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This article was first published 12 years ago

Biggest telecom companies in the world

Last updated on: May 4, 2012 08:43 IST


Photographs: Denis Balibouse/Reuters

Telecommunication is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, especially in the developing countries.

Let's take a look at some of the biggest telecom companies in the world.

NOTE: Courtesy, Wikipedia

China Mobile

Main market: China

Total subscribers (2011): 649.56 million

Global rank: 1

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Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: Luke MacGregor/Reuters

Vodafone

Main market: United Kingdom

Total subscribers (2011): 439.601 million

Global rank: 2

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Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: Gustau Nacarino/Reuters

Telenor

Main market: Norway

Total subscribers (2011): 326 million

Global rank: 3

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Tags:

Biggest telecom companies in the world

Image: Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal walks during the launch ceremony for 4G services in Kolkata. A file photo
Photographs: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters

Airtel

Main market: India

Total subscribers (2011): 243.336 million

Global rank: 4

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Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: Henry Romero/Reuters

America Movil

Main market: Mexico

Total subscribers (2011): 236 million

Global rank: 5

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Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: Susana Vera/Reuters

Telefonica

Main market: Spain

Total subscribers (2011): 231.87 million

Global rank: 6

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Tags: , Telefonica , Main

Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: Heinz-Peter Bader/Reuters

Orange

Main market: France

Total subscribers (2011): 217.3 million

Global rank: 7

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Tags: , France

Biggest telecom companies in the world

Image: A view of Russia's second-largest mobile phone firm Vimpelcom's main office in Moscow.
Photographs: Viktor Korotayev/Reuters

VimpelCom

Main market: Russia

Total subscribers (2011): 199 million

Global rank: 8

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Tags: , Russia

Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: Tim Chong/Reuters

SingTel

Main market: Singapore

Total subscribers (2011): 146 million

Global rank: 9

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Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: Bazuki Muhammad/Reuters

Axiata Group Berhad

Main market: Malaysia

Total subscribers (2011): 159.7 million

Global rank: 10

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Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: David Gray/Reuters

China Unicom

Main market: China

Total subscribers (2011): 169.7 million

Global rank: 11

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Tags: China

Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: Bob Strong/Reuters

TeliaSonera

Main market: Sweden

Total subscribers (2011): 160 million

Global rank: 12

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Tags: , Sweden

Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: Fahad Shadeed/Reuters

Saudi Telecom Company

Main market: Saudi Arabia

Total subscribers (2010): 139 million

Global rank: 13

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Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters

MTN Group

Main market: South Africa

Total subscribers (2010): 137.47 million

Global rank: 14

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Tags: MTN Group , Main

Biggest telecom companies in the world

Image: A view of an Etisalat building in Dubai.
Photographs: Stringer/Reuters

Etisalat

Main market: United Arab Emirates

Total subscribers (2010): 135 million

Global rank: 15

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Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: Arko Datta/Reuters

Reliance Communications

Main market: India

Total subscribers (2011): 144.78 million

Global rank: 16

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Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: Michaela Rehle/Reuters

T-Mobile

Main market: Germany

Total subscribers (2011): 328.00 million

Global rank: 17

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Tags: , Germany

Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: Luke MacGregor/Reuters

Tele2

Main market: Sweden

Total subscribers (2012): 34.76 million

Global rank: 18

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Tags: , Sweden

Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: Brendan McDermid/Reuters

Verizon Wireless

Main market: United States

Total subscribers: Not available

Global rank: 19

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Biggest telecom companies in the world

Image: A man speaks on a mobile phone near an office of Russia's mobile phone operator MTS in Moscow.
Photographs: Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters

MTS

Main market: Russia

Total subscribers (2011): 106.07 million

Global rank: 20

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Tags: , MTS , Russia

Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

AT&T Mobility

Main market: United States

Total subscribers (2011): 100.7 million

Global rank: 21

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Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: David Gray/Reuters

China Telecom

Main market: China

Total subscribers (2011): 94.1 million

Global rank: 22

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Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: Crack Palinggi/Reuters

Telkomsel

Main market: Indonesia

Total subscribers (2011): 100 million

Global rank: 23

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Tags: , Indonesia

Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: Arko Datta/Reuters

Idea Cellular

Main market: India

Total subscribers (2011): 96.11 million

Global rank: 24

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Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: Fayaz Kabli/Reuters

BSNL

Main market: India

Total subscribers (2011): 95.14 million

Global rank: 25

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Tags: BSNL

Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Tata Teleservices

Main market: India

Total subscribers (2011): 88.31 million

Global rank: 26

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Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: Stringer/Reuters

Telecom Italia

Main market: Italy

Total subscribers (2011): 71.50 million

Global rank: 27

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Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: Zainal Abd Halim/Reuters

Maxis Communications

Main market: Malaysia

Total subscribers (2011): 63.71 million

Global rank: 28

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Tags: , Malaysia

Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: Osman Orsal/Reuters

Turkcell

Main market: Turkey

Total subscribers (2011): 63.3 million

Global rank: 29

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Tags: , Turkey

Biggest telecom companies in the world


Photographs: Fadi Al Assaad/Reuters

Qtel

Main market: Qatar

Total subscribers (2009): 82.4 million

Global rank: 30

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