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Best Cell Phone Coverage in Nebraska

Best Cell Phone Coverage in Nebraska

Verizon Coverage in Nebraska

AT&T Coverage in Nebraska

T-Mobile Coverage in Nebraska

Do a Google image search for “America’s Heartland,” and you'll probably see a picture of Nebraska. As anyone who lives in or has driven through the state knows, Nebraska’s 77,358 square miles are made up of gently rolling hills and cornfields as far as the eye can see. 

Nebraska's flatness is a good thing for cell phone coverage, since it means signals can travel mostly unimpeded from cell phone towers to your phone. That said, the state is largely rural, so there aren’t a ton of towers around in the first place. If you’ve ever traveled along I-80 west of North Platte, you know getting a signal can be a challenge. 

However, it doesn’t have to be. If you’re smart about choosing the right carrier for your particular area of Nebraska, you can maintain a reliable, fast signal most of the time. In this article, we’ll explain the coverage statistics across the state, and show you how to use our interactive coverage maps to find the best service for your town and county. 

What We Like
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  • Verizon delivers the most 4G LTE coverage (83%) in Nebraska; Verizon makes a strong 4G showing (76%) as well
  • T-Mobile is the 5G coverage king in Nebraska, covering 20% of the state’s 77,358 square miles
What We Don't Like
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  • Cell phone coverage—particularly of the 5G variety—can be spotty in the many rural areas of Nebraska. However the state’s foremost cities (Omaha, Kearney, Lincoln, Grand Island, North Platte) tend to be well covered 
  • Verizon’s 5G network is still in its relative infancy in the state, offering just 4% coverage across Nebraska (but it’s growing)

Verizon Coverage Map in Nebraska

Verizon serves up the most 4G coverage, and the third-most 5G coverage, in Nebraska.

Verizon 4G Coverage in Nebraska

Verizon’s 4G LTE network spreads across an impressive 83% of Nebraska, nearly blanketing the entire state. If you’re concerned with maintaining a cell phone signal wherever you go, Verizon is a good carrier to sign up with.

Verizon 5G Coverage in Nebraska

Verizon’s 5G network is far more limited than its 4G network in Nebraska, spreading to a minuscule 4% of the state. Keep in mind, however, that Verizon is working to actively expand its 5G footprint in Nebraska, so this percentage is sure to increase in the coming weeks and months.

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AT&T Logo

AT&T Coverage Map in Nebraska

AT&T offers the second-most 4G coverage, and the fourth-most 5G coverage, in Nebraska. 

AT&T 4G Coverage in Nebraska

AT&T’s 4G network covers 76% of New Mexico’s 77,358 square miles, which is impressive when you consider how much of the state is rural. Use the map above to verify coverage in your specific area. 

AT&T 5G Coverage in Nebraska

There’s no getting around it: AT&T offers very little 5G coverage in Nebraska. As of this writing, the carrier’s network only spreads to 3% of the state, much of it around Lincoln and Omaha. That said, the carrier is actively growing its 5G network every day, so this number should increase in the not so distant future.

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T-Mobile Coverage Map in Nebraska

T-Mobile delivers the best 5G coverage, and third-most 4G coverage, in Nebraska. 

T-Mobile 4G Coverage in Nebraska

T-Mobile’s 4G network spans across 34% of Nebraska, which is less than both Verizon and AT&T. That said, your town may very well be covered by T-Mobile—use the map above to find out. 

T-Mobile 5G Coverage in Nebraska 

T-Mobile wields the best 5G network in Nebraska, covering 20% of the state. 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.

What About UScellular?

Did you know that your carrier network choices aren’t limited to Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile in Nebraska? UScellular also operates its own small but powerful system of 4G and 5G coverage networks in the state. The carrier’s 4G coverage spreads across 34% of Nebraska, while its 5G network covers a very respectable 18% of the state—second only to T-Mobile! This makes UScellular worthy of consideration for your next cell phone plan in Nebraska. 

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Small Carrier Coverage in Nebraska

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 Nebraska. 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
Networks they use
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Metro by T-Mobile
Networks they use
Metro by T-Mobile
Networks they use
Optimum Mobile
Networks they use
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Spectrum Mobile
Networks they use
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Cox Mobile
Networks they use
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Straight Talk
Networks they use
Cricket
Networks they use
Visible
Networks they use
Google Fi
Networks they use
Xfinity Mobile
Networks they use
Learn More
Mint Mobile
Networks they use
Learn More

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Which carrier offers the best cell phone service in Nebraska?

Verizon offers the most 4G service in Nebraska, while T-Mobile delivers the most 5G coverage.

How do I find the best cell coverage in my area of New Mexico?

To determine the best cell phone service in your area of Nebraska, we recommend taking a look at our 4G and 5G coverage maps and zooming in to inspect your local area.

Does Nebraska have 5G?

Yes, all three major carriers—as well as UScellular—offer 5G coverage in Nebraska.

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Cell Phone Coverage by State

Cell Phone Coverage by Carrier

Frequently Asked Questions

Which carrier offers the best cell phone service in Nebraska?

Verizon offers the most 4G service in Nebraska, while T-Mobile delivers the most 5G coverage.

How do I find the best cell coverage in my area of New Mexico?

To determine the best cell phone service in your area of Nebraska, we recommend taking a look at our 4G and 5G coverage maps and zooming in to inspect your local area.

Does Nebraska have 5G?

Yes, all three major carriers—as well as UScellular—offer 5G coverage in Nebraska.

Compare Carriers to Find a Perfect Plan

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