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Wireless Telecommunications Carriers in the UK Industry Data and Analysis
The Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry is highly concentrated, with four mobile network operators (MNOs) – EE, O2, Vodafone and Three – dominating the market. This means revenue is largely dictated by the performance of those top four MNOs. Higher consumer and business demand for wireless connectivity over wired telecoms has supported demand in recent years, as it's advancing to become faster and more reliable. However, revenue is expected to edge downwards at a compound annual rate of 1.2% to £16.9 billion over the five years through 2025-26. The shift in consumer preferences towards data-based communication, like Facebook and WhatsApp, over traditional voice calls and SMS, which have traditionally been higher revenue generators, has curbed revenue and intense competition on data deals, which has reduced average revenue per user (ARPU). Economic challenges and affordability issues among consumers have further strained revenue as companies adjust their offerings to remain competitive amid these pressures.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released October 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom operates under the SIC industry code J61.200. Companies in this industry operate, maintain and provide access to facilities for the transmission of voice, data, text, sound and video using wireless telecommunications infrastructure. Businesses in the industry also provide internet access through wireless infrastructure. Related terms covered in the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom include average revenue per user (arpu), mobile virtual network operator (mvno), mobile network operator (mno), mobile termination rates (mtr), long-term evolution and 5g.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom include Access and voice services, Messaging and data services and Wholesaling.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom include VodafoneThree Holdings Ltd, VMED O2 Ltd and EE Ltd.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom in 2026?
The market size of the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom is £16.9bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?
There are 1,354 businesses in the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.6 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom?
The Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom?
The Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom are VodafoneThree Holdings Ltd, VMED O2 Ltd and EE Ltd
What does the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom include?
Access and voice services and Messaging and data services are part of the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom is VodafoneThree Holdings Ltd.
How competitive is the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in the United Kingdom.
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