An extended network is a commonly used technique by mobile carriers to provide customers with continuous service when they are in an area not covered by the company's own cell towers.
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When a customer travels outside of a service provider’s established network coverage, their smartphone automatically switches to a network operated by another company with which their own provider has a deal. The entire process is completely seamless and in most cases does not incur any additional costs. However, data speeds on extended networks can often be slower.
Extended network LTE is one of several different terms that cell phone providers use to describe the extended network feature or process described above. The term may be used on a provider’s official website, and may even appear on your iPhone or Android smartphone in place of your provider’s name once connected to a provider on an extended network.
Other words and phrases that mobile carriers often use to describe the extended network process and service include:
