diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/MobileConnectionRepository.kt b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/MobileConnectionRepository.kt
index 8f3b0e7..2278597 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/MobileConnectionRepository.kt
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/MobileConnectionRepository.kt
@@ -44,6 +44,9 @@
     /** The carrierId for this connection. See [TelephonyManager.getSimCarrierId] */
     val carrierId: StateFlow<Int>
 
+    /** Reflects the value from the carrier config INFLATE_SIGNAL_STRENGTH for this connection */
+    val inflateSignalStrength: StateFlow<Boolean>
+
     /**
      * The table log buffer created for this connection. Will have the name "MobileConnectionLog
      * [subId]"
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/demo/DemoMobileConnectionRepository.kt b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/demo/DemoMobileConnectionRepository.kt
index 3cb138bd..83d5f2b 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/demo/DemoMobileConnectionRepository.kt
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/demo/DemoMobileConnectionRepository.kt
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
 import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.SharingStarted
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.map
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.stateIn
 
 /**
@@ -67,6 +68,17 @@
             )
             .stateIn(scope, SharingStarted.WhileSubscribed(), _carrierId.value)
 
+    private val _inflateSignalStrength: MutableStateFlow<Boolean> = MutableStateFlow(false)
+    override val inflateSignalStrength =
+        _inflateSignalStrength
+            .logDiffsForTable(
+                tableLogBuffer,
+                columnPrefix = "",
+                columnName = "inflate",
+                _inflateSignalStrength.value
+            )
+            .stateIn(scope, SharingStarted.WhileSubscribed(), _inflateSignalStrength.value)
+
     private val _isEmergencyOnly = MutableStateFlow(false)
     override val isEmergencyOnly =
         _isEmergencyOnly
@@ -191,7 +203,16 @@
             .logDiffsForTable(tableLogBuffer, columnPrefix = "", _resolvedNetworkType.value)
             .stateIn(scope, SharingStarted.WhileSubscribed(), _resolvedNetworkType.value)
 
-    override val numberOfLevels = MutableStateFlow(MobileConnectionRepository.DEFAULT_NUM_LEVELS)
+    override val numberOfLevels =
+        _inflateSignalStrength
+            .map { shouldInflate ->
+                if (shouldInflate) {
+                    DEFAULT_NUM_LEVELS + 1
+                } else {
+                    DEFAULT_NUM_LEVELS
+                }
+            }
+            .stateIn(scope, SharingStarted.WhileSubscribed(), DEFAULT_NUM_LEVELS)
 
     override val dataEnabled = MutableStateFlow(true)
 
@@ -224,8 +245,7 @@
 
         _carrierId.value = event.carrierId ?: INVALID_SUBSCRIPTION_ID
 
-        numberOfLevels.value =
-            if (event.inflateStrength) DEFAULT_NUM_LEVELS + 1 else DEFAULT_NUM_LEVELS
+        _inflateSignalStrength.value = event.inflateStrength
 
         cdmaRoaming.value = event.roaming
         _isRoaming.value = event.roaming
@@ -256,7 +276,6 @@
         carrierName.value = NetworkNameModel.SubscriptionDerived(CARRIER_MERGED_NAME)
         // TODO(b/276943904): is carrierId a thing with carrier merged networks?
         _carrierId.value = INVALID_SUBSCRIPTION_ID
-        numberOfLevels.value = event.numberOfLevels
         cdmaRoaming.value = false
         _primaryLevel.value = event.level
         _cdmaLevel.value = event.level
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/prod/CarrierMergedConnectionRepository.kt b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/prod/CarrierMergedConnectionRepository.kt
index f8858c5..a532e62 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/prod/CarrierMergedConnectionRepository.kt
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/prod/CarrierMergedConnectionRepository.kt
@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@
 
     override val isRoaming = MutableStateFlow(false).asStateFlow()
     override val carrierId = MutableStateFlow(INVALID_SUBSCRIPTION_ID).asStateFlow()
+    override val inflateSignalStrength = MutableStateFlow(false).asStateFlow()
     override val isEmergencyOnly = MutableStateFlow(false).asStateFlow()
     override val operatorAlphaShort = MutableStateFlow(null).asStateFlow()
     override val isInService = MutableStateFlow(true).asStateFlow()
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/prod/FullMobileConnectionRepository.kt b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/prod/FullMobileConnectionRepository.kt
index cc72a1e..66b766a 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/prod/FullMobileConnectionRepository.kt
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/prod/FullMobileConnectionRepository.kt
@@ -291,6 +291,21 @@
             )
             .stateIn(scope, SharingStarted.WhileSubscribed(), activeRepo.value.dataEnabled.value)
 
+    override val inflateSignalStrength =
+        activeRepo
+            .flatMapLatest { it.inflateSignalStrength }
+            .logDiffsForTable(
+                tableLogBuffer,
+                columnPrefix = "",
+                columnName = "inflate",
+                initialValue = activeRepo.value.inflateSignalStrength.value,
+            )
+            .stateIn(
+                scope,
+                SharingStarted.WhileSubscribed(),
+                activeRepo.value.inflateSignalStrength.value
+            )
+
     override val numberOfLevels =
         activeRepo
             .flatMapLatest { it.numberOfLevels }
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/prod/MobileConnectionRepositoryImpl.kt b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/prod/MobileConnectionRepositoryImpl.kt
index e4a2a68..b3885d2 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/prod/MobileConnectionRepositoryImpl.kt
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/prod/MobileConnectionRepositoryImpl.kt
@@ -302,8 +302,10 @@
             }
             .stateIn(scope, SharingStarted.WhileSubscribed(), UnknownNetworkType)
 
+    override val inflateSignalStrength = systemUiCarrierConfig.shouldInflateSignalStrength
+
     override val numberOfLevels =
-        systemUiCarrierConfig.shouldInflateSignalStrength
+        inflateSignalStrength
             .map { shouldInflate ->
                 if (shouldInflate) {
                     DEFAULT_NUM_LEVELS + 1
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/domain/interactor/MobileIconInteractor.kt b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/domain/interactor/MobileIconInteractor.kt
index adcf736..ed9e405 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/domain/interactor/MobileIconInteractor.kt
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/domain/interactor/MobileIconInteractor.kt
@@ -323,8 +323,11 @@
         combine(
                 level,
                 isInService,
-            ) { level, isInService ->
-                if (isInService) level else 0
+                connectionRepository.inflateSignalStrength,
+            ) { level, isInService, inflate ->
+                if (isInService) {
+                    if (inflate) level + 1 else level
+                } else 0
             }
             .stateIn(scope, SharingStarted.WhileSubscribed(), 0)
 
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/prod/FullMobileConnectionRepositoryTest.kt b/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/prod/FullMobileConnectionRepositoryTest.kt
index 1fb6e2c..3c13906 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/prod/FullMobileConnectionRepositoryTest.kt
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/prod/FullMobileConnectionRepositoryTest.kt
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 package com.android.systemui.statusbar.pipeline.mobile.data.repository.prod
 
 import android.net.ConnectivityManager
+import android.os.PersistableBundle
 import android.telephony.ServiceState
 import android.telephony.SignalStrength
 import android.telephony.SubscriptionManager.PROFILE_CLASS_UNSET
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@
 import com.android.systemui.log.table.TableLogBufferFactory
 import com.android.systemui.statusbar.pipeline.mobile.data.model.NetworkNameModel
 import com.android.systemui.statusbar.pipeline.mobile.data.model.SubscriptionModel
+import com.android.systemui.statusbar.pipeline.mobile.data.model.SystemUiCarrierConfig
 import com.android.systemui.statusbar.pipeline.mobile.data.repository.FakeMobileConnectionRepository
 import com.android.systemui.statusbar.pipeline.mobile.data.repository.MobileConnectionRepository
 import com.android.systemui.statusbar.pipeline.mobile.data.repository.prod.FullMobileConnectionRepository.Companion.COL_EMERGENCY
@@ -98,6 +100,9 @@
             )
         )
 
+    // Use a real config, with no overrides
+    private val systemUiCarrierConfig = SystemUiCarrierConfig(SUB_ID, PersistableBundle())
+
     private lateinit var mobileRepo: FakeMobileConnectionRepository
     private lateinit var carrierMergedRepo: FakeMobileConnectionRepository
 
@@ -679,7 +684,6 @@
         telephonyManager: TelephonyManager,
     ): MobileConnectionRepositoryImpl {
         whenever(telephonyManager.subscriptionId).thenReturn(SUB_ID)
-
         val realRepo =
             MobileConnectionRepositoryImpl(
                 SUB_ID,
@@ -689,7 +693,7 @@
                 SEP,
                 connectivityManager,
                 telephonyManager,
-                systemUiCarrierConfig = mock(),
+                systemUiCarrierConfig = systemUiCarrierConfig,
                 fakeBroadcastDispatcher,
                 mobileMappingsProxy = mock(),
                 testDispatcher,
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/prod/MobileConnectionRepositoryTest.kt b/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/prod/MobileConnectionRepositoryTest.kt
index f761bcf..9d14116 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/prod/MobileConnectionRepositoryTest.kt
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/prod/MobileConnectionRepositoryTest.kt
@@ -1030,6 +1030,26 @@
         }
 
     @Test
+    fun inflateSignalStrength_usesCarrierConfig() =
+        testScope.runTest {
+            val latest by collectLastValue(underTest.inflateSignalStrength)
+
+            assertThat(latest).isEqualTo(false)
+
+            systemUiCarrierConfig.processNewCarrierConfig(
+                configWithOverride(KEY_INFLATE_SIGNAL_STRENGTH_BOOL, true)
+            )
+
+            assertThat(latest).isEqualTo(true)
+
+            systemUiCarrierConfig.processNewCarrierConfig(
+                configWithOverride(KEY_INFLATE_SIGNAL_STRENGTH_BOOL, false)
+            )
+
+            assertThat(latest).isEqualTo(false)
+        }
+
+    @Test
     fun isAllowedDuringAirplaneMode_alwaysFalse() =
         testScope.runTest {
             val latest by collectLastValue(underTest.isAllowedDuringAirplaneMode)
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/domain/interactor/MobileIconInteractorTest.kt b/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/domain/interactor/MobileIconInteractorTest.kt
index 49953a1..dfe8023 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/domain/interactor/MobileIconInteractorTest.kt
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/domain/interactor/MobileIconInteractorTest.kt
@@ -178,6 +178,22 @@
         }
 
     @Test
+    fun inflateSignalStrength_arbitrarilyAddsOneToTheReportedLevel() =
+        testScope.runTest {
+            connectionRepository.inflateSignalStrength.value = false
+            val latest by collectLastValue(underTest.signalLevelIcon)
+
+            connectionRepository.primaryLevel.value = 4
+            assertThat(latest!!.level).isEqualTo(4)
+
+            connectionRepository.inflateSignalStrength.value = true
+            connectionRepository.primaryLevel.value = 4
+
+            // when INFLATE_SIGNAL_STRENGTH is true, we add 1 to the reported signal level
+            assertThat(latest!!.level).isEqualTo(5)
+        }
+
+    @Test
     fun iconGroup_three_g() =
         testScope.runTest {
             connectionRepository.resolvedNetworkType.value =
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/ui/viewmodel/MobileIconViewModelTest.kt b/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/ui/viewmodel/MobileIconViewModelTest.kt
index af49fd1..cec4155 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/ui/viewmodel/MobileIconViewModelTest.kt
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/ui/viewmodel/MobileIconViewModelTest.kt
@@ -284,6 +284,7 @@
         testScope.runTest {
             val latest by collectLastValue(underTest.contentDescription)
 
+            repository.inflateSignalStrength.value = false
             repository.setAllLevels(-1)
             assertThat(latest).isNull()
 
@@ -292,10 +293,25 @@
         }
 
     @Test
+    fun contentDescription_inflated_invalidLevelIsNull() =
+        testScope.runTest {
+            val latest by collectLastValue(underTest.contentDescription)
+
+            repository.inflateSignalStrength.value = true
+            repository.numberOfLevels.value = 6
+            repository.setAllLevels(-2)
+            assertThat(latest).isNull()
+
+            repository.setAllLevels(100)
+            assertThat(latest).isNull()
+        }
+
+    @Test
     fun contentDescription_nonInflated_testABunchOfLevelsForNull() =
         testScope.runTest {
             val latest by collectLastValue(underTest.contentDescription)
 
+            repository.inflateSignalStrength.value = false
             repository.numberOfLevels.value = 5
 
             // -1 and 5 are out of the bounds for non-inflated content descriptions
@@ -313,6 +329,27 @@
         }
 
     @Test
+    fun contentDescription_inflated_testABunchOfLevelsForNull() =
+        testScope.runTest {
+            val latest by collectLastValue(underTest.contentDescription)
+            repository.inflateSignalStrength.value = true
+            repository.numberOfLevels.value = 6
+            // -1 and 6 are out of the bounds for inflated content descriptions
+            // Note that the interactor adds 1 to the reported level, hence the -2 to 5 range
+            for (i in -2..5) {
+                repository.setAllLevels(i)
+                when (i) {
+                    -2,
+                    5 -> assertWithMessage("Level $i is expected to be null").that(latest).isNull()
+                    else ->
+                        assertWithMessage("Level $i is not expected to be null")
+                            .that(latest)
+                            .isNotNull()
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+    @Test
     fun networkType_dataEnabled_groupIsRepresented() =
         testScope.runTest {
             val expected =
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/tests/utils/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/FakeMobileConnectionRepository.kt b/packages/SystemUI/tests/utils/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/FakeMobileConnectionRepository.kt
index 32d572e..eb2d6c0 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/tests/utils/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/FakeMobileConnectionRepository.kt
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/tests/utils/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/pipeline/mobile/data/repository/FakeMobileConnectionRepository.kt
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
     override val tableLogBuffer: TableLogBuffer,
 ) : MobileConnectionRepository {
     override val carrierId = MutableStateFlow(UNKNOWN_CARRIER_ID)
+    override val inflateSignalStrength: MutableStateFlow<Boolean> = MutableStateFlow(false)
     override val isEmergencyOnly = MutableStateFlow(false)
     override val isRoaming = MutableStateFlow(false)
     override val operatorAlphaShort: MutableStateFlow<String?> = MutableStateFlow(null)