Verizon offers the best 4G coverage in Alabama, reaching 84% of the state’s 52,419 square miles. However, it ranks third in 5G coverage (29%) by a considerable margin.
Verizon 4G Coverage in Alabama
Verizon’s 4G LTE coverage spreads across 84% of Alabama, beating out competitors AT&T and Verizon. If you’re a Verizon customer, there are very few parts of the state where you can’t get coverage. That being said, AT&T isn’t far behind with 82% coverage.
Verizon 5G Coverage in Alabama
Verizon’s 5G network covers just 29% of the state, which puts it behind AT&T and T-Mobile in 5G coverage. However, Verizon is aggressively working on expanding its 5G footprint, bringing 5G coverage to more people every year.
It’s also worth noting that Verizon provides its enhanced and ultra-fast 5G, known as 5G Ultra-Wideband, to a percentage of those covered by its 5G network. This improved 5G is great for gaming, video calling, and streaming.
AT&T offers dependable coverage in Alabama. Its 4G LTE network covers 82% of the state, while its 5G network covers 38%.
AT&T 4G Coverage in Alabama
AT&T’s 4G LTE network reaches 82% of the state, just a couple percentage points behind Verizon. Unless you’re in a very remote part of Alabama, you should have no problem staying connected to AT&T’s network.
AT&T 5G Coverage in Alabama
AT&T’s 5G network covers over a third of Alabama, reaching 38% of the state. While AT&T’s 5G network isn’t as wide-reaching as T-Mobile, it beats out Verizon by a healthy margin. Plus, AT&T provides an ultra-fast version of its 5G, called 5G+, to a subset of those in reach of its 5G network.
T-Mobile’s 5G network is the best in Alabama, covering close to half (44%) of the state. Its 4G network is the third-widest, reaching 55% of Alabama. Both its 4G and 5G networks are present in the state’s more populated areas, so you should have no problem staying connected to T-Mobile in those places.
T-Mobile 4G Coverage in Alabama
T-Mobile’s 4G network covers about half (55%) of Alabama, ranking it third behind AT&T and Verizon. However, even though T-Mobile’s 4G coverage is the weakest of the Big Three carriers, most residents of Alabama will still receive a signal, as the network covers the state's populated areas
T-Mobile 5G Coverage in Alabama
T-Mobile’s 5G network covers 44% of the state, making it the best 5G network in Alabama. T-Mobile has focused on expanding its 5G coverage and it shows, outstripping competitors Verizon and AT&T. Some of those covered by T-Mobile’s 5G network can also access its enhanced 5G network, which T-Mobile calls 5G Ultra Capacity.
While AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile are the most popular carrier options in Alabama, they’re not the only ones. Many smaller carriers also operate in Alabama, offering comparable coverage at competitive prices. These mobile virtual network operators, known as MVNOs, work by leasing network capacity from the Big Three, so consumers can get similar coverage as they’d get from AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile, at a great price.
For example, an MVNO like Spectrum Mobile allows its customers to access coverage from Verizon’s network. Here’s a cheatsheet of the most popular MVNOs in Alabama, including which networks they use:
Things to Know about Cell Phone Coverage
Cell Phone Coverage Speeds
When it comes to cell phone coverage, you don’t just need a cellular signal—you need that signal to provide adequate speed. That’s why it’s important to distinguish between 4G and 5G coverage in your area. In general, 5G provides faster speeds and greater reliability than 4G. However, that’s not always the case, as there may be instances when the speeds of these respective coverage types are actually quite similar.
How to Get the Best Cell Phone Coverage
There’s more to getting the best coverage than just signing up with the carrier that offers reliable service in the places you spend time. These include:
- Your phone: The newer and more cutting edge your device, the more likely you’ll be able to tap into the fastest speeds. Some older phones don’t have the built-in technology to connect to the fastest 5G bands, resulting in slower service. The newest 5G devices, like the Apple iPhone 16 or Samsung Galaxy S24 series don’t have this problem.
- Your software: It’s important to make sure your software is up to date, as an out-of-date operating system can translate to an inability to connect to the fastest network speeds.
- Your cell phone plan: Depending on the mobile plan you have, your data may experience deprioritization during times of network congestion. If this is consistently happening to you, it may be worth investigating whether you can sign up for a plan that includes more premium (i.e. un-deprioritized) data.
- Your location: Certain types of coverage, like high-band 5G, has difficulty penetrating solid materials, like concrete walls. As simple as it may sound, moving to an unobstructed location may help you connect to these fast networks more reliably.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The best wireless service in Alabama is Verizon for 4G coverage and T-Mobile for 5G coverage. However, AT&T is a close second in both categories, so it’s worth checking our coverage maps and comparing prices to get the best deal with the most reliable coverage.
The best way to check which network is best in your area is by carefully looking at coverage maps for the carriers you're considering to make sure you’ll get a strong signal in the places where you live and work.
The cell phone carrier with the strongest signal in Alabama is Verizon for 4G LTE coverage and T-Mobile for 5G coverage. Verizon’s 4G network covers 84% of Alabama, while T-Mobile’s 5G network covers 44%.
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