Risks and impact of handset financing: lessons from the US

Download the Report
Complete the form below to get instant access to this report. For easier access in the future, you can register for a free account here.
Please sign in or register for a free public account to access this report.
GSMA Intelligence is today publishing a research note on the impact of handset financing, specifically drawing on the US for implications for operators.
Since the launch of handset financing plans in 2013, the US market has rapidly embraced the schemes over the traditional subsidy model of mobile contracts. In addition to equipment instalment plans, handset financing in the US has evolved to include leasing models, adding a further layer of complexity for operators in terms of implementation and accounting impact. Handset financing fundamentally changes the way operators book their revenue and costs, and as a result has heavily affected operators’ top-line financials.
Although the US market is unique in many respects, operators in other markets should be aware of the factors that drove the adoption of handset financing in the US, and the implications if it is used as a competitive lever in their domestic markets.
Related research
Smartphone vendor market shares: concentration varies by region, leaving opportunities to challenge established players
OEM smartphone market shares vary significantly by region and country, offering opportunities to smaller vendors to challenge established players and gain new customers. This report provides granular data on smartphone market shares at global, regional and country levels. The data can be used to formulate or adjust commercial strategies for customer growth and market priorities.
OEMs in Focus: Smartphone Market Shares Dashboard 2025 by region and country
This dashboard provides granular data on OEM smartphone market shares, highlighting leaders, followers and challengers in each country and region, and at the global level. It is a valuable asset not only for OEMs looking to adjust their growth strategies and targets, but also for other players whose businesses heavily rely on smartphone dynamics, including operators and providers of digital services.
Industry Checkpoint: consumer eSIM, Q3 2025
As the telecoms industry and wider digital ecosystem evolve at an unprecedented rate, regularly assessing major developments and their implications is more important than ever. This edition of the Industry Checkpoint series focuses on consumer eSIM, highlighting how the market has changed in the last six months and its implications.
Authors
How to access this report
Annual subscription: Subscribe to our research modules for comprehensive access to more than 200 reports per year.
Enquire about subscriptionContact our research team
Get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis.
Contact our research teamMedia
To cite our research, please see our citation policy in our Terms of Use, or contact our Media team for more information.
Learn moreRelated research
Smartphone vendor market shares: concentration varies by region, leaving opportunities to challenge established players
OEM smartphone market shares vary significantly by region and country, offering opportunities to smaller vendors to challenge established players and gain new customers. This report provides granular data on smartphone market shares at global, regional and country levels. The data can be used to formulate or adjust commercial strategies for customer growth and market priorities.
OEMs in Focus: Smartphone Market Shares Dashboard 2025 by region and country
This dashboard provides granular data on OEM smartphone market shares, highlighting leaders, followers and challengers in each country and region, and at the global level. It is a valuable asset not only for OEMs looking to adjust their growth strategies and targets, but also for other players whose businesses heavily rely on smartphone dynamics, including operators and providers of digital services.
Industry Checkpoint: consumer eSIM, Q3 2025
As the telecoms industry and wider digital ecosystem evolve at an unprecedented rate, regularly assessing major developments and their implications is more important than ever. This edition of the Industry Checkpoint series focuses on consumer eSIM, highlighting how the market has changed in the last six months and its implications.
- 200 reports a year
- 50 million data points
- Over 350 metrics