Verizon Wireless (NYSE: VZ) MVNO Page Plus Cellular, which is owned by TracFone Wireless, has started to offer LTE service, making it the first Verizon MVNO to do so.
TracFone Wireless completed its acquisition of Page Plus in the first quarter of the year, and a TracFone spokeswoman confirmed to FierceWireless that Page Plus "is now offering faster service to all customers who activate an LTE/CDMA phone on plans over $30."
Page Plus makes no mention of LTE service on its website and its coverage map does not include LTE data. However, according to Prepaid Phone News, Page Plus dealers began receiving LTE SIM cards and the company's dealer portal has been allowing LTE activations since last week. The TracFone spokeswoman could not immediately comment on how long the LTE plans have been active.
According to Prepaid Reviews, the Page Plus plans that offer LTE are:
- $29.95 per month for 1,200 minutes, 3,000 text messages and 500 MB of data
- $39.95 for unlimited voice and texting and 1 GB of data
- $55 for unlimited voice and texting and 3 GB of data
- $69.95 for unlimited voice and texting and 5 GB of data
In August, FierceWireless reported according to people familiar with the matter that Verizon's MVNOs, including Page Plus and Selectel Wireless, would soon get access to Verizon's LTE network, perhaps in the third quarter (which ended Sept. 30). Verizon declined to comment.
Other Verizon MVNOs reportedly include ReachOut Wireless, GreatCall and BYO Wireless. MVNOs generally do not comment on the wireless networks they use.
In July Verizon started offering LTE service to its own prepaid customers for the first time. Verizon's prepaid AllSet plans come with unlimited voice and texting and the ability to add more data for varying amounts of money, and start at $45 per month for 500 MB of data. Under those plans, Verizon offers 1 GB of LTE data for $50; 1.5 GB for $55 and 3.5 GB for $65. Thus, Page Plus' reported LTE plans generally offer cheaper prices on more data than Verizon's own prepaid LTE plans.
For more:
- see this Prepaid Reviews article
- see this Prepaid Phone News article
- see this Phone News article
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Article updated Oct. 8 at 2:55 p.m. ET with confirmation from a TracFone spokeswoman that Page Plus is offering LTE service.