Apple

Apple does not build large scale infrastructure networks and keep them backwards compatible for decades. It’s a totally different business.

Because Apple isn’t stupid. There’s no money in being an ISP unless you’re willing to do things Apple doesn’t want to be perceived as doing.

Apple had eWorld — that was their last foray into being an ISP, and is likely to stay that way for the foreseeable future.

The solid decision to stay out of that business was made when Jobs signed the deal with AT&T for the iPhone. Apple handles the device. AT&T handles the network. This ensured iPhone would not get bogged down by carrier software, branding, etc.

By contrast, Android launched on carrier devices, like the T-Mobile G1 and Verizon Droid, and Google has gotten deeper into those devices over the years, from app stores to messaging. Taking on the carrier role is in line with that creep and Google’s mission to access and use the world’s information.

The better question is why would they?

it's a vastly different type of business. It's more like building roads than consumer electroinics.

Laying down the Infrastructure for that would be extremely costly, and would cause the line to go down momentarily. Even for a WISP, it's a lot more work for not a lot of pay off.