World’s 10 Largest Telecom Companies By Subscribers

The world’s 10 largest telecom companies by subscribers cover half the world and connect them to the rest of the planet via mobile, internet, and fixed-line connections.

This ranking of the largest telecom companies in the world is based on the number of mobile subscribers that each company has, according to the latest company reports that reveal subscriber numbers. The choice of evaluating the companies based on mobile subscribers instead of any other subscriber metric was made because a telecom company’s mobile reach is one of the most reliable means by which we can measure how widespread an operator’s network is. In addition, a fixed-line subscriber is also likely a mobile subscriber, while a vice-versa scenario is less likely.

We should note that the size of one’s subscriber base does not necessarily translate to earning power or profitability. Among the 10 companies listed in this article, only five were included in the list of the 10 largest telecom companies in the world by revenue. Meanwhile, AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), the two U.S telecom market leaders that are also the highest revenue-earning telcos in the world (at $163.8 billion and $131.8 billion, respectively, in 2016) did not make it to this subscriber-centric list. What this disparity shows is that the most profitable telcos need not expand to dozens of countries just to rake in more revenue. For instance, AT&T operates in only two countries (the U.S and Mexico) while Verizon is strictly U.S-based. But because the U.S is a high-income market with a large population, what AT&T and Verizon lack in size, they more than make up for with pricing power. However, this is not to disparage the strength-in-numbers growth model of the companies on this list, as shown in the financial success of telcos with a wide subscriber net. Nevertheless, this approach comes with its own challenges, some of which can prove to be a drain to a company’s resources and margins.

In this article, we will see how many subscribers have signed up to services offered by multinational companies America Movil SAB de CV (ADR) (NYSE:AMX), Bharti Airtel Ltd., China Mobile Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE:CHL), China Telecom Corporation Limited (ADR) (NYSE:CHA), China Unicom (Hong Kong) Limited (ADR) (NYSE:CHU), MTN Group Ltd (ADR) (OTCMKTS:MTNOY), Telefonica S.A. (ADR) (NYSE:TEF), Telenor ASA (ADR) (OTCMKTS:TELNY), VEON Ltd (ADR) (NASDAQ:VEON), and Vodafone Group Plc (ADR) (NASDAQ:VOD).

As to which of the world’s 10 largest telecom companies by subscribers have the most subscribers in the world, you’ll just have to see for yourself by checking out the rankings that begin on the next page.

10. VEON Ltd (ADR) (NASDAQ:VEON)

Number of mobile subscribers: 205.5 million as of September 2016

The former Vimpelcom is headquartered in Amsterdam but generates most of its income from Russia and Italy. VEON Ltd (ADR) (NASDAQ:VEON) also has operations in 16 other countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa.

9. Telenor ASA (ADR) (OTCMKTS:TELNY)

Number of mobile subscribers: 214 million as of December 2016

A Norwegian company in existence since 1970, Telenor ASA (ADR) (OTCMKTS:TELNY) has since expanded to 13 countries in Europe and Asia.

8. China Telecom Corporation Limited (ADR) (NYSE:CHA)

Number of mobile subscribers: 218.52 million as of February 2017

The third-largest mobile telecom company in China, China Telecom Corporation Limited (ADR) (NYSE:CHA) is the market leader in the country in terms of fixed-line connections.

7. MTN Group Ltd (ADR) (OTCMKTS:MTNOY)

Number of mobile subscribers: 240.4 million as of December 2016

The South Africa-based telco has operations in 22 countries, mainly in Africa and Asia, and ranks seventh on the list of the world’s 10 largest telecom companies by subscribers.

6. China Unicom (Hong Kong) Limited (ADR) (NYSE:CHU)

Number of mobile subscribers: 265.62 million as of February 2017

China Unicom (Hong Kong) Limited (ADR) (NYSE:CHU) is the second-largest mobile provider in China, and was formed in 1994.

5. Telefonica S.A. (ADR) (NYSE:TEF)

Number of mobile subscribers: 276.45 million as of December 2016

Telefonica S.A. (ADR) (NYSE:TEF) ranks 5th in our list of world’s 10 largest telecom companies by subscribers. It has operations in 17 countries. The Spanish telco also owns 9.7% of China Unicom.

4. America Movil SAB de CV (ADR) (NYSE:AMX)

Number of mobile subscribers: 280.57 million as of December 2016

Mexican telecom company America Movil SAB de CV (ADR) (NYSE:AMX), helmed by telecom mogul and one of the richest men in the world, Carlos Slim (shown below), provides mobile services in 26 countries in North America, South America, and Central Europe.

3. Bharti Airtel Ltd.

Number of mobile subscribers: 348.5 million as of December 2016

The largest mobile network in India, Bharti Airtel Ltd. also has businesses in 18 countries in Africa.

2. Vodafone Group Plc (ADR) (NASDAQ:VOD)

Number of mobile subscribers: 469.7 million as of September 2016

British multinational telecom company Vodafone Group Plc (ADR) (NASDAQ:VOD) has been in business since 1982 and has since expanded into 19 countries.

1. China Mobile Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE:CHL)

Number of mobile subscribers: 853.68 million as of February 2017

To be able to appreciate the sheer size of the subscriber base of China Mobile Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE:CHL), the company currently has 558.6 million 4G subscribers, which is more than the mobile subscribers of any other company on this list of the world’s 10 largest telecom companies by subscribers.

Disclosure: None