Which cell phone provider has the best signal?
When it comes to choosing which cell phone provider is offering the best signal it can be quite taxing. With so many networks available in the market how do I know which of the available networks is the most reliable? The four major carriers in the United States include Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint: Below, I compare these carriers based on key factors to assist you in choosing a suitable plan for your location and requirements.
Network Coverage Area
In terms of raw numbers, Verizon trumps the others when it comes to the overall geographical coverage. According to Verizon, their network spans a coverage area of approximately 2.4 million square miles, and they advertise this as the largest 4G LTE network in America. Current coverage areas show that AT&T has an area of approximately 2,000,000 square miles while T-Mobile also has the same area coverage. Sprint’s LTE network is available across approximately 1.5 million square miles. So if you are a heavy user of your car mainly using it to travel in the rural areas or moving across the country often, then Verizon may be more reliable.
4G / LTE Availability
All major networks now have profound 4G LTE coverage which offers higher speed for download, streaming, and web surfing. According to OpenSignal’s latest report, T-Mobile users connect to LTE 86.5% of the time, followed by Verizon at 85%, AT&T at 77.4%, and Sprint at 76.3%. Thus T-Mobile is slightly ahead of the competition in terms of providing 4G networks for their customers at greater geographical coverage.
Network Speed
Verizon and T-Mobile remain at the top in terms of average download and upload speeds in the network. Another website called Open Signal recorded Verizon’s average LTE download speed at 29 Mbps while that of T-Mobile was 28 Mbps. AT&T delivered an average of 27 Mbps while Sprint could only achieve 19 Mbps. It is however important to note that network speeds can differ from one place to the other as well as depending on the traffic in the network.
Network Reliability
Other than arbitrarily comparing the size of the geographical coverage area and raw speed of the networks, the average customer just wants to know how frequently they can look forward to getting a good strong signal for voice calls and data transfers. Hence, RootMetrics undertakes rigorous testing across various carriers with an emphasis on the entire network performance. For the period up to the first half of 2022, they rated network reliability with Verizon as the most reliable followed by AT&T and T-Mobile in a tense second position while Sprint was rated as the least reliable. Verizon has ranked highest in reliability testing for 15 straight testing periods. And when it comes to reliability – and consistency, Verizon is on the top level for sure.
5G Availability
The subsequent generation of mobile data is 5G which can offer higher speeds, less latency, and more concurrent connection of devices. This technology is still rather fresh though, so the geographical reach is quite small. OpenSignal discovered that T-Mobile today has the broadest 5G availability, and is available to its customers 34.7% of the time. However, Verizon 5G, which is not available as widely as T-Mobile 5G, offered much higher average 5G download speeds where it was available, 495 Mbps vs. 118 Mbps. This is likely to be another area of differentiation over the next 2-3 years as 5G coverage increases across multiple regions.
Pricing and Plans
The price range is fairly large depending on the amount of data needed, if the plan includes mobile hotspot service and the number of lines on the account. In general, Sprint and T-Mobile have always provided more affordable plans for unlimited data at around $60-70 a month than AT&T Internet and Verizon’s $80-$90 a month. Nevertheless, comparing the coverage area with the price offered, Verizon is still reasonably close to being a budget carrier. Promotional discounts are also good to consider as the major carriers tend to offer switcher savings campaigns periodically.
The Best Carrier Overall
Thus, taking into consideration all the criteria mentioned above, such as network coverage, speed, and reliability, as well as the availability of the next-generation 5G services, Verizon is recognized as the best overall carrier in most of the regions. Verizon comes second with AT&T, especially in the rural regions where Verizon has one of the best coverage networks. Nevertheless, it is wise to geo-map your precise requirements because T-Mobile may offer affordable unlimited plans but be weaker in areas such as densely populated cities. Consider how you and your business use location, as well as your budget, to decide what is best for you. And always remember to look at the carrier coverage maps when choosing your plan. Thus, reading about the latest technology investments in networks will help you decide which provider meets your connectivity needs now and in the 5G era.
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