As the name suggests, mobile phone carriers are companies that provide wireless services of cellular connectivity to mobile phones and tablet subscribers. They have mobile phone plans that are a paid agreement between a mobile phone carrier and the user allowing the users to use their network to send and receive phone calls and text messages, as well as use the internet via cellular data. There are two kinds of mobile phone carriers you will find in the US, which will be discussed below;
Kinds Of Mobile Phone Carriers
- Mobile Network Operators (MNO) refer to large mobile companies that have a radio spectrum license from the government to be able to operate anywhere in the country. These MNO companies have an extensive infrastructure to carry out such operations in regions where they offer these services. Some of the most common MNOs in the US are Verizon Wireless, Sprint/T-Mobile, AT&T Mobility, etc.
- The other kind of mobile phone carriers in the US are called Mobile Virtual Network Operators or MVNO. These companies do not own base stations or have any infrastructure needed to transmit cellular data. The US mobile carriers sell access to their radio spectrum to these MVPOs to operate their services around the US. MVNOs often include inexpensive plans with no contracts. For instance, one of the MVNOs called Xfinity offers Xfinity plans for their mobile services that are diverse and offer lower pricing as well.
Despite these differences in their operations, all these mobile carriers in the US are efficient in their plans of providing cellular services to subscribers. This guide will explore some of the best mobile phone carriers in the US.
Best Mobile Phone Carriers In The US
- Verizon Wireless is a good choice for 5G network connectivity offering the best network speeds, reliable connection, and network coverage. Verizon is the best option for one who wants a consistent data service. Verizon doesn’t have cheap plans, but rather expensive ones in the market. But if you are willing to invest in a cell phone they offer a decent value for mobile plans. Given 5G’s reliability, you can even get unlimited plans from Verizon and use it for a majority of your home broadband needs.
- T-Mobile, which merged with Sprint, has both the 4G LTE and 5G coverage in the US. If you prefer going with a cheaper plan, you can choose to opt for 4G LTE service, otherwise, you can also pick 5G for the fastest network connection. T-Mobile also has a higher score on customer satisfaction, which is also an advantage for choosing the best mobile carrier.
- If you want to opt for prepaid service, then Visible is the one for you. Their streamlined offers are designed for flexible and convenient use, so you don’t have to worry about bills at the end of a month. Visible doesn’t offer 5G network coverage, but their data speeds are still enough for basic streaming, social media, emails, and internet access on your cell phone. Visible is MVNO and uses Verizon’s network.
- AT&T Wireless is America’s most popular and largest mobile carrier. AT&T has its own network of cell towers, which means that its coverage and reliability are better than most. There are currently 230 million AT&T consumers in the US, so it is definitely a popular choice.
- Xfinity is another MVNO that takes on Verizon’s wireless connectivity to deliver to users’ ends. That way you get access to the fastest and most widespread covering network in the US. If you are an Xfinity internet customer, you can get a good deal on a mobile phone plan with Xfinity Mobile.
- Google Fi is the best mobile phone carrier for Google Pixel users. It is another MVNO service provider that doesn’t have its own network infrastructure. Google Fi uses multiple networks and switches you between them depending on which ones can give you the best coverage on your mobile phone at any given time. You can avail lightning-fast service with unlimited data and nationwide coverage for very reasonable prices.
There are a lot of things to consider when deciding on the best mobile phone carrier such as their LTE and 5G network coverage, download speeds, plans variety, prices, flexibility, customer service, etc. most of which have already been discussed. Looking at all these features allows you to narrow them and choose the one that best suits your needs.