The 15 Largest Cell Phone Companies In The World

The telecommunications industry has experienced significant transformation in recent years, adapting to evolving consumer demands and technological advancements. As companies have streamlined operations and embraced new technologies, the growth rate has stabilized to an estimated 6% annually through 2025. The surge in mobile payments and the integration of mobile wallets into everyday transactions have become key drivers of this growth.

In this article, we’ll explore the top 15 cell phone companies in the world. By examining their products and operations, you’ll gain valuable insights into the current landscape of the telecommunications industry and its future direction.

The 15 Largest Cell Phone Companies as of 2026

1. China Telecom. Headquarters: Beijing, China

   Stock ticker: CHA
   Market cap: $86.58 billion
   2025 Revenue: $481.4 billion
   Net income: $2.8 billion

   China Telecom is the publicly-listed arm of the state-owned China Telecommunications Corporation.

   The company provides telecommunications services, including internet access and mobile telephony to over 200 million customers globally, with over 80% of these customers based in China.

   China Telecom entered a joint venture in 2015 with China Mobile and China Unicom to form China Tower, making them collectively the largest telecommunications provider in the country.

   China Tower became a separately listed company in 2018, but the three companies still maintain significant shares in the business.

   China Telecom acquired a 4G LTE license from the Macau S.A.R authority and is currently one of the largest telecommunications providers in the region.

   Additionally, the company operates as a significant telecommunications network operator in Europe through its subsidiary, China Telecom Europe.

2. AT&T Headquarters: Dallas, Texas

   Stock ticker: T
   Market cap: $141.45 billion
   2025 Revenue: $168.86 billion
   Net income: $20.04 billion

   AT&T is the world’s largest telecommunications company and mobile service provider.

   The company generates revenue through its vast portfolio of products. In addition to providing mobile telephone services, AT&T’s other notable activities include:

   • Maintaining legacy fixed-line telephone services

   • Selling satellite and cable TV packages

   • Managing numerous radio and broadcasting programs

   • Providing broadband and internet services

   AT&T is a multinational conglomerate owning many subsidiaries that are industry giants.

   One notable example is WarnerMedia, a mass media conglomerate acquired by AT&T in 2018.

   Despite being headquartered in the U.S., AT&T operates in major countries through regional offices, including large offices in Hong Kong to provide services across the Asia Pacific.

   Find AT&T Jobs Near Me

3. Verizon Headquarters: New York City, New York

   Stock ticker: VZ
   Market cap: $176.18 billion
   2025 Revenue: $135.65 billion
   Net Income: $19.29 million

   Verizon is a leading multinational telecommunications conglomerate formed after the U.S. Government’s breakup of the Bell System.

   Originally called Bell Atlantic, Verizon rebranded following a $64.7 billion merger with telephone giant GTE in 2000.

   The company’s primary revenue sources include mobile telephone, landline, and cable television business segments. Verizon also operates large subsidiaries in various industries, including:

   • Broadband. Most of Verizon’s broadband operations involve maintaining legacy services, but they also offer competitive new packages.

   • Digital Television. Verizon provides various digital television packages, including Verizon Fios, a bundled service offering internet access, digital television, and phone services.

   • Digital Media. Verizon Digital Media Services (VDMS) is a content delivery network for television and streaming services.

   • Internet. AT&T acquired AOL in 2015 and the core internet business segment of Yahoo! in 2016.

   Verizon Wireless is the second-largest wireless communications service provider in the U.S., following AT&T.

   Find Verizon Jobs Near Me

4. Deutsche Telekom Headquarters: Bonn, Germany

   Stock ticker: DTEGY
   Market cap: $107.05 billion
   2025 Revenue: $124.19 billion
   Net income: $8.11 billion

   Deutsche Telekom AG, also known as DT, is the largest telecommunications provider in Europe.

   The company began as the state-owned monopoly Deutsche Bundespost and adopted its current name upon privatization in 1995.

   DT owns numerous subsidiaries worldwide, primarily in telephone services, communication, IT services, and digital media.

   The most recognized brand under DT’s umbrella is T-Mobile.

   Other significant telecommunications companies owned by DT include:

   • Slovak Telekom. The largest telecommunications provider in Slovakia.

   • Magyar Telekom. The largest telecommunications provider in Hungary, holding majority shares in Hrvatski Telekom and Makedonski Telekom, the largest telephone service providers in Croatia and North Macedonia, respectively.

   • OTE. The largest telecommunications company in Greece and the largest tech company in the nation.

Find Deutsche Telekom Jobs Near Me

5. Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. Headquarters: Chiyoda, Japan

   Stock ticker: NTTYY
   Market cap: $96.92 billion
   2025 Revenue: $101.51 billion
   Net Income: $15.07 billion

   Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, also known as NTT, ranks as the third-largest telecommunications company globally and the fifth-largest overall in Japan.

   Founded by the Japanese state in 1952 to compete with ATT’s industry monopoly, NTT was privatized in 1985, with one-third of its shares still owned by the Japanese government to ensure proper telecommunications service provision.

   NTT operates across various industries through its subsidiaries, including:

   • Mobile communications. Docomo, an NTT subsidiary, is Japan’s largest mobile phone operator, offering typical mobile services such as talk, text, video chat, and internet.

   • Long-distance communications. NTT Communications operates in over 190 countries and regions, offering services like API gateways, Internet of Things (IoT) platforms, and machine-to-machine networks.

   • Information Security. NTT Security provides end-to-end security infrastructure and operations management services to businesses.

6. T-Mobile US Headquarters: Santa Clara, California

   Stock ticker: TTM
   Market cap: $186.08 billion
   2025 Revenue: $80.08 billion
   Net income: $1.54 billion

   Servicing over 100 million subscribers, T-Mobile is the third-largest wireless carrier in the United States.

   The company’s primary products include data and voice services under the “Metro by T-Mobile” and T-Mobile brands, with the former encompassing the networks of Metro PCS acquired through a reverse merger in 2013.

   In 2020, T-Mobile completed a merger with Sprint Corporation, fully integrating their networks and phasing out the Sprint brand.

   Currently, T-Mobile is heavily investing in 5G technology and has achieved significant milestones in network development.

   Find T-Mobile US Jobs Near Me

7. Vodafone Group PLC. Headquarters: England, United Kingdom

   Stock ticker: VOD
   Market cap: $29.46 billion
   2025 Revenue: $49.01 billion
   Net income: $2.22 billion

   Vodafone is a multinational telecommunications company operating primarily in Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Africa.

   The company manages networks in 22 countries and collaborates with partner networks in an additional 48 countries.

   Vodafone provides typical carrier services such as voice, text, and data, alongside a separate Vodafone Global Enterprise division offering customized telecommunications solutions to corporate clients.

   Vodafone also has interests in various industries, including:

   • Television

   • Internet of Things (IoT)

   • Public and private cloud

   • IT Security

   • Cloud-based applications

8. Orange S.A. Headquarters: Paris, France

   Stock ticker: ORAN
   Market cap: $28.13 billion
   2025 Revenue: $47.45 billion
   Net income: $4.73 million

   With 266 million international customers, Orange S.A. is the world’s tenth-largest mobile network operator and the fourth-largest in Europe.

   The company was previously known as France Telecom, rebranding to “Orange” after acquiring Microtel Communications.

   Orange offers four main telecommunications services:

   • Mobile phone telephony

   • Fixed-line telephone

   • Broadband internet

   • IPTV, mainly in France and Spain

   Orange S.A. employs 158,000 workers worldwide, with 89,000 based in France.

9. KDDI. Headquarters: Hangzhou, China

   Stock ticker: KDDIY
   Market cap: $65.02 billion
   2025 Revenue: $45.04 billion
   Net income: $5.37 billion

   KDDI is a Japanese telecommunications company formed in 2000 through a merger of KDD, DDI, and IDO Corp.

   The company’s main business segment is its “au by KDDI” brand, providing mobile cellular and ISP network services across Japan.

   KDDI also operates the “au Hikari by KDDI” brand, offering long-distance and international voice and data services, as well as fiber-to-home.

   In 2020, KDDI began offering 5G service under the “UNLIMITED WORLD au 5G” campaign and continues to research and improve its 5G services in partnership with Ericsson.

   Find KDDI Jobs Near Me

10. Telefonica S.A. Headquarters: Madrid, Spain

    Stock ticker: TEF
    Market cap: $26.3 billion
    2025 Revenue: $42.13 billion
    Net income: $1.89 billion

    Telefonica is a multinational diversified telecommunications conglomerate operating mainly in Europe and the Americas, providing key services such as:

    • Fixed and mobile telephony

    • Subscription television

    • Broadband internet

    Telefonica boasts the largest fiber-to-home network in Europe.

    The company operates O2 and Movistar, the two largest phone and broadband providers in Spain. Currently, Telefonica is discussing a potential merger with Liberty Global involving their respective brands O2 and Virgin Media, which would create the second-largest telecommunications provider in the UK.

    Telefonica also owns Vivo and CTC, the largest telecommunications companies in Brazil and Chile, respectively.

11. China United Network Communications Group. Headquarters: Beijing, China

    Stock ticker: CHU
    Market cap: $135.55 billion
    2025 Revenue: $50.82 billion
    Net income: $978 million

    Commonly referred to as China Unicom, the China United Network Communications Group is the fourth-largest cellular service provider globally by subscriber count.

    The company is majority state-owned, with public shareholders owning only 40% of its equity.

    China Unicom offers GSM mobile network and IP telephony services, along with:

    • Long-distance communication services

    • Local calling and paging

    • Data communication

    • Internet services

    In 2020, China Unicom partnered with LuHan to create the “FuLu Companion Card,” aimed at enhancing 5G technology development and offering exclusive benefits to customers.

12. America Movil SAB de CV. Headquarters: Mexico City, Mexico

    Stock ticker: AMX
    Market cap: $68.62 billion
    2021 Revenue: $41.564 billion
    Net income: $3.78 billion

    America Movil is the largest mobile operator in Mexico by equity subscribers and the seventh-largest globally.

    As of early 2021, the company had 290 million wireless subscribers and 87 million fixed revenue-generating units, with fiber-optic cables spanning over 290,000 kilometers, the largest network of its kind worldwide.

    America Movil’s primary subsidiary, Telcel, provides wireless communication services such as talk, data, and text to 66.9 million subscribers, capturing 77.2% of the market.

    The company’s mobile networks cover over 63% of Mexico’s geographic area and 90% of its population.

    America Movil operates in the U.S. through its subsidiary TracFone Wireless, managing several leading prepaid mobile service brands.

13. Telstra. Headquarters: Victoria, Australia

    Stock ticker: TLS
    Market cap: $34.23 billion
    2025 Revenue: $21.28 billion
    Net income: $432 million

    Telstra is an Australian telecommunications giant with over 20 million subscribers as of early 2021.

    Founded in 1901 as a state-owned entity, Telstra went public on the ASX in 1997 and completed full privatization in 2011, becoming the most widely-held company on the ASX.

    Telstra’s primary products and services include:

    • Mobile phone services such as talk, text, and data

    • Subscription television packages

    • Wholesale and retail internet access

    Telstra is actively developing its 3500 MHz 5G mobile network across Australia.

14. BT Group. Headquarters: London, United Kingdom

    Stock ticker: BT
    Market cap: $19.45 billion
    2021 Revenue: $20.85 billion
    Net income: $2.97 billion

    BT Group is a multinational telecommunications company operating in over 180 countries.

    The company is the largest provider of mobile services, broadband, and fixed-line telephony in the UK, with over 18 million customers, achieved after acquiring the previous industry leader, EE, in April 2016.

    BT Group also offers IT services and subscription television packages.

15. KT Corporation. Headquarters: Seongnam, South Korea

    Stock ticker: KT
    Market cap: $6.01 billion
    2021 Revenue: $19.78 billion
    Net income: $587 million

    Formerly known as Korea Telecom, KT Corporation is the largest telecommunications company in South Korea.

    Founded in 1981 as a public utility, KT was later privatized and publicly listed in 1998. The state-owned National Pension Service retains a 12.19% stake in the company.

    KT serves over 90% of South Korea’s fixed-line telephone users and about 45% of the country’s high-speed internet users.

    The company owns the PCS carrier KTF, which is South Korea’s largest mobile services provider, offering talk, text, and data services.

Cell Phone Company FAQ

1. What country has the most cell phones?

   Macau, China has the highest cell phone density in the world, with 343.11 mobile phones per capita. The following are the top five countries with the most cell phones per capita:

   • Hong Kong, with 287.85 cell phones per capita

   • The Gaza Strip, with 215.58 cell phones per capita

   • The United Arab Emirates, with 197.65 cell phones per capita

   • Seychelles, with 196.79 cell phones per capita

2. How big is the smartphone industry?

   The global smartphone industry market size is approximately $457.18 billion as of 2021. About 1.21 billion smartphone units were sold in 2022, with sales continuing to grow.

3. Which phone was the most sold in the U.S.?

   In 2022, the iPhone 13 was the best-selling phone in the world. This model was particularly popular in the U.S., accounting for 17% of total smartphone sales.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.