# Mobile Mania Measurements This Chart Looks at a Decade in Wireless Usage in the United States By Jonathon Brown | Published 2013-01-21 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/decade-in-wireless References: [visual.ly](http://visual.ly/decade-wireless) After a decade in wireless usage, where is the industry now? “Has the U.S. wireless industry experienced the most innovation and change of any market over the last decade?” This is the question this infographic aims to answer. Ten years ago, there were 97.3 million wireless subscribers. Today, that number has ballooned to 292.8 million subscribers -- that’s an increase of more than 300%. While minutes per call have decreased over the last ten years, wireless subscribers overall use more minutes today than they used to. To handle this demand, [cellular communications companies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/t-mobile-customer-initiative) have had to build more infrastructure. Ten years ago there were 95, 733 [cell phone towers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/comcast-xfinity-speed) in the U.S. compared to 251, 618 towers now. These numbers make it clear the past decade in wireless has been a good one for cellular communication companies. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.8/10 - Popularity: 14% | Activity: 2% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Internet](https://www.trendhunter.com/internet) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Increasing Wireless Subscribers:** Opportunities for wireless communication companies to capture new markets and grow their user base. - **Increased Wireless Usage:** Opportunities for companies to create more user-friendly devices and expand their services to meet increasing demand. - **Infrastructure Expansion:** Opportunities for companies to invest in and innovate new technology to support the growing demand for wireless communication. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Wireless Communication:** Innovation opportunities for wireless communication companies to continue to develop new and improved technologies and services. - **Telecommunications:** Opportunities for companies in the telecommunications industry to further integrate wireless communication into their overall strategy and offer new services to capture new business. - **Consumer Electronics:** Opportunities for companies in the consumer electronics industry to design and manufacture new wireless devices to meet the growing demand for wireless communication. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Budget-Friendly Wireless Plans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/budgetfriendly-wireless-plans.md) - [Wacky Design Smartphones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/playful-phone-experimentation.md) - [Millennium-Inspired Cellphones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nokia-phones.md) - [Flexible Telecom Travel Coverage](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tmobile-coverage-beyond.md) - [Long-Term Wireless Plan Guarantees](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/longterm-wireless-plan.md) - [Price-Locked Mobile Plans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/experience-more-and-experience-beyond.md) - [Self-Powered Mobile Towers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mobile-towers.md) - [Distraction-Free Flip Phones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/consumer-cellular.md) - [Uncomfortable Anti-Tech Rings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/uscellular.md)