UPDATED: At&t ‘s G3 Coverage Area – Not exactly nationwide


Before you go off and plop down that $199 (and an extra $10 a month for 3G service) on the new iPhone, you might want to make sure that 3G is available in your area. If not, you’ll still be using Edge – and paying extra for the privilege.

Update: According to At&t tech support if you’re in an area that doesn’t have 3G you’ll be able to pay for an Edge data plan until 3G becomes available.

3G coverage is only available in 40 of the 50 states: AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NV, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI

You can click here to find exactly what cities are available in your state.

If you’re purchasing your first, iPhone – however – don’t be surprised if your speed doesn’t “approach wi-fi” if you’re not in one of these coverage areas.


Kokou Adzo

Kokou Adzo is a stalwart in the tech journalism community, has been chronicling the ever-evolving world of Apple products and innovations for over a decade. As a Senior Author at Apple Gazette, Kokou combines a deep passion for technology with an innate ability to translate complex tech jargon into relatable insights for everyday users.

10 Comments

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  1. Do not rely on that list! Even the current coverage map for AT&T is better, and shows Maryland’s coverage into Montgomery County, whereas that list only says Baltimore.

  2. @rahrens

    Why would you not rely on a list provided by the company on their website that explains where they offer service?

    That just flat out doesn’t make any sense.

  3. I just got off the phone with AT&T regarding getting charged for 3G even if you live in a place that doesn’t get it and they said sorry, the iPhone 3G plan does not provide for the Edge network credit you mention in the Update above. Can you please provide your source for this?

  4. I just bought the 8GB 3G iPhone and live in the SF East Bay, north of Berkeley. The ATT map shows deep 3G coverage here, where I’m only a mile or so from the Bay (so, lots of coverage, I’d imagine). Yet, the phone is on Edge a good 60% of the time. I called ATT and Apple and was told that “they’re working on improving the 3G coverage”.

    It does switch back and forth between G3 and Edge, so I guess I’ll have to believe that “they’re working on it”, or return the phone.

  5. The AT&T charge shows no coverage at all in New Mexico. Then check AT&T’s list of cities with coverage and presto one finds Albuquerque which happens to be in New Mexico. No wonder this entire program is screwed up.

  6. The AT&T map shows widespread 3G coverage in my neighborhood, including the entire campus of San Diego State University. However, I have not ever received a 3G signal anywhere on that campus or within about 20 blocks of there. It’s not a big deal for me, but the AT&T map is misleading at best.

  7. Same here. It shows 3G where I work and live (Columbia, MD, and Owings Mills, MD) and neither has it. In fact, at my workplace, I get spotty Edge coverage (outside the building, not indoors). I’ve seen 3G while on the highway and in some areas of Columbia, so there is some coverage in the area, but it is not as widespread as the AT&T map makes it appear.

    I haven’t been able to use 3G (not exactly helpful on the freeway, since I don’t have a chauffeur), so I guess it doesn’t matter to me how fast it is.

  8. It’s AT&T@!! Why would anybody be surprised that their information is totally screwed up? I had a relative, who had their phone service and tried to sign up for their DSL (as limited as it is, to say the least.. dial-up may be a better choice, depending on your area!) They told him the DSL service was available to him, sent him the complete installation package (billed his credit card for it) and then proceeded to re-schedule 4 different appointments for an installer to come out and hook him up to DSL, only to find out he didn’t have DSL capabilities at his location!

    I checked on their DSL one time for myself, (just out of curiosity and price checking because I lived in town, not that I would actually ever switch from my cable connection to their DSL under any circumstances lol) The customer service lady (using this term very loosely!) asked me my address, then my phone number and some other information… then proceeded to tell me that I was not an AT&T subscribing phone customer so she could not tell me if I could receive DSL at my location! I told her I knew I was not a customer, but, was deciding on whether to become one or not and would only like to know if DSL was available at my in town address. She told me the only way I could find out would be to switch my telephone service to AT&T and then check back with them! LOL After literally laughing at her over the phone, I sarcastically asked her… HOW DO I SIGN UP! LOL The sarcastic comment and laughing at her, went right over her head and she started to explain how I could become an AT&T phone customer LOL I hung up on her…. Give me a break!

  9. Hello, is it possible for AT&T to offer the same unlimited G3 Internet connection for the iPad to us with MacBook Pro laptops? I would jump at if it was available. If you’re going to do so, I would appreciate a heads up and soon!