51712 Telecommunications Resellers and Agents for Wireless Telecommunication Services

Official definition

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in (1) purchasing access and network capacity from owners and operators of telecommunications networks and reselling wired and wireless telecommunications services to businesses and households (except satellite telecommunications) or (2) acting as agents for wireless telecommunications carriers and resellers, selling wireless plans on a commission basis. Establishments in this industry do not operate as telecommunications carriers. Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) are included in this industry.

Examples Census gives

• Agents for wireless telecommunications carriers
• Cellular telephone stores, selling cellular phone service plans on an agent basis
• Mobile phone stores, selling mobile phone service plans on an agent basis
• Wired telecommunications resellers
• Wireless phone service plan sales agents, selling on behalf of wireless telecommunications carriers
• Wireless telecommunications resellers (except satellite telecommunications)

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 and maintaining wired and wireless telecommunications networks (except satellite) are classified in Industry 51711, Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite).
• Reselling satellite telecommunications services are classified in Industry 51741, Satellite Telecommunications.
• Reselling cellular telephones and accessories without selling service plans are classified in Sector 42, Wholesale Trade, or Sector 44-45, Retail Trade.

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

Codes in 51712

• 517121Telecommunications Resellers
• 517122Agents for Wireless Telecommunications Services