Tello Coverage Map

Does Tello have good cell coverage?

by
Stetson Doggett
|
Updated:
June 26, 2023

If you’re in search of a new cell phone plan, you may have come across Tello and its affordable pricing. 

Tello’s low-cost $10 to $29 plans can save you over $500 per year on your cell phone bill. 

However, you may wonder if Tello’s coverage will meet your expectations.

In this article, we will explore the coverage provided by Tello and compare it to other major carriers to help you make an informed decision.

Tello Coverage

Tello is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that runs on T-Mobile.

By using T-Mobile’s infrastructure, Tello is able to offer affordable plans without compromising on the quality of service. 

Below, you can check Tello coverage in your area. The first map is an estimated coverage map. The second map 

The second map is our community-contributed map of Tello’s coverage.

Over 1.6 million speed tests have been uploaded to the map by community members and Tello subscribers to help paint a more accurate picture of what coverage is like in your area. Everyone is invited to contribute to the map to help make it more accurate. Here's how to contribute, if you're interested.

Check Tello coverage in your area by using the search bar in the maps below:

Map Key:
Great coverage
Good coverage
Poor coverage
Great coverage = stream 4K videos, video call, use your phone to its fullest potential
Good coverage = stream 480p videos, browse social media, stream music, use the web
Poor coverage = make phone calls, send a text
*The Estimated Coverage Map is created with coverage data from the FCC

​​Tello Coverage Quick Stats

  • Network: T-Mobile
  • Total area covered: 35%
  • Total square miles covered: 1,343,492
  • 5G area covered: 26%
  • 5G square miles covered: 999,056

The above data comes from the FCC’s National Broadband Map

What network does Tello use?

Tello uses T-Mobile’s 4G LTE and 5G networks to provide service.

Because Tello uses T-Mobile’s towers, its coverage is essentially the same as that of T-Mobile.

This means that Tello offers nationwide 4G LTE and 5G coverage.

Tello 5G Coverage

Tello Mobile 5G coverage map
Tello Mobile 5G coverage map

Tello offers nationwide 5G coverage on T-Mobile’s 5G network. 

T-Mobile 5G currently covers 98% of the U.S. population, or about 323 million people.

You can check 5G coverage on Tello's self-published coverage map, here.

Tello 4G LTE Coverage

Tello Mobile LTE coverage map
Tello Mobile LTE coverage map

Tello offers nationwide 4G LTE coverage on T-Mobile’s extensive 4G LTE network.

T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network covers 99% of Americans, so odds are you’ll have service.

Tello vs. T-Mobile Coverage

Since Tello runs on the T-Mobile network, coverage is about the same between the two carriers.

The only difference is that Tello doesn’t include domestic roaming.

Domestic roaming is where your phone switches to a partner network for coverage in areas where your primary network doesn’t have service. 

For example, T-Mobile customers will roam on the Viaero Wireless network for coverage in Nebraska because T-Mobile hasn’t fully built out towers in Nebraska just yet.  

Unfortunately, Tello doesn’t get access to this roaming agreement, or others. 

Tello coverage will be limited to what the native T-Mobile network offers. 

You can see exactly where Tello offers coverage on their website

Tello vs. AT&T Coverage

Tello coverage is a little bit worse than AT&T coverage.

AT&T covers more of the United States than Tello, with 55% total coverage compared to 35% total coverage.

However, both provide similar coverage footprints for 5G. Tello 5G covers 26% of the area in the US, while AT&T’s 5G network covers 31%.

Tello also has faster median download and upload speeds than AT&T, as reported by Ookla.

In March 2023, Tello got 165.22 Mbps for its median download speed and 12.99 Mbps for its median upload speed. 

AT&T, meanwhile, got just 68.2 Mbps for its median download speed and 8.14 Mbps for its median upload speed.

In major cities, both Tello and AT&T will likely perform well. In more rural areas, AT&T may be a better option thanks to its wider coverage area.

If getting fast cellular speeds is important to you, Tello may be a better option. 

You can see AT&T coverage in your area here

Tello vs. Verizon Coverage

Tello’s coverage is a little bit worse than Verizon’s coverage.

Verizon covers a whopping 55% of the area in the US. Tello covers 35%.

That said, Tello has substantially more 5G coverage than Verizon does. Tello offers 26% 5G coverage compared to Verizon’s 12% 5G coverage.

Tello also boasts faster speeds than Verizon, getting median speeds of 165 Mbps down and 12.99 Mbps up according to Ookla’s latest report

Verizon got median speeds of just 75.4 Mbps down and 9.87 Mbps up.

Both carriers will likely provide adequate coverage in major cities. Outside of cities, Verizon’s larger overall coverage area will make sure you have service.

However, if having faster data speeds is important to you, then Tello may be a better choice.

You can check Verizon coverage in your area here

Tello Coverage by State

The below coverage data comes from the FCC:

Sate Area Covered (sq km) Total Percent Covered Great Coverage Good Coverage Poor Coverage
Alaska 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Alabama 77,233 62.6% 23.4% 24.7% 14.5%
Arkansas 74,404 59.4% 17.8% 23.3% 18.3%
Arizona 105,436 39.3% 16.0% 13.5% 9.8%
California 186,985 48.5% 21.4% 16.5% 10.6%
Colorado 77,030 31.4% 9.8% 11.9% 9.7%
Connecticut 10,556 80.9% 45.6% 22.1% 13.2%
District of Columbia 179 98.6% 98.2% 0.4% 0.0%
Delaware 4,438 75.7% 31.0% 28.5% 16.3%
Florida 99,428 64.2% 29.2% 19.1% 16.0%
Georgia 95,876 68.5% 27.4% 24.7% 16.4%
Hawaii 7,031 27.3% 10.9% 9.5% 6.9%
Iowa 97,783 73.8% 20.4% 28.2% 25.2%
Idaho 70,595 35.9% 13.4% 13.4% 9.1%
Illinois 96,954 71.1% 26.3% 23.8% 21.0%
Indiana 72,771 84.9% 33.4% 30.2% 21.3%
Kansas 102,138 52.7% 12.7% 19.9% 20.2%
Kentucky 57,568 60.5% 22.4% 24.8% 13.3%
Louisiana 70,382 57.1% 19.6% 20.6% 16.9%
Massachusetts 17,201 69.2% 42.6% 16.0% 10.6%
Maryland 22,212 76.0% 38.9% 23.3% 13.9%
Maine 27,035 32.5% 10.6% 12.9% 8.9%
Michigan 84,507 37.1% 13.8% 13.7% 9.6%
Minnesota 125,736 61.4% 17.2% 23.1% 21.2%
Missouri 104,420 63.6% 20.2% 25.6% 17.8%
Mississippi 72,143 63.3% 17.4% 26.7% 19.1%
Montana 125,494 36.3% 10.3% 14.3% 11.6%
North Carolina 80,735 63.7% 25.8% 23.9% 14.1%
North Dakota 66,656 40.0% 7.7% 16.0% 16.3%
Nebraska 10,937 6.0% 1.5% 2.2% 2.4%
New Hampshire 13,342 60.6% 24.9% 21.8% 13.9%
New Jersey 17,371 84.6% 51.5% 19.3% 13.8%
New Mexico 159,521 55.7% 16.7% 22.5% 16.5%
Nevada 85,566 32.9% 12.5% 12.5% 7.9%
New York 75,537 58.8% 26.4% 20.6% 11.9%
Ohio 85,254 80.8% 35.8% 28.1% 16.9%
Oklahoma 105,776 64.3% 19.5% 25.2% 19.6%
Oregon 77,156 33.3% 14.0% 12.0% 7.3%
Pennsylvania 80,491 74.2% 36.6% 24.3% 13.3%
Rhode Island 2,659 73.1% 44.1% 16.8% 12.3%
South Carolina 56,738 75.3% 32.5% 26.5% 16.2%
South Dakota 79,636 43.9% 8.7% 18.0% 17.2%
Tennessee 61,784 62.3% 27.3% 21.8% 13.2%
Texas 319,601 50.5% 15.8% 18.2% 16.6%
Utah 81,087 40.6% 16.8% 14.8% 9.1%
Virginia 56,834 56.4% 22.2% 21.7% 12.5%
Vermont 10,537 46.5% 15.3% 19.1% 12.2%
Washington 75,843 45.2% 19.5% 15.7% 10.0%
Wisconsin 72,019 46.7% 16.5% 18.4% 11.9%
West Virginia 15,869 27.8% 10.0% 11.7% 6.1%
Wyoming 81,130 35.2% 8.4% 14.6% 12.2%

Tello Data Speeds by State

Here are the data speeds you can expect on Tello in each state. You can see average download speeds, upload speeds, and ping times. The below data comes from our community-contributed coverage map:

Sate Average Download Speed Average Upload Speed Average Ping
Alaska 10.5 Mbps 12.8 Mbps 199.2 ms
Alabama 101.9 Mbps 16.5 Mbps 100. ms
Arkansas 80.9 Mbps 14.4 Mbps 96.2 ms
Arizona 97.3 Mbps 15.8 Mbps 66.1 ms
California 110.1 Mbps 20.5 Mbps 55.4 ms
Colorado 85.6 Mbps 16.3 Mbps 86.3 ms
Connecticut 155.1 Mbps 21.7 Mbps 57. ms
District of Columbia 181.6 Mbps 28.8 Mbps 99.5 ms
Delaware 99.3 Mbps 19.6 Mbps 42.7 ms
Florida 115.7 Mbps 18.5 Mbps 75.7 ms
Georgia 139.3 Mbps 19.5 Mbps 93.1 ms
Hawaii 91.8 Mbps 19.4 Mbps 105. ms
Iowa 86.9 Mbps 14.5 Mbps 66.6 ms
Idaho 106.1 Mbps 18.8 Mbps 113.7 ms
Illinois 117.1 Mbps 18.6 Mbps 56.2 ms
Indiana 157.8 Mbps 17.3 Mbps 68. ms
Kansas 109.9 Mbps 15.6 Mbps 87. ms
Kentucky 127.6 Mbps 17.5 Mbps 88.2 ms
Louisiana 107.5 Mbps 16.1 Mbps 82.1 ms
Massachusetts 113.4 Mbps 19.6 Mbps 57.7 ms
Maryland 102.1 Mbps 18.3 Mbps 78.8 ms
Maine 60.5 Mbps 14.4 Mbps 77.8 ms
Michigan 94.8 Mbps 16.1 Mbps 63.3 ms
Minnesota 108.2 Mbps 17.1 Mbps 65.1 ms
Missouri 115.2 Mbps 17. Mbps 83.3 ms
Mississippi 91. Mbps 14.6 Mbps 95.4 ms
Montana 66.5 Mbps 15.2 Mbps 161. ms
North Carolina 95.9 Mbps 18. Mbps 72.4 ms
North Dakota 77.7 Mbps 10.8 Mbps 52.1 ms
Nebraska 137.1 Mbps 17.6 Mbps 78.8 ms
New Hampshire 92. Mbps 17. Mbps 49.3 ms
New Jersey 131.1 Mbps 23.3 Mbps 48.7 ms
New Mexico 48.3 Mbps 15.7 Mbps 194.7 ms
Nevada 119.5 Mbps 23.5 Mbps 66. ms
New York 128.6 Mbps 21.3 Mbps 64.7 ms
Ohio 143. Mbps 18.2 Mbps 61.6 ms
Oklahoma 101.8 Mbps 17.1 Mbps 63.5 ms
Oregon 130. Mbps 16.8 Mbps 60.9 ms
Pennsylvania 109.6 Mbps 17.7 Mbps 54.3 ms
Rhode Island 214.5 Mbps 24.3 Mbps 39.3 ms
South Carolina 92. Mbps 19.6 Mbps 88. ms
South Dakota 80.9 Mbps 11.4 Mbps 56.8 ms
Tennessee 132.7 Mbps 15.3 Mbps 80.4 ms
Texas 109.9 Mbps 17.3 Mbps 65.5 ms
Utah 99.9 Mbps 18.9 Mbps 106.1 ms
Virginia 91.3 Mbps 19. Mbps 92.3 ms
Vermont 73.6 Mbps 16.1 Mbps 61.2 ms
Washington 110.8 Mbps 17.3 Mbps 63.1 ms
Wisconsin 127.1 Mbps 16.2 Mbps 59.3 ms
West Virginia 46.6 Mbps 15.3 Mbps 91.1 ms
Wyoming 106. Mbps 18.8 Mbps 77.3 ms

What towers does Tello use?

Tello uses T-Mobile’s towers to provide service.

Is Tello coverage good?

Tello covers over 99% of Americans and it has one of the fastest overall networks in the country, so it tends to be pretty good for most people.

Does Tello offer 5G?

All Tello plans include 5G at no extra cost. Tello's 5G network covers over 98% of Americans.

Does Tello have coverage in Canada?

Tello does not provide coverage in Canada.

Does Tello have coverage in Mexico?

Tello does not provide coverage in Mexico.

Does Tello have international coverage?

Tello does not offer international coverage. Tello only offers service within the United States.

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