What Network Does Cox Mobile Use?

If you clicked through to this article and are just looking for a quick answer, we’ll get right to it—Cox Mobile provides wireless service via towers on Verizon’s network. Many of today’s mobile providers employ a similar model; for instance, Spectrum, Xfinity, and Optimum all use Verizon towers, too. Meanwhile, Cricket Wireless uses the AT&T network and Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile’s network. 

Many companies like Cox that were originally cable providers are now adding wireless to their offerings by leasing access to towers on the networks of either AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, or UScellular. Companies like Cox Mobile that don’t own their network and provide wireless service via another provider network are called MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators). In this post, we’ll discuss how Cox mobile plans work, the type of coverage you can expect from Cox on the Verizon network, and where Cox Mobile is available.

The third largest cable Internet provider in the US, with services across 19 states and 23.3 million people, Cox ventured into the wireless service industry in 2022 under the name Cox Mobile.

If you’re a Cox customer or are thinking about switching, you might wonder how their service works and how good it is. You’re in the right place. We’ll cover everything you need to know including Cox Mobile coverage to plan options and more. Curious about the best Cox Mobile deals available now? Navi keeps track of that too.

If you’re still deciding which plan is best for you, try our free, unbiased Plan Finder to find the right cell phone plan based on your criteria in a matter of seconds.

Cox Mobile Network

Cox has a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) agreement with Verizon. Basically, an MVNO is a company that doesn’t own its own licensing or towers but sells mobile services using another provider’s cellular network and licensing.

For the MVNO, it saves the costs associated with licensing as well as building and maintaining the network. Rather than building networks from the ground up, which is costly and takes a long time, they use an already established network. This is how MVNOs, like Cox, are able to provide their customers with savings.

In this case, Cox uses Verizon’s licensing and network. They first launched in the fall of 2022 and have been aggressively adding to the variety of devices their service supports.   

Cox Mobile Coverage

Since Cox Mobile provides wireless service via Verizon's network and Verizon offers nationwide coverage, Cox Mobile does as well. You can expect the same level of 4G LTE and 5G coverage with Cox Mobile as you’d get with Verizon (assuming your phone is 5G-compatible). To check Cox Mobile coverage, use the Verizon coverage map below as a proxy.

Cox Mobile Requirements

Cox ONLY offers mobile service to Cox Internet customers. If you’re not a current Cox home Internet customer, Cox Mobile cell phone plans are not available to you. If you are a customer, or if it’s offered in your area and you might consider switching/purchasing, keep reading.

Cox Mobile Pros & Cons

One of the biggest perks of an MVNO is the price break. More and more cable companies are entering the mix. Providers like Optimum Mobile, Xfinity Mobile, and Spectrum Mobile offer less expensive mobile plans than the big three wireless providers.

You do need to look over what exactly each provider offers, the coverage, and any limitations or constraints to their plans.

For example, Cox Mobile doesn’t offer as much premium data as the big three providers. Plus, after you’ve used up your monthly premium data, Cox slows your data speeds—that’s a key difference between MVNOs and traditional network operators. 

Cox Mobile Phone Plans

Cox offers one unlimited plan called Cox Mobile Gig Unlimited and a capped plan option called Cox Mobile Pay As You Gig.

Cox Mobile Gig Unlimited

You might be wondering if the Cox Gig Unlimited plan is a good option for you. The short answer is that it depends on your data usage. If you’re looking for a no-frills, budget-friendly-unlimited plan and you don’t have high data needs, Cox’s Gig Unlimited could be a great fit. For example, if you talk or text within the US and don’t use your phone for video streaming or online gaming, this plan has you covered.

But if you use your cell phone to binge-watch your favorite shows, spend hours surfing the web, post a lot on social media, or do other things that eat up data fast, this might not be the plan for you. 

It’s important to know that while Cox Mobile Gig Unlimited does give you unlimited data, it’s not all premium data. Once you reach the premium data allotment for a given month, your speed slows significantly. Basically, you’re stuck with speeds that are reminiscent of 3G until the next month’s billing cycle begins.

Check out our full guide to Cox Mobile Gig Unlimited for a deeper dive into plan details. 

Remember, finding your fit starts with understanding how much data you need. If Cox Mobile Gig Unlimited offers enough data for you, it’s well worth considering. If not, you might want to compare it to what the big three carriers have to offer with our overviews for Verizon unlimited plans, T-Mobile unlimited plans, and AT&T unlimited plans.

Cox Pay As You Gig

As the name suggests, with Cox Pay As You Gig, you pay by the Gigabyte. If you’re a light phone user who only needs a couple of GBs per month, then this is a great deal. But, beware of going over your GBs—that’s when this plan will cost you—which is easy to do if you use your phone for high-data activities like surfing the web, scrolling social media, watching videos, or online gaming. In other words, this Cox Pay As You Gig is best for those who don’t use their phones for anything much other than talking and texting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cox Mobile Good?

For Cox home Internet customers looking to bundle their services and save, Cox Mobile is a good option. Since Cox does not operate its own network and resells service from the Verizon network, Cox coverage network is essentially the same as Verizon. The caveat? Just make sure that the amount of data Cox offers meets your usage needs. Another important factor to consider is whether you travel internationally or want perks with your phone plan in which case you want to consider other carriers.

Is Cox 4G or 5G?

Cox Mobile runs on the Verizon network offering both 4G and 5G coverage. In order to enjoy Cox Mobile 5G coverage, you must be a Cox Mobile and home Internet customer, have a 5G enabled phone, and be within the vicinity of a Verizon 5G network tower.

What Is an MVNO?

As noted earlier in this article, an MVNO uses another provider’s network and licensing (in this case, Verizon). For Cox, this gives them the opportunity to deliver more services to their existing customers, bundling mobile with Internet service. The pros of an MVNO are price, price, and price. But, there are a few possible cons depending on your usage needs.   

• Cap on data plans: Once you run out of premium data, expect slower data speeds. Where any of the big three will only slow down minimally, and MVNO slows down to 3G, which is a big decrease for users who’ve grown accustomed to 4G and higher.
•  Fewer perks: MVNOs don’t offer the incentives that the big three offer customers, such as streaming subscriptions, phone upgrade deals, and more.       
• Not available everywhere: Cox Internet is available in a little under half of the states in the US. Since you have to be a Cox Internet customer to enroll in a Cox Mobile plan, you may not have access where you live or may not be able to keep your Cox Mobile service if you move outside of Cox’s home Internet coverage area.

The Bottom Line

As an MVNO, Cox Mobile uses the Verizon network. For customers, this means the same nationwide coverage you’d enjoy as a Verizon customer. While the coverage areas are the same, there are perks to being a Verizon customer including more premium data and less reduction in speeds once you’ve exceeded your premium data for the month. That said, if Cox Mobile plans meet your data needs, the price is right.

Wondering if Cox is a good fit for you? It would be an excellent choice if you’re already a Cox Internet customer or interested in switching to them. If you’re someone who uses little data or you’re okay with a greater slowdown after reaching your data limit.

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