What Cell Phone Towers Does Spectrum Mobile Use?

If you are a Spectrum Internet subscriber (or you're willing to pay a hefty additional fee), you are eligible for Spectrum Mobile. Spectrum Mobile is a mobile phone service provider from Charter Communications that offers 4G LTE and 5G service. Spectrum Mobile is a competitively priced alternative to more expensive mobile plans because it is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator, or MVNO, using Verizon’s cellular network.

Spectrum Mobile offers a variety of 4G LTE and 5G plans with mobile hotspots. Additionally, Spectrum Mobile customers can access WiFi hotspots across the nation.

What Cell Phone Towers Does Spectrum Mobile Use?

Spectrum Mobile uses Verizon’s cell towers, which cover 99% of Americans. In fact, Verizon has the largest amount of 4G nationwide coverage among the Big Three, though Verizon’s 5G coverage stands at 12.77%. When 5G service is present, however, it is effective, with high-speed upload and download speeds. As an MVNO, Spectrum Mobile gets access to the same network as Verizon. Fun Fact: Xfinity Mobile also uses Verizon’s network.

Why Should I Care About Spectrum Mobile?

Spectrum Mobile is an MVNO 4G LTE and 5G Network, and it has a lot going for it as a cell phone plan provider.

If you are a Spectrum Internet subscriber, you have the option to save money with Spectrum Mobile’s service. On top of this, you can save on both home Internet plans and cell phone plans through bundling. For example, Spectrum Mobile currently offers a deal where you get fast home Internet, advanced WiFi (this offers better safety and privacy features on your home WiFi network) and one free Unlimited Mobile line all for just $49.99/mo for 12 months. Not only that, but Spectrum One also throws in their Speed Boost for faster speeds on your mobile device.

Spectrum Mobile also requires no contract and has no hidden fees.

What Plans Does Spectrum Mobile Offer?

Spectrum Mobile has a variety of Unlimited and By the Gig plans. If you want to find the best Spectrum Mobile plan for your needs, our Plan Finder below can help you compare phone plans from top wireless carriers in seconds.

Spectrum Mobile Unlimited Data Plans

Spectrum Mobile Unlimited

Price: $29.99 per month per line, though with a current deal of $29.99 for two lines, which effectively means you get a free line thrown in.

Benefits: 5G nationwide access, unlimited talk, text, and data, and 30GB premium data before speed is brought down to one Mbps.

You can read our full Spectrum Mobile Unlimited breakdown right here.

Spectrum Mobile Unlimited Plus

Price: $39.99 per month per line. Currently Spectrum Mobile is running a deal of $50 for two lines on this plan, meaning you get the second line for just $10 per month.

Benefits: The same benefits as Unlimited Plus with High Definition video streaming and 50GB premium data before speed is brought down.

We've got the lowdown on Spectrum Mobile Unlimited Plus here if you'd like to learn more.

Spectrum Mobile By the Gig Plans

Customers can also pay by the GB of data that they can use during each billing cycle. By the Gigabyte plans are great if you do not use a huge amount of data, are only concerned with talking and texting, and do not mind SD streaming. 

These plans come with a set amount of deprioritized data, 420p standard definition video streaming, free calls to Mexico and Canada, and texting from the United States to more than 200 countries.

By the Gig

These cell phone plans cost just $19.99 for the first GB of data per month. Every additional GB after that costs $5. However, note that once you reach a 5 GB data cap, your speeds will be slowed to 256 Kbps, which is unusable for modern data use. At that point, cost-wise, it makes more sense to spring for an unlimited cell phone plan, anyway.

The upside is that Spectrum Mobile adds incentives to create family plans: you can mix and match plans, allowing users to choose which data plan is best for them, keeping everyone in the group happy. Some users can be on capped plans, while others take advantage of an unlimited phone plan.

When switching to Spectrum Mobile, you can either bring your own device (BYOD) or buy a new cell phone. They carry Apple iPhones, Google Pixels, Motorola smartphones, Samsung Galaxy models, and more. Bringing your own phone will save you equipment costs since you will not have to buy a new phone. Be sure to check your device’s compatibility. You will need to transfer your SIM card before activation.

If choosing between these plans sounds like a tall order, let Navi help you out. Visit our website for plan comparisons, articles, and more.

What Is an MVNO?

Mobile Virtual Network Operators are smaller wireless carriers that piggyback off the network of a major carrier. Spectrum Mobile is an MVNO.

Another example of an MVNO is Mint Mobile, which uses T-Mobile’s network.

What Are the Benefits of MVNOs?

MVNOs offer major carrier services at lower prices. They are great options for people who do not mind a lack of bells and whistles.

What Are the Drawbacks of MVNOs?

MVNOs usually do not come with the same amount of extra perks and benefits that big three plans do. Besides that, they do have thresholds of data usage, after which speeds are slowed down. For example, at Spectrum Mobile, your speeds are slowed after you use your premium data. By comparison, at a cell phone plan carrier like AT&T, your data speeds don't automatically slow down once your premium data is gone. You just have deprioritized data, which means it slows when the network is busy.

How Do Cell Towers Work?

‍Cell towers transmit and receive radio signals. Compatible devices emit electromagnetic signals the cell towers receive and send to a switching center that passes the signal on to another device or network.

If a network has many cell towers with strong signals, it can provide effective coverage. The Big Three, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, have the most cell towers and provide the most extensive coverage.

To learn more about how cell phone towers work, check out our guide to which carriers have the best towers.

Does Spectrum Mobile Have Good Coverage?

Since Spectrum Mobile uses Verizon’s towers, it has excellent 4G coverage, and limited 5G coverage compared to AT&T and T-Mobile, as well as T-Mobile's MVNOs.

We've got a comprehensive guide on network coverage if you'd like to learn more. Click here to see the Spectrum Mobile coverage map.

Is Spectrum Mobile Cheaper Than Verizon?

In short, Verizon’s basic unlimited plan, Verizon Unlimited Welcome, is $65 a month for one line with paperless billing and autopay enabled. Spectrum Mobile’s basic unlimited plan is $29.99 a month for one line. 

If you want a more premium cell phone plan, Verizon offers more mobile hotspot data, unlimited 5G data speeds, and more perks and benefits, such as a Disney Bundle with ESPN and more.

Not decided? If you want to get a full Spectrum Mobile vs Verizon comparison, we've got just the guide for you.

The Bottom Line

By utilizing Verizon’s network, Spectrum Mobile is able to offer a fantastic 5G and 4G LTE network at a lower price to Spectrum Internet customers. At a lower price, customers can receive the same level of service as those who pay more for Verizon, though there are fewer benefits. If you do not use a huge amount of mobile data, consider their By the Gig Plans to save even more. To compound savings, Spectrum Mobile and Spectrum Internet services can be bundled.

Finding the right cell phone plan to meet your needs can be confusing. But it doesn't have to be. Our Phone Deal Finder and Plan Finder can save you time, energy, and money by showing you the best phone and plan deals you qualify for based on your preferences. Whether you choose Spectrum Mobile or any other wireless carrier, our free, unbiased tools help take the work out of wireless shopping.