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iPhone Text Effects: Tips and Tricks
March 18, 2025
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As anyone who lives here knows, South Dakota is a largely agricultural state, so much so that driving through can feel like a journey through one big farm. In fact, cattle outnumber humans in South Dakota 4:1.
The gently rolling terrain that characterizes South Dakota spells good things for cell phone coverage, since it means there are a minimum of geographical features, like mountains, to get in the way of cell signals as they travel from towers to phones.
The 4G coverage percentages in South Dakota speak to this, as both Verizon and AT&T blanket nearly the entirety of the state with their networks. Carrier 5G coverage, meanwhile, is steadily improving, with AT&T currently offering the most service statewide.
There’s far more nuance to the cell phone coverage picture in South Dakota than any of this would suggest, however, so read on to learn the ins and outs of getting the best cell phone coverage in South Dakota.
Table of contents
What We Like
- AT&T offers the most 4G coverage in South Dakota (90%), closely followed by AT&T (85%)
- T-Mobile wields the most wide-reaching 5G network in South Dakota, covering 54% of the state
What We Don't Like
- Signal availability can be spotty in South Dakota’s harder-to-reach areas, particularly in the Black Hills area
- Verizon offers very little 5G coverage in South Dakota at present, covering just 4% of the state
Verizon offers the second-most 4G LTE coverage, and the third-most 5G coverage, in South Dakota.
Verizon 4G Coverage in South Dakota
Verizon wields a formidable 4G network in South Dakota, covering an impressive 85% of the state, second only to AT&T. That makes Verizon a safe choice if you’re looking for a carrier that offers wide-reaching and reliable coverage in South Dakota.
Verizon 5G Coverage in South Dakota
Verizon’s 5G network is quite limited in South Dakota, spreading to just 4% of the state (most of it around Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Pierre).
That said, the carrier is actively expanding its network reach in the state, so you can expect this percentage—and the availability of the carrier’s fastest network speeds—to increase in the coming weeks and months.
AT&T delivers excellent 4G and 5G service availability throughout the state of South Dakota.
AT&T 4G Coverage in South Dakota
AT&T’s 4G network covers 90% of South Dakota’s 77,047 square miles, a truly impressive stat when you consider how much of the state is rural and hard to get to. If you’re looking for a carrier that delivers a reliable signal almost everywhere in South Dakota, going with AT&T is a smart move.
AT&T 5G Coverage in South Dakota
AT&T wields the most second-most wide-reaching 5G network in South Dakota, covering 51% of the state.
AT&T’s 5G network is present in all of South Dakota’s foremost towns and cities, and many of its less populated areas as well. 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 serves up the most 5G coverage, and the third-most 4G coverage, in South Dakota.
T-Mobile 4G Coverage in South Dakota
T-Mobile’s 4G network spans 54% of South Dakota, which is decidedly less than both Verizon and AT&T (covering 90% and 85% of the state respectively). That said, your town may very well be covered by T-Mobile’s 4G—use the map above to find out.
T-Mobile 5G Coverage in South Dakota
T-Mobile offers the most 5G coverage in South Dakota, covering 18% of the state. Fortunately, a good 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 South Dakota. 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
What is the best cell phone service provider in South Dakota?
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AT&T offers the best 4G coverage in South Dakota, while T-Mobile delivers the most 5G coverage.
How do I find the best cell coverage in my area of South Dakota?
To determine the best cell phone service in your area of South Dakota, we recommend taking a look at our 4G and 5G coverage maps and zooming in to inspect your local area.
Is T-Mobile service good in South Dakota?
T-Mobile’s cell phone service is good, albeit not the best, in South Dakota. The carrier delivers the most 5G coverage, and the third-most 4G coverage, in the state.
Learn More Network Coverage Maps
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