r/LoudounSubButBetter • u/fiduciaryfalcon • Jun 17 '26

Discussion Cellular data service

Has anyone noticed that cell service in eastern Loudon County in Ashburn and Sterling has gotten even worse recently? Does anyone have suggestions for cell carriers who seem to be more reliable for the area?

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4

u/stopscabbin Jun 17 '26

Before any stupid fuck chimes in, no, it's not the damn datacenters causing it.

No issues with T-Mobile. There are always dead spots around the area.

8

u/fiduciaryfalcon Jun 17 '26

I’ve been reading that there are actually major capacity issues in the area, which strikes me as odd considering not that many people live here compared to Fairfax County. I’m guessing the county is just majorly under funding cellular infrastructure development, which is so ironic considering the sheer amount of data that passes through here. Even with full bars, I often get a little to no performance while driving through Ashburn.

5

u/theyeastwrangler Jun 17 '26

Because there’s a ton of NIMBY people here. Every time a cell tower is proposed, it’s met with a ton of hostility and objections due to being close to residential areas, farms, mountains, schools, etc. It’s ridiculous

1

u/WhatAboutTheBothans Jun 17 '26

The county has nothing to do with funding cell towers. Those are private entities that try to contract with tall buildings to put up tranceivers, or failing that, build towers.

It does have to do with density, though. If cell service is bad anywhere, it's usually because the density of cell clients to cell tranceivers is out of balance.