Verizon operates the largest wireless network in Virginia, with a total network coverage area of over 81%. If you want to see if that coverage area includes where you live, enter your address in the map below.
Verizon 4G Coverage in Virginia
Verizon’s 4G network covers over 81% of the map, with the strongest coverage in the state’s metropolitan areas. Unlike AT&T and T-Mobile, though, Verizon’s 4G is strong in less populated areas, like the outskirts of Harrisonburg and Radford.
Verizon 5G Coverage in Virginia
Despite operating the largest 4G network in Virginia, Verizon also operates the state’s smallest 5G network, with a total footprint that’s just under 21%. The good news is most of that service (around 14%) will be 5G Ultra-Wideband, which offers extra fast service and minimal lag. The bad news is that you’ll likely only get Verizon’s 5G, and especially 5G UW, in the state’s densely populated urban areas, like Virginia Beach, Richmond, and the towns surrounding Washington D.C.
T-Mobile’s total network coverage in Virginia is smaller than AT&T or Verizon, but its high-speed service makes it a strong pick for users in urban areas. Want to see what T-Mobile’s coverage looks like near you? Enter your address in the map below.
T-Mobile 4G Coverage in Virginia
T-Mobile’s 4G coverage map in Virginia is the smallest of the Big Three, with a total network coverage area that covers 53% of the state. Like their competitors’ networks, T-Mobile’s coverage is strongest in urban areas and is weaker further west and south, with a few dead zones near Harrisonburg and Blacksburg.
T-Mobile 5G Coverage in Virginia
While T-Mobile’s 4G is the smallest of the Big Three, its 5G is the largest, with a total coverage area of 44%, a number that makes AT&T and Verizon look paltry by comparison. The network’s size is especially impressive considering over half of it includes T-Mobile’s 5G Ultra Capacity spectrum, which offers lightning-fast speeds and limited lag.
T-Mobile 5G is especially strong in Richmond, Virginia Beach, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, and the greater Washington D.C. area.
AT&T has some of the best coverage in the country, though their service in Virginia trails behind T-Mobile and Verizon. You can enter your address below to see what AT&T’s service in your neighborhood looks like.
AT&T 4G Coverage in Virginia
AT&T’s 4G network covers about 66% of Virginia, with its strongest service in and around the state’s major cities, including the Virginia Beach, Richmond, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and the Washington D.C. suburbs. Rural areas, especially in the southwestern quadrant of the state, have spottier coverage.
AT&T 5G Coverage in Virginia
AT&T’s 5G network covers a little under 28% of Virginia, about half of which includes 5G+, which provides high-speed service and low latency.
The network is primarily located in the sprawling suburbs of Northern Virginia. That’s not to say the high-speed service is not available elsewhere–there’s coverage in Richmond, Roanoke, Blacksburg, and Danville, among other places–but the network in the southern half of the state is riddled with coverage holes, meaning your phone will likely alternate between 5G and 4G LTE.
AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile may be the largest cell phone carriers in the country, but they’re not the only ones. There are plenty of smaller carriers, called MVNOs, that operate on the Big Three networks and provide discounted coverage to their customers.
If you don’t need all the luxuries of an unlimited data plan, then an MVNO (like Mint Mobile or Boost Mobile) might be the best way for you to score access to the AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile network for cheap. You can check out some of the most popular MVNOs below:
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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Verizon offers the best coverage in Virginia, with a total network area that covers over 81% of the state. If you’re looking for the most 5G coverage, though, you’ll want to go with T-Mobile, whose high-speed service covers 44%.
You can find the best network coverage in your area by entering your address in our 4G and 5G coverage maps, which will show you the carriers offering service near you. You’ll also see the strength of those carriers’ signals.
Verizon has the best cell phone coverage in Northern Virginia, though T-Mobile has the best 5G coverage, which includes the carrier’s high-speed 5G Ultra Capacity spectrum.
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