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iPhone Text Effects: Tips and Tricks
March 18, 2025
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If there are two things that describe West Virginia, it’s rural and mountainous. It's the third-most rural state in the country, with over half of its population living in underpopulated areas. What’s more, the state is located almost entirely within the Appalachian Mountain range.
A lack of people, and an abundance of mountains, can spell trouble for cell phone reception. After all, cell phone carriers tend to build their towers around large collections of people, and need generally unimpeded geography to actually beam that signal from the towers to your phone.
Not surprisingly, the cell phone coverage statistics skew lower in West Virginia than they do in flatter, more densely-populated states. However, all hope is not lost: using our interactive coverage maps can help you determine which carrier best serves the places you spend time in the state. Read on to learn about how to get the best cell phone coverage in West Virginia.
Table of contents
What We Like
- AT&T and Verizon are tied when it comes to 4G coverage in West Virginia, as both cover 49% of the state with their networks
- T-Mobile offers the most 5G coverage in West Virginia (30%), though AT&T is only two percentage points behind (28%)
What We Don't Like
- Cell phone coverage—particularly of the 5G variety—can be spotty in the many rural areas of West Virginia
- Verizon offers barely any 5G coverage in the state, as it’s network only spreads to 3% of West Virginia’s of 24,038 square miles
Verizon serves up the most 4G coverage (in a tie with AT&T), and the fourth-most 5G coverage, in West Virginia.
Verizon 4G Coverage in West Virginia
Verizon’s 4G LTE network spreads across 49% of West Virginia—the same amount offered by competitor AT&T. We recommend using our map above to verify coverage in your specific area of the state.
Verizon 5G Coverage in West Virginia
Verizon’s statewide 5G network is far more limited than its 4G network, spreading to just 3% of West Virginia.
There’s no getting around the fact that this is far less 5G than any of Verizon’s competitors. However, word is that Verizon is actively expanding its 5G network as we speak, so this percentage is sure to go up in the coming weeks and months.
AT&T is one of the best carriers you can go with in West Virginia. Along with Verizon, AT&T’s 4G network covers 49% of the state; its 5G network, meanwhile, spreads across 28% of the state.
AT&T 4G Coverage in West Virginia
AT&T’s 4G network covers 49% of West Virginia’s 24,038 square miles, which is a truly impressive stat when you consider how much of the state is rural and unpopulated. Use the map above to verify coverage in your specific area.
AT&T 5G Coverage in West Virginia
AT&T wields the second-most powerful 5G network in West Virginia, covering 28% of the state. Much of this 5G 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 delivers the best 5G coverage, and third-most 4G coverage, in West Virginia.
T-Mobile 4G Coverage in West Virginia
T-Mobile’s 4G network spans 37% of West Virginia, 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 West Virginia
T-Mobile wields the best 5G network in West Virginia, covering 30% 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.
Did you know that your carrier network choices aren’t limited to Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile in West Virginia? UScellular also operates its own system of 4G and 5G coverage networks in the state. The carrier’s 4G coverage spreads across 15% of West Virginia, while its 5G network covers 11% of the state.
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 West Virginia. 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
Which carriers offer the best coverage in West Virginia?
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AT&T and Verizon offer the most 4G coverage in West Virginia, while T-Mobile delivers the most 5G coverage.
How do I find the best cell coverage in my area of West Virginia?
To determine the best cell phone service in your area of West Virginia, we recommend taking a look at our 4G and 5G coverage maps and zooming in to inspect your local area.
Does AT&T work in West Virginia?
AT&T not only works in West Virginia, but offers the best 4G LTE coverage in the state.
Learn More Network Coverage Maps
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