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Cell Coverage

Available on: All plans including Free

The Cell Coverage card shows which wireless carriers have coverage at the address and how dense the cell tower infrastructure is nearby. For remote workers, frequent travelers, and anyone evaluating a home for reliable mobile connectivity, this card provides useful signal about what to expect.

Data source​

Cell tower location data comes from OpenCelliD, an open-source collaborative database of cell tower locations contributed by crowdsourced signal measurements. OpenCelliD contains tower locations, carrier identifiers (MCC/MNC), radio technology (LTE, 5G NR, UMTS/3G), and approximate signal range estimates.

Data is refreshed quarterly, as tower infrastructure changes slowly compared to real-time data categories.

What the card shows​

  • Carrier coverage — which of the major US carriers (T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, and regional carriers) have towers within coverage range of the address
  • Technology types — whether LTE (4G), 5G Sub-6, or 5G mmWave coverage is available per carrier
  • Tower proximity score — how many towers from each carrier are within range, weighted by distance
  • Nearest tower — distance to the closest cell tower regardless of carrier
  • Cell coverage score — 0–100, based on tower density and carrier diversity

How the cell score is calculated​

The score combines:

  1. Tower density — more towers within range means a stronger, more redundant signal
  2. Carrier diversity — coverage from 2–3 major carriers scores better than coverage from a single carrier (competition and fallback options)
  3. Technology — 5G coverage adds a bonus; LTE-only coverage is standard; 3G/UMTS-only scores lower
  4. Proximity — towers within 0.5 miles contribute more than towers 2–3 miles away

Important limitations​

warning

Cell coverage data has significant real-world limitations:

  • Outdoor vs. indoor coverage: Cell tower data tells you about outdoor coverage. Modern buildings with energy-efficient windows (metallized glass, insulated panels) can significantly attenuate cell signals. An address that shows strong outdoor coverage may have spotty indoor reception on upper floors of a concrete building.
  • Crowdsourced accuracy: OpenCelliD relies on crowd-sourced signal reports. Urban areas are well-mapped; rural areas may have sparse data. Coverage predictions are estimates, not measurements.
  • 5G specifics: 5G mmWave (the ultra-fast short-range 5G) is only relevant extremely close to a tower — within a few hundred feet — and is typically only found in dense downtown areas. 5G Sub-6 is the broader, longer-range 5G that most people experience as "real 5G." The card distinguishes between them.
  • Carrier not updated for new towers: Major new tower deployments (especially rural 5G buildout) may not appear in OpenCelliD immediately after activation.

Why cell coverage matters for home decisions​

Remote work: If you rely on your phone as a mobile hotspot or backup internet connection, having strong multi-carrier coverage matters. An address where only one carrier covers (and that carrier has poor building penetration) is a real risk.

Mountain areas: Coverage falls off dramatically in mountain valleys, canyons, and areas with ridge-blocking terrain. The score may show strong coverage on a ridge-top property but minimal coverage in a valley home 1,000 feet lower.

Emergencies: In Colorado, where winter storms, wildland fires, and other emergencies can affect power and internet, a strong cellular connection can be a critical backup communication link. Knowing which carriers have coverage — and whether any carrier at all reaches an address — matters for emergency preparedness.

Checking your specific carrier​

The card shows coverage by carrier. If you have a specific carrier, look for them in the carrier list. Having coverage from a carrier you're not on is less useful unless you're planning to switch — but it does indicate that the infrastructure is present in the area.

If you're considering a rural property and the card shows no major carriers with coverage, expect to rely on satellite internet and potentially satellite phone as communication options.