Verizon is a US-based wireless network operator that was previously known as Verizon Wireless and operated as a separate division of Verizon Communications. Verizon Wireless was discontinued in a 2019 reorganization, and the company’s wireless products and services were shifted to the Verizon Consumer and Verizon Business businesses. With 142.8 million subscribers at the finish of Q4 2021, Verizon is the largest wireless carrier in the United States. With that in mind, you might be intrigued about what network does Verizon uses. You’re covered in this article!
Despite being the second most prevalent carrier in the United States, Verizon’s 4G LTE network is the country’s largest, spanning more areas than any other. Verizon claims that its 4G LTE network now reaches 98 percent of the US population (about 326 million people). Therefore, if you’re asking if Verizon is good in your location, the answer is nearly always a resounding yes.
Every cell phone network offers the same thing: consistent, rapid coverage no matter where you are. Verizon is one of the most well-known networks, but you certainly have some questions before switching cell phone providers. In this post, we’ll go through Verizon’s wireless technologies, frequency bands, 4G LTE, their impending 5G network, how to get a better signal with Verizon, and why all of this matters to you as a current or possible new customer.
What is Verizon?
Verizon Wireless is the country’s largest wireless communications service provider. It provides cellular phone service and wireless products and services to businesses, government agencies, and individuals. Notably, Verizon Wireless is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Verizon Communications, which was formed as Bell Atlantic and is headquartered in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.
The company was officially designated Bell Atlantic Corporation in 1997. It was renamed Verizon Wireless after its merger with GTE in 2000 and is hailed as one of the biggest mergers in US corporate history. Vodafone controlled GTE at the merger, which held 45 percent of the company, while Bell Atlantic owned the remaining 55 percent. Verizon Wireless became the largest wireless network provider in the United States after acquiring Alltel Corp. in early 2009.
Since then, the company’s network has expanded to practically every corner of the country. Once you’ve joined the network, you’ll have access to a stable and extensive network. As a result, you won’t have to worry about how to boost the Verizon signal in most places where you’ll be using the network.
What network does Verizon use to offer its services?
Verizon Wireless has its own network, which it uses to provide services to its consumers. Verizon presently uses three distinct network types for its wireless technology: 5G Ultra-Wideband, 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution), and 3G. (CDMA). For the uninitiated, 3G, 4G, and 5G merely refer to the wireless technology’s “generation.” Let’s take a closer look at each of these generations.
i) Verizon 3G
3G delivered wireless technology that could finally deliver a complete web browsing experience, file and image sharing, streaming video, and GPS tracking. As the internet became more multimedia-rich, 3G became an outdated technology that couldn’t keep up with the demands of internet-hungry gadgets.
With Verizon’s 3G (CDMA) service slated to end on December 31, 2022, the company is preparing to put 3G to rest for good. Customers who have a CDMA-only handset or a 4G LTE device that does not support HD Voice will need to update to a newer device if they want to keep utilizing the network after decommissioning. One of the methods to improve Verizon signal strength is to update to newer devices.
ii) Verizon 4G LTE
Of course, as network technology progressed, Verizon could entirely switch its voice and data services to 4G LTE. The needs of today’s smart devices are significantly better handled by 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution). This is due to 4G LTE data speeds ranging from 5 to 12 megabits per second (10 times quicker than prior 3G speeds) and peak download speeds just shy of 50 megabits per second.
Verizon’s 4G LTE network is faster and more dependable than 3G, featuring HD voice for crystal clear calls and the capability to stream HD movies with ease. Verizon’s 4G LTE network already spans 98 percent of the country, and the company has already started work on deploying 5G in a few places around the country. However, 4G LTE coverage is limited in rural areas due to unevenly dispersed cell towers. You will have reliable coverage if you invest in the best cell phone booster for rural areas.
iii) Verizon 5G
We can now look forward to the next generation of cellular broadband: 5G, with Verizon’s 4G LTE already fully spread across the country. Verizon’s 5G Ultra-Wideband network is more powerful and quicker than their previous 4G LTE network. Verizon 5G currently works at a considerably higher frequency than the current 4G LTE, allowing it to deliver faster data speeds and manage more traffic during peak hours or huge events.
Early testing has shown that the 5G gigabit network can deliver data speeds of up to 1.13 gigabits per second, with peak speeds expected to reach 10 gigabits per second soon. Even though the 5G network is fast, it has limited coverage due to unevenly located towers. Most trekking areas, for example, will have little to no 5G cell service. If your 5G signal is weak, you can expand your coverage by investing in a 5G portable cell phone signal booster for hiking.
Verizon network coverage map
Over 327 million people are covered by Verizon’s network, which spans 2.68 million square miles. Verizon now serves almost 99 percent of the population of the United States. If you’d like, you may use the following resources to check Verizon’s coverage in your area.
Even though Verizon covers a large portion of the United States, several things can impair your phone service. Cell reception at home, for example, might be affected by the materials used in its construction as well as interference from electrical appliances. If you’re tired of having bad cell phone reception, it’s time to invest in a Verizon cell signal booster for home. The signal booster will strengthen a poor signal and rebroadcast it to your wireless devices.
What LTE and 5G network bands does Verizon use to provide coverage?
Check out which LTE and 5G bands Verizon employs for coverage.
- Bands 2, 4, 5, 13, 46, 48, and 66 on Verizon LTE
- 5G bands on Verizon: n5, n66, n77, n260, n261
Verizon’s significant LTE and 5G coverage bands are shown in bold. For the best coverage, performance, and data speeds on the Verizon network, be sure your phone supports the LTE and 5G bands.
It is critical to understand which LTE bands Verizon employs for coverage, how they use them, and which LTE bands are the most crucial. Verizon, for example, uses Band 13 (700 MHz) as its primary LTE band. Band 13 carries 31.8 percent of Verizon’s total LTE traffic. It works at 700MHz and is commonly installed in 10×10 MHz blocks. Another Verizon key 4G LTE channel is Band 4, commonly known as AWS-1. Notably, it was responsible for around 9.1% of Verizon’s overall LTE traffic. The frequency range for Band 4 is 1710-1755MHz through 2110-2155MHz.
Currently, Verizon uses two 5G bands: n260 and n261. Verizon’s mmWave 5G band n260 is one of the company’s. It has a LOT of spectrum and can handle incredibly rapid speeds over small distances. 50MHz, 100MHz, 200MHz, and even 400MHz are standard channel sizes.
Verizon’s mmWave 5G band n261 is also one of theirs. This means that n261 has a LOT of spectrum and can handle incredibly rapid speeds over small distances. Channel sizes are often 50MHz, 100MHz, 200MHz, or even 400MHz.
Is Verizon network CDMA or GSM?
Verizon is a CDMA carrier; however, as of December 2022, it will switch to the new HD Voice LTE technology used in newer phones. 4G, 4G LTE, and 5G broadband are all available on the LTE network. Most Verizon customers no longer own a device that uses CDMA technology, and Verizon is planning to phase out CDMA.
Only GSM phones with GSM and CDMA technologies can be used on Verizon. However, if you have a GSM phone, it will not function. Furthermore, if you have a phone from the last several years, it will likely contain both CDMA and GSM technology. As a result, several phone makers have created phones that can function with any network, including Verizon.
Bottom line
Verizon has the most extensive network, spanning most places across the United States. Verizon, the country’s largest wireless-communications service provider, provides the most consistent network coverage across the country, serving a broad spectrum of customers, including people, corporations, and government agencies. Interestingly, Verizon is a CDMA network that supports 3G handsets, but after years of deliberation, the 3G CDMA network is being phased out.
