Who Owns Spectrum & What Network Do They Use?

For prospective wireless customers, there’s a lot of information that’s good to know before signing up for a carrier. From price and how much data you get per month, to coverage, benefits like international calling, streaming services, and cloud storage- you’ve got to make sure all of these factors line up with what you need in a cell phone plan. And of course that’s not even covering how the company is with its customers and policies. 

Knowing the in’s and out’s is why we’re here and today Spectrum Mobile is on the table for us to look at. Spectrum Mobile is both a Home Internet and wireless carrier that provides services to those in areas that may be far away from big wireless cell towers. But who owns Spectrum and what network do they use for your coverage? Let’s talk about it!

In this article, we plan to discuss the ins and outs of Spectrum Mobile while also diving into:

• A Quick Summary on Spectrum Mobile
• Who Owns the Carrier
• What Network Does Spectrum Use? Is it a MVNO or MNO?
• Plans, Prices, and Features
• A Few FAQs

A Quick Summary on Spectrum Mobile

Right off the bat we should lay down that Spectrum Mobile plans require you to purchase or be a current customer of Spectrum Home Internet. 

In order to be on a Spectrum phone plan you first have to have their Home Internet, which you might not be interested in if you like your current home internet plan. However, if you are interested in switching it up, Spectrum isn’t a bad place to look as their Home Internet and Mobile bundle plans are pretty enticing to look at.

Spectrum is actually the trade name (or business name) of Charter Communications, and they offer services for home internet, cable TV, home phone, streaming, mobile plans, and more. The brand was first introduced in 2014, and their mobile plans were conceived just four years later in 2018. 

Who owns Spectrum Mobile?

Spectrum Mobile is owned by Spectrum and Charter Communications, which “is an American telecommunications and mass media company.” They are one of the largest cable operators in the country, selling both products and services to the mass public.

What Network does Spectrum Mobile use?

Spectrum Mobile uses a combination of its own WiFi “access points” and Verizon’s network to provide coverage to customers. 

When you’re shopping for a new cell phone plan one of the first things you do is look to see what type of network connection you’ll have. Traditionally there are two major options in the US: MNOs (Mobile Network Operators) like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, and MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators). MVNOs purchase service access wholesale from one of the MNOs that own infrastructure across the country, which gives customers service at a much lower price. Spectrum Mobile is a MVNO of Verizon.

MVNO - What Should You Know:

A common aspect of MVNOs you should know about is they are more likely to subject users to data deprioritization and throttled speeds. Data deprioritization is “the temporary slowing of data speeds for certain customers in order to give priority to other customers.” Which means that those who are direct customers of the “parent” company will get network priority when you’re in a high traffic area like a concert hall or sports stadium, or when there’s network congestion.

Throttling is also more likely to occur with MVNOs and “the dramatic slowing of your data speeds to the point that it becomes almost unusable.” This will happen when you go over a certain number of gigabytes of data for the month, which is referred to as a “data cap.” You’ll see this number displayed somewhere on your carrier’s website. Your normal speeds will slow down until the start of your next billing cycle.

Verizon has the most nation-wide 4G LTE coverage out of every wireless carrier in the country which is no small feat. Covering over 70% of the country, Verizon has had its footprints all over the map giving reliable coverage to even the most rural of areas when it comes to LTE. 

When it comes to 5G however, Verizon loses a few credibility points as they are lower in volume compared to T-Mobile and AT&T. Both T-Mobile and AT&T have more widespread 5G coverage than Verizon, but Verizon’s 5G speeds are definitely performing at a higher rate. They’ve gotten the highest marks in “5G Games Experience, 5G Voice App Experience, and 5G Video Experience,” which means that when you’re in 5G Verizon covered area you’ll get some pretty amazing performance power.

One feature you’ll find on most provider’s websites is a “Coverage” or “Coverage Map” tab, this shows off the network’s coverage all throughout the country and subsequent regions. This is a look at Spectrum’s: 

To get the most accurate account of what coverage is like in your area you will need to enter your location when you go onto their coverage map page.

And if you need any more data, Ookla’s coverage map allows you to see where cellular towers are located and which company owns them. This coverage map provides information about coverage from 2G to 5G for several providers.

Spectrum Mobile’s Plans, Prices, and Features

Now that we have some background, let’s take a look at the plan(s), prices, and features of the carrier:

Spectrum Mobile Plans

Spectrum Mobile offers three plans, two being unlimited, and one being “By the Gig.” It’s important to remind you that Spectrum Mobile requires you to purchase Spectrum Internet to use their mobile services. 

You can have up to 10 lines on one account, and you can mix and match between what plans each line has. Spectrum Mobile, as a Verizon MVNO, is a QCI tier 8. 

If you purchase your phone from Spectrum Mobile, your device will be locked until it's paid in full. The plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are included with the advertised price. 

By the Gig Plan

This plan allows you to buy the specific amount of data you need. 

This plan costs $20 a month for the first GB, then $5 for each additional gigabyte, so those prices can add up quickly if you’re in need of more than just one GB for the month.

Once you stop buying data, access slows to 3G speeds. With 3G speeds, users can expect to continue scrolling social media and send texts or emails without issue, but may find difficulty with streaming video or playing games. You can use up to 5GB as hotspot data as well, then access slows to 3G speeds. 

The plan costs $20 a month for the first GB and $5 for each additional GB per month.

Unlimited

This plan also slows speeds after the cap. 

This plan gives users 30GB of normal Spectrum speed(s) data, which slows to 3G speeds after the cap. Users also have access to 5GB of mobile hotspot data, which also slows to 3G speeds after the cap.

The plan costs $30 per month. At this rate, you get 30GB of regular speeds at $1.00 per GB. 

Unlimited Plus

This plan gives you 50GB of full speed data.

This plan gives users access to 50GB of full speed data, which slows to 3G after the cap. Users get access to 10GB hotspot data with their highest tier plan. 

The plan costs $40 per month. At this rate, you get 50GB at $0.80 per GB.

This plan also comes with their “Anytime Upgrade” perk:

The Features:

While Spectrum offers some nice perks for their unlimited plans and bundle deals, it’s good to take a look at their features. If you’re someone who considers themselves to be a traveler, talk to your international friends and family a lot, or are looking for a bit more “perk” with your plan then this section will break down all of that juicy info so you can know what you’re potentially gonna get:

• Domestic Roaming Data

• Spectrum Mobile does not have this feature.

• Mexico & Canada Connection

• Spectrum Mobile offers Free Calls to Mexico and Canada (2,000 minutes/mo) on all of their plans and Free Roaming in Mexico and Canada (after 5 GB speeds reduced to max. 256 kbps) with their Unlimited Plus plan only.

• International Connection

• Spectrum Mobile offers Free Global Texting to and From Anywhere (in over 200 countries) with all of their plans, and international talk and data are at pay-per-use rates with their Global Day Pass(es).

• Video Streaming Quality

• Spectrum Mobile’s By the Gig and Unlimited plans stream at 480p Standard Definition resolution. Their Unlimited Plus plan streams at 720p High Definition. 

• Streaming Services and Cloud Storage

• Spectrum Mobile does not offer these features.

• Device Financing

• If you buy a phone from Spectrum Mobile, the carrier allows you to pay for your device in installments over time if you enroll in the Spectrum Mobile Device Payment Plan.

• WiFi Calling

• Spectrum Mobile offers WiFi calling, which allows you to send and receive phone calls over a WiFi connection rather than cellular reception.

• Spam Protection and Free Trial

• Spectrum Mobile offers spam protection, but it must be turned on by the user. They do not offer a free trial.

A Few FAQs - What You Need to Know about Spectrum Mobile

You’ve read a lot about the carrier, but you still might have a few questions regarding specific things and this section is all about answering them.

• Does the carrier support dual SIM, allowing you to use more than one plan on the device?

Yes, Spectrum Mobile supports dual SIM. According to their website, “Dual SIM capability is available on all of Spectrum Mobile's eSIM-eligible devices.”

• Is the network GSM or CDMA?

“GSM” and “CDMA” are two slightly outdated terms and technologies describing wireless networks. Nowadays it’s VoLTE or 5G and everyone, including Spectrum Mobile is moving to LTE+5G(NR) which means as long as you have a voLTE capable phone your phone will work with Spectrum and Verizon’s network. 

Now if you have an older phone and it is a GSM device, which are usually registered devices under the T-Mobile and AT&T networks, then you may run into some trouble. As CDMA devices have been under Verizon and Spectrum is a part of Verizon. We recommend taking a look at your device compatibility before signing up in case you want to keep your phone. 

• How much is Spectrum Home Internet?

We said before that you need Spectrum Home Internet in order to enjoy the savings and full scope of their mobile plans, but how much is Spectrum Home Internet? Well, you can either choose their Internet Premier 500 Mbps Internet Plan for $50/mo for one year where you can add their “Advanced WiFi” which is gives you more control over your home internet for an added $10/mo or their Internet Gig 1 Gig Internet Plan for $70/mo for one year that’s great for bigger households and larger devices. This plan comes with their Advanced WiFi. 

• What if I have a question and need help? What is the best way to reach them?

Spectrum Mobile has multiple stores across the country, and users can find the store closest to them with their store locator. You can also call Spectrum at (866) 782-2681 for support over the phone from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET Mon. through Fri. They also offer chat support 24/7.

Wrapping Up

Although Spectrum Mobile is very enticing for heavy-data users as their data cap is pretty high when compared to other MVNOs and prepaid plans- the downside of having to sign up for Spectrum Home Internet which not everyone wants to do, especially if they are really happy with their current set up. If you are however in the market for a complete overhaul, Spectrum is worth a look.

We recommend checking your data usage before committing to a plan or carrier.

Want to Compare Other Carriers?

Really.com helps users compare between features, coverage, price, reviews, and more!

And if you want to compare and contrast Spectrum Mobile to over 1,200 other phone plans so you know you’re getting the service that’s right for you, then make sure to check out the REALLY compare page which allows you to look at pricing, coverage, what phone plans are available, current deals and steals, and how you can make the most of your potential phone bill.