Understand what LTE and 5G bands Verizon uses, what MVNOs use the Verizon network, and the best plans currently available on the Verizon network.
Verizon’s network provides coverage to over 327 million people across 2.68 million square miles.
This means Verizon covers over 99% of the United States population.
Here’s Verizon’s coverage map, as reported by the independent third party site RootMetrics:
Verizon 5G and LTE coverage map as reported by RootMetrics
If you’d like, you can check Verizon’s coverage in your area by using the following resources:
You can also download and use the following applications to see if Verizon offers good coverage in your area:
Verizon LTE bands: 2, 4, 5, 13, 46, 48, 66
Verizon 5G bands: n260, n261
The bands in bold are Verizon’s primary bands that they use for LTE and 5G coverage. Make sure your phone supports these LTE and 5G bands for the best coverage, performance, and data speeds on the Verizon network.
Band 13 (700Mhz): This is Verizon’s primary LTE band. 31.8% of Verizon’s total LTE traffic is over Band 13. It operates at 700MHz and is typically deployed in most markets in 10x10 MHz blocks. Unfortunately, because 10MHz is a small amount of spectrum, it is easy for Verizon’s LTE band 13 to become congested in population dense areas.
Band 4 (1700/2100MHz): Band 4, also known as AWS-1, is another one of Verizon’s primary 4G LTE bands. It accounted for about 9.1% of Verizon’s total LTE traffic. Band 4 operates between 1710-1755MHz and 2110-2155MHz. It’s typically deployed in 20x20MHz blocks and allows for additional capacity on Verizon's LTE network. Band 4 is available in a reasonable number of major markets. The frequency blocks that make up band 4 are blocks A, B, C, D, E, and F, which are collectively referred to as AWS-1. The FCC auctioned off AWS-1 in 2006.
Band 66 (1700/2100MHz): Band 66 includes the same frequency blocks as Band 4, but adds a few additional blocks of spectrum. The additional blocks are G, H, I, and J (collectively referred to as AWS-3), and a chunk simply referred to as AWS-4. AWS stands for “Advanced Wireless Services” because the frequency bands were primarily used for newer network technologies, like 4G LTE. Verizon uses Band 66 to increase its network capacity, and Tutela reported it accounted for 37.5% of Verizon’s LTE traffic.
Band 2 (1900MHz): Band 2 was originally used by Verizon for its 2G and 3G network deployments. Now, Verizon is transitioning band 2 to be used for their LTE network and to help add additional network capacity in some areas. Band 2 is typically deployed in 10x10 blocks. In 2020, it accounted for 13% of Verizon’s LTE traffic.
Band 5 (850 MHz): Band 5 is used by Verizon for both 2G/3G deployments as well as LTE deployments. Verizon is likely transitioning all of its band 5 deployments to be used for LTE. Band 5 is typically found in 10x10 blocks. It accounted for about 8.5% of Verizon’s LTE traffic in 2020.
Band 46 (5.9GHz): Band 46 is unlicensed spectrum that anyone can use. It’s the same spectrum that is used for home Wi-Fi networks and is capable of achieving fast speeds. However, because it is unlicensed and available for anyone to use, it typically has a lot of interference. Verizon is just starting to use Band 46 as of 2020, and it has limited availability.
Band 48 (3.5GHz): Band 48 is unlicensed spectrum that’s part of the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum. A section of the CBRS band is known as General Authorized Access, or GAA, and is available for anyone to use. Verizon has begun deploying technology to use CBRS spectrum and expand its network capacity in certain markets. Fierce Wireless reports that RootMetrics found 10 of the top 55 markets had Verizon CBRS deployments.
Band n260 (39 GHz): Band n260 is one of Verizon’s mmWave 5G bands. It has a HUGE amount of spectrum behind it and can support insanely fast speeds over shorter distances. The channel sizes are typically 50MHz, 100MHz, 200MHz, or even 400MHz. Verizon is the carrier most aggressively building out its mmWave 5G network simply because it does not have any spectrum holdings to use for mid-band 5G.
Band n261 (28 GHz): Band n261 is also one of Verizon’s mmWave 5G bands. This means that n261 has a HUGE amount of spectrum behind it and can support insanely fast speeds over shorter distances. Typically the channel sizes are 50MHz, 100MHz, 200MHz, or even 400MHz. Verizon is actively building out its mmWave 5G network and it is available in a limited selection of markets.
Other: Verizon is also using a technology called DSS for its 5G network. DSS stands for “dynamic spectrum sharing.” DSS allows Verizon to split its existing spectrum into LTE and 5G channels. Unfortunately, this method of providing 5G coverage limits speed and performance. Verizon calls its DSS 5G network the “Nationwide 5G network”. Customers who connect to the Nationwide 5G network typically experience slower speeds than LTE. In fact, Sascha Segan from PC Mag wrote an article on why Verizon iPhone users need to turn off 5G right now (and how to do it).
