5 ms·

I somewhere read that you need at least 4 big mobile operators to have real competition. Less that that and they behave like oligopoly/cartel Hiw much is US le

I somewhere read that you need at least 4 big mobile operators to have real competition. Less that that and they behave like oligopoly/cartel Hiw much is US left with?

feld 9y ago
With Sprint gone #4 will be US Cellular which isn't exactly nationwide, but they're growing leaps and bounds.
privong 9y ago
Right now there are four major providers: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint. There are other, smaller providers (Boost, Virgin, etc.), but I believe those generally don't have their own networks but rather lease access from the big four.
- joecool1029 9y ago
  Boost and Virgin are all MVNO's that use other networks (the big 4) Smaller regional providers are ones like US Cellular, and really tiny ones like Indigo Wireless.
  - narrowrail 9y ago
    Actually, Boost and Virgin in the US are owned by Sprint: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Mobile_USA https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Mobile_USA
creeble 9y ago
Depends on where, but it would mostly make for three national carriers: Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T.
alistairSH 9y ago
Major players: AT&T Verizon T-Mobile/Sprint Smaller players (most/all of whom piggyback on the major players' infrastructure): Metro PCS Boost Virgin Cricket
- joecool1029 9y ago
  MetroPCS is a wholly owned subsidiary of T-Mobile. Cricket is a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T. Boost and Virgin are MVNO's. EDIT: I stand corrected, Boost/Virgin are owned by Sprint.
  - snuxoll 9y ago
    Boost and Virgin are owned by Sprint, as well.
    - alistairSH 9y ago
      Ah, so we're more screwed than I thought!
mig39 9y ago
Canada has 3 big mobile operators, and there is zero competition. In provinces that have local operators, they do compete. The difference between markets is so large that people pretend to live in Manitoba or Saskatchewan just so they can have cheaper plans. http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/wireless-black-market-offers-cheap-plans-outside-manitoba-saskatchewan-1.3166491 http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/wireless-black-market-offe...
- joecool1029 9y ago
  Yeah that situation is probably going away since MTS got oligobbled up by Bell. I guess Sasktel is still around... I remember trying to pull off the Koodoo (Telus) trick some years ago claiming I was from Winnipeg and traveling (when I am actually American). :)

I somewhere read that you need at least 4 big mobile operators to have real competition. Less that that and they behave like oligopoly/cartel Hiw much is US left with?

feld 9y ago

With Sprint gone #4 will be US Cellular which isn't exactly nationwide, but they're growing leaps and bounds.

privong 9y ago

Right now there are four major providers: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint. There are other, smaller providers (Boost, Virgin, etc.), but I believe those generally don't have their own networks but rather lease access from the big four.

joecool1029 9y ago
Boost and Virgin are all MVNO's that use other networks (the big 4) Smaller regional providers are ones like US Cellular, and really tiny ones like Indigo Wireless.
- narrowrail 9y ago
  Actually, Boost and Virgin in the US are owned by Sprint: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Mobile_USA https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Mobile_USA

creeble 9y ago

Depends on where, but it would mostly make for three national carriers: Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T.

alistairSH 9y ago

Major players: AT&T Verizon T-Mobile/Sprint Smaller players (most/all of whom piggyback on the major players' infrastructure): Metro PCS Boost Virgin Cricket

joecool1029 9y ago
MetroPCS is a wholly owned subsidiary of T-Mobile. Cricket is a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T. Boost and Virgin are MVNO's. EDIT: I stand corrected, Boost/Virgin are owned by Sprint.
- snuxoll 9y ago
  Boost and Virgin are owned by Sprint, as well.
  - alistairSH 9y ago
    Ah, so we're more screwed than I thought!

mig39 9y ago

Canada has 3 big mobile operators, and there is zero competition. In provinces that have local operators, they do compete. The difference between markets is so large that people pretend to live in Manitoba or Saskatchewan just so they can have cheaper plans. http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/wireless-black-market-offers-cheap-plans-outside-manitoba-saskatchewan-1.3166491 http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/wireless-black-market-offe...

joecool1029 9y ago
Yeah that situation is probably going away since MTS got oligobbled up by Bell. I guess Sasktel is still around... I remember trying to pull off the Koodoo (Telus) trick some years ago claiming I was from Winnipeg and traveling (when I am actually American). :)