A new report by the FCC on the state of the wireless sector finds that AT&T and Verizon together still lay claim to roughly 70% of all wireless industry revenues. According to the report, Verizon claims 38.1% of all wireless revenues, down from 38.7% in 2014. AT&T enjoys 32.4 percent share of revenues, essentially the same as last year. Despite making some major subscriber gains of late T-Mobile lays claim to 13.5% of sector revenues, up from 11.9% back in 2014. Sprint's 14% share dropped from 14.9% one year earlier.
The report found that Verizon and AT&T had 140.9 million and 128.7 million total connections respectively at the end of 2015, double the 63.3 million connections at T-Mobile or the 58.6 million connections at Sprint.
The report also analyzed carrier coverage, determining that AT&T topped all carriers by providing cellular coverage to 99.3% of the nation, followed by Verizon at 97.4% and T-Mobile and Sprint brought serving 94.6% and 92.4%, respectively.
As has become an annual right of passage, the FCC refused to declare whether or not the sector is actually competitive, setting off waves of indignation among the industry's lobbying associations.
To counter the FCC's ongoing refusal to classify the sector as competitive, the CTIA issued a statement making that determination for the agency.
"The FCC has amassed an impressive array of facts demonstrating once again the vibrant competition that has taken hold in the wireless market," states the CTIA. "As the report makes plain, consumers today enjoy unparalleled choice among wireless providers, service plans and devices, all while the wireless industry continues to invest in networks at extraordinary levels to facilitate greater access to 4G LTE and foster the next generation of innovations."
