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iPhone Text Effects: Tips and Tricks
March 18, 2025
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Cell phone coverage in Alaska is famously spotty. Its remote, rugged geography makes it logistically difficult to erect cellular towers in, and the major carriers have very limited network footprints in the state.
Fortunately for Alaskans, regional carrier GCI maintains a broader network in the state, which the major carriers have roaming agreements with. In this article, we’ll delve into the situation further, with the latest coverage statistics, so you can find the best cell phone coverage for your area of Alaska.
Table of contents
What We Like
- AT&T and Verizon maintain their own 4G networks in Alaska that cover its major cities and towns
- AT&T is the only major carrier to operate its own 5G network in Alaska, which encompasses Anchorage, Fairbanks, and some smaller outlying cities
What We Don't Like
- Alaska can be a challenging place to maintain a cell phone signal in, as the major carriers have relatively small 4G and 4G networks in the state (or none at all)
- T-Mobile is absent from Alaska, and has no native network in the state. Instead, the carrier has a roaming agreement with local provider GCI
By the numbers, Verizon offers the second-most 4G coverage in Alaska, but hasn’t rolled out 5G coverage in the state as of this writing. Wherever you’re beyond the Verizon network in the state, you’ll be subject to domestic roaming, but won’t be charged extra for it.
Verizon 4G Coverage in Alaska
Verizon’s 4G LTE network covers 2% of Alaska’s massive 665,384 square miles, most of it around the major cities of Anchorage, Valdez, Fairbanks, Juneau, and Sitka.
Verizon 5G Coverage in Alaska
While this may change, at present Verizon hasn’t built any 5G infrastructure in Alaska, and doesn’t offer any 5G coverage in the state. There’s no word as to whether the nation’s largest carrier has plans to make 5G inroads into Alaska in the near future.
Outside of local carrier GCI, AT&T offers the most 4G and 5G coverage in Alaska.
AT&T 4G Coverage in Alaska
AT&T’s 4G network covers 4% of Alaska, a full 2% more than Verizon. AT&T's 4G coverage encompasses the greater Anchorage, Valdez, Fairbanks, Delta Junction, Juneau, and Sitka areas, as well as the outlying Nome and Bethel locales.
AT&T 5G Coverage in Alaska
AT&T’s 5G network currently extends to 1% of Alaska. This includes a good portion of the Homer - Kenai - Anchorage - Palmer stretch, not to mention Fairbanks, Valdez, and Juneau.
Better yet, a portion of this coverage is made up of the carrier’s so-called 5G+ spectrum, which delivers super-fast speeds, low latency times, and enhanced reliability.
T-Mobile has opted not to build out any of its own network infrastructure in Alaska, instead establishing a roaming agreement with GCI. This means that if you have T-Mobile service, you can still use your phone in the state, you’ll just be roaming aboard the GCI network (at no extra charge).
While we’ve outlined cell phone coverage from the three major U.S. cell phone carriers, it’s important to know that you aren’t limited to these companies if you need cell phone service in Alaska. A variety of smaller carriers, or MVNOs, also operate in the state, allowing you to sign up for equivalent plans, with similar coverage, for less than you’d otherwise pay.
All of these carriers lease from the aforementioned major carrier networks to provide coverage to their customers. If you’re signed up with Spectrum Mobile, for example, you’ll have access to Verizon coverage, since the carrier runs on that network. Here are some popular MVNOs, and the networks they operate on:
Boost Mobile
Metro by T-Mobile
Networks they use
Metro by T-Mobile
Networks they use
Optimum Mobile
Spectrum Mobile
Cox Mobile
Straight Talk
Networks they use
Cricket
Networks they use
Visible
Networks they use
Google Fi
Networks they use
Xfinity Mobile
Mint Mobile
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.
Our methodology
We sourced our cell phone coverage metrics from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which collects data voluntarily submitted by the four major national carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, UScellular). Read More
The FCC incorporates standardized propagation model assumptions into its data, and notes that a user’s actual experience may vary based on end-use factors like network congestion and terrain. Read Less
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which cell phone services work in Alaska?
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Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile—along with local carrier GCI—all work in Alaska.
Can I use my U.S. phone in Alaska?
Yes, you can use your U.S. phone in Alaska, as service in the state is considered domestic. That means you can use your Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile phone in Alaska.
Is Alaska included in Verizon plans?
Yes, Alaska is considered part of your domestic cell phone service plan with Verizon, and you won’t be charged extra for using your phone in the state.
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