Best Phone Coverage in Staten Island, NY: Cell Service in the Forgotten Borough

Staten Island is a New York borough with almost 500,000 residents. All boroughs of New York are incredibly populated, with many more people traveling into the city every day for business and pleasure. With such a high volume of inhabitants, the cell networks for all three major companies are pushed to the limit. 

The arrival of 5G and the continued development of the new network does wonders for both maximum speeds and total bandwidth within the city, making major wireless networks the best pick for urban coverage in the Forgotten Borough. 

Our research found that AT&T, Verizon, and Tello Mobile are the top three for best phone coverage in Staten Island, NY overall. This article features detailed information on the following: 

• Map of the fastest cell phone coverage in Staten Island, NY
• Local and national carriers that cover Staten Island, NY
• Frequently asked questions about phone coverage in Staten Island, NY

Phone Coverage in Staten Island, NY, at a Glance

Lightning-Fast Data Speeds on Major Networks

As you can see, just about all of Staten Island, NY, is covered by all three major wireless carriers in similar capacities, but AT&T takes the cake for best cell phone coverage. All of the big three have robust 4G LTE networks and are constantly improving their 5G coverage in the city, but in 2023, AT&T’s 5G coverage is the best of the lot. With 5G networks able to support many more devices and transfer much more data, strong networks are crucial in giving the majority of Staten Island, NY’s residents high-speed data at all times. 

Local and National Cell Phone Carriers in Staten Island, NY

The top three carriers in Staten Island, NY, are AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and Tello Mobile

At this time, there are two types of cell phone companies from which you can purchase service. Major Wireless Providers (T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T) own and operate their own mobile networks. They maintain the current infrastructure while building more throughout the country. As a result, purchasing service from a major wireless provider is expensive but gives you unlimited high-speed data and fast and reliable data speeds. The other cell service provider is Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), and these comprise the many companies that rent bandwidth from major wireless providers. 

MVNOs offer more affordable plans that often give less high-speed data and reserve the right to slow down data in times of high usage. A highly populated place like Staten Island, NY, is one where the bandwidth is stressed with high frequency. If you do not often rely on high-speed data, an MVNO can provide some of the best cell phone coverage, but the major wireless providers are much more reliable for high-speed data. 

#1 in Staten Island, NY: AT&T

Fastest 5G and 4G LTE in Staten Island, NY

AT&T’s network provides the best cell phone coverage in Staten Island, NY, and is best for people who travel around the state as well. 

AT&T has excellent cell phone plans and network strength up and down the East Coast. With basic and premium unlimited high-speed data, AT&T covers everyone. Premium data ensures you have maximum data speeds at all times of the day, and as an added bonus you receive 50 GBs of high-speed hotspot data. 

There’s an almost unlimited amount of things to do in NYC, and when you live in Staten Island, you can head to the self-proclaimed Best Coffee Shop or Beans and Leaves Coffee and Tea Cafe, or you can pop over to the other boroughs to sample their finest coffee. Whichever your plan, you can count on AT&T to keep you covered with their amazing network. 

Let’s look at all of AT&T’s cell phone plans!

Price: Varies

Plan: AT&T offers three unlimited plans at various price points. Their price is comparable to the plans at Verizon. 

AT&T offers three unlimited plans. 

• AT&T Unlimited Starter Plan
• AT&T Unlimited Extra Plan
• AT&T Unlimited Premium Plan

Like all major wireless networks, AT&T’s unlimited plans start at a high price point and become much more affordable with the addition of new lines. With three cell phone plans, AT&T has a basic plan with new bells and whistles, a medium plan, and a premium plan with many extras. 

• AT&T’s starter plan has unlimited high-speed data with 3 GBs of high-speed hotspot data.  
• AT&T’s extra plan comes with 50 GB of premium data and 15 GB of high-speed hotspot data. 
• AT&T’s premium plan comes with unlimited premium data and 50 GB of high-speed hotspot data.

We recommend AT&T’s starter plan as a new customer (unless there is a great deal on a higher-tier plan) because it lets you see how the basic data work in your day-to-day activities. You will save a lot if you stick to their lowest-tier plan, but the bells and whistles of higher-tier plans are a great addition if you use them frequently. The 50 GB of high-speed hotspot data lets you spend a fair bit of time on the web on a personal computer. 

👍 What We Liked

• Large 5G Network.  AT&T has a great 5G network. It is fast and covers almost all of Staten Island. AT&T is constantly working to improve its coverage and the speed of its network. 
• High-Speed Hotspot. Three GBs might not seem like a lot, but it is a great emergency pool in case you ever need to connect your laptop, and there’s no WiFi in sight. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• SD Streaming. Cutting video streaming off at standard definition for the starter and the mid-tier plan is a tough sell for anyone who likes to stream video when on the move. 
• Price. This is a common qualm with major wireless networks, but AT&T’s prices are steep. Overall, prices at major wireless networks are challenging to pay without multi-line discounts. Find some friends to take out an account together and enjoy serious savings if you can. 

#2 in Staten Island, NY: Verizon Wireless

Best Cell Phone Plan Range in Staten Island, NY

Verizon is well known as an amazing wireless carrier, and for good reason. While their service has its pros and cons, Verizon Wireless outputs some of the best cell phone coverage in Staten Island, NY. Verizon has the fastest 5G network in the US. 

Price: Varies

Plan: Verizon offers a pair of unlimited plans. One has unlimited high-speed data, and the other has unlimited premium high-speed data.  

Verizon offers two unlimited plans. 

• Welcome Unlimited, priced at $65/55/40/30 a month per line
• Unlimited Plus, priced at $80/70/55/45 a month per line

Just like AT&T, Verizon has impressive 5G coverage throughout the city. Their basic unlimited plan, unfortunately, does not come with any premium 5G data, leaving you vulnerable to slower data speeds any time you pass by a group live-streaming their day in the city or commuters watching their favorite shows on the bus. The premium plan is an extra $15, and it gives the following perks: 

• 30 GB mobile hotspot
• Device savings
• Price Guarantee
• Premium data

The premium data alone may be enough to warrant the extra monthly cost, but the hotspot data is a nice addition, and their device savings, if you need a new phone anyway, can save a lot more. The extra $15 per line does add up, but we recommend it for Staten Island, NY, residents who use their phones when out and about. 

Alongside the base price of the plans, Verizon offers a wide variety of add-ons, which are nice bonuses to their service. The best part — they are optional. Each add-on is $10 a month and saves you some money on the service, but if none of them seem like things you need, then you can skip it entirely and stick with the base plan. 

👍 What We Liked

• Reliable Coverage. Verizon has excellent coverage throughout the city, and you should expect signals in almost every nook and cranny of Staten Island. 
• Family Plan Savings. Any additional lines you can add to your account will save you and your account mates big on your cell phone bill. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• Price. Verizon is expensive. Their plans provide great service, lightning-fast speeds, and lots of add-ons, but they come at a high price. 
• Customer Service. This is certainly not unique to Verizon, but their customer service does not always solve the problems ailing their customers. 

#3 in Staten Island, NY: Tello Mobile

Most Affordable Cell Phone Plans in Staten Island, NY

Tello Mobile is our top MVNO pick for the best cell phone coverage in Staten Island, NY. They operate on T-Mobile’s network and are known for affordable and low-data plans. Their unlimited data plan only offers 25 GBs of high-speed data, but at $29 a month, and with many other plans, Tello Mobile brings a lot to the table for Staten Island, NY residents. 

There are many indoor activities in Staten Island and the greater city, and museums are at the top of our list. It should come as no surprise that a place as big as New York City has its fair share of museums! There are many museums around the city, and some in Staten Island as well! You can explore the Children’s Museum, the National Lighthouse Museum, or the Staten Island Museum for some nearby activities. Inside museums, you can hop onto their WiFi network and not worry about your data usage. 

Price: Varies

Plan: Tello Mobile offers a variety of plans between 0 GBs of high-speed data and 25 GBs of high-speed data. 

Tello Mobile is an excellent choice for you if you want an affordable set of low-data plans. In our explanation of the plans, we will focus on the different data offerings in Tello Mobile. They also allow users to purchase limited talk and text, but the cost of unlimited talk and text through Tello is only $4 a month, which we think is a worthwhile investment! Here is the list of their data offerings: 

• 500 MB for $9 a month
• 1 GB for $10 a month
• 2 GBs for $14 a month
• 5 GBs for $19 a month
• 10 GBs for $24 a month
• 25 GBs for $29 a month

As an MVNO, Tello Mobile users are the first to lose data priority if the bandwidth is strained. Living in Staten Island, NY, you should expect fluctuating data speeds during days when there is a lot of usage, but anytime you get full-speed data from Tello, you are getting the equivalent speed and coverage as full-speed T-Mobile data. We recommend Tello Mobile to customers who are okay with slow speeds and do not use their phones much on mobile networks. Any video or audio streaming, social media usage, or web browsing will quickly chew through your data allocation. 

👍 What We Liked

• Excellent customer service. Online reviews rave about Tello Mobile, a feat for any cellular provider. Tello Mobile has one of the highest-rated customer service branches in the country, and we are confident that whenever issues arise, its customer service will do all in its power to fix them.  
• Competitive prices among MVNOs. Tello Mobile’s prices are fantastic. The reason you would switch to a carrier like Tello Mobile is to save money. Tello’s plans cater to low-data users. If you spend most of the day in WiFi zones and are able to limit usage when out and about, you will save big on your cell phone bill. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• No multi-line savings. Tello Mobile’s plans are priced amazingly, but they do not offer any savings for multi-line plans. This makes them great for single-line accounts, but if you are part of a family plan, the affordability of Tello Mobile diminishes in relation to multi-line savings from MVNOs like Mint and Cricket. 
• Data deprioritization. It is not a surprise, but your data will slow whenever there is a high strain on the bandwidth in your area. In Staten Island, NY, there is a high possibility that you will lose data speeds in the city.

Get to Know Your Local Carrier Options in Staten Island, NY

We talked about AT&T and Verizon as the two major providers that provide the best cell phone coverage in Staten Island, NY, but T-Mobile is right behind them regarding network reliability and speed. Each network has inexplicable dead spots within the city, but they will all provide excellent coverage if you aren’t ready to switch just yet. T-Mobile customers talk about poor interior building coverage compared to the other two providers, but a month or two within the city with T-Mobile should help you decide whether it is the right carrier for you. 

If you are interested in the MVNO route but want more data, then Cricket Wireless might be for you. Working on AT&T’s network, Cricket provides a trio of excellent, if expensive, cell phone plans, including two plans with unlimited high-speed data. Cricket is known for its unlimited high-speed data and amazing multi-line savings. 

FAQ: Your Questions About Cell Phone Coverage in Staten Island, NY, Answered

How do I find the best cell phone coverage in my area?

We recommend examining local coverage maps from the three major wireless networks to determine which provides the best cell phone coverage in your area. 

Which carrier has the best coverage in New York City?

T-Mobile provides the best cell phone coverage in New York City, fighting congestion with its impressive 5G network coverage. Verizon is close behind and working hard to provide better coverage and speed within the city. All three providers are hard at work creating stronger networks in and around the city. 

What cell phone carrier has the strongest signal?

It depends on your area! While AT&T is the best in Staten Island, different networks are king in different areas around the country. 

TLDR: AT&T is your best bet for fast phone coverage in Staten Island, NY

Use really.com to compare! 

Staten Island is a bustling borough in a bustling city. There is a lot of congestion from residents and travelers, making AT&T the best cell phone service in Staten Island. Outside of AT&T, the other two major wireless networks will serve you well within the city. If you want more info about plans available in Staten Island, NY, you can compare carriers at Really.com to decide which phone carrier is best for you.