Telecommunications Resellers
Description
This U.S. industry comprises establishments engaged in 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 and agents for wireless telecommunications services). Establishments in this industry resell telecommunications; they do not operate transmission facilities and infrastructure. Illustrative Examples: Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) (except agents) Pre-paid calling cards, telecommunications resellers Wired telecommunications resellers Wireless telecommunications resellers (except satellite telecommunications and agents)
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Information 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Information sector comprises establishments engaged in the following processes: (a) producing and distributing information and cultural products, (b) providing the means to transmit or distribute these products as well as data or communications, and (c) processing data. The main components of this sector are motion picture and sound recording industries; publishing industries, including software publishing; broadcasting and content providers; telecommunications industries; computing infrastructure providers, data processing, Web hosting, and related services; and Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services. The unique characteristics of information and cultural products, and of the processes involved in their production and distribution, distinguish the Information sector from the goods-producing and service-producing sectors. Some of these characteristics are: 1. Unlike traditional goods, an ''information or cultural product,'' such as an online newspaper or a television program, does not necessarily have tangible qualities, nor is it necessarily associated with a particular form. A movie can be viewed at a movie theater or through television broadcast, video-on-demand, or streaming services. A sound recording can be aired on radio, embedded in multimedia products, streamed, or sold at a record store. 2. Unlike traditional services, the delivery of these products does not require direct contact between the supplier and the consumer. 3. The value of these products to the consumer lies in their informational, educational, cultural, or entertainment content, not in the format in which they are distributed. Most of these products are protected from unlawful reproduction by copyright laws. 4. The intangible property aspect of information and cultural products makes the processes involved in their production and distribution very different from goods and services. Only those possessing the rights to these works are authorized to reproduce, alter, improve, and distribute them. Acquiring and using these rights often involves significant costs. In addition, technology has revolutionized the distribution of these products. It is possible to distribute them in a physical form, via broadcast, or online. 5. Distributors of information and cultural products can easily add value to the products they distribute. For instance, broadcasters add advertising not contained in the original product. This capacity means that unlike traditional goods distributors, they derive revenue not from sale of the distributed product to the final consumer, but from those who pay for the privilege of adding information to the original product. Similarly, a directory and mailing list publisher can acquire the rights to thousands of previously published newspaper and periodical articles and add new value by providing search and software and organizing the information in a way that facilitates research and retrieval. These products often command a much higher price than the original information. Excluded from this sector are establishments primarily engaged in custom design of software; mass reproducing software or other prerecorded audio and video material on magnetic or optical media; producing live artistic and cultural works or productions; and performing in or creating artistic and cultural works or productions as independent (i.e., freelance) individuals. |
| 517 | Telecommunications 3-digit subsector | Industries in the Telecommunications subsector group establishments that provide telecommunications and the services related to that activity (e.g., telephony, including Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP); cable and satellite television distribution services; Internet access; telecommunications reselling services). The Telecommunications subsector is primarily engaged in operating and/or providing access to facilities for the transmission of voice, data, text, sound, and video. Transmission facilities may be based on a single technology or a combination of technologies. Establishments primarily engaged as independent contractors in the installation and maintenance of telecommunications systems are classified in Sector 23, Construction. |
| 5171 | Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in (1) operating transmission facilities and infrastructure that they own and/or lease, and providing telecommunications services using wired and wireless telecommunications networks; (2) reselling wired and wireless telecommunications services (except satellite); and (3) acting as agents for wireless telecommunications services. |
| 51712 | Telecommunications Resellers and Agents for Wireless Telecommunication Services 5-digit NAICS industry | 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. Illustrative Examples: 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) |
| 517121 | Telecommunications Resellers 6-digit U.S. detail | This U.S. industry comprises establishments engaged in 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 and agents for wireless telecommunications services). Establishments in this industry resell telecommunications; they do not operate transmission facilities and infrastructure. Illustrative Examples: Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) (except agents) Pre-paid calling cards, telecommunications resellers Wired telecommunications resellers Wireless telecommunications resellers (except satellite telecommunications and agents) |
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Classification References
- 01Acting as agents for wireless telecommunications carriers and resellers--are classified in U.S. Industry 517122, Agents for Wireless Telecommunications Services;
- 02Operating and maintaining wired telecommunications networks--are classified in U.S. Industry 517111, Wired Telecommunications Carriers;
- 03Operating and maintaining wireless telecommunications networks--are classified in U.S. Industry 517112, Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite); and
- 04Reselling satellite telecommunications services--are classified in Industry 517410, Satellite Telecommunications.
Index Items
Long-distance telecommunication resellers (except satellite telecommunications)
Microwave telecommunication resellers
Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) (except agents)
Pre-paid calling cards, telecommunications resellers
Resellers, telecommunication (except satellite telecommunications and agents for wireless telecommunications services)
Telecommunications resellers (except satellite telecommunications and agents for wireless telecommunications services)
Telephone communications resellers (except satellite telecommunications and agents for wireless telecommunications services)
Wired telecommunication resellers
Wireless telecommunications resellers (except satellite telecommunications and agents)
How Item Can Help
Automates order processing and routing for high-volume direct-to-consumer sales, minimizing errors and accelerating delivery times for end customers.
Predicts demand fluctuations based on industry trends and historical sales data, enabling proactive stock adjustments and reduced carrying expenses.
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 517121.
Telecommunications for Business
The American Association of Telecom Operators provides resources and advocacy for telecommunications service providers and resellers.
Federal Communications Commission
The FCC regulates wholesale telecommunications services, including those provided by resellers to small businesses and consumers.
GSA eBuy
The General Services Administration's eBuy platform allows federal agencies to purchase telecommunications services from certified resellers.
