US Cellular

U.S. Cellular is a regional wireless carrier that has been around since 1983, built as a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS) and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It provides mobile phone service, messaging, data, and fixed wireless home internet to consumers, small businesses, and some enterprise customers across about 21 to 23 states, with a strong presence in the Midwest, Pacific Northwest, Mid-Atlantic, and parts of the South and Southwest. The company has long focused on midsize cities and rural communities that are often less served by the three largest national carriers, aiming to deliver reliable coverage where many people live and work.

Over the past decade, U.S. Cellular has invested heavily in its own network, including the rollout of 4G LTE and, more recently, 5G service in key markets like Milwaukee, Des Moines, and Oklahoma City. A major milestone came in 2020 when it began offering 5G to customers in select cities, marking a shift toward faster speeds and new services like fixed wireless home internet. That home internet product has become an important part of its business, giving households in rural and exurban areas a wired-broadband alternative by using the company’s licensed wireless spectrum.

Today, U.S. Cellular operates a mix of company-owned and agent-run retail stores, along with branded kiosks and authorized retailers in shopping centers and strip centers. As of August 2024, it has about 430 retail locations, and it has been selectively upgrading and relocating stores into higher-traffic centers and corridors that match its customer base and the mix of in-store and digital sales. While it has closed some underperforming locations, it continues to pursue new deals and relocations in its core territories, especially in the Midwest and other legacy markets where it is deepening 5G coverage and promoting home internet.

The company has also been expanding its role beyond basic phone service, offering a full lineup of smartphones, tablets, hotspots, and connected devices, plus postpaid and prepaid plans, device financing, and protection options. For business and public-sector customers, it provides IoT connectivity, fleet and asset tracking, and custom network and spectrum solutions, which helps diversify its revenue. This mix of consumer and business services, combined with ongoing 5G and fixed wireless investments, keeps U.S. Cellular active in the market for retail, office, and infrastructure space in the communities it serves.