CTIA: 2022 U.S. Wireless Network Industry Survey Report

The U.S. wireless industry invested nearly $ 35 billion to grow, improve and operate its networks in 2021 , according to CTIA 's 2022 Annual Wireless Industry Survey . This record investment marks the fourth consecutive year of increased capital spending.

This record investment is driving unparalleled results: 5G networks now cover more than 315 million Americans, one in three U.S. adults owns a 5G device, and 5G is now the fastest-growing segment of the home broadband market. Competition in the wireless industry is also helping keep prices low during a time of rampant inflation. While prices are rising across industries, wireless costs are falling, continuing a decade -long trend that has seen prices for wireless service fall 43% and speeds increase 85 times. The findings again show increases in wireless data usage, cell towers, and data-only devices, all pointing to a shift to a 5G economy.

“ Wireless is the most competitive industry in the United States, and that competition continues to drive record levels of investment to build world-leading 5G networks,” said Meredith Attwell Baker , president and CEO of CTIA. “ Wireless competition also continues to benefit consumers, driving down wireless prices and bringing real competition to cable TV. ”

CTIA 's annual industry survey has tracked the growth of the wireless industry since 1985. Key findings from this year's survey include:

• Extraordinary, sustained wireless investment. Wireless providers have invested nearly $ 121 billion in their networks since the launch of 5G in 2018 , and $ 635 billion over the wireless industry’s lifetime .
• America’s demand for wireless data shows no signs of slowing down. Mobile wireless data traffic soared to 53.4 trillion megabytes in 2021. That’s an increase of 11.2 trillion megabytes in 2020 alone, and 1.5 trillion megabytes more than consumers used in all of 2015 .
• More cell sites means faster 5G deployment. 5G is rolling out across the country twice as fast as 4G as infrastructure reforms continue to pay dividends . As wireless providers lay the physical foundation for the 5G economy, they have added nearly 70,000 active cell sites since the Federal Communications Commission and state lawmakers modernized key siting regulations.
• Trillions of text messages and calls. In 2021 , U.S. consumers exchanged 2 trillion messages, more than 63,644 per second . Even with texting at their fingertips, millions of consumers still use voice calls to talk to friends and family every day, reaching 2.4 trillion minutes of usage in 2021 .
• Expanding 5G networks means explosive device growth. Consumers have embraced 5G technology, as the number of connected 5G devices grew 513% this year to 85 million.