SIM card providers, popular or not, are known under different names. Some examples include a mobile network operator (MNO), wireless service provider, wireless carrier, mobile network carrier, cellular company, and a mobile telecom company. A SIM card provider has the necessary infrastructure and licenses to provide mobile telecommunications services to its subscribers in a particular region. The telecom industry is one of the most important industries worldwide for the past few decades.
There are hundreds of those around the world providing, operating in one or multiple countries. We will look at the companies that are most popular in terms of brand value, customer base, and annual revenue. Let’s talk about them one by one in no particular order.
1. Verizon
With a brand value of 68.89 billion USD in 2021, Verizon is the world’s most popular telecom company at this time. Based in the United States of America, specifically Manhattan, New York, the company was founded in 1983. Verizon is the first mobile telecom company in the world to launch a commercial 5G network for mobility and fixed wireless.
The company offers voice call services, data, video call/streaming services, and related solutions on its award-winning networks. It delivers mobility, reliable connectivity, security, and control, all fitting customers’ demands. This way, the company has been successful in transforming how people, businesses, and things connect.
2. Deutsche Telekom
Deutsche Telekom is one of the largest telecom companies in the world, with a customer base of more than 242 million and a brand value of 60.2 billion USD. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Germany. The carrier provides fixed network, broadband, mobile communications, IPTV products and services, internet services, information, and communication technology (ICT) solutions for corporate consumers. It has operations in Germany, the U.S., and Eastern Europe. Deutsche Telekom is the second most valuable brand among all the telecom companies globally. Moreover, it has an identical rank among all the industry sectors in Europe, just marginally behind Mercedes-Benz.
3. AT&T
AT&T stands for American Telephone and Telegraph Company. Its headquarters are situated in Dallas, Texas, USA. It is one of the largest revenue-earning telecom companies in the world. With a brand value of 47 billion USD, AT&T is also the oldest telecom company not only in the United States but in the world. It is a 140 years old company and since its inception, it has been successfully adapting to the latest technological trends in the telecommunications industry. They have a huge customer base in the US, only second to Verizon. But it is also important to remember that its market capitalization and annual revenue are greater than Verizon’s.
4. China Mobile
China Mobile is the leading telecom company in China. It has the largest customer base in the world, with a whopping 851.2 million subscribers. Its brand value stands at 40.9 billion USD. The enterprise is under the direct control of the PRC (People’s Republic of China). In other words, the state fully owns the establishment. It captures 70% of the market share in China and plans to capture more market share in the future. Presently, China Mobile operates in all 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the administration of the government in both mainland China and Hong Kong.
5. NTT Group
NTT stands for Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. It is a Japanese telecom giant with a brand value of 40.7 billion USD. The company was initially a government corporation in Tokyo, Japan, in 1952. It is the largest telecom company in Japan today. Plus, it’s among the world’s top telecom companies with its stocks on Osaka, Tokyo, London, and New York stock exchanges. With annual revenue of more than 100 billion USD, the company continues to expand its services with an ever-growing customer base.
6. America Movil
Founded in 2000, America Movil is the largest telecom company in Latin America and the third-largest in the world based on the number of customers, as it serves more than 280.6 million subscribers. The company has its base in Mexico City, Mexico, and operates in more than 18 countries across the North and South Americas. In Latin America, it operates under various brand names such as Claro, Telcel, and Telmex.
7. Telefonica
Telefonica was founded in Spain in 1947, and now has headquarters in Bogotá, D.C. Spain. It is one of the largest telecom companies in the world in terms of market capitalization and number of subscribers, serving more than 276.5 million customers as per the latest data. The company operates in 21 countries across Europe and the Americas and provides fixed-line and mobile telephony, broadband, and TV subscription services. It is most popular through its brands such as Movistar, O2, and Vivo. They provide products and services including mobile, landline, television, and internet in several countries.
8. Vodafone
Vodafone is a British multinational telecom company founded in 1991. It is a well-known global telecom brand with a brand value of 19.5 billion USD. It predominantly has operations in 26 countries of Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania. Moreover, it has partner networks in over 50 countries. Today, the company has the second-largest user base in the world and offers its services to over 500 million subscribers across the planet. It also has the largest 5G network in Europe.
9. Orange
Orange is a French multinational telecom company founded in the year 1993. The company operates in more than 26 countries, serving more than 259 million subscribers, and has a brand value of 18.7 billion USD. It is also a leading global IT and telecommunications services provider to multinational companies under the brand name Orange Business Services. The company provides commercial services to its consumers. Some notable ones include fixed-line telephone, mobile telecommunications, data transmission, leased lines, internet services, cable television, broadcasting, and even mobile financial services.
10. China Telecom
China Telecom is yet another telecommunications company the state owns. It is based in the heart of China, in Beijing, and was established in the year 2000. The company serves more than 216.8 million mobile subscribers and has a brand value of 18.4 billion USD. Moreover, it has a wireline broadband subscribers base of about 123 million too. All this makes China Telecom one of the top telecom service providers across the globe.