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Telecommunications Industry: A Research Guide

Wireless Telecommunications

The Wireless Telecommunications industry operates the facilities and services that allow for wireless, direct communication through the airwaves. This includes cellular mobile phone, paging, wireless internet, and wireless video services.

The major U.S. Telecommunications providers generate the majority of their revenue through their wireless services. This is partially driven by the increasing number of cellular mobile phone users, particularly smartphone users, which continues to grow. According to a 2022 Pew Research External poll, a median 85% of people surveyed in 18 countries report owning a mobile phone.

Radio-frequency spectrum allows for wireless communication globally. The U.S. government manages spectrum use in the United States. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has produced multiple reports on issues surrounding spectrum management.

Additional resources are found below. You will likely find more information in selected databases.

Selected Books

The following materials link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. Links to online resources are included when available. E-books versions may be available onsite at the Library of Congress via the Library's STACKS database, accessible on dedicated computers in the reading rooms, or e-book subscription databases. This list of resources is focused on wireless telecommunications.

Internet Resources

The following links are to select websites and online publications related to the wireless telecommunications sector.