Industries in the Telecommunications subsector group establishments that provide telecommunications and the services related to that activity (e.g., telephony, including Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP); cable and satellite television distribution services; Internet access; telecommunications reselling services). The Telecommunications subsector is primarily engaged in operating, and/or providing access to facilities for the transmission of voice, data, text, sound, and video. Transmission facilities may be based on a single technology or a combination of technologies.
Establishments in the Telecommunications subsector are grouped into four industry groups. The first three are comprised of establishments that operate transmission facilities and infrastructure that they own and/or lease, and provide telecommunications services using those facilities. The distinction among the first three industry groups is the type of infrastructure operated (i.e., wired, wireless, or satellite). The fourth industry group is comprised of establishments that provide support activities, telecommunications reselling services, or many of the same services provided by establishments in the first three industry groups, but do not operate as telecommunications carriers.
Establishments primarily engaged as independent contractors in the installation and maintenance of broadcasting and telecommunications systems are classified in Sector 23, Construction. Establishments known as Internet cafes, primarily engaged in offering limited Internet connectivity in combination with other services such as facsimile services, training, rental of on-site personal computers, game rooms, or food services are classified in Subsector 561, Administrative and Support Services, or Subsector 722, Food Services and Drinking Places, depending on the primary activity.
5171 Wired Telecommunications Carriers
51711 Wired Telecommunications Carriers
See industry description for 517110 below.
517110 Wired Telecommunications Carriers
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in operating and/or
providing access to transmission facilities and infrastructure that they own
and/or lease for the transmission of voice, data, text, sound, and video using
wired telecommunications networks. Transmission facilities may be based on a
single technology or a combination of technologies. Establishments in this industry
use the wired telecommunications network facilities that they operate to provide a
variety of services, such as wired telephony services, including VoIP services;
wired (cable) audio and video programming distribution; and wired broadband
Internet services. By exception, establishments providing satellite television
distribution services using facilities and infrastructure that they operate are
included in this industry.
Illustrative Examples:
Broadband Internet service providers, wired (e.g. cable, DSL); Local telephone
carriers, wired; Cable television distribution services; Long-distance telephone
carriers, wired; Closed circuit television (CCTV) services; VoIP service providers,
using own operated wired telecommunications infrastructure; Direct-to-home satellite
system (DTH) services; Telecommunications carriers, wired; Satellite television
distribution systems; Multichannel multipoint distribution services (MMDS).
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Producing and distributing a channel of television programming for cable or satellite television systems are classified in Industry 515210, Cable and Other Subscription Programming;
- Operating coin-operated pay telephones are classified in Industry 812990, All Other Personal Services;
- Operating and maintaining wireless telecommunications networks are classified in Industry 517210, Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite);
- Producing and distributing radio programs for cable or satellite radio systems are classified in U.S. Industry 515111, Radio Networks;
- Reselling telecommunications services (except satellite telecommunications), without operating a network are classified in U.S. Industry 517911, Telecommunications Resellers;
- Publishing telephone directories are classified in Industry 511140, Directory and Mailing List Publishers;
- Reselling satellite telecommunications services are classified in Industry 517410, Satellite Telecommunications;
- Providing Internet access services via client-supplied telecommunications connections (e.g. dial up ISP's) are classified in U.S. Industry 517919, All Other Telecommunications;
- Providing voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services via client-supplied telecommunications connections are classified in U.S. Industry 517919, All Other Telecommunications;
- Providing limited Internet connectivity at locations known as Internet cafes, in combination with other services such as facsimile services, training, rental of on-site personal computers, games rooms, or food services are classified in U.S. Industry 561439, Other Business Service Centers (including Copy Shops) or Subsector 722, Food Services and Drinking Places, depending on the primary activity.
5172 Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)
51721 Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)
See industry description for 517210 below.
517210 Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)
This industry comprises establishments engaged in operating and maintaining switching
and transmission facilities to provide communications via the airwaves. Establishments
in this industry have spectrum licenses and provide services using that spectrum, such
as cellular phone services, paging services, wireless Internet access, and wireless
video services.
Illustrative Examples:
Cellular telephone services; Wireless Internet service providers, except satellite;
Paging services, except satellite; Wireless telephone communications carriers,
except satellite.
Cross-References.
- Operating and maintaining wired telecommunications networks are classified in Industry 517110, Wired Telecommunications Carriers;
- Operating and maintaining satellite networks are classified in Industry 517410, Satellite Telecommunications;
- Providing satellite television distribution services are classified in Industry 517110, Wired Telecommunications Carriers; and
- Operating as mobile virtual network operations (MVNO) are classified in U.S. Industry 517911, Telecommunications Resellers.
5174 Satellite Telecommunications
51741 Satellite Telecommunications
See industry description for 517410 below.
517410 Satellite Telecommunications
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing
telecommunications services to other establishments in the telecommunications
and broadcasting industries by forwarding and receiving communications signals
via a system of satellites or reselling satellite telecommunications.
Cross-References.
- Establishments primarily engaged in providing direct-to-home satellite television services to individual households or consumers are classified in Industry 517110, Wired Telecommunications Carriers.
51791 Other Telecommunications
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in:
(1) purchasing access and network capacity from owners and operators of telecommunications networks and reselling wired and wireless telecommunications services (except satellite) to businesses and households;
(2) providing specialized telecommunications services, such as satellite tracking, communications telemetry, and radar station operation;
(3) providing satellite terminal stations and associated facilities connected with one or more terrestrial systems and capable of transmitting telecommunications to, and receiving telecommunications from, satellite systems; or
(4) providing Internet access services or Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services via client-supplied telecommunications connections.
Establishments in this industry do not operate as telecommunications carriers. Mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) are included in this industry.
517911 Telecommunications Resellers
This U.S. industry comprises establishments engaged in purchasing access and
network capacity from owners and operators of telecommunications networks and
reselling wired and wireless telecommunications services (except satellite) to
businesses and households. Establishments in this industry resell telecommunications;
they do not operate transmission facilities and infrastructure. Mobile virtual
network operators (MVNOs) are included in this industry.
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Providing satellite telecommunications - classified in Industry 517410, Satellite Telecommunications; and
- Operating and maintaining wired telecommunications networks are classified in Industry 517110, Wired Telecommunications Carriers;
- Operating and maintaining wireless telecommunications networks are classified in Industry 517210, Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite); and
- Reselling satellite telecommunications services are classified in Industry 517410, Satellite Telecommunications.
517919 All Other Telecommunications
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing
specialized telecommunications services, such as satellite tracking, communications
telemetry, and radar station operation. This industry also includes establishments
primarily engaged in providing satellite terminal stations and associated facilities
connected with one or more terrestrial systems and capable of transmitting
telecommunications to, and receiving telecommunications from, satellite systems.
Establishments providing Internet services or voice over Internet protocol (VoIP)
services via client-supplied telecommunications connections are also included in
this industry.
Illustrative Examples:
Dial-up Internet service providers; VoIP service providers, using client-supplied
telecommunications connections; Internet service providers using client-supplied
telecommunications connections (e.g., dial-up ISPs); Satellite tracking stations.
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Providing wired broadband Internet services via own operated telecommunications infrastructure are classified in Industry 517110, Wired Telecommunications Carriers;
- Providing wired VoIP services via own operated telecommunications infrastructure are classified in Industry 517110, Wired Telecommunications Carriers;
- Providing expert advice in the field of information technology or in integrating communication and computer systems are classified in Industry 54151, Computer Systems Design and Related Services; and
- Providing satellite telecommunications services are classified in Industry 517410, Satellite Telecommunications.
Information courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau.
