LTE Frequency Bands:  Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint

Note: * are the primary 4G LTE Bands, while ** were rolled out in 2017.

Verizon Wireless

• Primary frequency is 700MHz (band 13)
• Backup bands: 1700 and 1900MHz (bands 2 and 4) in cities and urban areas. 
• Verizon's 700 MHz spectrum enables the best and the most robust 4G LTE coverage in the U.S.

AT&T

• Primary band is 17 in most areas in the U.S.
• Uses: 2, 4, and 5 mostly just when band 17 is not available in a particular area. 

Sprint

• Primary band is 1900 MHz (band 25)
• Uses 1600 MHz and 2500 MHz (bands 24 and 41) as contingencies, typically when band 25 is not providing the desired fast data speed to users.

T-Mobile

• Primary frequency is 1700 MHz (band 4)
• In areas where band 4 is not reliable:  Uses 700 MHz, 1700 MHz, 1900 MHz (bands 2, 12, and 66).
• Using 600 MHz (band 71) in the following rural regions: Eastern Washington, Central Virginia, Central Pennsylvania, Coastal North Carolina, Maine, Western North Dakota, Southwest Kansas, West Texas, Northwest Oregon, and Wyoming. With this new bandwidth, more than 6 million Americans will enjoy uninterrupted fast data across these regions.
• Won the 300MHz auction:  300MHz increased its market share in the market.
• After Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile is arguably the largest 4G LTE network in the U.S.

LTE (4G), GSM (3G & 2G), CDMA (3G & 2G), and ISM explained

• LTE is 4G:  The technology that connects are latest generation of SmartPhones with broadband internet and VOIP.
• GSM was a rival standard for 2G, that is used in most of the world
• WCDMA and HSPA are the follow-on technology for 3G.  In the US, most people still call it GSM.
• CDMA is a 2G & 3G Verizon standard used in the United States and a few other places

• 4G is broadband-speed internet on SmartPhones, with VoIP.
• 3G was voice + reasonably good data.  3G was the first generation of smartphones.
• 2G was voice cell phones (flip phones).
• ISM is reserved for medical, scientific and industrial use and not intended for public telecommunication.