If you’re reading this, it means you are connected to the internet. But in order to connect your phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer to the internet, you will need a provider who will offer you such a connection. These service providers are telecommunications companies, also known as telecom companies. You could say these companies represent the gates to the internet. Unsurprisingly, telecom companies are therefore some of the most powerful and influential companies in the world today.

While there is also a number of smaller, locally operating telecom providers, the market, in general, is dominated by big, globally active telecommunications corporations that serve millions of customers, often in multiple different countries. The global telecom market is in particular dominated by five big companies. The following ranking lists not only them but the entire Top 10 of the largest telecommunications companies in the world by their most recently achieved annual revenue.

The 10 Largest Telecommunications Companies in the World 2023

1. Verizon

Owned telecommunications brands:

Verizon is the largest telecom company in the world. The American company was founded in 1984, after the legally required breakup of the original AT&T Corporation, which until then enjoyed a monopoly on the telecommunications market in the United States. Verizon today is the leading wireless telecom subscription service carrier in the United States. Aside from its main brand, Verizon also owns Visible, an all-digital app-based wireless service provider, and Tracfone, a prepaid wireless service provider. Across its three brands, Verizon has hundreds of millions of customers subscribed to its services in the United States.

2. China Mobile

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China Mobile is the second-largest telecommunications company in the world, the largest telecom company in Asia, and the world’s largest communications provider by number of subscribers, offering services to almost a billion mobile customers and over 200 million broadband customers worldwide. The company was founded in 1997 as a result of the Chinese government-directed breakup of China Telecommunications Corporations. Aside from its home market, the Chinese state-owned company is also involved in Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Canada, Italy, and the UK through its CMLink brand and in Pakistan through the company’s Zong 4G brand.

3. Deutsche Telekom

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Deutsche Telekom is the third-largest telecommunications company in the world and the by far largest telecommunications company in Europe. The company was established in 1995 after the government of Germany privatized its telecommunications industry. Today, the German company operates under its two main brands Telekom and T-Mobile in multiple countries in Europe and in the United States. In Germany, Deutsche Telekom also offers discount prepaid wireless telecommunication services through its brands Congstar and purely digital app-based services through Fraenk. It also owns the largest Greek telecom company OTE and its main brand Cosmote and also co-runs the European Aviation Network, which provides WiFi connections for passengers on flights within the European Union, and Norway + Switzerland.

4. AT&T

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AT&T is the fourth-largest telecommunications company in the world. The AT&T brand has a rich history dating back to the very invention of the telephone although the AT&T company was founded in its current form in 1983 as the result of a legally required divesture, which broke up the telecom monopoly AT&T’s predecessor company enjoyed in the United States. AT&T is the leading wireless subscription service carrier in the United States. The American company has now additionally expanded beyond the United States and has hundreds of millions of subscribers worldwide. AT&T also owns Cricket Wireless, a popular prepaid wireless service provider that serves around 10 million subscribers in the U.S.

5. Nippon Telegraph & Telephone

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Nippon Telegraph & Telephone (NTT) places fifth among the largest telecommunications companies in the world. The company was founded in 1985 in its current form, after the privatization of the Japanese telecommunications industry, which until then was operated by American company AT&T. NTT is the by far largest and dominant telecommunications company in Japan. While also offering many information and communications technology (ICT) services in Japan and abroad, the company’s main consumer subscription business is conducted through its main brand NTT Docomo, which stands for “communications over the mobile network”.

6. China Telecom

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China Telecom comes sixth among the largest telecommunication companies in the world. It is the largest fixed-line telecommunications and the third-largest mobile network provider in China. The company traces its history back to the Chinese government agency of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, from which it spun off in 1995. Aside from its Chinese home market, China Telecom is also active in the Philippines, where it holds a minority stake in the Filipino telecom company Dito Telecommunity. The company also provides many infrastructural telecommunications services in China and abroad. In the United States, however, the state-owned Chinese company has been banned from operating due to national security concerns.

7. Comcast

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Comcast is another leading telecom company that offers a range of services for both private and business customers. While also involved in the media and film industry, Comcast is the biggest internet service provider in the United States, which places it among the largest telecommunications companies in the world. Founded in 1963, Comcast now offers its many private telecom services through the company’s Xfinity brand. The American company also offers telecom services for businesses and companies, through its separate Comcast Business telecom brand.

8. Vodafone

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Vodafone places eighth among the largest telecommunications companies in the world. The British company traces its origin back to Racal Electronics, a British manufacturer of military radio technology. In 1991, Vodafone spun off it and became a separate civilian telecommunications company and has since grown to be the largest telecom company in the United Kingdom. Aside from its British home market, Vodafone is also active in several countries in Europe. Through its Vodacom brand, the company is also active in several countries in Africa. The company is additionally involved in India and Kenya, through minority stakes in the Indian telecommunications company Vi and Kenyan telecommunications company Safaricom.

9. Orange

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Orange is the ninth-largest telecom company in the world. The French company was founded in 1988 as a result of the partial privatization of the French telecommunications industry. It was first named France Télécom and then renamed Orange in 2013. Orange is the leading telecom company in France, both in terms of landline and mobile network subscribers. It has also managed to establish itself as the leading telecom company beyond France and operates in several countries in Europe as well as Africa and the Middle East. Through its Jazztel brand, the company holds an additional presence in Spain. Orange also holds minority ownership of Sonatel, a Senegalese telecom company that operates in several Western African countries.

10. America Movil

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America Movil completes the top ten of the largest telecommunications companies in the world. The company was founded in 2001 by Mexican businessman Carlos Slim, one of the richest people in the world. Today, the company is the dominating telecom company in Mexico through its Telecel brand. Through acquisitions and expansions, America Movil managed to expand into other Latin American countries over the years, and through its Claro brand, the Mexican company is now the leading wireless network provider in almost all South American and Central American countries. Through its A1 brand, America Movil recently also expanded into the European market and is present in several countries in Europe.

The 10 Largest Telecommunications Companies in the World 2023

(as of May 2023)

Top 10 Largest Telecommunications Companies in the World:
1. VERIZON Revenue: $136.8 billion
2. CHINA MOBILE Revenue: $133.2 billion
3. DEUTSCHE TELEKOM Revenue: $122.9 billion
4. AT&T Revenue: $120.7 billion
5. NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE Revenue: $105.9 billion
6. CHINA TELECOM Revenue: $67.5 billion
7. COMCAST Revenue: $66.3 billion
8. VODAFONE Revenue: $62.0 billion
9. ORANGE Revenue: $49.2 billion
10. AMERICA MOVIL Revenue: $43.7 billion
The 10 largest telecommunications companies in the world by latest revenue numbers. Only revenue generated in the telecommunications industry is counted here. Revenues are given in U.S. dollars and converted according to the exchange rates at the time of the ranking. Updated as of 2023.

Source for the revenue numbers: Dun&Bradstreet