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Indicator 9.c.1: Proportion of population covered by a mobile network, by technology

Percentage of the U.S. population covered by at least a 3G mobile network

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This table provides metadata for the actual indicator available from US statistics closest to the corresponding global SDG indicator. Please note that even when the global SDG indicator is fully available from US statistics, this table should be consulted for information on national methodology and other US-specific metadata information.

Actual indicator available Percentage of the U.S. population covered by at least a 3G mobile network. Percentage of the U.S. population covered by at least a 2G mobile network.
Actual indicator available - description The definitions for the FCC indicators are: (1) percent of population covered by 3G or faster service, and (2) percent of population covered by 2G or faster service; where "3G" and "2G" have esssentialy the definitions given above. "Coverage" here indicates that at least one operator can provide a signal above the required m1nimum, but it is not necessarily true that at least one operator is actually offering service at that speed.
Date of national source publication September 2017, releasing year-end 2016 data.
Method of computation
Periodicity Annual
Scheduled update by national source Fall, 2018
U.S. method of computation Three methods were employed over this time period. 2015-2016: "Form 477" data and "centroid" computation method. 2007-2013: data from American Roamer (company renamed Mosaik as of 2011 data) and "centroid" computation method. 2000-2005: entire county treated as covered if any coverage in county. Population data from most recent U.S. census available.
Comments and limitations The FCC’s annual report, the Mobile Wireless Competition Report, prepared by the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, usually includes the most recent year's data on 3G+ and 2G+ coverage, either in the body of the report or in its associated web appendices and "quick facts." These two time series were created by pulling data from the 6th through 20th annual reports. Note the three different data/computation methods used over this period, as described above. Other notes: (1) 2G+ coverage often appears in the reports simply as total mobile coverage, since "2G or faster" captures all digital air interfaces, and (1G) analog service is no longer offered. (2) Since the measures are 3G or faster and 2G or faster, it is the gap between the two figures that gives the coverage of 2G only, or narrowband, service. (3) Percentages are shown rounded to one decimal place, as presented in the public reports. (4) "n/a" indicates "not available."
Date metadata updated
Disaggregation geography NA
Unit of measurement
Disaggregation categories NA
International and national references
Time period Figures are as of year end, or near year end.
Scheduled update by SDG team

This table provides information on metadata for SDG indicators as defined by the UN Statistical Commission. Complete global metadata is provided by the UN Statistics Division.

Indicator name Proportion of population covered by a mobile network, by technology
Target name Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020.
Global indicator description The indicator percentage of the population covered by a mobile network, broken down by technology, refers to the percentage of inhabitants living within range of a mobile-cellular signal, irrespective of whether or not they are mobile phone subscribers or users. This is calculated by dividing the number of inhabitants within range of a mobile-cellular signal by the total population and multiplying by 100. The indicator is based on where the population lives, and not where they work or go to school, etc. When there are multiple operators offering the service, the maximum population number covered should be reported. Coverage should refer to broadband (3G and more) and narrowband (2G) mobile-cellular technologies and include: 2G mobile population coverage: Mobile networks with access to data communications (e.g. Internet) at downstream speeds below 256 kbit/s. This includes mobile-cellular technologies such as GPRS, CDMA2000 1x and most EDGE implementations. The indicator refers to the theoretical ability of subscribers to use non-broadband speed mobile data services, rather than the number of active users of such services. 3G and above mobile-population coverage: Refers to the number of mobile-cellular subscriptions with access to data communications (e.g. the Internet) at broadband downstream speeds (defined here as greater than or equal to 256 kbit/s). The indicator refers to the theoretical ability of subscribers to use broadband speed mobile data services, rather than the number of active users of such services. This includes all high-speed mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions with access to data communications, and includes mobile-cellular technologies such as WCDMA (UMTS) and associated technologies such as HSPA, CDMA2000 1x EV-DO, mobile WiMAX 802.16e and LTE. It excludes low-speed mobilebroadband subscriptions and fixed (wired) Internet subscriptions. As technologies evolve and as more and more countries will deploy and commercialize more advanced mobilebroadband networks (4G, 5G etc.), the indicator will include further breakdowns. ITU collects data for this indicator through an annual questionnaire from national telecommunication regulatory authorities or Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Ministries, who collect the data from licensed mobile-cellular operators. However, they are likely to have different levels and locations of coverage. Another method would be to request each operator's coverage maps, which can be overlaid with maps showing the population of the country.
UN designated tier 1
UN custodial agency ITU
Link to UN metadata Link opens in a new window
Organisation FCC's annual Mobile Wireless Competition Report. Full title: "Implementation of Section 6002(b) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, Annual Report and Analysis of Competitive Market Conditions With Respect to Mobile Wireless, Including Commercial Mobile Services
Agency Staff Name Kathryn O'Brien; Walt Strack
Agency Survey Dataset FCC's annual Mobile Wireless Competition Report. Full title: "Implementation of Section 6002(b) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, Annual Report and Analysis of Competitive Market Conditions With Respect to Mobile Wireless, Including Commercial Mobile Services
Notes
Title
Link to data source https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/reports/mobile-wireless-competition-reports opens in a new window

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