Wireless Master Plan

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Welcome to the City's Wireless Master Plan webpage.

Here you can find all the information pertaining to the City's Wireless Master Plan and cell phone coverage within the City.

Screenshot 2026-05-18 at 10.45.18 AM

Wireless Master Plan

Guided by the City Council's leadership, the plan focuses on key initiatives such as network coverage evaluation, infrastructure improvements, streamlined approval processes and partnerships with service providers to enhance connectivity for residents and businesses.

Interactive Cell Phone Coverage Map

To support the City Council's proactive efforts to improve the City's cellular coverage and connectivity, the city has launched an interactive cell phone coverage map.

Click on the map and click the "Confirm Acknowledgment (required)" box in the bottom left of the screen.
Click "OK" in the bottom right of the screen.
Once in the GIS map, enter your address to view and compare cell coverage for AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.

If you are experiencing wireless service issues, you may submit a complaint through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) using the links below:

FCC Complaint Portal File a Wireless Service Complaint

Wireless Master Plan Background

During the 2025 Annual Strategic Planning Session, City Council directed staff to assess cellular coverage across the City and identify strategies to improve service in unserved and underserved areas through a Wireless Master Plan (WMP). This analysis was requested after the City of Rancho Mirage completed a similar review.

Following Council direction, staff issued a Request for Proposals, and City Council awarded a professional services agreement to CelPlan Technologies, Inc. to complete a citywide WMP and to develop various options to improve cellular coverage in the community. The scope of the WMP included a multi-day drive test and field verification of existing wireless assets, predictive coverage modeling for the major carriers (e.g., AT&T, TMobile, and Verizon), evaluation of the City’s current cell tower siting and permitting framework and identification of recommendations — both policy-based and site-based — to improve broad-area cellular coverage while maintaining Indian Wells’ visual and community character.

The WMP documents existing cellular coverage conditions in Indian Wells and outlines recommended strategies to address identified gaps through a combination of well- concealed low-band macro sites and targeted zoning/permitting updates. The WMP is intended to guide coordinated discussions with wireless carriers and property owners, support more reliable service for residents and visitors, and strengthen the foundation for public safety communications.

It is important to note that the WMP recommendations do not propose any procedural change for public comments and participation on future wireless facility applications. Public Hearings would still be required by the City’s Planning Commission and City Council for projects requiring Conditional Use Permits. The Wireless Master Plan is an indepth evaluation of the City’s existing cellular coverage and zoning regulations governing the siting of telecommunication facilities, including expert recommendations to improve coverage in target areas with poor service. Discretionary approvals by City Council, such as a Conditional Use Permit, remain a requirement for any wireless telecommunication facility development prior to issuance of a building permit.

City Council Presentation