The mobile wireless industry is big business.
In its 15th annual report to Congress on the state of competition in the industry, the Federal Communications Commission revealed that the industry generated $154.7 billion in service revenues in 2009.
Voice revenues declined for the first time that year by roughly 4 percent from $118 billion to $113 billion; however, data revenues climbed 28 percent from $32 billion in 2008 to $42 billion the following year. The FCC also reported that average revenue per user declined nearly three percent from $47.09 in 2008 to $45.85 in 2009.
Capital investment rose slightly from $20.2 billion in 2008 to $20.4 billion in 2009, the FCC said, citing CTIA-The Wireless Association. The latter figure closely resembles the U.S. Census Bureau’s estimate of wireless industry capital expenditures in 2009 ($20.65 billion).
“While this represents an 18 percent decrease from $25.6 billion in 2008, in both 2008 and 2009, the wireless sector continued to account for more than 30 percent of all telecom investment, a quarter of all information/communication industry investment, and two percent total investment in the U.S. economy," the FCC stated.
