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Cell Coverage | Internet Map

Priority On Cell Networks

By Christian Smith

Prioritization policies determine how network operators manage traffic on a cell network when capacity is constrained. Rather than treating all subscribers equally, network operators give preferential treatment to some users.

Jump to Network-Specific Policies:

When Priority Matters

Cell networks usually have more capacity than they need. Prioritization policies policies only matter when the demand for a network's bandwidth exceeds what's available.

A concert or similar event can cause short-term congestion. Congestion can also be a problem on an ordinary day in areas where network infrastructure is insufficient.

Premium Data & Deprioritization

Cell carriers may use the phrase "premium data" to indicate data that's given high priority. A subscriber might be described as "deprioritized" if they're demoted to a priority level behind the typical subscriber.

QCI Values

On 4G LTE networks, Quality Of Service Class Identifiers (or QCI values) determine the priority level given to data.

Most data use is associated with QCI or 5QI values between 6 and 9. In that range, lower values are associated with higher priority service on a given network.

🤓 Note: Voice calls and atypical forms of data use may be associated with values below 6. Low values may confer especially high priority or guaranteed data speeds.

For in-the-weeds details about QCI values, see the 3GPP publication Policy and charging control architecture.

5QI Values

5QI, a mechanism similar but not exactly equivalent to QCI, is used with 5G networks.

At the moment, 5QI values we've observed match the QCI values observed for the same service. That may not always remain true. While the rest of this page generally refers to QCI values, Broadband Map monitors for discrepancies between the two values.

🤓 Note: Apart from 5QI and QCI values, other mechanisms could be used to affect data priority, but these don't seem to be widely used in the US market.

Prioritization By Network

Taken together, legal disclosures, standards docs, and QCI tests provide outlines of how prioritization works on each major network. Those outlines, along with QCI/5QI test results, are shared below. Huge thanks to Reddit user Ethrem for working with Broadband Map to keep the testing up to date.

⚠️ Note: QCI and 5QI values should be interpreted in the context of a given network. A QCI of 8 is associated with good priority on Verizon's network but low priority on T-Mobile's network.

Icons

When discussing the QCI of specific plans, I use the following icons:

- Confirmed by a recent test we ran
- Found in an old test we ran or found in a test run by someone I consider credible
- Inferred with high confidence
- Inferred with moderate confidence

List Filters




AT&T's Network

Most data use on AT&T's network falls into one of three buckets:

QCI 6 may be available to some high-end business plans and certain first responders on AT&T FirstNet.

Especially High Priority on AT&T

Some data traffic on AT&T's network has especially high priority. Even on eligible services, this especially high priority may only be available for specific types of traffic or in specific scenarios.

QCI 7 - High Priority on AT&T

Legacy Plans

QCI 8 - Decent Priority on AT&T

Legacy Plans

QCI 9 - Low Priority on AT&T

Legacy Plans

T-Mobile's Network

Most data use on T-Mobile's network falls into one of four buckets: Outside of these buckets, first responder plans with T-Priority may receive even higher priority.

Especially High Priority on T-Mobile

First responder plans with T-Priority offer a combination of preemption capabilities, enhanced priority, and a dedicated network slice on 5G Standalone connections. It's unclear how T-Mobile makes decisions about the amount of resources dedicated to the T Priority network slice.

QCI 6 - High Priority on T-Mobile

Legacy Plans

QCI 7 - Mediocre Priority on T-Mobile

QCI 8 - Low Priority on T-Mobile

QCI 9 - Lowest Priority on T-Mobile

Verizon's Network

Data used on Verizon's network generally falls into one of two buckets:

An even higher priority level (QCI 7) is available through Verizon Frontline, a service for first responders.

Especially High Priority on Verizon

Allegedly, at least some Verizon Frontline plans for first responders have QCI 7 data. I've never tested one of these plans myself.

QCI 8 - High Priority on Verizon

Legacy Plans

QCI 9 - Low Priority on Verizon

Legacy Plans

Appendix

Other Prioritization Mechanisms

Broadband Map aims to track the evolution of network operators' approaches to prioritization. Today, QCI & 5QI values are the primary mechanisms used to handle prioritization. However, other mechanisms can be used.

AT&T's Fast Track may, at least partially, rely on a non-QCI mechanism that responds differently for different types of traffic.

As 5G Standalone networks become more common, carriers may increasingly offer services that rely on network slicing. With slicing, a portion of network resources can be carved out for a specific use case or set of customers—forming the cellular equivalent of an express lane on a highway.

T-Mobile is trialing a form of network slicing for first responders and emergency services via its T-Priority product. Broadband Map is not aware of slices being used for consumer plans.

Additional mechanisms may be used for network and congestion management. For example, speed throttling or video shaping are commonly used to reduce the bandwidth consumed by certain network users. While these mechanisms affect cellular performance, Broadband Map doesn't consider them relevant to prioritization.

Notes

Last Updated: September 2025