New nationwide speed and performance testing for the first half of 2026 shows the Big 3 are all strong—just in different categories. Verizon and AT&T are tied for overall performance, network reliability, and text performance, while Verizon leads responsiveness, data, and video performance outright. T-Mobile remains the 5G availability leader and continues to post top-tier download speeds across most major cities.

JD Power’s 2026 U.S. Wireless Network Quality Performance Study reports a record-low 8 problems per 100 interactions (PP100), with network quality improving nationwide. Verizon led three of six regions (Mid-Atlantic, North Central, Southeast), while T-Mobile led the Southwest and tied with Verizon in the Northeast and West. RootMetrics also showed Verizon winning responsiveness, data, and video—fueling a “Verizon comeback” narrative and raising questions about how T-Mobile di

An Ookla report comparing 86 operators in 22 markets says the Big Three US carriers aren’t ready for next‑gen AI experiences—mainly due to latency under load and weak upload performance. T‑Mobile leads in the US (median upload ~13.94 Mbps) ahead of Verizon (~13.43 Mbps) and AT&T (~9.0 Mbps), but no market hits the sub‑10 ms latency needed for AR/multimodal AI. Dealers should reframe “5G speed” into real-world AI use cases.

If a “new” phone is defective right after purchase, customers can often exchange it for a brand-new unit—but only if they handle it as an exchange inside the carrier’s return window (14 days for T-Mobile/AT&T, 30 days for Verizon, per this report). The mistake is walking in and asking for a warranty claim, which typically triggers a refurbished replacement. Here’s the dealer-friendly script and checklist.

Downdetector reports show a Verizon outage impacting home internet and some mobile service in parts of the East Coast, with spikes around 8:00 a.m. EDT. Verizon hadn’t posted updates at the time of reporting. For dealers, this is a “trust moment”: confirm the issue, run quick device/network checks, enable Wi‑Fi Calling, and offer backup internet options customers can use immediately.

The FCC says the AWS-3 spectrum auction—the first in four years—wrapped after 72 rounds, generating over $3.5B across 200 licenses. Seventeen bidders participated, including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, EchoStar, and SpaceX. The licenses cover 1695–1710 MHz, 1755–1780 MHz, and 2155–2180 MHz, including major markets like Boston, New York, and Chicago, and are expected to boost 5G capacity. Analysts expect the Big Three to win most licenses, while SpaceX may be positioning for futu

Verizon is being removed from the Dow Jones Industrial Average and replaced by Google parent Alphabet at the opening bell Monday, June 29. Because the Dow is price-weighted, Alphabet’s higher share price gives it more influence, and Dow-tracking funds will sell Verizon and buy Alphabet. For dealers, this isn’t about day-to-day network performance—it’s a headline signal that Wall Street is prioritizing AI, cloud computing, and mobile advertising over legacy telecom in “market

A new Cartesian report says US broadband competition accelerated in H2 2025: over half of households can choose between two or more fiber/cable providers, and symmetrical 1 Gbps availability expanded faster than the prior three years combined. Fixed Wireless Access (FWA/5G home internet) mostly grew in mid-speed tiers, with 38% of locations able to access at least two FWA providers.

A customer says Verizon AI customer service made it hard to reach a human after a $500 billing mistake disconnected service. Dealer save-play inside.

Verizon is rolling out a new Simplicity plan that’s designed to be clear, cheap, and competitive: unlimited talk/text/data with 5G Ultra Wideband, roaming, satellite texting, and 10GB hotspot starting at $30/month with port-in ($45 otherwise). Verizon is also removing activation and upgrade fees if customers join its Loyalty program, plus adding “Verizon Dollars” and new Shine perks to rival T-Mobile Tuesdays.

Verizon customers love older, grandfathered plans because they’re usually simpler and cheaper. Verizon, like most carriers, would rather move those customers to newer plans like MyPlan. This week, dealers are seeing a new issue that can create a $5/month “surprise” increase for longtime customers who try to switch. What’s happening with the Verizon AutoPay discount Reports say that as of June 4, some Verizon customers switching from grandfathered plans to MyPlan are being dis

A reported Verizon outage is impacting parts of the U.S., and it’s not just Verizon postpaid customers feeling it. Verizon-powered providers like Visible and Straight Talk are also being mentioned as affected. For dealers, outages create two kinds of traffic: Customers who want their phone “fixed” immediately Customers who are ready to switch carriers out of frustration Your job is to slow the moment down, run a fast checklist, and protect trust. Dealer script (30 seconds): c

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Verizon Customer Satisfaction Still Low: Dealer “Save Call” Script + Fix-It Checklist

Verizon customer support wait times are a real pain point—and pain points create dealer opportunity. When customers are stuck for hours, they don’t want a policy lecture. They want a human who can solve the problem now. This is where dealers can win: fix what you can in-store, document what needs carrier action, and turn frustration into loyalty (and revenue) with a simple support process. Why this matters for dealers Support delays increase churn: customers start shopping al

Verizon managed IoT connectivity was named a Leader by Gartner. Dealers can package managed connectivity, devices, and support for SMB and field teams.

Starlink MVNO may be closing after T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon rejected it. Dealers should protect customers with a switch plan and backup options.

Verizon stadium antennas under seats for FIFA aim to boost in-stadium 5G. Dealers can sell event-ready setups, hotspots, and power bundles.

Starlink broadband pressure is pushing AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon to respond. Dealers can sell rural internet bundles and backup connectivity.

A Verizon bill increase is rarely “just one thing”—it’s usually plan pricing, fees, expired promos, or add-ons (insurance, perks, hotspot). Dealers can win by running a 7-minute Verizon Bill Audit: compare last 2–3 bills, confirm plan/lines, check autopay/paperless discounts, identify add-ons, and flag device payments or promo credits that changed.