Which Cellular Carrier is Best for RV or Boat Mobile Internet?

Major U.S. Cellular Overview - Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Dish 

Cellular data is probably the easiest option for getting online while traveling in an RV or boat, and choosing the best cellular carrier for your unique needs can be a challenging topic. 

If you live in one location and only travel occasionally, it’s relatively easy to pick the best cellular carrier for you.

While there might be an obvious “best” cellular network for a specific location, RVers and boaters have a harder choice to make since... our location changes, often!

There simply is no single cellular carrier network that works best everywhere that an RV or boat might travel to. 

All of the nationwide carriers have their strengths and weaknesses in various locations across the country. And each offers different plans & policies that make them more or less suitable as a mobile internet solution depending on your needs.

As a frequent traveler, you need to consider what carrier - or, more than likely, what combination of carriers - will give you coverage and data in the places you want to visit.

This article is an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the current major cellular carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and the newest carrier - Dish Wireless) in the U.S. as they relate to mobile internet for RVers, cruisers and frequent travelers seeking an on-the-go home internet replacement.

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Video: Best Cellular Carrier for RV and Boat Travel 

A quick video overviewing Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, and how they compare to be the best choice for your RV or boat travels (filmed October 2021):

Your Best RV Cellular Carrier - Coverage and Compatibility

Unlike year's past, there is no longer a single best cellular carrier nationwide. Each has their strengths and weaknesses across the country. 

When comparing cellular carriers to best to match your RV or boat travels  - you need to keep coverage maps, compatible devices, supported frequency bands, and expansion plans going forward towards 5G all in mind.

And of course, available data plans for the devices you want to use in your mobile internet setup. 

We are also at the beginning of a new decade ahead in cellular technology as all of the carriers move from 4G/LTE to 5G. Each carrier has its own roadmap to their 5G deployments, so deciding when it is time to hop on board is carrier-specific.

Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile all embrace the same underlying fourth-generation (4G) cellular network technology, known as LTE. And that coverage will remain viable for many years to come. The newest carrier's network, Dish Wireless, is an all-5G network, but it's still in its early stages and initial rollout within the US.

5G technology is being deployed in short-range mmWave (extremely fast, but short-range), mid-band, and low-band spectrum. 

The legacy 3 major carriers have very different legacy 2G and 3G networks too, which are being phased out. 

For more on understanding the technology behind cellular:

Cellular Data Resources - Gear, Plans, Signal, Tech Dives

The major difference for each of the carriers is how widespread their coverage is nationwide. And for those relying on cellular-based internet as they move around the country, LTE coverage should be considered first, and 5G is becoming important to keep an eye on.

In the USA, the current four major nationwide carriers are:

• Verizon - Has the most nationwide LTE coverage, and is usually a top pick for travelers, although frequently congested. In 2022, their 5G mid-band coverage should increase substantially.
• AT&T - Close second to Verizon in terms of LTE coverage but also generally less congested. Their 5G long range coverage beats Verizon's.
• T-Mobile - Long the third largest carrier, T-Mobile's coverage has increased substantially after their merger with Sprint and they are leading the race with 5G.
• Dish - The newest carrier, Dish's Project Genesis 5G network currently covers about 20% of the country, but roams onto AT&T and T-Mobile.

Coverage Map Comparison

Below is a quick comparison of the major carrier's native LTE & 5G (the darker color) coverage maps, taken from the July 2022 HD Map update from our app, Coverage?, and for Dish, from their Project Genesis website:

For more on the carriers for RVers & Cruisers:
RVMobileInternet.com/cell-carriers

Got Coverage?

Although you can go to each carrier’s maps online to scout out ahead, we decided to make it even easier.

We wrote an app for that!

Coverage? overlays the carrier's coverage maps so you can create a personalized map to better plan your travels around connectivity!

While the carrier's maps may be 'optimistic' at times, using the carrier's maps is a great complement to also checking site-specific crowdsourced resources.

For more:
Tips for Travel Planning Around
Connectivity for RVers and Cruisers

The maps are stored on device, so you don’t need to have coverage to find out which direction to head. Get the app now for Android or iOS:

Comparing Cellular Carriers for RV & Boat Travel

A general profile of each of the major carriers is below, and how they might apply in choosing your best cellular carrier for your RV or boat travels. 

Verizon

Verizon has the widest overall 4G/LTE coverage, and typically good overall performance. If you ask in any RVing or boating group about what is the best cellular carrier for RV travels, Verizon is frequently a common answer.

However, because Verizon’s network is known to have the widest coverage and they have limited spectrum in many locations, it’s not uncommon in some areas to find that the local Verizon tower is overloaded and sluggish during peak times. Especially in locations that are popular for travelers.

When congested, Verizon can be quite aggressive in its network management - and, in practice, Verizon often isn't the fastest performance in many locations.

3G/5G Roadmap:

• 3G - Verizon's 3G network is being actively decommissioned, and is slated to be retired by end of 2022. Many newer Verizon devices long ago dropped support for 3G. There's no longer any point in seeking out devices with backward compatibility. 
• 5G - Verizon's initial 5G focus was on ultra short range and fast mmWave coverage (bands n260 and n261) in urban areas, and it released longer range 5G over shared spectrum with LTE (bands n2, n5, n66) in mid-2020. Verizon's 5G future, however, is the massive C-Band spectrum they won at FCC auction at the beginning of 2021 and is being deployed in 2022. 5G band n77 Is now critical for Verizon.

Recent Verizon News Stories:

• Verizon's "Welcome Unlimited" - A Budget, No Frills Smartphone Plan With No Mobile Hotspot Data Posted on: July 12, 2022
• Cellphone Carriers Planning Price Increases Posted on: May 16, 2022
• Verizon Begins Plans to Migrate Tracfone Customers to Their Network After Acquisition Posted on: March 1, 2022
• 5G Industry Update: Is 2022 The Year 5G Gets Interesting? Posted on: February 17, 2022
• C-Band 5G Rolls Out on Verizon and AT&T, T-Mobile Enables 5G Carrier Aggregation Posted on: January 19, 2022

AT&T

AT&T has for a long time been considered the second best carrier for nationwide coverage for nomads. 

Some even find AT&T to be suitable as a primary mobile internet connection these days. 

AT&T’s LTE network occasionally still lags Verizon in coverage, but there are also many parts of the country where AT&T excels - and sometimes it is the only option.

In 2018 AT&T 'climbed' every tower to implement their Band 14 FirstNet contract, and they utilized the opportunity to upgrade their equipment. Including preparing for a 5G- future. 

Since then AT&T customers have reported noticeable speed improvements. We rarely get reports of problems with network management issues on AT&T.

3G/5G Roadmap:

• 3G - ATT's older 3G/HSPA+ was shut down in February 2022 and any phone without VoLTE support will no longer work on the carrier. 
• 5G - AT&T's initial 5G focus was on ultra short range and fast mmWave coverage - using band n260 in a few select urban areas. AT&T also released longer range 5G over shared spectrum with LTE (bands n2, n5) in mid-2020. In practice, the current long range AT&T 5G isn't proving to be much faster than LTE. AT&T's big push for mid-band spectrum will begin later in 2022 as they begin to deploy their Andromeda spectrum and C-Band. 

Recent AT&T News Stories:

• AT&T Raises Price on 100GB Prepaid Hotspot/Router Data Plan - Now $90/mo Posted on: June 22, 2022
• FMCA Tech Connect+ Data Plan Transitioning from T-Mobile to AT&T - $59.99/mo Unlimited Hotspot Posted on: June 7, 2022
• AT&T Unlimited Premium Replaces Unlimited Elite for Consumers: Now With 50GB Mobile Hotspot Data Posted on: June 6, 2022
• Cellphone Carriers Planning Price Increases Posted on: May 16, 2022
• New AT&T Flagship Hotspots Announced: Netgear Nighthawk M6 and M6 Pro, First With Qualcomm X65 Modem Posted on: April 22, 2022

T-Mobile

T-Mobile has been the carrier to watch over the past few years.  It has grown rapidly, and even acquired Sprint to become a network that is now a worthy rival AT&T and Verizon. In terms of LTE/4G coverage, they are still a solid third place. 

T-Mobile has been able to take an early lead in deploying 5G thanks to strategic purchases of long range and mid-band spectrum.  

T-Mobile aggressively filled in the rural coverage gaps thanks to their acquisition of a huge chunk of long-range 600MHz cellular spectrum (LTE Band 71, 5G n71) and mid-band 5G n41 with their Sprint purchase.  

When T-Mobile has coverage, its network speeds are consistently some of the fastest. They are worthy of consideration of including as an option in a mobile internet arsenal, and worth investing in 5G capable gear to best take advantage of their network.  

Merger, 3G & 5G Plans: 

• Sprint Merger: T-Mobile customers will want to be able to benefit from Sprint's LTE Bands 25, and mid-range Band 41 will be particularly important in T-Mobile's 4G/5G coverage. Sprint's band 26 5G spectrum was sold to Dish Network, but the band 26 4G spectrum is in use by T-Mobile.
• 3G: T-Mobile began sunsetting their 3G network in July 2022 and has already been aggressively re-utilizing this spectrum for 5G. 
• 5G: T-Mobile started their 5G deployment utilizing their very low band 600 Mhz spectrum (band n71) making it the first to offer nationwide 5G coverage, and T-Mobile is now also rolling out on Sprint's former mid band (n41) and very limited mmWave (n260 & n261). If you're ready to hop on board with T-Mobile 5G, be sure any device you select supports n71 and n41 at a bare minimum - mmWave support isn't critical yet for T-Mobile. T-Mobile also won some mid-band n77 spectrum, but it's a low priority and likely won't be deployed until 2024. 

Recent T-Mobile News Stories:

• Sprint LTE and T-Mobile 3G Networks Officially Shutdown Posted on: July 6, 2022
• T-Mobile Updates Home Internet Service FAQ - Location Changes Require Contacting Carrier Posted on: June 20, 2022
• T-Mobile's Coverage Beyond with 5GB High-Speed International Roaming Posted on: June 16, 2022
• T-Mobile Launches New 5G Mobile Hotspot - Made By Quanta Posted on: June 16, 2022
• FMCA Tech Connect+ Data Plan Transitioning from T-Mobile to AT&T - $59.99/mo Unlimited Hotspot Posted on: June 7, 2022

Dish Wireless 

Dish is building a 5G native network that will not depend on a legacy 4G network behind the scenes.

Running 5G radios in "standalone" mode with 4G disabled can enable lower latencies and more efficient usage of the airwaves, but Project Genesis devices will still likely spend much of their time roaming onto more traditional hybrid 4G/5G networks so these advantages may be rarely realized.

Recent Dish News Stories:

• Dish Wireless Announces Boost Infinite Posted on: August 5, 2022
• FCC Grants Approval for Starlink Service For Vehicles in Motion! Posted on: July 1, 2022
• SpaceX Urges Customers to Contact Congress in 12 GHz Battle Against Dish Posted on: June 29, 2022
• A New Fourth Carrier: Dish's Project Genesis Expands to 120+ Cities, Offers Unlimited Hotspot Plan Posted on: June 16, 2022
• Dish Network Debuts Project Genesis - A New 5G Cellular Network Posted on: May 5, 2022

Regional Carriers for RV Travel

In addition to the big national carriers, there are a number of smaller regional and even local carriers that own and operate their own cellular networks. But they are unlikely to be the best cellular carrier for most RV or boat travels. 

Some of the larger examples include USCellular, C-Spire Wireless, nTelos, Cellcom, and Cellular One.

These smaller regional carriers are usually poor choices for travelers, unless you know that you are primarily going to be spending time in areas where they have a strong native presence.

Even if the regional carrier has nationwide coverage through roaming agreements, if you’re utilizing the service primarily outside its home region, you can find yourself running into all sorts of restrictions and limitations.

And if you are out of your home territory for too long - you will very likely end up getting your account canceled.

Conclusion: The Best Cellular Carrier for RV Depends on Your Needs

All of the major carriers have their strengths and weaknesses. The best cellular carrier for your RV or boat travel may just be the one that works best in your current location.

If you change locations frequently in your RV or boat travels, you'll want to determine which carrier, or possibly which combination of carriers, will give you the best coverage in the locations you'll be visiting.

And you absolutely need to also consider what data plans are available for the devices you want to use in your mobile internet setup, so that you can best meet your unique needs to keep online. 

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