U.S. Wireless Data Use Skyrockets, Passing 100T Megabyte Milestone, CTIA Annual Survey Finds

WASHINGTON - Wireless networks are supporting unprecedented growth in data traffic, hosting an extraordinary 100.1 trillion megabytes in 2023, marking the biggest year-over-year increase in history and an 89% increase since 2021, according to CTIA's 2024 Annual Wireless Industry Survey.

"This year's survey shows unprecedented demand in wireless data as 5G continues to make an impact everywhere from home broadband to smart manufacturing," said Meredith Attwell Baker, CTIA President and CEO. "This year's milestone is a testament to the wireless industry's commitment to our customers, our country, and our track record of driving our economy forward. To continue to support this demand and make sure America continues to lead the world in wireless innovation, the wireless industry needs Congress to restore the FCC's auction authority and create a pipeline of much-needed mid-band spectrum."

The survey found that next generation 5G networks are continuing to have a significant and growing impact. As of year-end 2023, 40% of wireless connections are 5G, and more than 330 million Americans are covered by one or more 5G networks. These 5G networks are providing a platform for other services and industries, including competitive and affordable 5G home broadband, which accounted for 95% of all new broadband subscriptions over the past two years. In addition, one out of five net 5G home adds were entirely new home broadband subscribers, underscoring 5G's role in helping to close the digital divide.

On the 30th anniversary of the first spectrum auction, the results of this year's survey emphasize more than ever that the wireless industry needs more full-power, exclusive-use, licensed spectrum to continue to support this extraordinary growth and consumer demand. The U.S. wireless industry has invested over $700 billion to date, including $30 billion last year, to grow and improve its networks. Over its lifetime, the wireless industry has also invested $233 billion at auction for licensed spectrum, the fuel wireless networks run on.

Since 1985, CTIA has surveyed U.S. wireless providers, highlighting the evolution of the industry. This year's key findings show:

• Wireless Networks Continue to Support Skyrocketing Data Demand. Americans used more than 100T MB in 2023-the largest single-year increase in wireless data ever. This is nearly double the amount of data used just two years ago, and more data than was used from 2010 to 2018 combined.
• More Wireless Connections and 5G Devices. In 2023, nearly 40% of all wireless devices had a 5G connection, a 34% increase over the previous year. This growth helped propel the total number of wireless connections to 558M, more than 1.6 wireless connections for every American.
• Wireless Investment Tops $700B. Wireless carriers have invested $705B to date, including $30B in the last year alone and $190B since 2018, the year 5G was launched. Over its lifetime, the wireless industry has also invested $233B at auction for licensed spectrum, the fuel wireless networks run on.
• Wireless Costs Less While Consumers Use More. The cost per MB of wireless data decreased 50% since 2020, bucking the overall upward trends in pricing for other consumer goods and services over the same period. At $.002 per MB today, wireless data prices have decreased 97% compared to a decade ago.
• 5G Home Broadband Continues to Bridge the Digital Divide. Over the past two years, 95% of net new broadband subscribers chose 5G home service-and importantly, one out of five net 5G home adds were entirely new home broadband subscribers, underscoring 5G's role in helping to close the digital divide.
• More Cell Sites Support Unprecedented Wireless Demand. By the end of 2023, there were 432,469 operational cell sites, the physical backbone of our wireless networks, across the nation-a 24% increase since pivotal wireless siting reforms were enacted in 2018.

Background on CTIA's Wireless Industry Survey
Since 1985, CTIA has surveyed U.S. wireless providers, highlighting the evolution of this dynamic industry. The 2024 CTIA Annual Survey tells a story of wireless capital investment that is speeding 5G deployment, spurring broadband competition, and building the connectivity platform that will strengthen the nation's economy and inspire new innovation. Click here to read more.For this year's installment of the survey, CTIA, via an independent accounting firm, aggregated data from companies serving more than 98.6% of all estimated wireless subscriber connections.