TDS Telecommunications

What TDS Telecommunications does

TDS Telecommunications LLC is the wireline operating subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE: TDS), providing fiber-optic broadband, video, voice, and mobile services to residential and small-business customers across more than 25 U.S. states. Founded in the late 1960s and headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, the company focuses on rural and suburban markets that are typically under-served by national carriers, deploying fiber-to-the-premises infrastructure to approximately 1.1 million service addresses and serving roughly 1.2 million connections. Its revenue model is built on recurring monthly service fees for bundled telecom products, supplemented by federal subsidies under the FCC's Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model (E-ACAM) program that underwrite rural buildouts.

TDS generates revenue through a multi-product subscription model in which subscribers typically take fiber broadband combined with one or more of video, voice, and (since 2025) mobile service. The underlying technology is a proprietary owned-and-operated fiber-to-the-premises access network fed by regional middle-mile transport, with mobile service delivered as a 5G MVNO-style offering enabled by its former UScellular wireless spectrum and roaming partnerships. Capital allocation is oriented toward incremental fiber build (approximately 140,000 new marketable addresses added in 2025), disciplined bolt-on M&A (such as the 2026 Granite State Communications acquisition), and selective divestitures of non-core wireline markets (such as the 2025 Oklahoma exit). The company employs between 1,001 and 5,000 people and reports quarterly financials through its publicly listed parent, with Q1 2026 revenue of $309.5M (+7% YoY) and Q4 2025 revenue of $330.7M (+12% YoY).

Name

TDS Telecommunications

Legal name

TDS Telecommunications LLC

Website

https://tdstelecom.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

TDS Telecommunications is a Madison, Wisconsin-based fiber broadband, video, voice, and mobile provider serving approximately 1.2 million residential and small-business connections across more than 25 U.S. states, with a strategic focus on rural and suburban markets underserved by national carriers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Telecommunications Services

NAICS

Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111), Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) (5171)

SIC

Telephone Communications (No Radiotelephone) (4813), Cable & Other Pay Television Services (4841)

akta.pro primary industry

Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Operators (HDAIACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fiber ISPs (FTTH/FTTP Retail Providers) (HDAIADAE), Rural & Universal Service Fixed Broadband Providers (HDAIABAJ)

Keywords

• Fiber internet services
• Broadband telecommunications
• Residential phone service
• IP television
• Business VoIP solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Residential Internet Services: Subscription-based residential fiber and high-speed internet services with tiered pricing based on speed (200Mbps to 8Gig)
2. TV Services (TDS TV+): IP-based television services with live TV, streaming integration, premium channels, and DVR functionality
3. Home Phone Services: Traditional and VoIP landline services with unlimited calling plans and international calling options
4. Mobile Services (TDS Mobile): Mobile phone services with nationwide 5G coverage, unlimited talk and text, offered as standalone or bundled with internet
5. Business Solutions: VoIP advanced communications, dedicated internet service, data networking, and hosted-managed services for business customers
6. Service Enhancements: Additional services including home internet security, remote PC support, and Wi-Fi equipment rental

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TDS Telecommunications sells fiber-optic broadband internet (200 Mbps to 8 Gig symmetrical speeds), TDS TV+ IP television, traditional home phone and VoIP, TDS Mobile 5G wireless, and whole-home Wi-Fi to residential households and small-to-medium businesses across 25+ U.S. states. Bundled subscription offerings, dedicated business connectivity, and equipment rentals form the core revenue drivers, with service delivered over a privately operated fiber-to-the-premises network.

Product overview

TDS Telecommunications LLC is a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. that delivers high-speed internet, TV entertainment, and phone services to residential and business customers in rural and suburban communities across the U.S. The company's product portfolio centers on Fiber Internet (with tiers ranging from 200Mbps to 8Gig), TDS TV+ (an IP-based television solution integrating live TV and streaming apps), Home Phone (traditional landline service with calling features), and TDS Mobile (5G mobile service). Additional offerings include TDS Whole-Home Wi-Fi, TDS Internet Security Suite, and TDS Wi-Fi+ as enhancement modules, with TDS Business Solutions providing enterprise-grade fiber internet, VoIP, and data networking services. The company serves 1.1-1.2 million connections and operates primarily through its main website at tdstelecom.com, with complementary properties including TDSfiber.com, mobile.tdstelecom.com, blog.tdstelecom.com, and tdsbusiness.com.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TDS TV+: IP-based TV entertainment solution integrating live TV and streaming apps into one device with one remote
• TDS Whole Home Wi-Fi
• TDS Connect
• TDS Mobile
• TDSfiber.com
• TDS Connect Blog
• TDS Business

Products and services

• Fiber Internet High-speed fiber-optic internet service offering symmetrical download and upload speeds up to 8 Gigabit (with tiers from 200 Mbps, 1 Gig, 2 Gig, to 8 Gig), unlimited data, no-contract options, and 24/7 technical support, targeted at residential customers in rural and suburban markets.
• TDS TV+

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% reliability for fiber internet connections
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Hilliary CommunicationsminorOthers · 16 July 2025Hilliary Communications acquired TDS Telecom's Oklahoma network operations in H2 2025. The deal added nearly 35,000 locations to Hilliary's rural service footprint across Oklahoma, Texas, and Iowa, with Hilliary investing over $250 million to upgrade acquired networks with fiber-to-the-home infrastructure. TDS divested these operations to focus on core fiber operations.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Brightspeed: Fiber overbuilder targeting mid-size and rural markets in 20 states, formed from Lumen's divestiture. Pursues a fiber-first, rural-suburban strategy nearly identical to TDS Telecom's, competing directly for the same address pool and federal funding.
• Consolidated Communications: Fiber and broadband provider serving rural, suburban, and small/mid-market business customers across 20+ states with bundled voice, video, and data. Similar footprint strategy and product mix to TDS, recently taken private and pursuing aggressive fiber upgrades.
• Frontier Communications: Large fiber-to-the-home and traditional telephone operator serving primarily rural and suburban markets across the U.S. Frontier's mix of fiber overbuild, copper-to-fiber upgrades, and residential bundling (internet/TV/phone) closely mirrors TDS Telecom's strategy and customer profile.
• Windstream (Kinetic): Fiber and copper-based broadband provider serving rural and small-town communities across 18 states. Similar customer demographics, fiber buildout strategy, and bundle of internet/TV/phone make it one of the closest operating comps to TDS Telecom.
• Ziply Fiber: Fiber operator in the Pacific Northwest focused on replacing legacy copper with FTTH in rural and suburban markets. Highly comparable in technology stack, customer segments, and growth-via-fiber-build narrative.
• ALLO Fiber: Fiber-to-the-premises operator serving communities in Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona, and other Midwestern markets. Newly hired CEO Shane West (ex-TDS COO) reinforces the operational comparability in fiber build, business model, and customer profile.

Broad incumbents

• Lumen Technologies: Diversified incumbent telecom with fiber-based consumer and enterprise services (Quantum Fiber) and significant wholesale/enterprise network assets. Overlaps with TDS in residential fiber and business VoIP/data networking but operates at much larger scale with broader enterprise focus.
• AT&T: National incumbent offering AT&T Fiber (multi-gig FTTH), wireless, video, and business services nationwide. Competes head-on with TDS in residential fiber and business connectivity, particularly in markets where AT&T expands its fiber footprint.

Regional players

• altafiber (formerly Cincinnati Bell): Regional fiber operator serving the Cincinnati metro and surrounding Ohio/Kentucky/Indiana markets with FTTH internet, video, and voice. Comparable as a fiber-first regional incumbent with a similar residential/business split, though geographically narrower than TDS.

Emerging players

• Metronet (now part of AT&T): Fiber overbuilder expanding rapidly across mid-size U.S. markets, acquired by AT&T in 2025. Comparable as a pure-play fiber ISP, now with the backing of a national incumbent seeking to compete with TDS in suburban geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tdstelecom
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TDSTelecommunication
• Facebookfacebook.com/TDSTelecommunications
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tds-telecommunications-corp
• Instagraminstagram.com/tds.telecom

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A9 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TDS Telecommunications