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Did you know Consumer Cellular has higher prioritized data than other smaller operators? The cell phone provider is also one of the few that have had two GSM networks, AT&T and T-Mobile, for native coverage. However, does the service still work when outside the native coverage? If yes, what network does Consumer Cellular use when it’s off-net?
First, the answer is a YES, Consumer Cellular will work when outside its native coverage. That means you’d have a signal in most parts of the country, including areas covered by its two carrier networks.
Regardless, there’s a roaming change on the network Consumer Cellular will be using in the future. Not that the service provider has announced the change. But last year they have been asking existing customers on the old network to upgrade to the other compatible SIM.
How is the 4G LTE Network Consumer Cellular Use?
As just mentioned, Consumer Cellular has been using AT&T and T-Mobile networks for native coverage. It has been a great network deal, as the two guaranteed 99% coverage in the country.
In the Pure Talk vs Consumer Cellular review, though, we concluded you can only use one network at a time. Thus, you’d have to choose either an AT&T-compatible or T-Mobile-compatible SIM, depending on which works best in your area.
If you opted for a Consumer Cellular service on the T-Mobile network, the signal was great in Major cities and most towns. The service was also decent in various rural areas and remote downtowns.
However, AT&T has better coverage than T-Mobile in rural areas. That’s especially true in the Midwest and northwestern regions where T-Mobile struggles.
Even when you compare AT&T and T-Mobile coverage maps, the former has more solid areas. The latest broadband map of the FCC also shows AT&T has 20% more 4G coverage than T-Mobile across the country.
So, the subscribers of Consumer Cellular through the AT&T network would have a more reliable phone. Then again, these coverage maps are usually not accurate enough to depend on. Worse, all the Major Carriers are nowadays claiming to cover 99% of the population, which is also inaccurate.
The best way to make sure the network Consumer Cellular uses in your area is good will be to test it. It would have been warming if Consumer Cellular had a free test drive like T-Mobile. But its cheapest plan is only twenty bucks, prepaid- no contract. You can leave after the first month without termination fees.
5G Network Coverage of Consumer Cellular
T-Mobile has been the leading network in 5G connectivity since its launch. If using Consumer Cellular on the (T-Mobile) network, you would be able to take advantage of these towers for faster data speeds.
Similar to 4G LTE, your T-Mobile-compatible Consumer Cellular SIM would have the best 5G coverage in the metropolises. The signal is also available in rural areas, albeit only in limited areas where T-Mobile has deployed the 5G cells.
If on Consumer Cellular through AT&T network, you’ll also get to enjoy 5G coverage. But this time the coverage (on 5G) is less than what you’d get through the T-Mobile network.
Updates of the Network Consumer Cellular Use for Native Coverage
In 2023, Consumer Cellular started sending messages and emails to existing subscribers to switch to new SIMs. The message was sent to the subscribers who are using their service through the T-Mobile network.
Before they even started sending the messages to swap, Consumer Cellular had already started to get rid of T-Mobile. When new customers joined, they stopped sending T-Mobile-compatible SIMs for exclusively AT&T options.
On the BYOD page, Consumer Cellular even states their SIM card “most commonly works with phones used on AT&T service”.
If you contact Consumer Cellular support about it, most agents will tell you the motivation is to support international calling. Some of the agents are more transparent and say the carrier is preparing to retire service through the T-Mobile network.
All that said, Consumer Cellular still hasn’t released an official statement about them stopping to use the T-Mobile network. So, the rumors of them retiring from the T-Mobile network may be true or not.
Knowing the Network Consumer Cellular Use Matters!
Does knowing the network Consumer Cellular use matter? Yes, it does- Very Much. The first obvious benefit is that you can confirm if the phone provider will have a good service in your location.
As you now know, the carrier networks of Consumer Cellular have been AT&T and T-Mobile for many years. Either of the two networks may work in your area, or one of them could be better than the other.
If AT&T is the best network in your area, you’re certainly in luck. The future of Consumer Cellular seems to lie on this GSM network. Even the website no longer demands a T-Mobile-compatible SIM to get international calling as they did in the past.
I’m guessing Consumer Cellular has now paid for local and international call services in the new deal with AT&T.
Speaking of AT&T, you should know it operates on different frequency bands than T-Mobile. See below:
Chart 1: Network frequency bands that Consumer Cellular requires to work
| Carrier Network | Primary Frequencies | Secondary Frequencies | Low-Band 5G Frequencies | High-Band 5G Frequencies |
| Consumer Cellular on AT&T | 12* & 17* | 2, 4, 5, 29, 30, & 66 | N2, N5, & N66 | N77 (Mid-band), |
| Consumer Cellular on T-Mobile | 4*, 12*, & 71* | 2, 5, & 66 | N71 | N41, N258, N260, & N261 |
In the chart, you’ll notice the network frequencies Consumer Cellular uses through AT&T and T-Mobile are quite similar.
However, the recommended primary frequency is band 17, albeit band 12 can be handy where it’s the only option. The secondary frequencies, bands 2, 4, 5, 29, 30, and 66, are crucial too to bring you faster data speeds.
But when looking for phones compatible with Consumer Cellular, I recommend a device with 5G+ capability. If possible, get a phone with both bands N77 (mid-band) and N260 (mmWave) to enjoy faster and lightning-fast data speeds. (The network spectrum of band 258 is currently inactive).
Consumer Cellular 5G network is available for most people on the low-band spectrum (in over 24,000 cities and towns). While the signal travels the farthest and penetrates the best through walls, it has slower data speeds than 5G+ mmWave and mid-band.
What’s the Data Priority on the Network Consumer Cellular?
Could you be wondering what’s the data prioritization of Consumer Cellular on the network it uses? If we’re to be honest, most of us don’t even understand what this question is about.
In simple words, network prioritization is where a carrier gives you higher priority than other users when using data services. It often occurs when the network is too busy (heavily congested).
For example, the AT&T network Consumer Cellular use for native coverage has it on a higher priority than most MVNOs. When I last checked (last year), Consumer Cellular was on the QCI 8 of the AT&T network.
If still the case, this means your phone data functions will be more than usable during network congestion. In a data speed test, your phone will be faster than AT&T Unlimited prepaid, Red Pocket, Boost Mobile, etc.
What Network Does Consumer Cellular Use Outside Native Coverage?
At the time of writing, the network Consumer Cellular uses for native coverage is AT&T and T-Mobile. But like I’ve said, it seems the company is planning to “retire” T-Mobile and only use AT&T.
AT&T still ranks second for coverage on 4G LTE, available in more rural areas than T-Mobile. As a subscriber of Consumer Cellular, your phone will have access to these AT&T towers as well.
When outside the (AT&T) native coverage areas, your Consumer Cellular phone will continue to work. It has free domestic roaming to give you a signal in those remote areas without native coverage. I have not been able to verify the roaming partners, though.
I also have not been able to verify the international roaming partners Consumer Cellular use abroad. Worse, I couldn’t get the roaming rates without enabling the feature.
Nevertheless, a customer rep confirmed for me the Consumer Cellular roaming rates are as follows:
- $0.06 to $0.58 per voice talk
- $0.06 – $0.58 per MB of data used
- $0.06 – $0.58 per sent/ received text message
On the coverage map online, Consumer Cellular claims it “does not guarantee coverage” everywhere. That applies both here in the US and when traveling abroad. (International roaming involves partnering with foreign carriers to access their networks).
When outside the native coverage and partners of Consumer Cellular, you’ll have to use other means to communicate. The other means include:
WiFi Calling and Texting
The first way you can use a Consumer Cellular phone outside the native coverage is through the WiFi calling feature. It’s a feature that lets you make and receive calls or texts as you usually do, but using the internet.
When you use WiFi calling/ texting, the user on the other end won’t know. The call or text sent will appear as it usually is over the cellular network. It will use minutes from your plan.
Your phone must have a WiFi calling feature to use it. At the time, it (the phone) should also be connecting over a WiFi network.
Social Platforms
The second way you can use your Consumer Cellular phone outside coverage is through social platforms. Most of these digital apps have only the messaging option for free. But others like WhatsApp also have free calling to local and international numbers.
Key Takeaway: Connect on the Local Network
If outside your native coverage for more than two days, you can get a phone service from your new place. It doesn’t matter if you’re traveling locally or outside the country. Every location has at least one or two service providers that are best there.
The good thing is that many countries now offer prepaid phone plans that you can join and leave at any time. They (prepaid plans) are also very cheap- with a place like Australia having plans from as low as $7. Then, you can activate your new phone plan instantly with eSIM.
Commonly Asked Questions
What towers does Consumer Cellular Use?
The towers Consumer Cellular uses are both AT&T and T-Mobile (GSM). However, Consumer Cellular has recently been asking its customers with the T-Mobile SIMs to update for the AT&T models. It’s more likely Consumer Cellular wants to stop using the T-Mobile network.
Can I activate eSIM with Consumer Cellular?
YES, you can activate eSIM with Consumer Cellular. It’s the best way to get your service running instantly, without waiting for a physical SIM card. Then, you can have your Consumer Cellular service on iPhone 14 and later that doesn’t have a physical SIM slot.
Does Consumer Cellular have networking roaming?
Yes, Consumer Cellular has network roaming, both domestic and international. Domestic roaming is free of charge when on partner coverage. But Consumer Cellular charges international roaming with rates at $0.06 per voice talk, text, or MB of data, depending on the destination.
Is the Consumer Cellular network deprioritized?
No, the Consumer Cellular network is not deprioritized like Red Pocket, Boost Mobile, or AT&T Unlimited Prepaid. The MVNO is one of the few on the high QCI 8 priority of the AT&T network. Thus, you still get fast prioritized data during network congestion.