What Towers Does Straight Talk Use For Nationwide For Coverage? (Find Out!)
Straight Talk is a TracFone Wireless subsidiary. It is a no-contract phone plan service that provides low-cost plans with unlimited talk, text, and data as well as a wide range of high-quality mobile devices.
They also allow you to keep your existing phone, buy their products and services at Walmart – their exclusive retailer – and manage your service from anywhere, at any time using their user-friendly Straight Talk My Account app.
Most importantly, Straight Talk customers can enjoy their quality services on the nation’s largest and most reliable 4G LTE network – and it is this network that we will be investigating today.
WHAT NETWORK TOWERS DOES STRAIGHT TALK USE?
Straight Talk is an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator), which means it does not operate or own its own wireless network. Instead, an MVNO purchases the right to use towers from one of the “big four” or “big three” carriers (AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile after the Sprint-T-Mobile merger): AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile (and Sprint).
Straight Talk has now partnered with all of the major carriers to provide coverage, whereas most MVNOs only have a contract with one of them. Straight Talk does, in fact, use network towers from all of the big three or four networks: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile (and Sprint), and this is one of the company’s biggest advantages and selling points.
It not only ensures that every customer has the best possible coverage, regardless of where they live, but the fact that the company does not have to bear the cost of building and maintaining the towers allows them to use their savings to create a better service.
To be clear, Straight Talk’s partnership with all four networks does not imply that a single user has access to all of them. Depending on where you live and which device you use, a specific customer may only have access to one of the major carriers. As a result, you will have access to the carriers that will provide you with the best coverage.
HOW GOOD IS STRAIGHT TALK NETWORK TOWERS?
Straight Talk’s network is not only good, but the best! Because it uses network towers from all major carriers and ensures that each consumer has access to the network that is best suited for their device and location, Straight Talk’s network is not only good, but the best!
Before T-Mobile and Sprint merged in 2020, each of the four major carrier companies had a unique but excellent 4G coverage. Verizon provided 70 percent 4G coverage, T-Mobile provided 59 percent 4G coverage, AT&T provided 58 percent 4G coverage, and Sprint provided 27 percent 4G coverage.
T-new Mobile’s 4G network now covers 99 percent of the population, and the company provides access to their 5G network to more than 80 percent of the citizens.
While all of these carriers provide excellent coverage in cities, their coverage in rural areas is uneven. As a result, it is always a good idea to check the coverage map before signing up for their services, especially if you live on the outskirts.
However, because Straight Talk can connect you to any of the major carriers, you won’t have to worry about coverage. When you sign up, you simply choose a device and a location, and the company’s experts will connect you to the network that best meets your needs and provides the best coverage.
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STRAIGHT TALK NETWORK TOWERS COVERAGE AREA
Straight Talk’s coverage area is vast, as previously stated, owing to their access to all major network towers. All of the major carriers have excellent coverage and reception in urban areas, and they all cover a good portion of the country’s remote territories, but their distribution in secluded areas is unequal.
As a result, Straight Talk will do its best to connect you to the network with the best coverage in your area. Even if your coverage is perfect at home, if you travel frequently, you may visit areas of the country where your network has poor coverage.
You won’t be able to do much about it in this case because Straight Talk only gives you access to one network and you won’t be able to change your network as you please. You will, however, be able to change the network permanently if the network to which you will initially gain access does not work for you.
Straight Talk’s coverage area is the sum of the four major carriers’ coverage areas, so it virtually covers the entire country. Straight Talk officially has 99.6 percent coverage.
Straighttalk.com has a coverage map where you can see their exact coverage area. You can also enter your ZIP code on this page to see which carriers offer the best coverage in your area.
HOW STRAIGHT TALK COVERAGE CAN COMPARE?
Straight Talk’s coverage area is best compared to and described as a combination of Verizon, AT&T, and the new T-coverage Mobile’s areas. Their combined network reaches 99.6 percent of the population in the United States.
If you choose Straight Talk, you will have access to Verizon, AT&T, and the new T-Mobile network. Their 4G and 5G coverage, as well as coverage maps, are available below.
4G coverage listed from best to worst:
- Verizon: 70% 4G coverage
- AT&T: 68% 4G coverage
- T-Mobile: 62% 4G coverage (99% of the population)
5G coverage listed from best to worst:
- T-Mobile: 36.7% 5G coverage (80% of the population)
- AT&T: 15.9% 5G coverage
- Verizon: 10.9% 5G coverage
Coverage maps and overall best coverage:
- Verizon: verizon.com (best overall coverage)
- T-Mobile: t-mobile.com (second-best overall coverage)
- AT&T: att.com (third-best overall coverage)
Straight Talk’s coverage map can be found at straighttalk.com, and entering your ZIP code will tell you which of the three major carriers listed above has the best coverage in your area.
IS STRAIGHT TALK NETWORK RELIABLE? HOW RELIABLE?
Straight Talk’s combined network is extremely dependable because it runs on all three (or four, if Sprint is now a part of T-Mobile) of the country’s most dependable networks. You can always count on staying connected and not losing reception because you will have access to the network that provides the best coverage in your area.
However, keep in mind that traveling will have an impact on your reception because none of the big three or four carriers provide 100 percent coverage and you will always be able to find a location with poor coverage, regardless of the network you use.
Furthermore, all of the major networks have patchy to no coverage in the country’s most remote areas. Also, keep in mind that if you decide to bring your own phone, your network will be determined by the carrier from which the device was purchased.
The good news is that because Straight Talk is available on all major networks, most smartphones will work with it (both GSM and CDMA devices). As a result, all you need to get started is a SIM card or activation code and a plan.
WHAT OTHER CARRIERS USE THE SAME (STRAIGHT TALK) NETWORK?
Straight Talk is one of the few MVNOs that has access to all four major networks. Only a few other carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint) use all four major networks:
- Net10
- The Red Pocket
- TracFone
STRAIGHT TALK PLANS BASED ON THE NETWORKS THEY USE
Straight Talk’s plans are compatible with all four major carriers: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint. As a result, their plans do not differ based on the networks they use, and the plan does not dictate which network you will use (only your phone and location do).
PROS AND CONS OF STRAIGHT TALK NETWORK
Straight Talk has the best coverage in theory, and with all of their other amazing benefits, such as affordable plans and great devices, they provide an excellent service. However, everything in life has advantages and disadvantages, and Straight Talk’s network is no exception.
PROS
- They use all four major networks and provide their customers with access to the network that will best suit their needs (depending on the location and device).
- They have a 99.6 percent coverage rate.
- Providing the most comprehensive nationwide coverage.
CONS
- They have a natural disadvantage over the network tower owners as an MVNO, which may result in slower data, call interference, and so on.
- They have little control over their coverage because it is provided by the four major carriers.
CONCLUSION
Straight Talk is one of the few MVNOs with contracts and access to all four major networks – Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint. Each customer receives access to only one of the four networks, based on the mobile device they bring (whether it is Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or Sprint-compatible) and the area in which they live.
As a result, Straight Talk has the best, most reliable, and most extensive network. However, as an MVNO, it does have some drawbacks, so you must decide whether Straight Talk is the best option for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know what tower my Straight Talk phone uses?
Examine the number if you have the original SIM card. If the sixth through tenth characters are all zeros, the answer is Verizon. If there are only 19 numbers instead of 20, or if the 20th number is an X, it is T-Mobile.
What Towers will Straight Talk be using in 2021?
Straight Talk uses Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile cellular towers, and your phone will be connected to one of the three, which is usually the best-performing network in your area.
Is Straight Talk owned by Verizon?
Verizon has officially acquired TracFone, while Straight Talk and Walmart Family customers will continue to receive the LifeLine subsidy. TracFone, America’s largest virtual operator that uses all of the big guys’ networks, previously supported Sprint’s merger with T-Mobile.