Three bars of signal showing LTE, cannot load webpages

[GMath84]

I've got an iPhone 13 and I am in downtown DC. In my office (which is a 100-year-old big brick building) I've got 2-3 bars of signal showing LTE. Yet on a regular basis when I go to open a webpage on my phone it will take over a well beyond 60 seconds to load, if it loads at all. Sometimes if I walk to the window its better, but the signal showing on the phone doesn't change when I do this. When I walk outside of the building, I still have 3 bars, but I immediately jump to 5G and can access the internet. Given what I am experiencing it seems clear that the signal in the building is somehow significantly degraded by the massive 100-year-old concrete bricks that makeup the exterior of the building. Yet if that was the case, I would assume I should see that I only have 1 bar or signal, or I would expect to not see the LTE sign.

I've tried resetting my network settings and that got me nowhere.  Given that I'm in a federal building there is no wi-fi that I can connect to. Any suggestions on what might be going on, if there is no signal that would be one thing but I'm getting indications that I should be able to access the internet.

[vzw_customer_support]

Hello, GMath84, thanks for reaching out in reference to your service. You mentioned this is happening while inside the building where you work. Has this always been the case with service in this location? Are other users able to use service normally? Other than this area, do you have any other trouble using your service?

-Lauren

[GMath84]

Yes, its inside the building, as soon as I walk outside the building I jump back to 5G and its fine. It was always slow inside the building (dating back to when I first got into this office in 2018), but its gotten markedly worse in the past few months. Others seem to have the same issue, though I will note that my Agency issued phone using T-Mobile has no issues and has 2-3 bars of 5G at all times inside the building and has no issue with internet.

[SynthpopAddict · Accepted solution]

You're welcome on the earlier reply.  As for the service degradation occurring only recently, hopefully it's because Verizon is working on network improvements in the area and not just that things are getting worse.  Otherwise, might be time to switch to Pink Logo Place considering their 5G works indoors (gasp) at your workplace .  When I tried them out earlier this year, they wouldn't even get through my apartment building's walls!

[SynthpopAddict]

From what you're describing, the concrete walls are blocking out the 5G signal because 5G radio waves are more easily absorbed by obstructions.  It's the downside of 5G technology; just doesn't travel as far or as well.  The older LTE technology is better at getting through stuff, but data speeds are going to be slower.  With you being in a downtown city area, I'm willing to bet the towers have a lot of traffic on them (congestion) during normal business hours, and in periods of network congestion, data speeds can really crawl on LTE.  An LTE cell can only carry a tenth of the traffic a 5G cell can, plus there's not really much incentive for carriers to add more LTE equipment since 5G is the new thing.

[GMath84]

That stinks, but makes sense. Its like at sporting events when there is so much congestion that you get no internet. Hadn't really considered that issue since while there are a lot of people down here, its not like its a sporting event. But I suppose if everyone inside the old federal office buildings is being forced onto the LTE network then we are going to have more issues. I checked the coverage map and I happen to be right inside one of the circles downtown that is listed as 5G, but not 5G ultrawideband.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

[vzw_customer_support]

Thanks for the update. We want to make sure we address your signal dilemma.

Feel free to use our Troubleshooting Assistant as an additional resource: https://www.verizon.com/support/troubleshooting/.

We sent you a Private Message. Please review at your earliest convenience.

~Gilbert