If you don’t have AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile, you’re to be forgiven if you get tired of us mentioning those big three major carriers over and over. If you have one of the even smaller regional carriers, or if you use a pre-paid cell provider you may be wondering if the new fancy cell boosters are still ok for you, since we have such a tendency to talk about “the major carriers.”
The good news is that as far as we know, every cell carrier in the US uses the same voice frequencies, so voice service will always benefit from a cell booster, no matter what carrier you have. Almost every carrier has signed on to pre-approve those cell boosters too.
Is your carrier really even a carrier?
There are still a few local cell phone companies out there. But, by and large, most companies that offer cell phone service aren’t cell carriers. I can hear you saying “huh?” right now. Let me explain.
Most companies that offer cell service are what is called MVNOs. That stands for “Mobile Virtual Network Operator.” What that means is, they buy cell service in bulk from one of the big three, and then resell it to the public, often at a low price. These discount carriers often occupy a specific place in the market. Some are focused on offering low-priced, pre-paid service. Some offer service tailored to seniors, while others offer services for people who choose not to be part of a “family plan.”
The key with all these MVNOs is that although they have the same coverage map, they don’t always offer the same services. The big carriers often lease out their less-desirable services, towers that are older and offer slower data speeds or voice that isn’t as clear. Still, most folks who work with MVNOs find they’re a good value for them.
Because most cell companies are MVNOs, they’re using the same equipment as AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, and this means that cell boosters will work for them.
What about data?
As for data, almost every carrier will benefit from a cell booster. Today’s cell boosters offer boost in the 700 and 850MHz frequencies where most data transmission takes place. In some cases it’s 4G/LTE, and in some cases it’s 5G, but the booster doesn’t care. From its point of view, it’s all ones and zeroes. It doesn’t even know that it’s data, technically, because all cellular communication is digital anyway.
While there is not currently a booster that will work with “5G+” or “ultra-wide-band” 5G, you shouldn’t worry. You’ll get great performance from the 5G frequencies that are boosted by today’s cell booster equipment. In the future there may be boosters for those other frequencies but it’s years off at this point.
Convinced?
The most important thing to know is that even if we only talk about those bigger providers, we’re here for people with all cellular providers, because we know poor cell service happens to everyone. If you’re ready for a cell booster, shop the great selection at Solid Signal! If you’re not sure what you need, call us! We’re here during East Coast business hours at 888-233-7563. If it’s after hours, fill out the form below. We’ll get back to you, usually within one day or less.
