Top 25 Mobile Network Operators Worldwide by Subscriber Numbers

The global telecommunications industry is home to some of the biggest and most influential companies that provide services to billions of subscribers worldwide. From Asia to Europe, these mobile network operators are the backbone of modern communication. Below, we present the top 25 mobile network operators in the world, ranked by their subscriber base as of 2026.

A mobile network operator (MNO), also known as a mobile network provider, mobile network carrier, mobile, wireless service provider, wireless carrier, wireless operator, wireless telco, or cellular company, is a telecommunications provider of services that sells, delivers and maintains mobile telephony services to end users.

A key defining characteristic of a mobile network operator is that it must own or control access to a radio spectrum license from a regulatory or government entity, and also that it must own or control the elements of the cellular network infrastructure necessary to provide services to subscribers over the licensed radio spectrum.^[1] In addition the operator would also contain other elements like the back haul infrastructure and provisioning computer systems.

A mobile network operator typically also has the necessary provisioning, billing, and customer care computer systems, and the marketing, customer care, and engineering organizations needed to sell, deliver, and bill for services. However, a mobile network operator can outsource any of these systems or functions and still be considered a mobile network operator.

In addition to obtaining revenue by offering retail services under its own brand, a mobile network operator may also sell access to network services at wholesale rates to mobile virtual network operators (MVNO).

Here is a List of Top 25 Mobile Network Operators Worldwide by Subscriber Numbers

1. China Mobile Communications Corporation

China Mobile is the trade name of both China Mobile Limited, and its ultimate controlling shareholder, China Mobile Communications Group Co., Ltd., a Chinese state-owned telecommunications company. It provides mobile voice and multimedia services through its nationwide mobile telecommunications network across mainland China and Hong Kong. China Mobile is the largest wireless carrier in China, with 945.50 million subscribers as of June 2021. China Mobile was ranked #25 in Forbes’ Global 2000 in 2023.

China Mobile is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange as A-shares and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange as H shares. It is the world’s largest mobile network operator by total number of subscribers, and the world’s largest telecommunications company by revenue.

As of 8 July 2025, China Mobile Limited’s total market value stood at US$240 billion.

Subscribers: 1,003.9 million (September 2024)
Main Markets: China, Hong Kong, Pakistan
Technology: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
Ownership: Government of the People’s Republic of China (74.25%)

China Mobile is the world’s largest mobile operator by a vast margin, serving over 1 billion subscribers across China and Hong Kong.

2. Bharti Airtel Limited

Bharti Airtel is an Indian multinational telecommunications company, headquartered in New Delhi. It operates in 18 countries across the Indian subcontinent, Africa, and the Channel Islands. In India, the company provides mobile telephony services using 5G, 4G, and LTE Advanced technologies, along with fixed-line broadband and voice services, while the range of services varies by country of operation.

Airtel is the second-largest mobile network operator in India and second largest mobile network operator in the world.^[4] It has also deployed Voice over LTE (VoLTE) technology across telecom circles in India to support voice calls over 4G networks.

Subscribers: 563.2 million (September 2024)
Main Markets: India, South Asia, Africa
Technology: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
Ownership: Bharti Enterprises (66.57%), Singtel (32.15%), Google (1.28%)

Airtel has a massive customer base across India and parts of Africa, known for offering affordable mobile services and extensive network coverage.

3. Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited

Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (d/b/a Jio) is an Indian telecommunications company and a subsidiary of Jio Platforms, headquartered in Navi Mumbai. It operates a national LTE network with coverage across all 22 telecom circles. Jio offers 4G, 4G+ and 5G NR services all over India. Its 6G service is in the works.

Jio was soft launched on 27 December 2015 with a beta for partners and employees, and became publicly available on 5 September 2016. It is the largest mobile network operator in India and the third largest mobile network operator in the world with over 50.6 crore (506 million) subscribers

Subscribers: 477.5 million (July 2025)
Main Market: India
Technology: 4G, 5G
Ownership: Jio Platforms

Jio disrupted the Indian mobile market by offering affordable data plans, making it the second-largest operator in the country and one of the most popular telecom services.

4. China Telecom Corporation

China Telecom Corporation Limited (CT), doing business as China Telecom, is a Chinese telecommunications company. It is one of the publicly traded red chip companies of the state-owned China Telecommunications Corporation.

The company’s H shares have been traded on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong since 15 November 2002. It is a constituent of the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, the index for the H shares of state-controlled listed companies. The company was also listed on the New York Stock Exchange until January 2021. China Telecom is the second-largest wireless carrier in China, with 362.49 million subscribers as of June 2021.

Subscribers: 423.4 million (September 2024)
Main Markets: China, Macau
Technology: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
Ownership: China Telecommunications Corporation (70.89%)

China Telecom is a major telecom provider in China, also offering mobile and broadband services in Macau and other regions.

5. China Unicom Limited

China United Network Communications Group Co., Ltd., doing business as China Unicom, is a Chinese state-owned telecommunications operator. Originally founded in 1994 as a wireless paging and GSM mobile operator, it currently provides a range of services including mobile network, long-distance & local calling, data communication, Internet services, digital television, and IP telephony. As of 2022, China Unicom is the third-largest wireless carrier in China and the sixth largest mobile provider in the world.

Subscribers: 345 million (September 2024)
Main Market: China
Technology: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
Ownership: China Unicom Limited (40.92%), China Netcom Group (29.49%), Telefónica (0.6%)

China Unicom is another significant player in China’s telecom space, serving millions of customers with a strong mobile network infrastructure.

6. Vodafone Group plc

Vodafone Group Public Limited Company^[1] (/ˈvoʊdəfoʊn/) is a British multinational telecommunications company. Its registered office and global headquarters are in Newbury, Berkshire, England.^[6] It predominantly operates services in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania.

As of January 2025, Vodafone owns and operates networks in 15 countries, with partner networks in 46 further countries.^[7]

Vodafone has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. The company has a secondary listing on the NASDAQ as American depositary receipts (ADRs).

Subscribers: 310 million (May 2024)
Main Markets: Europe, Africa, India, other global regions
Technology: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
Ownership: Publicly traded

Vodafone is a multinational operator with a strong presence in Europe, Africa, and India, providing both mobile and broadband services globally.

7. América Móvil, S.A.B. de C.V.

América Móvil, S.A.B. de C.V. is a Mexican telecommunications corporation headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico. It is the 7th largest mobile network operator in the world in terms of equity subscribers, as well as one of the largest corporations in the world. América Móvil is a Forbes Global 2000 company. As of 31 December 2023, América Móvil had 310.1 million wireless subscribers, and 73.7 million fixed revenue generating units (“RGUs”, consisting of fixed voice, fixed data and Pay TV unit

Subscribers: 315.8 million (September 2024)
Main Markets: Mexico, Latin America, parts of the U.S.
Technology: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
Ownership: Carlos Slim (36.5%), Public stock (56.66%)

América Móvil is the largest telecom operator in Latin America and also serves customers in the U.S. and other regions.

8. Orange S.A.

Orange S.A., (French: [ɔʁɑ̃ʒ] ^ⓘ; formerly known as France Télécom S.A., stylised as france télécom), is a French multinational telecommunications corporation founded in 1988 and headquartered in Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris.

Orange has been the corporation’s main brand for mobile, landline, internet and Internet Protocol television (IPTV) services since 2006. It traces its origins back to Hutchison Whampoa acquiring a controlling stake in Microtel Communications in 1994 in the United Kingdom. Microtel Communications became a subsidiary of Mannesmann in 1999 and then was acquired by France Télécom in 2000. The former French public telecoms monopoly thus became internationalized following this takeover and has pursued an expansionist policy since. The group now operates in many countries in Europe, Africa and in the French West Indies. Since February 2012, as a result of the company’s decision to transfer its fixed-line telephony operations to its Orange brand, all offers marketed by France Télécom are Orange-branded; and on July 1, 2013, France Télécom itself was rebranded Orange S.A.. In 2019, Orange S.A. employed nearly 148,000 people worldwide, including 88,000 in France.

The corporation has throughout the years expanded its activities to include content sales (music, cinema, downloads, etc.), e-commerce, online advertising, M2M, home automation and remote assistance solutions. In 2023, it generated over €43 billion in revenue across all its businesses.

Subscribers: 305.3 million (December 2024)
Main Markets: France, Spain, Poland, and other regions in Europe and Africa
Technology: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
Ownership: Public stock (77%), Government of France (23%)

Orange is one of the largest mobile service providers in Europe and Africa, known for providing comprehensive telecom services including mobile, internet, and financial services.

9. Telefónica S.A.

Telefónica, S.A. (Spanish pronunciation: [teleˈfonika]) is a Spanish multinational telecommunications company. It has headquarters as well as a registered office in Madrid, Spain.^[3] It is one of the largest telephone operators and mobile network providers in the world. It provides fixed and mobile telephony, broadband, and subscription television, operating in Europe and the Americas.

Along with its Telefónica brand, it also trades as Movistar, O2, and Vivo. The company is a component of the Euro Stoxx 50 stock market index.^[4] On 15 April 2012, Telefónica shut down TVA and Ajacto, which unified the brand into Vivo.

Subscribers: 270.5 million (May 2025)
Main Markets: Spain, Brazil, Latin America
Technology: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
Ownership: Publicly traded

Telefónica operates in numerous countries and offers various telecom services under brands such as Movistar and Vivo in Brazil.

10. MTN Group Limited

MTN Group Limited (formerly M-Cell) is a South African multinational corporation and mobile telecommunications provider. Its head office is in Johannesburg. MTN is among the largest mobile network operators in the world, and the largest in Africa.

In October 2025 MTN announced it had surpassed 300 million customers, the first African-headquartered telco to reach that milestone, making it the sixth-largest in the world by subscriber count. It has a footprint in sixteen countries in Africa and the Middle East.

Subscribers: 288 million (September 2024)
Main Markets: South Africa, Nigeria, other African regions
Technology: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
Ownership: Public stock (60.02%)

MTN Group is the largest telecom operator in Africa, with operations in 21 countries across the continent.

11. Deutsche Telekom AG

Subscribers: 258.8 million (September 2024)
Main Markets: Germany, Central and Eastern Europe
Technology: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
Ownership: Public stock (68.1%), Federal Republic of Germany (31.9%)

Deutsche Telekom is one of the largest telecom companies in Germany and operates in several countries across Central and Eastern Europe.

12. Vodafone Idea Ltd.

Vodafone Idea (d/b/a Vi, pronounced /ˈviː/ ^ⓘ and stylized as V!) is an Indian telecommunications company headquartered in Gandhinagar. It is an all-India integrated GSM operator offering mobile telephony services.

As of 2026, Vi has a subscriber base of 169.30 million, making it third largest mobile telecommunications network in India and 12th largest mobile telecommunications network in the world.^[12]

Vodafone Idea was created on 31 August 2018 by the merger of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular.^[13] On 20 September 2020, the two separate brands Vodafone India and Idea Cellular rebranded as Vodafone Idea (Vi).

Subscribers: 203.86 million (July 2025)
Main Market: India
Technology: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
Ownership: Government of India (49.8%), Vodafone Group Plc (23.2%)

Vodafone Idea is a major telecom operator in India, offering a range of mobile services including 4G and 5G networks.

13. Axiata Group Berhad

Axiata Group Berhad (formerly known as TM International Berhad) is a Malaysian multinational telecommunications conglomerate with extensive operations in Asia.

Axiata’s primary business is investment holding and provisioning of telecommunication and consultancy services on an international scale. It mainly focuses on emerging markets in ASEAN and South Asia.

Formerly known as TM International Berhad (TMI), the company was incorporated on 12 June 1992 and was the mobile and international operations arm of Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM). Following the de-merger of TMI from TM, the company was listed on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad in 2008. On 2 April 2009, TMI underwent a rebranding exercise, launching its new name, Axiata, and a new logo.

Its new tagline, Advancing Asia, was also launched, reflecting the company’s focus on expansion within Asia.

Axiata controls interests in mobile operators across Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Cambodia. The Group also has stakes in non-mobile telecommunication operations in Thailand and Pakistan.

Subscribers: 162.5 million (December 2023)
Main Markets: Malaysia, South Asia, Southeast Asia
Technology: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
Ownership: Public stock (54.91%), Government of Malaysia (45.09%)

Axiata is a Malaysian telecom conglomerate, serving millions of customers across Southeast Asia and South Asia.

14. PT Telekomunikasi Selular (Telkomsel)

PT Telekomunikasi Monyet, trading as Telkomnyet, is an Indonesian telecommunications company founded in 1995. Its ownership is divided between Telkom Indonesia (69.9%) and Singtel (30.1%), which serves as Telkom’s consumer services arm starting 1 July 2023 by its management takeover of IndiHome. It is headquartered alongside Telkom in the Telkom Landmark Complex.

Telkomsel is the largest cellular telecommunication carrier in the country with 169.5 million customer base as of 2020.^[2] The company operates their GSM network on the 900–1800 MHz frequency range, as well as 3G, 4G, and 5G services on other frequencies. Telkomsel operates a variety of mobile services, chief among them are SIMPATI (previously Telkomsel PraBayar) and Telkomsel Halo (formerly kartuHalo). These brands differ on their payment model (prepaid vs. postpaid) as well as pricing. As of the first quarter of 2020, Telkomsel had a 66.4% share of the Indonesian mobile phone market.

Subscribers: 159.3 million (December 2023)
Main Markets: Indonesia, Timor-Leste
Technology: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
Ownership: Telkom Indonesia (65%), Singtel (35%)

Telkomsel is the leading mobile operator in Indonesia, offering comprehensive mobile services to millions of users.

15. Emirates Telecommunication Group Company PJSC (Etisalat)

e&, formerly Etisalat, is an Emirati joint-stock telecommunications company. It is currently the 16th largest in the world by subscribers.

On 31 December 2021, Etisalat reported consolidated revenue of AED 53.3 billion and net profits of AED 11.1 billion. The total market capitalization of the company currently is AED329 billion. In May 2023, Etisalat reported revenue of AED 13 billion for Q1, AED 13.6 Billion for Q2, AED 13.3 Billion for Q3, and AED 13.7 Billion for Q4. In 2024, the revenue was AED 14.2 Billion for Q1, AED 14 Billion for Q2, AED 14.4 Billion for Q3, and AED 16.4 Billion for Q4. In 2025, E& reported annual revenue of AED 72.9 billion respectively.

Etisalat is one of the main Internet hubs in the Middle East (AS8966), providing connectivity to other telecommunications operators in the region. It is also the largest carrier of international voice traffic in the Middle East and Africa combined and the 12th largest voice carrier in the world. As of October 2008, Etisalat has 510 roaming agreements covering a total of 186 countries and enabling BlackBerry, 3G, GPRS and voice roaming. Etisalat operates Points of Presence (PoP) in cities such as New York, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Paris. And has one in Singapore. In December 2011, Etisalat announced the launch of the Etisalat 4G LTE Network.^[10] In May 2018, Etisalat announced the launch of Etisalat 5G LTE Network, becoming the very first telecom operator in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to do so.

On 24 February 2022, Etisalat Group launched a new brand identity, changing their brand name from Etisalat to e& in order to reflect its transition from a traditional telecom company to a global technology and investment conglomerate. The group also announced that the company will withhold and use the previous branding identity both within the UAE and internationally.

Subscribers: 159 million (2021)
Main Markets: United Arab Emirates, several international markets
Technology: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
Ownership: Emirates Investment Authority (60.03%)

Etisalat is a leading telecom operator in the Middle East and Africa, with a focus on 5G and broadband services.

16. VEON Ltd.

VEON Ltd. (formerly known as VimpelCom Ltd.), also known as VEON Group, is a multinational telecommunication and digital services company. Headquartered in Dubai, the company is publicly traded on the U.S.-based NASDAQ stock exchange. VEON operates in six markets in Europe and Asia, including Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Specific brands include Banglalink in Bangladesh, Jazz in Pakistan, Kyivstar in Ukraine, and units operating in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan under the Beeline brand. In 2024, the company had 160 million total customers, 1.8 million fixed line customers, and 111 million monthly active users of its digital services, with products and services in areas such as mobile financial services, entertainment, health, and education among others

Subscribers: 153.9 million (December 2024)
Main Markets: Russia, Pakistan, Algeria
Technology: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
Ownership: Letterone Investment Holdings S.A. (45.5%)

VEON operates in several emerging markets and provides mobile and broadband services to millions of subscribers.

17. Ooredoo QSC

Ooredoo Q.P.S.C., (Arabic: أريد; formerly Qtel), is a Qatari state-owned multinational telecommunications company headquartered in Doha. Ooredoo provides mobile, wireless, wireline, and content services with market share in domestic and international telecommunication markets and in business (corporations and individuals) and residential markets.

Ooredoo was the first operator globally to launch commercial 5G services in Qatar and is one of the world’s largest mobile telecommunications companies, with over 121 million customers worldwide as of 2021.

Ooredoo operates in nine countries and territories across the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia: Algeria, Indonesia, Iraq, Kuwait, Maldives, Oman, Palestine, Qatar and Tunisia.

Their shares are listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.

Subscribers: 149.4 million (Q3 2024)
Main Market: Qatar, Middle East, North Africa
Technology: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
Ownership: Government of Qatar

Ooredoo is a telecom operator based in Qatar, with a strong presence in North Africa and the Middle East.

18. Verizon Communications

Verizon Communications Inc. (/vəˈraɪzən/ ^ⓘ və-RY-zən) is an American telecommunications company headquartered in New York City.^[4] It is the world’s second-largest telecommunications company by revenue and its mobile network is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, with 146.8 million subscribers as of March 31, 2026.

Subscribers: 146 million (December 2024)
Main Market: United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico
Technology: 4G, 5G
Ownership: Verizon Communications

Verizon is one of the largest telecom providers in the U.S., offering 5G and 4G LTE services.

19. AT&T Inc.

AT&T Inc., an abbreviation of its predecessor’s original name, the American Telephone and Telegraph Company,^[5] is an American multinational telecommunications company headquartered at the Whitacre Tower in Downtown Dallas, Texas.^[6] AT&T is the world’s third-largest telecommunications company by revenue, the third-largest wireless carrier in the United States behind T-Mobile and Verizon, and the nation’s biggest fiber internet provider.^[7] On the New York Stock Exchange, AT&T trades under the ticker symbol “T,” and has a market capitalization of $186.83 billion. On the Fortune 500 (2025) AT&T ranked 37th among the largest American businesses and reported revenues of $125.6 billion last year.

Subscribers: 139 million (September 2024)
Main Markets: United States, Mexico
Technology: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
Ownership: Institutional Shares (59.28%)

AT&T is a telecommunications giant in the U.S., also providing services in Mexico under the AT&T Mexico brand.

20. Telenor ASA

Telenor ASA (Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈtêːlənuːr] or [tɛləˈnuːr]) is a Norwegian majority state-owned multinational telecommunications company headquartered at Fornebu in Bærum, close to Oslo. It is one of the world’s largest mobile telecommunications companies with operations worldwide, but focused in Scandinavia and Asia. It has extensive broadband and TV distribution operations in four Nordic countries, and a 10-year-old research and business line for machine-to-machine technology. Telenor owns networks in eight countries.

Telenor is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and had a market capitalization in November 2015 of kr 225 billion, making it the third largest company listed on the OSE after DNB and Equinor (previously known as Statoil).

Subscribers: 138.31 million (Q3 2024)
Main Markets: Norway, Asia
Technology: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
Ownership: Government of Norway (53.97%)

Telenor operates in Norway and Asia, providing mobile services to millions across multiple countries.

21. Viettel Group

Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group (DBA Viettel Group; Vietnamese: Tập đoàn Công nghiệp – Viễn thông Quân đội, lit. ‘the Army Industry – Telecommunications Group’)^[3] is a Vietnamese state-owned multinational telecommunications, technology and manufacturing conglomerate headquartered in Hanoi, Vietnam. The enterprise is under the direct administration of the Vietnam Ministry of National Defence, making it a military enterprise and officially a major production unit under the Vietnam People’s Army.

Viettel Group’s affiliate Viettel Telecom is currently the network operator with the largest market share in the Vietnamese telecommunications services market.^[4] For 30 years, Viettel has grown from a construction company to a complex of five business lines including telecommunications and information technology (IT); research and manufacture of electronic and telecommunications equipment; defense industry, as well as cyber security and digital services. Viettel is one of the largest state-owned enterprises of Vietnam. Since 2000, Viettel has earned VND 1.78 quadrillion of revenue whereas its profit, owner’s equity and return on equity reached VND 334 trillion, VND 134 trillion and 30%-40%, respectively. Viettel has spent VND 3,500 billion in CSR activities.^[5] Besides its civilian telecommunications sector, its subsidiaries Viettel High Tech and Viettel Aerospace Institute have been involved in developing, producing and supplying the Vietnam People’s Army with many indigenous products and armaments such as military communication devices, military drones, surveillance radars, and missiles.

Subscribers: 110 million (Q1 2022)
Main Market: Vietnam
Technology: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
Ownership: Government of Vietnam

Viettel is Vietnam’s largest telecom operator, with a significant market share and a growing presence in Africa and Latin America.

22. BSNL Mobile

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (commonly known as BSNL) (transl. India Telecom Corporation Limited (ITCL)) is an Indian central public sector undertaking, under the ownership of Department of Telecommunications, which is part of the Ministry of Communications, Government of India with its headquarters in New Delhi, India. The central public sector undertaking was established on 01-October-2000 by the Government of India. Its highest official is designated as Chairperson and Managing Director, who is a central civil service group ‘A’ gazetted officer from Indian Communication Finance Service cadre or central engineering service group ‘A’ gazetted officer from Indian Telecommunication Service cadre. It provides mobile voice and internet services through its nationwide telecommunications network across India. It is the largest government-owned-wireless telecommunications service provider in India.

Subscribers: 90.36 million (July 2025)
Main Market: India
Technology: 2G, 3G, 4G
Ownership: Government of India

BSNL is a state-owned telecom operator in India, offering mobile services across the country.

23. NTT Docomo Inc.

NTT Docomo, Inc. (株式会社NTTドコモ), stylized as NTT DOCOMO, is a Japanese mobile telecommunications carrier and a subsidiary of NTT, one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators. Structured as a joint-stock corporation under the Companies Act of Japan, the company is headquartered in the Sanno Park Tower in Nagatachō, Chiyoda, Tokyo.

As the core of the NTT Docomo group—which encompasses 180 subsidiaries and 30 affiliates—the company provides mobile telephone services over its LTE and W-CDMA networks. It is the largest wireless carrier in Japan, with 91.407 million subscribers as of October 2025.

The company was incorporated in August 1991 as NTT Mobile Communications Planning Co., Ltd., and officially took over NTT’s wireless telecommunication operations in July 1992. It has undergone several name changes throughout its history; it became NTT Mobile Communications Network, Inc. in April 1992, NTT DoCoMo, Inc. in April 2000, and adopted its current capitalized styling in June 2010.

Historically, the company decentralized its operations outside the Kanto–Kōshinetsu region. In July 1993, following an agreement between NTT and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (currently the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications), it transferred these wireless operations to eight regional subsidiaries. These entities were eventually merged back into the parent company as the surviving entity in July 2008.

Subscribers: 89.9 million (Q1 2024)
Main Market: Japan
Technology: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
Ownership: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone

NTT Docomo is the leading telecom operator in Japan, providing advanced mobile services including 5G.

24. Mobile TeleSystems (MTS)

MTS (Mobile TeleSystems) (Russian: МТС «Мобильные ТелеСистемы») is the largest telecommunications company and mobile network operator in Russia and Belarus, headquartered in Moscow, operating on GSM, UMTS, LTE and 5G standards. Apart from cellular network, the company also offers local telephone service, broadband, mobile television, cable television, satellite television and digital television.

As of Q3 2024, the company serves over 87.6 million subscribers in Russia (81.9 million) and Belarus (5.7 million).^[1] MTS had previously operated in Uzbekistan until 2012, Turkmenistan until 2017, Ukraine until 2015 and Armenia until 2024.

Subscribers: 87.6 million (Q3 2024)
Main Market: Russia, Belarus
Technology: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
Ownership: Sistema (50.8%)

MTS is one of the largest telecom operators in Russia, offering mobile services and broadband.

25. MegaFon

MegaFon (Russian: МегаФон) is the second largest mobile phone operator^[3] and the third largest telecommunications company in Russia, headquartered in Moscow.^[2] As of 2024, the company serves 77.26 million subscribers across Russia and Tajikistan.^[4] MegaFon operates across 83 federal subjects of Russia, Tajikistan and South Ossetia.^[5]

In 2002, the company changed its name from North-West GSM to MegaFon when it acquired several regional companies, becoming the first GSM company in Russia to cover all its territory. The name “MegaFon” in Russian is spelled and pronounced exactly like the Russian word for megaphone; other connotations are mega- as “big” and fon as “telephone”

Subscribers: 77.26 million (Q2 2024)
Main Market: Russia, Tajikistan
Technology: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
Ownership: AF Telecom Holding LLC (56.32%)

MegaFon is a significant telecom player in Russia and Tajikistan, with millions of subscribers.

Conclusion

These 25 mobile network operators dominate the global telecommunications market, serving millions of customers across various countries and regions. From industry giants like China Mobile and Bharti Airtel to regional players like Ooredoo and Telenor, these operators are crucial to ensuring global connectivity in the digital age.