NAICS 517112: Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily 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 service carriers Wireless Internet service providers, except satellite Paging services, except satellite Wireless telephone communications carriers, except satellite Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in--Show more
NAICS 517112 – Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) encompasses providers of mobile voice and data services through terrestrial cellular networks, including 4G LTE and 5G NR infrastructure. These contractors deliver end-to-end wireless connectivity solutions such as network deployment, spectrum management, mobile device provisioning, and secure communications platforms for federal personnel and operations.
Industry Spending Overview
Federal obligations, top contractors and agencies, and related industry codes for NAICS 517112.
AI Industry Description
NAICS 517112 – Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) encompasses providers of mobile voice and data services through terrestrial cellular networks, including 4G LTE and 5G NR infrastructure. These contractors deliver end-to-end wireless connectivity solutions such as network deploy...
NAICS 517112 – Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) encompasses providers of mobile voice and data services through terrestrial cellular networks, including 4G LTE and 5G NR infrastructure. These contractors deliver end-to-end wireless connectivity solutions such as network deployment, spectrum management, mobile device provisioning, and secure communications platforms for federal personnel and operations. This sector is critical to mission-critical communications for mobile workforces, emergency response units, and remote field operations, forming the backbone of modern federal mobility strategies. Unlike satellite-based services, this NAICS focuses on ground-based cellular infrastructure, including cell towers, base stations, and backhaul systems, often integrated with secure enterprise-grade authentication and encryption protocols. Top contractors in this space include TIMITRON CORPORATION and BHPE LLC, both of which operate as small businesses specializing in rapid deployment of secure wireless networks and managed services for federal agencies. These firms often compete in set-aside categories, leveraging niche expertise in tactical communications and rapid-response infrastructure support, creating a competitive landscape dominated by agile, specialized vendors rather than large prime contractors. The Department of Veterans Affairs is the primary federal buyer in this sector, driving demand through mobile connectivity initiatives for healthcare providers, veteran outreach teams, and telehealth enablement programs. Agencies rely on these services to ensure uninterrupted communication across VA medical centers, mobile clinics, and regional offices, particularly in rural and underserved areas. The market is characterized by high opportunity density for small businesses with expertise in secure, low-latency wireless networks and FCC-compliant spectrum usage. Growing demand for resilient, encrypted mobile networks—especially for hybrid workforces and disaster response—creates sustained procurement activity. Contractors with experience in Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) and NIST-aligned security frameworks are well-positioned to capture contracts in this evolving space.
Small Business Size Standard
The SBA threshold that decides who can bid NAICS 517112 work as a small business.
The SBA cap for this NAICS (13 CFR 121.201). A business at or under it can self-certify as small for work in this code, which is what makes it eligible for a small-business set-aside. The cap is set per NAICS, so the same company can be small in one code and not in another.
13 CFR 121.201, effective January 1, 2026. The SBA revises the table roughly once a year.
Top Contractors
Companies with the highest total award value under NAICS 517112, ranked by dollars won.
| Company | Total Awards | Contracts |
|---|---|---|
| ATT MOBILITY LLC | $24.9M | 1,150 |
| CELLCO PARTNERSHIP | $7.9M | 87 |
| ABACUS TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION | $5.5M | 1 |
| TELEFONICA MOVILES ESPANA SA | $5.4M | 1 |
| QUALITYNET GENERAL TRADING AND CONTRACTING COMPANY WLL | $3.3M | 1 |
| BAE SYSTEMS APPLIED INTELLIGENCE LIMITED | $2.8M | 2 |
| BAE SYSTEMS APPLIED INTELLIGENCE GCS INC. | $1.4M | 1 |
| MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES | $1.3M | 39 |
| T-MOBILE USA, INC. | $1.3M | 26 |
| MTN UGANDA LTD | $1.1M | 6 |
Top Agencies
Federal agencies directing the most contract spending toward NAICS 517112.
Competition
How many companies historically bid on federal awards in NAICS 517112, from bidder counts reported on USAspending.
Half or more of reported awards drew exactly one bidder, usually a sign of incumbent-held work rather than an open field. · 3,036 reported awards
Median Bidders
1
Per reported award, all-time
Single-Bid Awards
52%
Share of reported awards with one bidder
10+ Bidder Awards
0%
Share of reported awards with 10+ bidders
Reported Awards
3,036
58% of 5,217 total awards
Share of reported awards in each bidder-count bracket per federal fiscal year.
How this code compares up the NAICS hierarchy. Parent cohorts pool every code under their prefix, so they are the steadier baseline when a 6-digit sample is thin.
| Industry Family | Competition | Median Bidders | Single-Bid | Bidder Mix | Reported Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
517112This Code Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) | Usually Single-Bid | 1 | 52% | 3,03658% of 5,217 | |
51711NAICS Industry | Moderate Competition | 3 | 37% | 188,35993% of 202,131 | |
5171Industry Group Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) | Moderate Competition | 3 | 37% | 190,59093% of 204,661 | |
517Subsector | Fewer Bidders | 2 | 49% | 337,24387% of 388,690 | |
51Sector Information | Usually Single-Bid | 1 | 62% | 750,71688% of 854,307 |
Bidder counts reported on past federal awards in this NAICS (USAspending). An open opportunity has no bidders yet, so this is the historical norm for similar work, not a fact about this solicitation. Not all awards report bidder counts, and fewer bidders often means incumbent-held work rather than an easier win. Federal reporting of bidder counts fell from ~96% of awards (FY2016) to ~30% (FY2018 onward); the chart shows shares of reported awards, and washed-out stretches mark years with fewer than 30 of them.
Related NAICS Codes
Industries similar to Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite), by shared sector, subsector, and industry group.
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