Verizon delivers the strongest 4G network in South Carolina, covering 91% of South Carolina. Furthermore, its 5G coverage (40%) earns it second place in the state.
Verizon 4G Coverage in South Carolina
Verizon’s 4G LTE network covers almost the entirety of South Carolina, spreading across 91% of the state (though AT&T, with 87%, is not far behind). That means you’re likely to get a Verizon signal almost anywhere you go, from Savannah to Rock Hill.
Verizon 5G Coverage in South Carolina
Verizon’s 5G network covers 40% of the state, putting it ahead of AT&T, but far behind T-Mobile. It’s worth noting that Verizon is working to expand its 5G coverage, so even those who don’t get a 5G signal today might enjoy one in the coming months and years.
Verizon also offers an ultrafast version of 5G, called 5G Ultra-Wideband, to a portion of those in range of its 5G network. 5G Ultra-Wideband provides a great signal for gaming, browsing, and streaming.
AT&T offers excellent 4G coverage in South Carolina, covering 87% of the state’s 30,064 square miles. While its 5G network still has some growing to do, those in South Carolina’s population hubs won’t have any issue getting a signal from AT&T.
AT&T 4G Coverage in South Carolina
AT&T’s 4G LTE network covers 87% of the state, making it a very close competitor to Verizon’s 4G network. For the vast majority of South Carolina’s population, AT&T’s network will provide a great 4G signal.
AT&T 5G Coverage in South Carolina
AT&T’s 5G network covers about a third of South Carolina (32%), ranking it behind both T-Mobile and Verizon. However, AT&T is aggressively growing its 5G network to reach more customers in South Carolina every year. AT&T also provides an enhanced version of its 5G network, known as 5G+, to a percentage of those covered by its 5G network.
T-Mobile wields the broadest 5G network in South Carolina, reaching well over half of the state (58%) and easily beating out Verizon and AT&T. While its 4G network ranks third in the state, it still covers over two-thirds (68%) of South Carolina.
T-Mobile 4G Coverage in South Carolina
T-Mobile’s 4G network covers 68% of South Carolina, making it the least accessible 4G network behind AT&T and Verizon. That said, most South Carolina residents will enjoy a reliable signal since T-Mobile’s 4G network covers South Carolina’s most populous regions.
T-Mobile 5G Coverage in South Carolina
T-Mobile’s 5G network covers 58% of South Carolina, making it the furthest-reaching 5G network in the state by a healthy margin. It’s worth highlighting that a percentage of those in range of T-Mobile’s 5G network can also enjoy its ultra-fast, low latency 5G network, called 5G Ultra Capacity.
Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile are definitely the most well-known carriers in South Carolina, but they’re not the only options available to customers. Smaller carriers, called Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), lease network capacity from AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. This lets them offer reliable coverage at competitive prices.
Google Fi, for instance, is an MVNO that piggybacks on T-Mobile’s network to provide coverage to its customers. Here’s a quick breakdown of MVNOs operating in South Carolina, including the networks they lease from:
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 carrier with the best 4G coverage in South Carolina is Verizon, while T-Mobile offers the best 5G coverage in the state. However, all carriers cover the most populous areas, so it’s worth checking our coverage maps and comparing prices to get access to the best deals in your area.
The best way to check which network is best in your area is by closely examining carrier coverage maps in the places where you live and work.
Yes, T-Mobile has good coverage in South Carolina, reaching 68% of the state with its 4G network, and 58% with its 5G coverage.
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