51711 Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)

Official definition

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in operating, maintaining, and/or providing access to switching and transmission facilities and infrastructure that they own and/or lease for the transmission of voice, data, text, sound, and video using wired and wireless telecommunications networks (except satellite). Transmission facilities may be based on a single technology or a combination of technologies. By exception, establishments providing satellite television distribution services using facilities and infrastructure that they operate are included in this industry.

Examples Census gives

• Broadband Internet service providers, wired (e.g., cable, DSL)
• Cable television distribution services
• Cellular telephone service carriers
• Direct-to-home satellite system (DTH) services
• Satellite television distribution systems
• Telecommunications carriers, wired and wireless
• VoIP service providers, using own operated wired telecommunications infrastructure
• Wireless Internet service providers, except satellite
• Wireless telecommunications carriers, except satellite
• Wireless telephone communications carriers, except satellite

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS descriptions.

When to use a different code

Census classifies these close-sounding activities somewhere else. Businesses mainly engaged in:

• Operating television and radio broadcasting networks, including satellite television and radio networks, that produce media programming for distribution through cable, satellite, streaming, or Internet broadcasting are classified in Industry 51621, Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers.
• Operating radio and television broadcasting stations are classified in Industry Group 5161, Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations.
• Reselling telecommunications services (except satellite telecommunications), without operating a network, and/or acting as agents for wireless telecommunications services, including operating as mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) are classified in Industry 51712, Telecommunications Resellers and Agents for Wireless Telecommunication Services.
• Operating and maintaining satellite network infrastructure that they own and/or lease and/or reselling satellite telecommunications services are classified in Industry 51741, Satellite Telecommunications.
• Providing Internet access services via client-supplied telecommunications connections (e.g., dial-up ISPs) are classified in Industry 51781, All Other Telecommunications.
• Providing voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services via client-supplied telecommunications connections are classified in Industry 51781, All Other Telecommunications.
• Providing expert advice in the field of information technology or in integrating communication and computer systems are classified in Industry 54151, Computer Systems Design and Related Services.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS cross-references.

Codes in 51711

• 517111Wired Telecommunications Carriers
• 517112Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)