CTIA Semi-Annual Wireless Industry Survey

CTIA's Semi-Annual Wireless Industry Survey develops industry-wide information drawn from operational member and non-member wireless service providers. It has been conducted since January 1985, originally as a cellular-only survey instrument, but has evolved to now included PCS and ESMR providers. We currently do not provide a break-out of results specific to PCS or ESMR.

The information solicited from the service providers includes: direct employment, number of cell sites, total service revenues, roaming revenues as a subset of total service revenues, the average local monthly bill, and the average length of call. The average local monthly bill is developed on a weighted basis, to avoid skewing the figures. It is not an average of averages. No adjustments are made to these figures.

The survey also develops information on the number of reported wireless service subscribers for the responding systems, and an estimated total subscriber figure (taking into account non-responding systems).

To preview the report look at the Mid-Year 2008 Top-Line Survey Results 

Method:
The Semi-Annual Wireless Industry Survey is completely voluntary and thus does not yield a 100% response rate from all service providers. However, the survey has an excellent response rate. For the December 31 2007, installment of the semi-annual survey, CTIA received responses from companies serving 96% of wireless subscribers.

Because not all systems do respond, CTIA develops an estimate of total subscribership. The estimated subscriber figure is developed by determining the identity and character of non-responding markets (i.e., RSA/MSA or equivalent-market designation, age of system, market population), and using a surrogate penetration rate applicable to similar, known systems to derive probable subscribership. These numbers are then summed with the reported subscriber numbers to reach the total estimated subscriber figures.

No carrier-specific or market-specific information is maintained as a result of the survey. All such information is aggregated by an independent accounting firm to a nationwide level. The underlying source material for the survey is then destroyed per confidentiality agreements.

CTIA Semi-Annual Wireless Industry Survey

The Survey is available for purchase in our Research eStore at member and non-member prices.  

Annual subscriptions are also available for purchase.


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Research Department Contact Info:

Phone:  (202) 736-3214
Email:    Research@ctia.org