What Towers Does Tello Mobile Use – A Complete Guideline

After using the Sprint network towers for years, now T-Mobile network towers does Tello Mobile use towers to offer wireless services to its customers.

Tello Mobile is a US-based no-contract mobile and wireless service provider. It is reputable for its flexible and accessible cellular services. Notably, it offers reasonably priced plans, reliable nationwide coverage, a small choice of phones, and a BYOP program. In the following parts, you will find out what towers does Tello Mobile uses and everything else you need to know about Tello network towers.

Cell Phone bills can be a bit expensive, but with Tello Mobile, you can keep it under wraps. The provider offers mobile plans as low as $5 to $39 per month with better cell phone signals. Tello has affordable prices because it is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that uses another primary provider’s towers rather than a direct cell service provider. Therefore, Tello customers receive lower cell phone rates by not going directly to the main network.

Cellular users looking to save some dollars on their monthly bills can benefit from using Tello. However, Tello Mobile is subject to what is known as ‘deprioritization’ since it is an MVNO (sub-carrier). Its network provider tends to prioritize its own customer service over MVNOs. Therefore, Tello Mobile customers may experience slower data speeds during peak hours in their area. 

What is Tello Mobile, and how does it work?

Tello Mobile is a virtual operator service provider owned by KeepCalling. Tello’s parent company has been operating in the mobile phone industry around the US and Europe since 2002. Interestingly, Tello phone plans provide nationwide 4G LTE coverage at amazingly affordable prices with no contracts or commitments.

As an MVNO, Tello Mobile doesn’t own its network infrastructure for the wireless network. In its place, they sign an agreement with a primary cell phone network. Tello gets wholesale rates from the primary carrier, and they pass along the savings to its consumers based on their affordable retail prices.

What Towers Does Tello Mobile Use?

what towers does tello mobile use

As mentioned earlier, Tello Mobile is a prepaid mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). It is among many wireless service providers without their own wireless network infrastructure. Instead, Tello Mobile must use another network provider’s infrastructure and cell towers. 

In the past years, Tello Mobile used Sprint’s cell towers, network, CDMA technology, and CDMA phones. However, since the merger between T-Mobile and Sprint, Tello started using T-Mobile’s network & towers to offer wireless service to its customers. As of mid-2021, Tello isn’t using Sprint’s towers but is now using T-Mobile’s 4G LTE and America’s largest 5G network towers.

How good are Tello Mobile network towers?

When Tello Mobile used Sprint’s network towers, their coverage was unimpressive. After the T-Mobile-Sprint merger, T-Mobile’s 4G network towers cover 99% of the population, and the carrier has become the US’s largest and fastest 5G network. As Tello Mobile currently has an opportunity of using T-Mobile’s network towers, it’s prudent to say that their network towers are widespread.

While T-Mobile offers excellent coverage in metropolitan areas, its coverage in rural areas is unevenly distributed. Consequently, it is recommended to check the coverage map before obligating to their services, especially if you live in the suburbs.

However, you should not be limited from accessing your cellular services in these areas. Did you know that the best cell phone boosters for rural areas can improve your coverage? Now you know!

Tello Mobile’s cell towers coverage area

Currently, Tello Mobile’s network provider is swiftly building its 5G network, and currently, they offer access to their 5G to more than 80% of the US population. In addition to the extensive and fast-growing 5G network, they provide their reliable 4G network, accessible to 99% of US residents.

Since Tello Mobile leases T-Mobile’s cell towers and network, they have a large coverage area. As they use the same cell towers, the coverage is officially identical with 80% 5G coverage and 99% 4G coverage. However, it is worth noting that T-Mobile tends to have a slim advantage.

Tello Mobile’s coverage area includes all US states with a dense population and many less populated states. Their network coverage is most reliable in the eastern states and only slightly less widespread in the western states with mountains and forests.

If you are hiking in the latter places and you don’t want to experience any dropped calls, it is advisable to use the portable cell phone signal booster for hiking. The booster will boost the weak existing signal to improve network coverage.

However, you can check the GSM network coverage by visiting Tello coverage and entering your address. Tello Mobile’s system will tell you if Tello’s network is available in your location.

Is The Tello Mobile Network towers Reliable? How Reliable?

From the data below on how Tello Mobile can compare, it is evident that Tello Mobile towers are very reliable as it uses T-Mobile’s reliable and widespread coverage.

The best 5G network coverage carriers:

  • T-Mobile: 36.7% 5G network coverage (80% of the US population)
  • AT&T: 15.9% 5G network coverage
  • Verizon: 10.9% 5G network coverage

The best 4G network coverage carrier:

  • Verizon: 70% 4G network coverage
  • AT&T: 68% 4G network coverage
  • T-Mobile: 62% 4G network coverage (99% of the US population)

T-Mobile’s cell towers (Tello Mobile) cover over 8300 cities and towns in the United States. This coverage is twice the 5G coverage area of Verizon or AT&T. When it comes to 4G coverage, Tello Mobile has the third-best coverage in the United States, with 62% of the landmass and 99% of the population.

With this remarkable percentage coverage, you are sure that you won’t lose cell reception and always stay connected, especially in most metropolitan and densely populated areas. Tello Mobile coverage is less reliable in homes in rural areas with lousy coverage. With that said, Tello customers in those areas can look for ways to boost cell signals at home for free or at a cost.

What are the limitations of Tello Mobile’s cell towers coverage?

Despite Tello Mobile using T-Mobile’s network towers, the MVNO has the following limitations;

  • Tello Mobile doesn’t own any cell towers; therefore, T-Mobile has better coverage, slightly faster data speeds, and better reception, especially during heavy traffic.
  • Even though T-Mobile has a dependable network, it has unevenly distributed towers; thus, it does not offer 100% coverage. Therefore, if you travel to less populated areas, you may experience poor or no reception with Tello Mobile. 
  • Tello, as an MVNO, depends on T-Mobile for the network. Therefore, they don’t have much control over any matters and can’t assure you of the network quality and coverage accuracy.
  • Regardless of the network Tello Mobile use, the accurate coverage and reception depend on several conditions and factors. They include the phone, network fluctuations, traffic volume, cell signal strength, network outages, technical hitches, terrain, proximity to buildings, and weather. These conditions and factors can adversely influence Tello Mobile coverage causing slower data speeds and cellular interference.
  • While Tello Mobile uses the country’s largest 5G network towers (T-Mobile), some Tello Mobile consumers find it unsatisfying that their 4G coverage is the least remarkable among the ‘big three’ (T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T).

How can you improve your Cell Phone Reception from Tello Mobile towers?

Many convenient and straightforward ways can improve your cell phone reception from Tello cell towers. They include;

  • You can try upgrading to the latest device models. Newer cell phones models have far better and improved reception than older models. This improvement is due to their innovative radio technology designed to pick up the latest and faster spectrums.
  • Update your device’s software
  • Turn off the background apps you are not using
  • Reset your network adapters and settings
  • Manually re-select your network operator
  • Move outside, get to higher ground, or open your window
  • Use different building materials which blocks less cell signal
  • Locate where the closest Tello Mobile tower is and move your phone close to it.
  • Purchase a cell phone signal booster/internet booster. The internet booster work to amplify a weak signal and distribute it to your cellular device.

Bottom line

Tello Mobile is one of many US-based MVNOs with contracts and access to three major networks – Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Tello Mobile uses T-Mobile’s LTE network & towers to offer wireless service to its customers.

Therefore, Tello Mobile offers the best, most reliable, and most expanded network since T-Mobile’s cell towers cover over 8300 urban areas in the US. However, as a virtual network operator, it does come with a set of limitations. Therefore, it’s up to you to resolve if Tello Mobile is the best choice for you.

Paula Beaton

Paula Beaton