Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless Services

Being one of the largest telecommunications companies in the U.S., Verizon Communications is a force to be reckoned with. And it’s not surprising that the operator’s subsidiary Verizon Wireless dubbed itself the “most awarded” network in the U.S.
But is this network truly the “most awarded” and how does it stack up against the competition? The following sections explore Verizon Wireless to find answers to these questions.

What Is Verizon Wireless?

As indicated, Verizon Wireless is a cellular network that operates on a national level. The mother company started acquiring smaller telecommunications companies in the 2000s to become the second-biggest operator in the country.
Currently, the company runs the 5G and 4G LTE network that covers about 98% of the U.S. residents. In August 2022, this network won the most reliable 5G network award, 3X in a row (RootMetrics). In the same year, it also won awards like America’s best network (RootMetrics, 16X in a row). Verizon is the most awarded for Network Quality, according to J.D. Power – 29 times in a row.
Therefore, Verizon Wireless is indeed the “most awarded” – but that’s not all. The company runs the Rural America program and it partnered with other wireless carriers to cover 189 markets across 48 states.
This operator was also one of the first to start developing 5G network; a project that began in 2015. Now, Verizon Wireless is expanding its 5G network to provide better coverage. In addition, the company also offers 5G for your home.

Network Designed for Speed

Truth be told, other carriers struggle to match Verizon’s 5G speed and coverage. More importantly, Verizon Wireless has outperformed the competition in third-party tests.
In 2022, RootMetrics proclaimed Verizon the number one network due to its overall performance during the second part of that year. Furthermore, Opensignal, a wireless mapping company, tested Verizon’s 4G performance.
Again, the network got the number one rating for upload speeds, availability, as well as the video experience. But that’s not all. J.D. Power proclaimed the operator number one in the network quality category. Plus, Nielsen provided the same rating for Verizon’s video reliability, start time, and quality.
The results of third-party testing are really impressive but are you getting what’s being advertised?
The download speeds are lightning-fast and you’ll be able to pull as high as 1,000Mbps, but there’s a catch. If you’re on the Go Unlimited plan, the speed is likely to go down when there’s heavy traffic. However, things are a bit different with the Beyond Unlimited plan.
The data transfer gets slower once you hit 50GB mark on your line. This is quite generous if you account for the fact that an average user consumes only about 12GB a month.

Verizon Wireless Pros and Cons

By now, it’s not hard to guess the main benefit of choosing Verizon Wireless. You’re signing with the top-rated 5G and 4G LTE operator in the country. And you’re not likely to experience lag, subpar speeds, or poor coverage.
In addition, the company offers more than a few plans so you won’t struggle to find the one that fits your needs. It has options for those who just like to text, talk, and maybe use a little bit of data. But then, the Unlimited host of plans may allow you to stream via your mobile device on the go.
In total, there are five main plans on top of the cheaper ones that are designed for hotspots, tablet devices, and wearables. The company offers a prepaid plan which doesn’t lock you into a contract. And as mentioned, there are three Unlimited plans.

So far so good, but what about the downsides?

In all frankness, there are no real cons of using Verizon Wireless. Nevertheless, the network is a bit pricier than the competition. With this in mind, you’re paying for reliability and speeds that are hard to rival.
On the other hand, the operator doesn’t really provide any entertainment perks. That being said, Disney + comes free during the first year of Unlimited plans or when you get 5G Home Internet, but the offer stops at that.
For comparison, T-Mobile, AT&T, and Sprint provide extras like Hulu or Netflix subscriptions to lure in more users. This isn’t the case with Verizon, but it might change in the future.

Rewards Program

Verizon Up is the rewards program that applies to all monthly plans. Verizon Up First Access brings you over a million presale tickets for your favorite artists, right to your phone. Plus early access to limited-run, exclusive Super Ticket experiences..

How Does Verizon Wireless Stack Up Against the Competition?

If you were to look at the RootMetrics scores, first half of 2022, Verizon Wireless and AT&T were tie at the top with 96.2. T-Mobile lingers close behind with 92.5.
All the given carriers offer unlimited texting and talking, but their service might not be available in all states. Verizon and AT&T top the list in this respect covering 50 states. Sprint covers 48 states and T-Mobile is available in 44 states.
When it comes to available plans, Verizon is in second place offering eight plans, whereas T-Mobile offers one more. There are three plans with Sprint and AT&T offers four. But it’s important to note that the number of plans is second to the network quality across the board.
Anyway, Verizon’s data range is very low, starting at 5GB. The only provider to beat that is T-Mobile with its unlimited plan for all. But then, T-Mobile’s RootMetrics score hints that the overall network performance is not on par with Verizon.
Important Note: All the provided data was taken at the time of writing. The available plans, RootMetrics scores, and the overall offer might be subject to change in the future.

Special Perks

Military and veterans, first responders, teachers, and nurses get up to $25 off Unlimited plans.
Verizon Wireless also offers TravelPass which is like the operator’s allowance for international data roaming, texting, and talking. This service is available in over 210 countries and may cost $5 a day in Canada and Mexico or $10 a day for other countries.

Cut the Cord, 5G-Style

If you’re looking for an operator that delivers impressive speeds and performance, Verizon Wireless might be the thing for you. Albeit a bit more expensive, you’re not likely to get frustrated with this network. And the introduction of Disney + aims to improve on the operator’s downsides.