Who Owns Tello & What Network Do They Use?

Tello is a budget-friendly mobile carrier that has gained popularity for its customizable plans and straightforward pricing. As a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), Tello caters to users looking for affordable and flexible options without the commitment of traditional carriers. Its plans are ideal for light data users, families, and anyone who values simplicity in their mobile service.

Understanding who owns Tello and the network it operates on is crucial for evaluating its reliability, coverage, and long-term viability. Ownership can indicate the company’s stability, while the network reveals the quality of service you can expect. These details help potential customers make informed decisions about whether Tello is the right fit for their needs.

Who Owns Tello?

Tello is owned by KeepCalling, a telecommunications company founded in 2002. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, KeepCalling specializes in offering international calling services, prepaid credit, and mobile plans through its various brands. The company has built a reputation for affordability and innovation, serving customers across the globe with a focus on simplicity and transparency.

KeepCalling’s ownership of Tello aligns with its mission to provide accessible communication solutions. By leveraging its expertise in the telecom industry, KeepCalling ensures that Tello remains a competitive option for customers seeking low-cost, flexible mobile plans. This parent company’s strong foundation and customer-centric approach contribute to Tello’s growing success in the MVNO market.

What Network Does Tello Use?

Tello operates on T-Mobile’s nationwide network, one of the largest and most reliable in the United States. By using T-Mobile’s infrastructure, Tello provides its customers with extensive 4G LTE and 5G coverage, ensuring fast data speeds and dependable service in most urban and suburban areas.

T-Mobile’s network is known for its strong performance, particularly in densely populated regions, and its growing 5G footprint offers advanced connectivity for compatible devices. This partnership allows Tello to deliver high-quality service without owning its own network, keeping costs low for its customers.

While Tello benefits from T-Mobile’s expansive coverage, it’s worth noting that performance may vary in rural or remote areas where T-Mobile’s network is less robust. However, for the vast majority of users, Tello’s reliance on T-Mobile ensures a reliable and cost-effective mobile experience.

Tello Mobile Summary

Tello Mobile brings a lot to the table. They offer custom plans that you can build to your liking, international calling, coverage on T-Mobile’s network, and great customer service. They are by no means perfect, but they offer a lot. Changing phone carriers, no matter how good the companies are at getting your paperwork in order, will always be a pain. Before you choose, you want to do your due diligence and make sure that you are picking the right company for your situation. This section will cover the basics of Tello Mobile. What sets them apart is the price of their plans and the plans they offer, among other things. 

What Sets Tello Mobile Apart? 

Tello Mobile’s flexible build-your-own plan sets them apart. While we were researching for our Tello Mobile review, the ease with which you could build your plan and see what the different price points were for different combinations of data and minutes was a huge boon. Tello mobile is cheap. Their most expensive plan comes in at $29 dollars, and you can get 1 GB of data and unlimited talk and text for the low price of $10 a month. 

Price of Tello Mobile Plans

Tello Mobile has some crazy affordable plans. Users can choose the number of minutes they want and the amount of data they want. 

• Starting at no data, users can choose up to 10 GB per month before jumping to unlimited
• Starting at no minutes, users can choose up to 500 minutes before jumping to unlimited

These plans allow consumers to figure out exactly what their preferred plan is and pay for exactly what they need. This customization is a fantastic aspect of Tello Mobile, and it allows you to change from plan to plan based on what you need at the time. Unlimited minutes are nice, but if one month you need unlimited data and the next you know 10 GBs will suffice, a quick move is all you need. 

What Kinds of Plans does Tello Mobile offer?

Tello Mobile offers one kind of plan and it’s a customizable one. Sure, their customization ends with unlimited talk, text, and data, but users have the option to choose between data up to unlimited and minutes up to unlimited. We recommend unlimited minutes because it only costs $4 and prevents you from worrying about any amount of phone conversations you have in the month. 

Their data plans are where the real cost savings come in. With an unlimited plan at $29 we recommend starting with that and if you see, over the course of a few months, that you are not using all of your data then at that point you can switch to one of their limited data plans. Understanding how much data you use each month is an important step in figuring out what plan to take when you are switching providers. Once you’ve found the right provider, however, it is much easier to switch plans than it is to switch providers. 

What Network does Tello Mobile Use?

Tello Mobile operates on T-Mobile’s network. T-Mobile’s 5G and 4G LTE networks are available for Tello Mobile users, and that allows them to enjoy a pretty significant coverage, available for you on Tello’s coverage map. You will receive great coverage no matter where you are in the United States. 

Can You Bring Your Own Cell Phone?

Yes! Tello allows new customers to bring their own phone as long as it is unlocked. To bring your device to Tello Mobile you must check to ensure that your device is compatible with the new network, but once you double-check it is a go! 

Benefits of Tello’s Network

Tello’s use of T-Mobile’s network brings several advantages, making it an appealing choice for budget-conscious users who value reliable connectivity. Here are some key benefits:

• Nationwide Coverage. T-Mobile’s extensive network provides Tello customers with strong coverage in most urban and suburban areas across the U.S. This ensures that users can stay connected for calls, texts, and data in many locations without interruption.
• Access to 5G Speeds. Tello customers with compatible devices can take advantage of T-Mobile’s robust 5G network, offering faster download and upload speeds. This is particularly beneficial for streaming, video calls, and other data-intensive activities.
• Affordable Plans with Reliable Service. By operating as an MVNO on T-Mobile’s network, Tello keeps costs low while still delivering quality service. Customers enjoy the perks of a premium network without the high price tag of traditional carriers.
• Flexibility for Different Users. Tello’s customizable plans and T-Mobile’s widespread coverage make it suitable for a variety of users. Light and medium data users can all benefit from Tello’s affordable options, while tech-savvy users can enjoy 5G connectivity at a fraction of the cost.

With these benefits, Tello’s network strikes an excellent balance between affordability and performance, making it a strong contender for anyone seeking value in their mobile service.

Tello Mobile Plans & Pricing

Tello Mobile allows users to choose the amount of minutes they want and the amount of data they want to pick out their perfect plan. The minutes max out at, well, unlimited and only add $4 a month to your phone bill, so we will showcase Tello Mobile’s phone plans in our Tello Mobile review as if they all had unlimited minutes. With that in place, Tello Mobile has seven plans available to new users. 

• No data for $8 a month
• 1 GB for $9 a month
• 2 GB for $10 a month
• 5 GB for $14 a month
• 10 GB for $19 a month
• 15 GB for $24 a month
• Unlimited (35 GB) for $25 a month

With Tello Mobile, we recommend new customers start with their unlimited plan or take a few months to take stock of the amount of data they use. If you know how much data you use each month, you can pick out a Tello Mobile plan that represents that data usage while saving you the maximum amount of money. Until then, their unlimited plan comes in with tremendous value and allows users to enjoy 35 GB of high-speed data before they get throttled down to low data speeds. 

Throttling Details

Tello’s unlimited plan provides 35 GB of high-speed data, which is more than enough for most users to stream videos, browse social media, and handle work-related tasks. However, once you exceed this limit, your data speeds are throttled to 2G. While this slower speed still allows for basic functions like checking emails or sending messages, activities like streaming, video conferencing, or loading image-heavy websites may become impractical. This is true of all Tello Mobile’s cell phone plans and is the reason you should always err on the side of caution when 

This throttling policy is common among MVNOs and helps keep costs low for all users. For those concerned about exceeding the limit, monitoring data usage through Tello’s app or using Wi-Fi whenever possible helps avoid hitting the cap.

Tello Features

Tello offers several additional perks that enhance its value:

• Hotspot Access. Every Tello plan includes free mobile hotspot usage, allowing users to share their data connection with other devices. This is a standout feature, especially for those who need internet access for laptops or tablets on the go.
• International Calling. Tello includes free calls to over 60 countries with its plans, making it an excellent choice for users who frequently call abroad. This feature eliminates the need for costly international calling add-ons.
• No Family Plan Restrictions.  While Tello doesn’t offer traditional family plans, its low-cost options allow families to create their own “custom family plan” by selecting individual plans for each member.

Why Choose Tello

Tello stands out as one of the most budget-friendly and flexible MVNOs on the market. Its plans are designed to eliminate unnecessary costs, offering:

• No Contracts: Users aren’t locked into long-term commitments and can adjust their plans month-to-month.
• No Hidden Fees: Tello’s pricing is transparent, so you know exactly what you’re paying for.
• No Credit Checks: Unlike some carriers, Tello welcomes all users without requiring a credit check.

These factors make Tello particularly appealing to anyone for reliable service without breaking the bank. With competitive pricing, customizable plans, and standout features like free international calling, Tello delivers exceptional value for budget-conscious users who want quality service on a reliable network.

Tello Mobile Versus Competition

There are loads of wireless providers competing for your attention. Finding the right provider is challenging, but it pays dividends in the long run. Many Americans pay way too much for their cell phone plan because they pay far more than they need. Tello Mobile is fantastic for users who don’t need unlimited high-speed data each month and want to save. Let’s look at how it holds up to the competition in MVNOs and major wireless providers. 

Tello Mobile vs. T-Mobile

T-Mobile has more add-ons, faster speeds, and more data in their unlimited plan. The major downside is that their plans are much, much more expensive than the plans from Tello Mobile. If you are okay with data deprioritization, we think that Tello Mobile is the perfect place to land, but if you want the surety that you will have T-Mobile’s fastest available data speeds, then it makes sense to stick with the major wireless company. 

Tello Mobile vs. Mint Mobile

Mint Mobile also operates on T-Mobile’s network, and they are big competition for Tello Mobile. Mint Mobile’s unlimited plan is at the same price point and offers more data and more add-ons, but in order to receive $30 a month for Mint’s unlimited plan, you need to sign up for a yearlong contract. If you prefer the flexibility of Tello’s no-contract plans, then they are the winner. 

Tello Mobile vs. Visible

Visible is an MVNO that operates on Verizon’s network, and it is one of our favorite MVNOs in the competition at this time. Their major downside, however, is that they only offer unlimited plans. They have two plans and both are unlimited. If you are looking to save a lot of money on your phone bill each month and aren’t looking for unlimited data, then Tello is the way to go. 

Tello Mobile: Key Takeaways

Tello is owned by KeepCalling, a well-established telecommunications company known for its commitment to affordable and flexible communication solutions. By leveraging T-Mobile’s robust network, Tello offers reliable nationwide coverage, 5G connectivity, and customizable plans that cater to a wide range of users.

Whether you’re a light data user, a family seeking budget-friendly options, or someone who values simplicity in mobile service, Tello provides excellent value without sacrificing quality. Its combination of a trusted parent company and access to one of the best networks in the U.S. makes Tello a standout choice in the MVNO market. Tello is worth considering for those looking for a cost-effective and dependable carrier.

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