This statistic shows the market shares held by mobile operators in the United Kingdom (UK) as at 31 December 2017. BT, including Everything Everywhere (EE) held the greatest share of the market with 28 percent followed by O2 who held 26 percent. The four main mobile network operators (MNO) in the UK are Vodafone, Three (3), EE and O2. Most others are categorized as mobile virtual network operators (MVNO). These companies purchase the right from the MNO to use the wireless network infrastructure over which they provide their services to customers. EE was established by Deutsche Telekom and Orange S.A., but was later bought by the BT Group. There is a growing array of MVNOs under EE with it's number having reached approximately 4.2 million MVNOs in 2015.O2 (UK), formerly known as BT Cellnet, was also purchased by a larger company. In 2005, the Spanish company Telefónica purchased O2.
Market share held by mobile operators in the United Kingdom (UK) 2018, by subscriber
Characteristic
Market share
BT (including EE)
28%
O2
26%
Vodafone
21%
Three
12%
Tesco Mobile
6%
Virgin Mobile
4%
Talk Talk
1%
iD Mobile
1%
Sky
1%
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Market share28%28%26%26%21%21%12%12%6%6%4%4%1%1%1%1%1%1%BT (including EE)O2VodafoneThreeTesco MobileVirgin MobileTalk TalkiD MobileSky
0%2%4%6%8%10%12%14%16%18%20%22%24%26%28%30%32%
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BT. (May 9, 2018). Market share held by mobile operators in the United Kingdom (UK) 2018, by subscriber [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 10, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/375986/market-share-held-by-mobile-phone-operators-united-kingdom-uk/
BT. "Market share held by mobile operators in the United Kingdom (UK) 2018, by subscriber." Chart. May 9, 2018. Statista. Accessed May 10, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/375986/market-share-held-by-mobile-phone-operators-united-kingdom-uk/
BT. (2018). Market share held by mobile operators in the United Kingdom (UK) 2018, by subscriber. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 10, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/375986/market-share-held-by-mobile-phone-operators-united-kingdom-uk/
BT. "Market Share Held by Mobile Operators in The United Kingdom (Uk) 2018, by Subscriber." Statista, Statista Inc., 9 May 2018, https://www.statista.com/statistics/375986/market-share-held-by-mobile-phone-operators-united-kingdom-uk/
BT, Market share held by mobile operators in the United Kingdom (UK) 2018, by subscriber Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/375986/market-share-held-by-mobile-phone-operators-united-kingdom-uk/ (last visited May 10, 2025)
Market share held by mobile operators in the United Kingdom (UK) 2018, by subscriber [Graph], BT, May 9, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/375986/market-share-held-by-mobile-phone-operators-united-kingdom-uk/
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