Wyoming Cellular Network Report
General Wyoming Observations: With the acquisition of the Alltel network in Wyoming, AT&T has become the coverage leader in the state, with Verizon Wireless very close behind. However, Wyoming's own Union Wireless does a very good job, especially across the western half of the state. TracFone is available in most areas of the state. There are a few small carriers that do a respectable job locally, and may provide the best signal in some communities. I-80 in Wyoming is one of the few Interstate highways with dead zones for all carriers, but they are short. Check Here for coverage in Yellowstone National Park.

ALLTEL
Virtually all of the remaining Alltel network in the state has been acquired by AT&T. Other parts of the Alltel network have been sold to ATN which will continue to use the Alltel name, and Verizon Wireless. AT&T's prepaid GoPhone is now available in the area.
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ALL WEST WIRELESS
All West is a small local wireline co-op east of Salt Lake City that also offers wireless service in northeast Utah and southwest Wyoming. They offer unlimited calling within their Local coverage area which includes the service areas of several other nearby wireless co-ops, but not in Salt Lake City itself. Statewide and nationwide roaming is available, but it's not Unlimited. Mobile to Mobile and Night & Weekend minutes apply in your Local area only. They have a good selection of phones including a few Smart phones. They offer Bundle discounts with their Internet, video and wireline services. They support Lifeline services.

AT&T
AT&T has a large GSM network, but in the west, have a lot less developed spectrum than in the rest of the country. That has improved with AT&T's acquisition of Alltel Wireless in 76 markets in the western US. They converted most former Alltel sites to 3G GSM. Some ex-Alltel customers noticed significant changes in coverage with the loss of CDMA roaming partners. With GSM technology, AT&T roams more readily internationally, but there are areas in the US with no GSM coverage. AT&T's takeover of other cellular networks has improved their service in some areas already, including Alaska. AT&T offers a large selection of GSM phones including the Apple iPhone. Parts of what was the old AT&T Wireless network in the interior west is still not among the best. They still suffer from some coverage 'holes', but they are updating some of these areas. Most improvements will be made in the new markets and are increasing data capacity instead of adding cell sites in older areas. They have added "4G" coverage in a handful of markets and will upgrade most of the network in the near future. In several markets where AT&T operates at 1900 MHz only, we have been disappointed, but not all AT&T 1900 MHz-only markets are equal. AT&T offers a variety of plans including Unlimited minutes and services, and 'calling circle' plans. They have extensive data coverage. One of their greatest assets is also their worst problem: the overwhelming success of the Apple iPhone on the AT&T network. It has overloaded their system resulting in dropped calls, interrupted data and slower service. This situation is improving with the defection of some iPhone users.

Pros: AT&T has a large network and covers much of the nation, usage is transparent whether on- or off-network, good digital and data services, good national plans, "Rollover" for those who can use it, "Unlimited" calling plans available, a very good selection of phones. Improvements in coverage have been substantial in some areas, lacking in others. Excellent international roaming capabilities, and AT&T will now supply the unlock code for all phones, except the iPhone, after 3 to 10 months. Additions of Alltel, Unicel and Centennial network purchases give AT&T substantial rural coverage improvements.

Cons: AT&T plans aren't as generous as some, customers can only access GSM networks which are not as universally available in the US as CDMA, customer service varies from above to below average, some markets have a large number of dropped calls caused by large data users. Some customers who have been transferred from other networks have noticed substantial changes in coverage, mostly while roaming.
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NEXTEL
Nextel is a of part Sprint and in some offers, Sprint hides Nextel's features. The combo has allowed the two networks to start sharing cell sites to improve coverage. Nextel's spectrum is made up from a bunch of 2-way radio channels, and they suffer from marginal audio in some markets. Their coverage and quality varies by market. They cover urban areas and some interstates, but there is little roaming elsewhere in the state. They have an efficient 'walkie-talkie' feature which is handy for businesses and families who want to contact each other as quickly as possible. Some of their plans aren't very competitive, but they do offer free incoming calls. They use 850 MHz so they have a strong signal in most areas. Sprint has announced they are not improving or expanding the Nextel network. and will turn off the current iDEN service in 2013 and use the 800 MHz channels for Sprint CDMA service. Some Boost Mobile handsets use the Nextel network and is a good option for Unlimited Voice and Text. For as long as it lasts, Nextel offers international roaming in a handful of other countries in North and South America, including Mexico, some with Free Internet access.
Pros: The Direct Connect is a handy 'walkie-talkie' service, they have robust coverage within their service area.
Cons: Some markets have poor audio, they also have coverage limits and very limited roaming, most of their phones are big and lack variety. Nextel does not have fast broadband features, neither the network nor the coverage are being upgraded. Sprint has not treated Nextel customers as well as those using the Sprint network. Many new Nextel customers are being giving Sprint-branded phones, so you may not be using the network you think you are. The Nextel network will be converted to CDMA by 2013.
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SILVER STAR WIRELESS
This is a small system set up by the local wireline telephone company south of the Jackson Hole, WY area. This is a mountainous and sparsely-populated area. They offer a wide range of plans that include their own coverage area and several other intermountain areas, a multi-state region that includes the mountain states, California, and an eighth state of your choosing, or a National plan. They have a reasonable selection of CDMA phones including several Blackberry models. They have some attractive promotions. Pros: They may have the best coverage in their small area where other providers have dead spots, they offer most of the latest digital features, they have a large selection of plans, they should have good customer service, 'bundling' should be available. Cons: Their service area is tiny and at PCS frequencies they may have a few coverage 'holes', some of their plans are overpriced, we can't access their web site.

SPRINT
Sprint has a national, feature-rich digital network. Their coverage is a little "fragile", but where it's good, it's very good. Sprint has a good selection of phones. Their plans include the ability to roam on other systems. They offer an inexpensive "basic" plan for only $30 per month. They also offer a few Unlimited plans with lots of features included. Sprint has added service by taking over parts of some carriers' networks, and "sharing" spectrum with others. Sprint merged with Nextel which has created some beneficial network configurations, including sharing of cell sites. Sprint phones normally prefer the network which, where available, gives Sprint customers the best data throughput. Some Sprint phones have the ability to force the phone to "Roam Only", helping you use the strongest network, however there is a limit to how much roaming you can do, generally 50%. Also, newer phones lack that feature. Sprint does not offer their own branded prepaid service but owns Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile prepaid and others. If you are considering Sprint 4G service, keep in mind they use a completely separate network for 4G coverage supplied in partnership with Clear Wireless. Therefore, having good local Sprint Voice/Text or 3G data coverage is no guarantee of adequate 4G coverage.
Pros: Sprint gives you good value for your money, but is not necessarily the cheapest. Sprint covers every urban area in the US, maintains local stores, good roaming capabilities, their digital and data features work very well, they have a good selection of phones. Sprint has good roaming agreements in most areas of the country.
Cons: You might find a weak area right where you want coverage, some of their plans are not very competitive, customer service is a notch below average, 4G coverage uses a different frequency band and network than other Sprint coverage, Unlimited plans do not include unlimited usage while roaming, except for "Simply Everything" plans.
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SYRINGA WIRELESS
This small CDMA carrier is operated by a combination of local PCS carriers and co-op telephone companies in southeast Idaho and western Wyoming. They offer plans starting as low as $20 and have plans with National coverage. They offer reasonably-priced Unlimited plans for both Local and National service. Coverage is good through their home area but somewhat limited away from major roads and towns. They are very local so customer service is above average. They support mobile data and LifeLine accounts. We don't have much information about their phones, their online presence is used more to support their local stores. The company is named after the Idaho state flower.

STRATA NETWORKS
The wireless division of the Uintah Basin Telephone Association, now known as Strata Networks, covers northeastern Utah around Vernal and surrounding areas of Wyoming and Colorado. They offer additional Local coverage in an "Extended" area. Their own cellular system has good coverage and offers free Long Distance. They have many plans including a $20 "Security" plan, National plans with no roaming charges, a "Calling Circle" to any US number and Local and National "Unlimited" plans. Some plans are very generous with some helpful add-ons. They offer a good selection of phones including smart phones and air cards. They have a promotion to pay your Early Termination Fee if you leave your current wireless provider while still under contract.
Strata Network's Wireless Coverage Map
Strata Network's Extended Local Wireless Coverage Map.

TRACFONE
Tracfone isn't an actual cellular carrier but is a major supplier of wireless phones and offers service in most areas of the state. They are the largest prepaid cellular company and arrange for their phones to use whichever wireless carrier is available in a given geographic area. As a result, Tracfone actually has more included roaming coverage available than perhaps any other single company. Their price points start below $9 a month and offer all the advantages of prepaid services. They also feature monthly plans and offer promotions with bonus minutes, and plans with 365-day expiration. Their service is mostly limited to Voice and Text but does support data use of some of their phones. They offer the option of having the charges deducted from your credit card or checking account automatically, eliminating the need to renew on an exact expiration date. TracFone offers Free international calls to about 60 countries by calling a special access number, and with their International Neighbors features, they provide a local number in Mexico or Canada for incoming calls from those countries at local rates for both callers. Tracfone offers additional plan options, including Unlimited plans, through NET10.
Pros: Coverage and Local service is available virtually everywhere in the US, good price plans with no roaming or long distance charges, Local numbers in all markets, included Long Distance calling to 60 countries.
Cons: They have a small selection of phones, coverage is determined by the phone model (CDMA or GSM) which may limit your roaming coverage or phone selection, you can only use one of their phones, no roaming outside the US.
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UNION WIRELESS
Serving Wyoming and adjacent areas of Northwest Colorado and northeast Utah, Union has very good coverage in most areas. In some they are the only game in town. They use GSM technology and also offer 'fixed' wireless service than can connected to home phone wiring. They offer reasonable Voice plans starting at $30, however, adding Text or Internet to those plans makes them more expensive than average. Unlimited plans are available as well as a Calling Circle plan allowing free calls to up to 10 numbers on any network, Their Prepaid plans are paid by the month, not by the minute, making them an expensive option for non-contract plans. Bundles are available. They have more roaming agreements covering a bigger footprint than larger wireless carriers, with international roaming agreements with providers in many foreign countries. They offer a large selection of phone models including Smart phones.
Pros: It is a small company with generally good coverage and better than average customer service, they are the only carrier available in some areas of Wyoming, they offer most digital features.
Cons: While their western Wyoming and northwestern Colorado coverage is very good, coverage in the eastern half of Wyoming is limited to in-town and along interstate highways, although they are added new sites in these areas, some plans are overpriced.

VERIZON WIRELESS
Verizon has the largest network, geographically, in the US. They have taken over a large portion of the old Alltel network and are now dominant in rural America. Their claim to fame is superior coverage on their CDMA network, especially in the west. They use PCS frequencies in a few areas, but they have constructed those networks well. In the few places where they don't have their own coverage, they have roaming agreements with other carriers, normally ones with superior coverage. Therefore, their "National" plans, which include almost all of the country, are about as close to "wall-to-wall" as you can get. Their reasonably-priced plans have no roaming or long distance charges, and they also throw in Unlimited Night and Weekend minutes as well as Unlimited calls among Verizon Wireless users both on and off their own network (there are a few exceptions). They offer fairly competitive prices, and often have promotions. They also offer plans that include Unlimited Voice and other features at various fixed price levels. Data service is excellent with various price plans. Verizon forces their phone manufacturers to offer a "standardized" user interface, limiting menu and font variations. This could mean the screen appearance may not be to your liking or the fonts may be too small. Smart and data-type phones require a per-Mb plan. They have the largest area of 3G coverage in the US and now offer faster 4G service in many major cities and major airports in additional markets.

Pros: Verizon has reasonably-priced plans, "Unlimited" calling plans available, extensive coverage, wide-ranging National plans, excellent customer service and some 'customer-friendly' policies. With such a large coverage area of their own, little roaming is necessary, and their roaming partners normally have superior coverage. They offer a large variety of phones including the Apple iPhone

Cons: Some Verizon plans are a little more expensive, Customer Service closes at 11pm, but technical assistance is available 24/7. They 'cripple' some User Interface functions like larger fonts: make sure you can read their submenus before buying. They require more expensive Data plans for any data-capable phone. Some of their data services are not available while roaming. CDMA phones roam in a limited number of foreign countries but Verizon can provide a hybrid loaner phone that will work both in the US and most foreign countries.
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VIAERO WIRELESS
Viaero is a GSM carrier that uses a mix of 800 and 1900 MHz channels in rural Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas and border areas of eastern Wyoming. Coverage in most areas is excellent with some holes in some remote areas. Since Viaero specializes in rural areas, they are usually the top carrier in those areas, where other carriers serve only minimally. This company is run by tekkies so coverage and operations are top-notch, often better than the local land lines. They are rapidly widening their coverage footprint, sometimes into surprising locations like the San Luis Valley and eastern Wyoming. You can even request to have them build a tower near you if you can come up with enough neighbors' signatures. They offer very reasonable on-network "Unlimited" plans, including several for fixed location (home) use for both voice and Internet access. They're a good substitute for a wireline in most areas. They have a large number of reasonable plans with National coverage including 'calling-circle' plans. They offer to pay the Early Termination Fee if you leave another carrier before your contract with them is completed. Their phones will roam in Mexico and Canada and they offer discount International Long Distance add-ons. Viaero does not lock their GSM phones, making it possible to use your Viaero phone with a local SIM in foreign countries. They have discounts for people on various support programs.
Pros: They offer reasonably-priced plans with convenient price points, including Local, National and Unlimited plans. Very good to excellent coverage, good customer service, local stores, good nationwide roaming, good data service.
Cons: The network can be weak in extreme rural areas, but still beats the competition in most places, and you can ask them to add a tower! Most Unlimited and some promotional features are limited to their own network.