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iPhone Text Effects: Tips and Tricks
March 18, 2025
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Kentucky is known for a great many things—bourbon, horse racing, bluegrass music, basketball—but cell phone coverage is generally not one of them. But maybe it should be, since the state is extremely well covered by the 4G and 5G networks belonging to the three major carriers (Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T).
AT&T offers the most robust and wide-reaching 4G coverage in Kentucky, while T-Mobile delivers the most 5G. Verizon’s coverage is also reliable throughout the state.
There’s plenty of nuance to getting excellent coverage in Kentucky, so you’ll want to read on to learn about how to tap into the fastest and most reliable cell phone signal in the places you work, live, and play in the state.
Table of contents
What We Like
- Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T all offer solid cell phone coverage in Kentucky
- AT&T offers far and away the most 4G LTE coverage in the state, covering 76% of Kentucky’s 40,408 square miles
- T-Mobile wields that most wide-reaching basic 5G network in Kentucky, covering 40% of the state
What We Don't Like
- 5G coverage can be spotty in some of the more rural and mountainous regions of Kentucky, particularly in the Appalachian areas of the east.
- All three major carriers are still working to build out their respective enhanced, or fastest, 5G network in Kentucky
Verizon operates a wide-reaching 4G LTE network, and a small but growing 5G network, in Kentucky. Use the coverage map below to see whether Verizon offers a reliable signal in your specific area (we recommend zooming in).
Verizon 4G Coverage in Kentucky
Verizon’s 4G network covers an impressive 70% of Kentucky’s total area, a few percentage points behind leader AT&T. Translation? You’re likely to be able to stay connected to Verizon almost anywhere you go in the state.
Verizon 5G Coverage in Kentucky
Verizon’s 5G network is far more limited in scope in Kentucky than its 4G network. As of this writing, it spreads to only 11% of the state, though the carrier is aggressively expanding it as we speak. Use the map above to see whether Verizon’s 5G network is present in the places you spend time.
It should also be noted that in many cases, the 5G signal you get from Verizon may be superior to that of its competitors, since it’s partly made up of super-fast 5G Ultra-Wideband.
AT&T offers excellent and wide-ranging coverage throughout the state of Kentucky. The carrier’s 4G network covers an impressive 76% of the state, while its basic 5G network spreads to 36%.
AT&T 4G Coverage in Kentucky
AT&T delivers the most wide-ranging and reliable 4G coverage in Kentucky, outdoing competitors Verizon and T-Mobile. From Bowling Green to Lexington and all points between, you should mostly have no problem connecting to AT&T’s 4G network.
AT&T 5G Coverage in Kentucky
AT&T offers the second-most 5G coverage in Kentucky, as its network spreads to a solid 36% of the state. Some of this 5G 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 offers the most 5G coverage, and the third-most 4G coverage, in the state of Kentucky. If you’re looking to tap into the fastest network speeds, going with T-Mobile is a wise move indeed.
T-Mobile 4G Coverage in Kentucky
T-Mobile’s 4G network spans across 51% of Kentucky, which is less overall reach than both AT&T and Verizon. T-Mobile’s 4G network is present in all of Kentucky’s major and minor cities and towns, so you’re unlikely to experience any signal drops in those places.
T-Mobile 5G Coverage in Kentucky
T-Mobile wields the most powerful 5G network in Kentucky, covering 41% of the state’s 40,408 square miles. Better yet, a portion of this 5G coverage is made up of the carrier’s 5G Ultra Capacity network, which delivers incredibly fast speeds for latency-free browsing, streaming, and gaming.
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 Kentucky. 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 phone carrier offers the best service in Kentucky?
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AT&T delivers the most 4G LTE coverage in Kentucky, while competitor T-Mobile delivers the most 5G coverage throughout the Bluegrass State.
How do I find out the best cell coverage in my area of Kentucky?
To determine the best cell phone service in your area, we recommend taking a look at our 4G and 5G coverage maps and zooming in to inspect your local area.
Is Verizon good in Kentucky?
Yes, Verizon offers generally solid cell phone coverage in Kentucky. The carrier delivers the second-most 4G coverage, and the third-most 5G coverage, within the state.
Learn More Network Coverage Maps
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