3G Cell Coverage in USA - AT&T Versus Verizon Wireless

[winterspan]

I made this recently so I thought I'd share. The data is fresh as of today and it was obtained directly off of the website of the two carriers.

note: the map is certainly NOT PERFECT. There were many elements on the original maps that had to be removed to overlay them together such as other services coverage areas with different colors, differing state and city label locations, etc. In the areas where extraneous text labels were removed on the Verizon coverage, I did the best I could to extrapolate the coverage boundaries based on the surrounding area. That being said, DO NOT RELY on this map to insure you have 3G service in your area -- it is only intended to be used for a quick comparison of national coverage. To check your local area for coverage, please visit http://www.att.com or http://www.verizonwireless.com.


The Image below is an Gif animation. You need to let the frames load to see the comparison data...


http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/2482/attvsvzw3gdt0.gif

[coachfreak]

Yea, it sucks. My area has Verizon EVDO but no AT&T 3g!

[butterfly0fdoom]

EV-DO was also implemented earlier than UTMS was.

[Michael CM1]

If anybody wonders why Apple waited until battery life improved to put 3G on the thing, um, that's why.

I really don't blame AT&T for not rolling out 3G more by now. The country is HUGE and very sparsely populated outside of the major cities. As far as I know, there wasn't really much of a desire for 3G before the iPhone. I know I had never heard of it.

[sjo]

If anybody wonders why Apple waited until battery life improved to put 3G on the thing, um, that's why.

I really don't blame AT&T for not rolling out 3G more by now. The country is HUGE and very sparsely populated outside of the major cities. As far as I know, there wasn't really much of a desire for 3G before the iPhone. I know I had never heard of it.

well the us market makes about 7-8% of the world cell phone market so making a cell phone for that market alone is a bit silly, especially if you have a global brand as apple does.

as for hearing of 3g, i'm not sure consumers should really hear or care about such technicalities. it's the services 3g enables that consumers want.

[avaloncourt]

Two months ago AT&T stated in a press release (and published here on the front page) that they would have 3G up in 300 markets. That would have to be pretty much equivalent to Verizon's coverage. I think that's an awfully ambitious statement to make especially since it's already May and I haven't seen much on Howard Forums about people saying there are any new, signficant coverages in their area.

There isn't anything on that map that makes me think it represents anything other than last year's AT&T coverage map or even what's presently on their locator dated for March. Even so, for months people have been posting hundreds of threads about how the 3G phone will be the best thing ever. Well, if you happen to live in one of those areas it will be nice to have faster speeds. Don't stray from the coverage area or you might as well have stuck with the original iPhone. The 300 markets aren't going to magically turn on when the new phone is released. I think there's going to be hundreds of complaint threads very shortly.

[kdarling]

as for hearing of 3g, i'm not sure consumers should really hear or care about such technicalities. it's the services 3g enables that consumers want.

Yes, but think of current home broadband advertising... companies are always comparing their speeds in commercials. So the speed "technicality" is already considered a major consumer selling point.


PS to Winterspan: thanks for the hard work... terrific map!

[ipodtouchy333]

dangit no 3g in omaha nebraska !

[nickspohn]

AT&T is going to be expanding their 3G service heavily this year. I don't know why you would make this though.

[zap2]

Um..less AT&T's "3G" came out later then Verizon's, so this seems logical.

But since this comparison is between to different networks, one with the iPhone, one without, it seems like a silly place to talk about this.


(Also for note, AT&T's network has higher potential speeds)

Perhaps you'd be bet off show T Mobile's 3G network vs AT&T's....at least then you can relate it to the iPhone.

[kdarling]

But since this comparison is between to different networks, one with the iPhone, one without, it seems like a silly place to talk about this.

I think the comparison helps, because people are always asking about 3G coverage. It's hard sometimes to visualize what good coverage consists of. This map instantly demonstrates it.

[jatoskep]

Wow, that's less than I thought, but at least my area has coverage. :D

[NorCalLights]

Wow, that's less than I thought, but at least my area has coverage. :D

It's not less than you thought. I bet if the map also showed population density, there wouldn't really be anything to talk about. AT&T's coverage is plenty for the vast majority of users. Props to Verizon for having high-speed data in Wyoming... but that doesn't help me since I'm never IN Wyoming.

For most Americans, AT&T's 3G coverage is more than enough. If you are not one of those Americans, don't buy a 3G iPhone.

[kdarling]

It's not less than you thought. I bet if the map also showed population density, there wouldn't really be anything to talk about. AT&T's coverage is plenty for the vast majority of users.

I actually took the time a couple of months ago, to compare ATT's city list with census tables, and add things up. It came out that ATT's 3G covers at least 100 million people, and probably a lot more by now, or soon.

Now that's theoretical, because there are dead spots within supposedly covered cities that mess everything up. But over all, it's a fair amount of people.

[g8bo]

Switzerland:
99.8% EDGE/GPRS
90% UMTS
85% HSPA (90% bis Mitte 2008)
PWLAN > 1200 Hotspots

:D

there's still some place if you wanna settle down in switzerland :p ;)

(map: http://212.60.52.171/frame.php?site=swisscom_mobile&lang=de&resol=1024x768 activate the option on the left)

[zap2]

I think the comparison helps, .
I don't..
because people are always asking about 3G coverage. .

Kind of...but why post it here(when its about Verizon) and the OP says this map isn't to see local coverage

e. It's hard sometimes to visualize what good coverage consists of. This map instantly demonstrates it.


I'd say it doesn't, it just shows where AT&T and Verizon have a 3G network. Perhaps an EDGE vs AT&T's 3G network, then we'd have something that shows coverage(useful to iPhone owners)

[zap2]

It's not less than you thought.

Wait, how do you know what he or she thought?

AT&T's coverage is plenty for the vast majority of users......For most Americans, AT&T's 3G coverage is more than enough.

Stop using the word "majority or most", you don't know how many people are covered. We have a rough figure of 100M in this thread, and guess what, thats not the majority of people in America.

but that doesn't help me since I'm never IN Wyoming..
Guess what! This thread wasn't made just for you!



For most Americans, AT&T's 3G coverage is more than enough.
Stop telling people what is enough for them



. If you are not one of those Americans, don't buy a 3G iPhone.

Why? A 3G iPhone works just fine on EDGE.

[Mikey B]

AT&T is going to be expanding their 3G service heavily this year. I don't know why you would make this though.

I'm sure they might get more aggressive because of the iPhone but, AT&T has been saying this for a very long time and their 3G coverage still sucks.

[NorCalLights]

Stop using the word "majority or most", you don't know how many people are covered. We have a rough figure of 100M in this thread, and guess what, thats not the majority of people in America.

Actually, I do know that the majority of Americans live in urban areas (not rural areas), and by looking at that map I can clearly see that most urban areas are covered. So there's no need to be a jerk, the reality is that AT&T's coverage serves the areas where *most* people live.

[t0mat0]

Actually, I do know that the majority of Americans live in urban areas (not rural areas), and by looking at that map I can clearly see that most urban areas are covered. So there's no need to be a jerk, the reality is that AT&T's coverage serves the areas where *most* people live.

60% wasn't it - I thought Computer world reviewd AT&T's 3G network recently. Will try and find the link

[avaloncourt]

So there's no need to be a jerk, the reality is that AT&T's coverage serves the areas where *most* people live.

It may be where most people live but it's a mobile device. It doesn't take very long to drive outside of those coverage areas. Then it really doesn't matter where you live.

[wakerider017]

Obviously the next iPhone will have 3G and I was wondering if I will get service at my house...

I really don't need the 3G since I will be connected to wifi most of the time at home. But it would be nice.

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/7130/picture1mz2.png

It shows me approx 1/2 miles outside the 3G coverage area :( (I am the red dot)

Just wondering how accurate these maps are and if they are current. If you are a AT&T rep you would probably know best. Thanks!

[Zwhaler]

I'm a little confused... what is the difference between the dark blue section and the dark orange section? And I'm guessing the light blue parts are lakes. If the dark blue is the coverage area, you might be out of luck. Like you said, someone from AT&T would know best.

[wakerider017]

I'm a little confused... what is the difference between the dark blue section and the dark orange section? And I'm guessing the light blue parts are lakes. If the dark blue is the coverage area, you might be out of luck. Like you said, someone from AT&T would know best.

You can see the coverage map here:

http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/

Dark Blue is: 3G

Dark Orange is: Best Voice coverage
Lighter Orange is: Good Voice coverage

Light Blue is: Lakes

[impact_blue]

I'm a little confused... what is the difference between the dark blue section and the dark orange section? And I'm guessing the light blue parts are lakes. If the dark blue is the coverage area, you might be out of luck. Like you said, someone from AT&T would know best.

Dark blue is the 3G coverage. So no you wont get 3G, but hey you got wifi at home.

[wakerider017]

Dark blue is the 3G coverage. So no you wont get 3G, but hey you got wifi at home.

Ya I can read the map just fine, but I wanted someone who actually knows about AT&T 3G coverage to answer the question...

I highly doubt there is an exact line where 3G stops and I was wondering if I was close enough to pick it up.

[drchipinski]

To the OP,

I like the map. Thank you.

I had ATT when they first switched over to GSM, and it sucked for at least a year. I live in Cleveland and was traveling to Albany, NY. Once I was 15 miles outside of Cleveland, my phone only worked for 5 miles near Buffalo and then once I arrived in Albany.

So, I think the map matters. Maybe not to compare the brands, but see how ATT has more bars in more places....(in the world)

I have an iPhone, and hate ATT. My work phone is VZW and I have never dropped a call. My iPhone seems to do it daily.

[Diode]

I would take this with a grain of salt. AT&T announced this past February that they will be deploying 3G upgrades to an additional 1500 cell cites across the country.

They have not finished rolling out 3G

BTW this link (http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/popUp_3g.jsp) is a more accurate map to find if you have 3g or not

[question fear]

Light Blue is: Lakes

AKA: You might get coverage, but we have no guarantees that your phone will work if you attempt to call from inside the lake.

[TXCraig]

it's the services 3g enables that consumers want.

What services are they? I think Verizon has some service that shows clips of TV shows... and move trailers... oh boy, I can't wait!

As much as they have plugged 3G in Europe, I have never seen ANYONE making a video phone call from their phone.... (another HUDGE service that people are clamoring for!)

You can beef up the speed all you want- without any content it makes it really pointless....