3g coverage
Wednesday, December 22nd, 20103g coverage
There’s nothing more important to a 3G user than 3G coverage. After all, there’s not much point in paying for the use of a 3G network if most of the time you can’t use it in a service area you frequent. That’s why, when shopping around for the right network, the most important question is “Which provider has the widest 3G coverage?” It’s very important to get the answer to the question before deciding on a network, or you might be left without a connection when you really need it. At the time of this writing, the three networks with the largest 3G coverage are Sprint, Verizon and AT&T. On top of these big three, there are quite a few others who offer coverage in select areas. Unless you know for certain that you’ll be operating in those specific areas, you probably want to go with the wider coverage of one of the three major providers. Also, keep in mind that AT&T uses a different 3G protocol, which may also affect your choice. You should also know that before 3G came along, all of these networks had far-reaching 2G support. So it’s possible that in some places you may still be able to connect to the Internet remotely, but at greatly reduced speeds when compared to 3G. Each network has been working to upgrade their networks to provide better 3G coverage, with varying levels of success. A 2G network usually can’t exceed speeds of 150kpbs, while 3G can reach speeds of up to 1,400kbps – almost 10 times faster. AT&Ts network is overall the fastest, and can reach speeds of up to 1,700kbps. So long as you are in a major city, getting 3G coverage is generally not a problem. Most of the major providers just add the 3G technology to one of their already existing towers and they can provide 3G support for thousands of people. It gets a little tricky once you get outside of major metropolitan areas. While AT&T’s 3G coverage is generally faster, it starts to cut out quickly once you leave a populated area. The other networks tend to remain stronger, longer. If you frequently travel all across the United States, then the 3G coverage offered by Verizon may be your best option. While the other networks may be equal or even better when in the major cities, once you leave those areas, Verizon really proves itself the better service. This is especially true the further you go west in the states. If you’re going to be working in a more specific area, there are maps that show you where each provider has the best 3G coverage.

