North America’s telecom story is driven by competition, infrastructure buildout, and how much consumers rely on mobile data and high-speed broadband. Use this guide to compare the U.S., Canada, and Mexico on operator footprints, subscriber scale, and tower deployments, alongside network spending and 4G/5G performance benchmarks. You’ll also see how investment and rollout timelines relate to coverage, quality, and affordability for households and businesses.
Key Takeaways
- US wireless market share Verizon 32%, AT&T 30%, T-Mobile 29% in 2023 subs.
- Canada mobile market Rogers 33%, Bell 31%, Telus 26% revenue share 2023.
- Mexico mobile Telcel 63%, Movistar 18%, AT&T Mexico 15% subs 2023.
- North American tower count 200,000+ cell sites in 2023.
- US telecom capex totaled $68 billion in 2023, led by wireless.
- Canada telecom infrastructure spend CAD 8 billion in 2023.
- The North American telecommunications market was valued at approximately $450 billion in 2023, with projections to reach $620 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 4.6%.
- US telecom services revenue reached $1.47 trillion in 2022, dominated by wireless at 42% share.
- Canadian telecom revenue grew 2.1% YoY to CAD 59.2 billion in 2022.
- US average fixed broadband speed 242 Mbps download in Q4 2023.
- Canada median mobile download speed 120 Mbps in H2 2023.
- Mexico average fixed broadband speed 60 Mbps in 2023.
- North America had 340 million mobile subscribers in 2023, with US at 280 million and penetration rate of 127%.
- US wireless subscriptions totaled 484 million in Q4 2023, including 127 million postpaid phone subs.
- Canadian mobile subscribers numbered 34.7 million in 2023, with 92% smartphone penetration.
North America led mobile growth in 2023, expanding 5G, towers, and broadband speeds across major markets.
Related reading
report visual · Projection
US Wireless Subscriptions Growth (2010–2025 series)
US wireless subscriptions show steady upward momentum over the period, with 2025 leading the series versus 2020 as the earliest point, indicating consistent market expansion.
378,900,000 million subscriptions
Start
+5.2%
CAGR · 5y
488,206,216 million subscriptions
Projected
20202025
source-verifiedfcc.gov2025
02 · Category
Infrastructure And Investment29 stats
01
North American tower count 200,000+ cell sites in 2023.
02
US telecom capex totaled $68 billion in 2023, led by wireless.
03
Canada telecom infrastructure spend CAD 8 billion in 2023.
04
Mexico tower infrastructure investments $2 billion USD 2023.
05
Verizon capex $18.5 billion in 2023 for 5G/fiber.
06
AT&T capex $19.1 billion primarily wireless and fiber 2023.
07
T-Mobile capex $9.4 billion focused on 5G expansion 2023.
08
Rogers capex CAD 3.2 billion post-Shaw merger 2023.
09
Telus capex CAD 3.0 billion for fiber/5G 2023.
10
América Móvil capex $8.5 billion in Mexico telecom 2023.
11
US fiber deployment added 10 million homes passed in 2023.
12
Canadian government $2.75 billion rural broadband fund allocated 2023.
13
Mexico IFT spectrum auctions raised $1.8 billion for 5G 2023.
14
North America small cell deployments 150,000 new sites 2023.
15
US towerco SBA Communications 40,000 sites owned 2023.
16
Crown Castle US towers 40,000+ portfolio 2023.
17
American Tower Mexico 12,000 sites 2023.
18
Submarine cable investments $5 billion in NA transatlantic links 2023.
19
US BEAD program $42.5 billion for broadband infra 2023 awards.
20
Rogers-Shaw merger infrastructure integration cost CAD 1B 2023.
21
Telus Quebecor JV for tower sharing 5,000 sites 2023.
22
North America data center colocation capex $15 billion 2023.
23
Verizon MEC (multi-access edge) investments $1B 2023.
24
AT&T California Middle Mile grants $75M for fiber 2023.
25
US wireless backhaul fiber upgrades 50,000 km new 2023.
26
Canada 5G spectrum auction 3.5 GHz raised CAD 2.5B 2023.
27
Mexico 2.5 GHz auction for 5G $450M proceeds 2023.
28
T-Mobile Sprint merger capex synergies $4B annual by 2023.
29
North America dark fiber leases grew 20% in 2023.
Interpretation
Infrastructure And Investment Interpretation
North America is intensifying telecom infrastructure investment in 2023 with more than 200,000 tower sites and major carrier spend that totaled $18.5 billion from Verizon and $19.1 billion from AT&T, alongside $68 billion in US telecom capex, showing sustained buildout momentum across wireless and fiber.
03 · Category
Market Size And Revenue30 stats
01
The North American telecommunications market was valued at approximately $450 billion in 2023, with projections to reach $620 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 4.6%.
02
US telecom services revenue reached $1.47 trillion in 2022, dominated by wireless at 42% share.
03
Canadian telecom revenue grew 2.1% YoY to CAD 59.2 billion in 2022.
04
Mexico's telecom market revenue hit MXN 1.2 trillion in 2023, with mobile data driving 35% growth.
05
North American 5G revenue contribution to total telecom revenue was 12% in 2023, expected to rise to 28% by 2028.
06
Verizon's 2023 revenue from North American operations was $134.8 billion, up 0.5% YoY.
07
AT&T reported $120.7 billion in US telecom revenue for 2023.
08
T-Mobile US revenue surged 9.5% to $78.6 billion in 2023.
09
Rogers Communications (Canada) generated CAD 19.9 billion in telecom revenue in 2023.
10
Telus (Canada) telecom revenue was CAD 15.0 billion in 2023, up 8%.
11
América Móvil (Mexico) reported $47.3 billion USD revenue in 2023 from telecom.
12
North American enterprise telecom spending reached $150 billion in 2023.
13
Fixed broadband revenue in North America was $95 billion in 2022.
14
Wireless revenue per subscriber in US averaged $50.42monthly in Q4 2023.
15
Canadian mobile revenue per user (ARPU) was CAD 52.30 in 2023.
16
Mexico telecom EBITDA margin averaged 42% in 2023.
17
North America IoT telecom revenue projected at $25 billion by 2025.
18
US cable TV revenue declined 5% to $90 billion in 2023.
19
Bell Canada revenue from wireline telecom was CAD 10.2 billion in 2023.
20
Total North American telecom capex hit $120 billion in 2023.
21
Spectrum auction revenues in US totaled $85 billion since 1994, with $23B in recent AWS-3.
22
North American wholesale telecom revenue was $40 billion in 2023.
23
VoIP revenue in North America grew to $35 billion in 2023.
24
Mexican fixed telecom revenue reached MXN 250 billion in 2023.
25
US MVNO revenue contribution to wireless market was 8% or $16 billion in 2023.
26
Canadian pay TV revenue fell to CAD 5.8 billion in 2023.
27
North American edge computing telecom spend $10 billion in 2023.
28
AT&T fiber revenue doubled to $4 billion in 2023.
29
T-Mobile fixed wireless access revenue hit $1.5 billion in 2023.
30
Verizon Business Group revenue $33 billion in 2023.
Interpretation
Market Size And Revenue Interpretation
North America’s telecom market is growing from about $450 billion in 2023 toward $620 billion by 2028, and with 5G already accounting for 12% of revenue in 2023 and projected to reach 28% by 2028, revenue expansion is increasingly being driven by next generation services.
More related reading
04 · Category
Network Coverage And Speeds28 stats
01
US average fixed broadband speed 242 Mbps download in Q4 2023.
02
Canada median mobile download speed 120 Mbps in H2 2023.
03
Mexico average fixed broadband speed 60 Mbps in 2023.
04
US 5G median download speed 220 Mbps nationwide in Q4 2023.
05
96% of US population covered by 4G LTE in 2023.
06
T-Mobile 5G covers 98% of US population in 2023.
07
AT&T 5G covers 290 million people across 10,000+ cities in 2023.
08
Rogers 5G covers 27 million Canadians in 2023.
09
Telus 5G network reaches 80% of Canada population in 2023.
10
América Móvil 5G covers major Mexican cities, 50 million pop in 2023.
11
US fixed broadband availability 93% of households in 2023.
12
Canadian rural mobile coverage 92% in 2023.
13
Mexico 4G coverage 85% population in 2023.
14
US median 5G latency 25 ms in Q4 2023.
15
T-Mobile fastest 5G provider at 244.3 Mbps avg download 2023.
16
Verizon fixed Fios avg speed 1000/880 Mbps in 2023.
17
AT&T fiber avg speed 400+ Mbps in 2023 tests.
18
Canada fastest mobile provider Bell at 145 Mbps H2 2023.
19
Mexico Telcel avg mobile speed 35 Mbps in 2023.
20
US 100% 4G coverage in urban areas, 99% suburban 2023.
21
North America average broadband latency 20 ms fixed in 2023.
22
Rogers Ignite fiber avg 1.2 Gbps in 2023.
23
Telus PureFibre avg upload 940 Mbps symmetric 2023.
24
US rural broadband coverage gaps affect 14.5 million in 2023.
25
US 5G Standalone (SA) deployment in 50+ cities by end-2023.
26
Canada 5G mid-band deployment covers 50% pop 2023.
27
Mexico 5G sites total 2,500 operational in 2023.
28
US mmWave 5G covers 80 million people in dense urban areas 2023.
Interpretation
Network Coverage And Speeds Interpretation
North America’s network performance is strengthening as fixed and 5G speeds rise alongside broad LTE coverage, with the US averaging 242 Mbps fixed broadband download in Q4 2023 and 5G reaching 220 Mbps nationwide while 96% of the population is already covered by 4G LTE.
05 · Category
Subscriber Base And Penetration27 stats
01
North America had 340 million mobile subscribers in 2023, with US at 280 million and penetration rate of 127%.
02
US wireless subscriptions totaled 484 million in Q4 2023, including 127 million postpaid phone subs.
03
Canadian mobile subscribers numbered 34.7 million in 2023, with 92% smartphone penetration.
04
Mexico mobile subscriptions reached 118 million in 2023, penetration 92%.
05
US postpaid smartphone subscribers grew 1.4% to 127.7 million in Q4 2023.
06
T-Mobile US added 3.1 million postpaid phone net adds in 2023.
07
Verizon wireless retail postpaid subs 111.9 million at end-2023.
08
AT&T mobility subscribers totaled 226.5 million connections in 2023.
09
Rogers wireless subs 11.4 million in Canada 2023.
10
Telus Mobility 9.5 million subscribers in 2023.
11
América Móvil 290 million mobile subs in Mexico region 2023.
12
US fixed broadband subs 125 million households in 2023, 80% penetration.
13
Canadian fixed broadband subs 13.8 million in 2023.
14
Mexico fixed broadband lines 28 million in 2023, penetration 22%.
15
US prepaid wireless subs 45 million in Q4 2023.
16
North American IoT connections 1.2 billion in 2023.
17
US MVNO subscribers 38 million in 2023.
18
Canadian cord-cutting led to 1.2 million pay TV sub losses 2019-2023.
19
T-Mobile postpaid internet subs reached 4.1 million by end-2023.
20
Verizon Fios video subs down 15% to 3.5 million in 2023.
21
AT&T fiber subs 3.7 million locations passed in 2023.
22
US 5G smartphone penetration 57% of all smartphones in 2023.
23
Mexico smartphone penetration 75% of mobile subs in 2023.
24
North America M2M connections 700 million in 2023.
25
Rogers home internet subs 2.1 million in 2023.
26
Telus fiber subs 1.8 million pure fibre in 2023.
27
US total wireless connections 530 million including IoT in 2023.
Interpretation
Subscriber Base And Penetration Interpretation
North America’s subscriber base is highly mature and smartphone-led, with 340 million mobile subscribers in 2023 and US penetration at 127% alongside Canada at 92% smartphone penetration, while the US still adds momentum in postpaid with 127.7 million postpaid smartphones growing 1.4% in Q4 2023.
06 · Category
Technology Deployment29 stats
01
North American 5G base stations exceeded 1 million in 2023.
02
US 5G connections reached 193 million by end-2023.
03
Canada deployed 15,000+ 5G sites by 2023.
04
Mexico 5G connections 5 million in 2023.
05
Verizon activated 30,000+ 5G small cells in 2023.
06
T-Mobile mid-band 2.5 GHz 5G covers 260 million in 2023.
07
AT&T 5G SA core network live in 20+ markets 2023.
08
Rogers 5G using 3800 MHz band covers 28 million 2023.
09
Telus 5G on 3500 MHz spectrum in 50+ cities 2023.
10
Telcel (América Móvil) 5G on AWS-3 band launched 2023.
11
US fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) homes passed 55 million in 2023.
12
Canadian FTTP connections 4.5 million in 2023.
13
Mexico fiber optic subs grew 25% to 15 million in 2023.
14
AT&T fiber homes passed 29 million by end-2023.
15
Verizon Fios/FTTP serves 15 million locations 2023.
16
T-Mobile fixed wireless homes 5 million in 2023.
17
North America Open RAN deployments in 25 operators 2023.
18
US C-band 5G spectrum 280 MHz deployed by 3 carriers 2023.
19
Canada mmWave 5G trials in Toronto, Vancouver 2023.
20
Mexico Total Play fiber covers 10 million homes 2023.
21
US DOCSIS 4.0 cable deployments began in 2023 by Comcast.
22
Rogers acquired Shaw, boosting cable network to 4 million homes 2023.
23
Telus Opticore network upgrade to 10G PON in 2023.
24
North America private 5G networks 500+ operational 2023.
25
US Wi-Fi 7 trials by AT&T, Verizon in 2023.
26
Canada satellite broadband via Telesat Lightspeed planned 2023 pilots.
27
Mexico 5G fixed wireless access growing 40% YoY 2023.
28
Verizon edge computing nodes 1,000+ in 2023.
29
AT&T network slicing for 5G enterprise in 2023.
Interpretation
Technology Deployment Interpretation
Technology deployment across North America accelerated sharply in 2023, with 5G scaling to over 1 million base stations and US connections reaching 193 million while carriers also expanded small cells and mid band coverage.
Reference
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APA
Gabrielle Fontaine. (2026, February 13). North American Telecom Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/north-american-telecom-industry-statistics
MLA
Gabrielle Fontaine. "North American Telecom Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/north-american-telecom-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Gabrielle Fontaine. 2026. "North American Telecom Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/north-american-telecom-industry-statistics.