Straight Talk is a network carrier that provides prepaid wireless services thanks to its parent company Tracfone and partnering with Walmart. This company was established in 2009 and has become among the country’s most extensive wireless service providers.
All Straight Talk customers are assured of top-notch service delivery since the company operates on one of the country’s most reliable networks. But what towers does Straight Talk use? All these will be discussed in this article in great depth.
Aside from providing a network, Straight Talk allows you to purchase cheap plans with unlimited data, text, and Talk. They also have a range of high-end devices you can purchase. Alternatively, you can bring your own phone and still access their network. This article looks at what the towers Straight Talk uses, the plans they offer, and their network coverage, so stick around.
How Does Straight Talk Provide it’s Services
Being a Mobile Virtual Network Operator, Straight Talk lacks infrastructure such as network towers to enable them to offer their own network. It uses the network towers of three of the largest wireless service providers: T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T, and compensates them afterward.
Unlike several MVNOs who source their network from one large carrier, Straight Talk decided to collaborate with the three most prominent ones. This has given them a competitive edge over their competitors as they can ensure they have the maximum coverage possible.
Using the network towers of the three most prominent carriers enables Straight Talk to save on the cost of construction and maintenance of network towers of its own. The savings are then channeled toward providing a more wholesome service to consumers.
Can you access all the networks from the three wireless service providers now that Straight Talk uses their towers? No, you will only connect to the network of the available carrier in your area.
It will also depend on the type of device that you own. For example, if you own a T-Mobile-compatible phone and live in an area with T-Mobile coverage, then you can enjoy T-Mobile’s network.
Straight Talk Network Coverage 4G LTE
Straight Talk enjoys good network coverage thanks to three prominent carriers’ network towers. Combined, the towers enable Straight Talk to distribute its network to 99.6% of the country’s population. Individually, they have the following 4G LTE coverage:
1. Verizon-70% Coverage
Verizon ranks first when it comes to the 4G LTE network. Its reach is quite extensive, covering both metropolitan and rural areas. This gives Straight Talk customers access to some of the strongest networks.
2. AT&T- 68% Coverage
Ranking second when it comes to 4G LTE coverage, AT&T has superb service in urban areas but poor coverage when it comes to rural areas. If you plan to use the AT&T 4G LTE network with Straight Talk, you should ensure they cover your area first.
3. T-Mobile- 63% Coverage
T-Mobile doesn’t rank far behind AT&T as it has 63% coverage nationwide. Its coverage in metropolitan areas is outstanding. However, it has one of the worst coverage in rural areas. It is preferable to use Straight Talk with T-Mobile’s network only in urban areas.
Straight Talk Network Coverage 5G LTE
As for the 5G network, the rankings are a bit different. This is because the 5G technology is still new, and each carrier dedicates varying resources toward improving it and rolling it out. The top three carriers have the following 5G network coverage:
1. T-Mobile-37% Coverage
While T-Mobile is slightly behind in terms of 4G LTE network coverage, it comfortably leads the 5G coverage race. The 5G network is still lagging for all providers in terms of nationwide coverage, but you can expect to use T-Mobile’s 5G network with Straight Talk in urban areas quite comfortably.
2. AT&T- 16% Coverage
AT&T 5G network covers the main cities in the country, but you will find it difficult to get a good signal when you go to remote areas. Like the other providers on this list, AT&T is constantly working.
3. Verizon-11% Coverage
The best 4G LTE provider in terms of coverage comes last in 5G. This is because Verizon focused its resources on millimeter wave technology. mmWave technology offers high speeds but covers a smaller area. Likely, you might not find it where you reside just yet.
To enjoy Straight Talk 4G LTE/5G network, you need to have a 4G LTE/5G device.
What is Straight Talk Network Performance
Generally speaking, Straight Talk coverage is very good in urban areas but poor in remote areas. Therefore you should make the necessary arrangements for communication when traveling to rural areas.
Furthermore, once you subscribe to Straight Talk’s service, you can access the network from only one of the three prominent providers mentioned above. You will be restricted from changing networks frequently.
However, if your network does not perform as expected, you will be allowed to change it permanently only once. You can use the Straight Talk coverage checker to see if coverage is available in your area. Once you input your ZIP code, the checking tool will let you know which service provider offers the best coverage in your state.
Straight Talk Network Data Speeds
The data speeds of Straight Talk’s network will be similar to those of the carriers they source their network. For example, if you’re currently using the T-Mobile network with Straight Talk, your data speeds will be identical to those of a T-Mobile customer.
An exception occurs when the network is packed. In such cases, the primary carrier’s network is given priority while you have to make do with slower speeds. Another one is that none of Straight Talk’s customers can yet access 5G when using networks from Verizon and AT&T. But, things are expected to change in the near future.
Which Plans Does Straight Talk Offer
Straight Talk Wireless offers its customers a variety of plans, such as single-line plans, data-only plans, and prepaid plans with family discounts. You will have to pay between $30 and $495 monthly to access them. However, there are six prepaid base plans that you subscribe to start enjoying their service. They include:
1. All You Need Unlimited Plan
This is the cheapest plan you can find at Straight Talk Wireless, costing $30 monthly. It comes with:
- 100MB of data
- No contracts
- Free shipping
2. Bronze Unlimited Plan
The Bronze unlimited plan costs $35 every month, but you can pay $34 monthly when auto refilling. This plan comes with:
- 5GB of mobile hotspot data
- 10GB of high-speed data
- No contracts
3. Silver Unlimited Data Plan
This plan will cost you $45 monthly or $42.50 monthly for three months when you auto-refill. You can get the following benefits by signing up for this plan:
- Unlimited data
- No contracts
- 10 GB of mobile hotspot
4. Gold Unlimited Data Plan
The Gold Unlimited Data plan costs $55 per month without auto-refill and $50 monthly with auto-refill. It has the following features:
- Unlimited data
- 15GB of mobile hotspot data
- No contract
- Nationwide calls to Canada and Mexico
5. Unlimited International Plan
This plan costs $60 per month and $59 with auto-refill. You can get these features when you subscribe to it:
- 5GB of hotspot data
- Unlimited hotspot data
- International and nationwide calling
6. Platinum Unlimited Data Plan
The platinum plan will set you back $65 monthly, but the cost reduces to $60 monthly for three months when you auto-refill. These are the features you can expect from this plan:
- Nationwide and international calling
- Mobile protection feature
- 20 GB hotspot data
- 100 GB cloud storage
Add-ons Available on Straight Talk
Add-ons play a crucial role in ensuring that we continue enjoying the service of a service provider. You can get the following add-ons from Straight Talk.
Extra Data Add-ons
These come in handy when you have exhausted your monthly high-speed data but still need to surf the internet. It will only cost you $5 for 1GB of data.
Global Calling Add-ons
You can add a global calling card to one of the plans you have purchased so you can call internationally. This will only cost you an extra $10.
Extended Plans
Purchasing extended plans that last three, six, or twelve months earns you a discount and enables you to cut costs.
Straight Talk Bring Your Own Device Program
Did you know that you can also bring a different phone and use it on the Straight Talk network? You don’t have to purchase a device directly from Straight Talk for you to enjoy their network, as they have a Bring Your Own Phone program.
This program allows you to use AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile phones because they are all compatible with Straight Talk. However, you will need to sign off on any contract with your previous provider or finish paying for the phone if you owe any.
You can purchase unlocked phones from big companies such as Samsung and Nokia. These phones can easily be found on online platforms like Amazon, Walmart, and eBay. Unlocked phones usually are compatible with Straight Talk Wireless.
Unlocking a Straight Talk Phone
If you purchased a Straight Talk recently and want to switch to another service provider, you will first have to unlock it. Luckily, unlocking it is an uncomplicated process and depends on the type of device you want to unlock.
Contact the Straight Talk customer support team through their number: 1-877-430-CELL (2355) and request an unlock code. They will send you an unlock code if the device is eligible for unlocking. Once you input the code on your phone, you will be good to go.
Straight Talk Customer Referral and Reward Program
Straight Talk also has a referral and rewards program to encourage consumers to invite their friends and family to the company. The program rewards members who successfully refer their friends to the company.
How does the reward system work? If you refer one friend, you will earn 5000 points. If you refer 2-4 friends, you will be rewarded 9000 points for every person you refer. Customers who subscribe to Straight Talk will also be rewarded with points after you refer them.
What can you use the reward points for? The reward points can help you to buy phone plans or new devices from Straight Talk. Additionally, you can get free benefits and discounts that will help you to spend less when shopping, dining, etc.
Straight Talk Phone Trade-In Program
Not only can you bring your phone to Straight Talk Wireless and use it on their network, but you can also bring an old device and earn cash from trading it in. The Straight Talk Trade-In program only allows you to hand in a device that still functions seamlessly. You can trade in by following these steps:
- Determine how much your device costs.
- Hand in your phone at the nearest Straight Talk outlet or ship it to Straight Talk for free.
- Receive compensation through cash or Paypal.
Straight Talk Customer Support
If you want to reach the Straight Talk Wireless customer support team to inquire about their service, you can call 1-877-430-CELL. They are available seven days a week from 8.00 am to 11.45 pm EST. You can also initiate a chat with them online through their website.
Conclusion
What towers does Straight Talk use? Hopefully, this article has provided the answer in great detail. Straight Talk offers one of the most reliable networks since it depends on the three major carriers for network provision. If you want to enjoy their service, you can sign up for one of their affordable plans that offers a variety of features.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Straight Talk does not have any fees for activating your phone. You can begin using a phone you purchase from them after following the activation procedure that their customer support team will give you.
Straight Talk gets its network from the network towers of three wireless service providers: Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T.
Yes. Straight Talk offers a 5G network to customers with 5G capable gadgets. So you can enjoy super-fast browsing.