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iPhone Text Effects: Tips and Tricks
March 18, 2025
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The Bayou State is one of the most geographically unique states in the country, a singular mix of marshland, swamp, and plains situated along the Southern Panhandle. You’d assume that this kind of terrain would present a challenge to getting reliable cell service, but in fact all three major carriers offer surprisingly good cell phone coverage throughout the state.
AT&T offers the most combined cell phone coverage in Louisiana, though Verizon and T-Mobile hold their own when it comes to 4G and 5G, respectively. That said, coverage in your specific area of Louisiana may be a different story—and that’s where our coverage maps come in.
Read on as we break down the coverage statistics from Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, and show you how to use our interactive maps to check coverage in your particular area.
Table of contents
What We Like
- Louisiana’s major cities, including New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport, have strong coverage from AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon’s 4G and 5G networks
- AT&T offers the broadest 5G network (57%) and 4G LTE network (77%) in Louisiana
- Verizon’s 4G network covers 75% of the state, making it a strong competitor to AT&T in areas where 5G isn’t available
What We Don't Like
- Rural areas in Louisiana, like the gulf-side parishes, tend to have weaker coverage
- Verizon’s 5G coverage is limited, reaching only 11% of Louisiana
- In the northern half of the state, there are areas that Verizon and T-Mobile don’t cover at all with either 4G LTE or 5G networks
Verizon provides the second-most 4G coverage in Louisiana, covering 69% of the state’s total area, but only the third-most basic 5G coverage (11%).
Verizon 4G Coverage in Louisiana
Verizon’s 4G network spans across 69% of Louisiana, making the carrier one of the most reliable options for coverage in the state. While coverage may be patchy in more remote areas, much of Louisiana benefits from solid Verizon 4G service.
Verizon 5G Coverage in Louisiana
Verizon’s 5G network is limited, covering just 11% of the state. This is significantly lower than AT&T’s 5G footprint and behind T-Mobile’s 5G network.
While Verizon’s 5G network in Louisiana is more limited in reach than its competitors, the carrier is aggressively expanding it, bringing faster speeds to more areas each year. Plus, once Verizon’s 5G reaches your area, you may be able to access Verizon’s super-fast 5G Ultra-Wideband network and experience even faster speeds than AT&T’s or T-Mobile’s 5G networks.
AT&T’s 4G LTE and 5G networks are the widest-reaching in Louisiana, with broad coverage and fast speeds in almost all of the state. AT&T’s 4G network provides coverage for 77% of the state, while its 5G network covers 57% of Louisiana.
AT&T 4G Coverage in Louisiana
AT&T’s 4G LTE network covers an impressive 77% of the state, making it the most widely-available compared to T-Mobile and Verizon. Even in many rural regions, AT&T offers strong coverage, with very little of the state left without any signal.
AT&T 5G Coverage in Louisiana
AT&T’s 5G network spans 57% of Louisiana, besting the likes of both Verizon and T-Mobile. A good percentage of this is made up of the carrier’s so-called 5G+ spectrum, which delivers ultra-fast speeds and low latency for a smooth gaming, streaming, and browsing experience.
In Louisiana, T-Mobile provides the second-widest 5G network, and the third-widest 4G network. Its 5G network offers coverage for 47% of Louisiana, while its 4G network only reaches a little over half the state at 54%.
T-Mobile 4G Coverage in Louisiana
T-Mobile’s 4G network covers just over half (54%) of Louisiana, putting it below both AT&T and Verizon. That being said, T-Mobile’s 4G coverage still provides a signal in most big cities and towns in Louisiana. Outside of the most rural residents of Louisiana, T-Mobile could still be a good option.
T-Mobile 5G Coverage in Louisiana
T-Mobile’s 5G network is the second-best in the state, covering well over a third of Louisiana (47%). Compared to AT&T’s 5G network (59%), it’s less wide-ranging, but it’s much broader than Verizon’s 5G network (18%). Like AT&T and Verizon, T-Mobile offers an enhanced 5G network to certain areas in Louisiana, known as 5G Ultra Capacity. Over half of T-Mobile’s 5G network is this super-fast, low-latency signal.
AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile are certainly the best-known carriers in Louisiana, but there are more options to choose from. In Louisiana, you can choose from a selection of smaller carriers, too – and these can provide similar coverage for great prices, so they’re worth checking out.
These smaller carriers (called mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs) lease network access from AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile instead of building their own towers. This lets consumers access the same coverage as they’d get from the Big Three for a competitive price. For example, Boost Mobile leases from both AT&T and T-Mobile networks, so Boost Mobile customers can access AT&T and T-Mobile networks. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular MVNOs, plus which networks they access:
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
Is T-Mobile service good in Louisiana?
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Yes, T-Mobile’s service is good in Louisiana. Its 5G network is the second-widest in the state. However, its 4G LTE coverage doesn’t reach as far as AT&T or Verizon’s networks.
Which cell phone carrier has the strongest signal?
AT&T is definitely the cell phone carrier with the strongest signal in Louisiana, with 57% of the state covered by its 5G network and 77% covered by its 4G network. However, all three carriers offer strong signals in the most populated parts of Louisiana.
How do I find the best cell service in my area?
If you want to find the best cell service in your area, the 4G and 5G coverage maps for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile provide the most accurate picture of coverage. Make sure to look at the areas where you live and work closely to determine the coverage from each carrier.
Learn More Network Coverage Maps
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