTIA's Semi-annual Wireless Industry Survey develops industry wide information drawn from operation member and non-member Wireless service providers. It has been conducted since January 1985, originally as a cellular-only survey instrument, and now includes PCS and ESMR providers. No break- out of results specific to PCS and ESMR is performed at this time.