Google Fi customers on certain Pixel phones can now connect to two 5G networks in the United States, the company announced, marking a return to dual-carrier service for the MVNO. The feature, which Google calls the super network, lets compatible devices switch between T-Mobile 5G and a second 5G network to get the best available connectivity.
Google has not identified that second network. A blog post about the change refers only to support for two of America's best 5G cellular networks, and a Google spokesperson declined to name the partner when asked. Since T-Mobile is known to be one of the two, the other is either AT&T or Verizon. An examination of the Fi coverage map suggests Verizon is the more likely match, based on the shape of unserved areas, though carriers are known to blur the details of such maps.
The silence is a departure for Google, which once spoke openly about its T-Mobile partnership and noted that Fi receives top priority on T-Mobile's towers, unlike most MVNOs. More broadly, MVNOs do not always disclose which networks they use, and that information is increasingly difficult to find in FAQs and support pages. Google's Fi FAQ no longer confirms T-Mobile as a network partner at all.
The rollout carries several restrictions. Network switching currently works only on the Pixel 9, Pixel 10, and Pixel 11 series, with other devices slated to gain access in 2027. Fi must also be set up as an eSIM with all non-Fi SIMs disabled, meaning subscribers give up traditional dual-SIM functionality to use the feature.
The history behind the change stretches back to 2015, when the service launched as Project Fi with support for both T-Mobile and Sprint and worked only on Google's Nexus phones, switching networks based on signal strength. After T-Mobile absorbed Sprint, Fi became a single-network service in the US while continuing to switch networks abroad.
Super network support is rolling out now at no additional cost on the Unlimited Premium and Flexible plans. Google's announcement did not address which network serves which areas, leaving customers unable to compare the new partner's coverage against their own needs.
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