Name

CellularOne

Legal name

Smith Bagley, Inc.

Website

https://mycellularone.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wireless Telecommunications Services

NAICS

Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (517112)

SIC

Radiotelephone Communications (4812)

akta.pro primary industry

Small Cells Infrastructure (Street-Level & Venue) (HDAIAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Private LTE/5G Mobile Network Operators (Campus/Industrial) (HDAIAAAE)

Keywords

• Wireless phone service
• Rural broadband internet
• Mobile carrier plans
• Tribal lifeline service
• Home internet access

Headquarters

HQ city

Show Low

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wireless Service Subscriptions: Monthly recurring revenue from cellular phone plans including contract plans, prepaid plans (FlexFone), and postpaid services. Plans include unlimited talk/text options and data packages.
2. Device Sales: Retail sales of mobile phones and devices including smartphones from Apple, Samsung, BLU, Motorola, and feature phones. Revenue from device hardware at various price points.
3. Lifeline Government Subsidies: Federal Lifeline program subsidies for qualified low-income subscribers on tribal lands. Free4Life and FreedomFone plans funded through Connect America Program and Lifeline Program.
4. Home Internet (AirMax): Residential high-speed internet services starting at $30/month, providing broadband connectivity to underserved rural areas.
5. Enterprise/Business Services: Dedicated internet services for businesses, E-Rate programs for schools and libraries, and managed IT services through Sunstate Technology Group.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CellularOne is a regional wireless carrier that sells cellular voice, text, and data plans, residential broadband internet, and mobile devices to consumers and businesses across Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, with a specialization in serving rural and tribal communities. The company operates its own wireless network infrastructure of 230+ cell sites covering 60,000 square miles and offers federal Lifeline-subsidized free service plans to qualifying low-income tribal residents.

Product overview

CellularOne is a regional mobile carrier and wireless service provider operating as a division of Smith Bagley, Inc., offering a unified portfolio of consumer and business communication services across Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. The core product portfolio centers on wireless voice and data plans including Lifeline-supported programs (Free4Life, Free4Life PLUS for tribal lands, FreedomFone for non-tribal areas), traditional Contract Plans, no-contract prepaid options (FlexFone, Naked Mobile), and residential broadband (AirMax Home Internet). Business services include E-Rate dedicated internet for educational institutions and Enterprise Dedicated Internet solutions. The company distributes a wide range of mobile devices including flagship smartphones (iPhone, Samsung Galaxy series, Motorola), feature phones, and budget devices from brands like BLU and Figo. The ecosystem is anchored by a network of retail stores providing local in-store support, with complementary services like handset protection, warranty centers, and troubleshooting support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Free4Life: Federal Lifeline program offering free data, talk, and text for qualified persons residing on qualifying Tribal lands in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.
• Free4Life PLUS
• FreedomFone
• AirMax Home Internet
• FlexFone
• PHOTON™ by SBi
• Sunstate Technology Group

Products and services

• Free4Life Lifeline Plan Federal Lifeline program offering free wireless service for qualified low-income individuals residing on qualifying Tribal lands in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. Includes unlimited talk, text, and 5GB of LTE data, plus a free PCD P65 smartphone with new activations during promotional periods.
• Free4Life PLUS Lifeline Plan Enhanced Lifeline program providing additional benefits beyond standard Free4Life for qualified customers on tribal lands in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.
• FreedomFone Plan Lifeline program for qualified low-income persons residing off Tribal Lands, providing discounted communication services.
• Contract Plans Traditional wireless service plans with 12-24 month contract terms offering discounts on latest smartphones, unlimited talk/text options, and data packages. Early termination fees apply.
• FlexFone Data Devices No-contract prepaid pay-as-you-go product operating when account has positive balance, with per-minute, text, and web access charges.
• AirMax Home Internet Residential high-speed internet service starting at $30 per month, providing broadband connectivity to underserved rural and tribal households across the Southwest.
• Naked Mobile Prepaid Affordable advance-pay prepaid mobile brand offering 30-day prepaid service without long-term contracts.
• E-Rate Dedicated Internet Business-grade dedicated internet access for schools and libraries, available in Arizona and New Mexico through the federal E-Rate program.
• Enterprise Dedicated Internet Business-grade dedicated internet connectivity for enterprise customers requiring reliable high-speed access in Arizona and New Mexico.
• Enterprise Dedicated Internet/Data Transport Data transport services for enterprise businesses requiring dedicated network capacity and transport solutions in Arizona and New Mexico.
• Sunstate Technology Group Managed IT Services Managed IT services and solutions for local governments, public safety workers, nonprofits, and mid to enterprise businesses in Arizona and New Mexico.
• PHOTON by SBi Fiber Infrastructure Fiber infrastructure division dedicated to building fiber connectivity on tribal lands, supporting broadband expansion for underserved communities.
• Mobile Devices (Smartphones and Feature Phones) Retail lineup of mobile phones and devices including flagship smartphones from Apple (iPhone 17, 17 Pro Max, SE 3rd Gen) and Samsung (Galaxy S25, S25 Ultra, Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, A15/A16 5G), Motorola (Moto G 2025, RAZR 2024), BLU (G74, G65L, G45, G35, K2, X5+, M8L), Figo feature phones, and PCD P65 smartphones offered free with Free4Life activation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Connected households on tribal lands increased from less than 40% (2000 Census) to about 90%
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• CTIA - The Wireless AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023CEO Judd Hinkle serves on the CTIA Board of Directors as one of 38 directors. CTIA is an international nonprofit organization representing the wireless communications industry since 1984. Hinkle brings unique perspective from serving underserved rural and tribal communities for almost 30 years.
• New Mexico Public Regulation CommissioncoreOthers · 1 December 2022New Mexico PRC awarded Cellular One 9 broadband projects including 6 new tower builds and 3 fiber upgrades. Fourth consecutive year of awards; 39 total projects since 2018. Goal to bring broadband internet to unserved and underserved communities statewide.
• Pendleton Woolen MillsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2022Partnership to raise awareness and funds for Missing & Murdered Diné Relatives and National Indigenous Women's Resource Center. Commissioned 'The Healing Blanket' designed by Navajo artist Leandra Yazzie. Blanket sold for $329 with 100% of proceeds donated. Raised $40,000 and sold out in 10 days.
• FCC Connect America ProgramcoreOthersFCC funding program supporting expansion of broadband and voice services to underserved rural communities. Combined with Lifeline Program to increase connected households on tribal lands from less than 40% to about 90%.
• FCC Lifeline ProgramcoreOthersFederal government benefit program helping make communication services more accessible for eligible individuals living on qualifying Tribal lands. Cellular One offers Free4Life and FreedomFone plans through this program.
• Smith Bagley Inc. (Parent Company)coreOthersSmith Bagley Inc. (SBi) is the parent company owning Cellular One, Naked Mobile, Sunstate Technology Group, and PHOTON by SBi fiber division. Almost 200 employees, many Native American. Serving communications needs of underserved rural communities and tribal lands in the Southwest for almost 30 years.
• Leandra Yazzie (Navajo Artist)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNavajo artist from Blue Gap, Arizona who designed 'The Healing Blanket' for the Cellular One and Pendleton partnership. Design features songbirds rising from Mother Earth with turquoise bands symbolizing Life and red bands for missing Native relatives.
• Tribal Leaders (Navajo Nation and Southwest Tribes)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with forward-thinking Tribal leaders over 3 decades to expand LTE voice and mobile broadband across tribal lands. Joint efforts have dramatically improved connectivity on tribal lands from less than 40% to about 90% of households.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Verizon Wireless: National tier-1 wireless carrier expanding its 5G and fixed wireless footprint into rural America. Competes with CellularOne for higher-ARPU contract and enterprise customers in the Southwest.
• T-Mobile US: National tier-1 carrier aggressively pushing 5G coverage and fixed wireless access into rural markets, including tribal and underserved geographies where CellularOne operates. Represents the principal national competitive threat.
• AT&T Mobility: National tier-1 wireless carrier with significant rural and tribal-land coverage in the Southwest. Competes head-to-head with CellularOne in Arizona and New Mexico but operates at vastly larger scale across a much broader product portfolio.

Direct peers

• Pioneer Telephone Cooperative: Oklahoma-based rural telephone cooperative offering wireless, wireline, and broadband services to underserved communities. Comparable as a rural-focused carrier with deep community roots and government-subsidized broadband expansion.
• Viaero Wireless: Privately held regional wireless carrier serving rural communities in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and surrounding states. Direct peer in the rural/underserved regional carrier segment with own network infrastructure.
• C Spire Wireless: Privately held regional wireless carrier serving the Southeast U.S. with own network, retail stores, and home internet/fiber services. Closely comparable as a privately held, regional, infrastructure-owning carrier competing against national incumbents.
• Shenandoah Telecommunications (Shentel): Regional US telecommunications company providing wireless (as a Sprint/T-Mobile partner and now post-sprint), fiber broadband, and cable services. Comparable as a regional carrier with fiber expansion and rural focus.
• Consumer Cellular: Wireless service provider focused on value-conscious and underserved customer segments (seniors, low-ARPU users), reselling on AT&T and T-Mobile networks. Comparable target customer profile (low-ARPU, value-focused) though operates as a reseller rather than network owner.
• U.S. Cellular: Regional U.S. wireless carrier with own network infrastructure focused on rural and small-market geographies. Highly comparable to CellularOne in operating model (owned macro network, retail footprint) though significantly larger and partially recently divested to T-Mobile.
• TracFone (Verizon): Largest U.S. prepaid wireless reseller targeting Lifeline and low-income customers, now owned by Verizon. Direct peer in the prepaid/Lifeline segment that overlaps heavily with CellularOne's Free4Life and FlexFone offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/c1liveconnected
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCLSLAenyALHObQ3CDiAO81g
• Facebookfacebook.com/cellularoneonline
• Instagraminstagram.com/cellular_one
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smith-bagley-inc-bda-cellular-one

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about CellularOne