Tag: ookla

Ookla SpeedTest Q3 2023 Results Show T-Mobile is Still in the Lead

As of yesterday, Ookla released their latest data on 5G speeds for the third quarter of 2023. Results are showing the difference between 5G and fixed broadband download speeds in the U.S. is getting closer.

Scoring a Median Download Speed of 221.57 Mbps, T-Mobile led the race. That’s compared to Verizon’s 153.79 Mbps median download speed, and AT&T’s 101.55 Mbps. With the exception of the latency scores, which AT&T led, T-Mobile was the winner in every category. However, each carrier saw increases in most categories. Other measurements compared were of Median Download and Upload Speeds, Median Multi-Server Latency, Consistency, and Video Score, as well as the same categories specific to 5G networks. 

In addition to reviewing speed test results, Ookla looked at device information. More specifically, the most popular devices at this time. This includes the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models, the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold4 and the Pixel 7 Pro. Overall, the Apple iPhones won with the highest speeds, but lost to the Galaxy devices in terms of latency. 

Lastly, state and city speeds were recorded and compared. Illinois took first place at the state level with the fastest median mobile download speed of 110.08 Mbps. T-Mobile was the fastest provider in 44 states and the District of Columbia during Q3 2023. Verizon was the fastest in North Dakota. As for South Dakota, Montana, Vermont, Maine, and Alaska – the results were too close to call. Among the 100 most populous cities in the U.S. Glendale, Arizona displayed the fastest median download speeds. T-Mobile was the fastest operator in 77 of these cities. Verizon Wireless was the fastest provider in El Paso, Texas, and AT&T was fastest in Las Vegas, Nevada. Results were statistically too close to call in 21 cities.

Ookla is using their Speedtest Intelligence service to find the overall Fastest Provider in terms of their Download Speeds. This service offers “up-to-date insights into global fixed broadband and mobile performance data based on millions of consumer-initiated tests taken every day with Speedtest®.” To see exactly what is being tested, checkout how Ookla collects data.  

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Does T-Mobile Still Have the Fastest 5G?

You may be familiar with Ookla, or their famous speedtest.net website that lets users easily test their Internet connection’s latency and download and upload speeds. They also run quarterly reports comparing the results between different Internet providers, both fixed and mobile. 

We’d like to highlight the mobile results only. This first quarter’s results were just released Monday and they compare median download speed, median latency, consistency score, and availability. 

Results reveal T-Mobile is still in the lead, and at the top of each category tested. The only change is that the gap between T-Mobile and Verizon has lessened. Here are just some results; median download speeds:

  1. T-Mobile: 191.12Mbps (up from 187.12Mbps)
  2. Verizon: 107.25Mbps (up from 78.52Mbps)
  3. AT&T: 68.43Mbps (down from 68.82Mbps)

With regards to testing by state and city, Minnesota took the top spot for fastest median mobile download speed during Q1 2022 at 92.31 Mbps. Overall, T-Mobile was the fastest mobile provider in 42 states. Results were too close to call in 6 states. 

St. Paul, Minnesota had the fastest median mobile download speed among the 100 most populous cities in the U.S. Speeds topped out at 136.72 Mbps. T-Mobile was the fastest operator in 78 of these cities. Verizon Wireless was the fastest provider in 10 cities, and US Cellular was fastest in one city (Madison, WI). The results were statistically too close to call in 11 cities.

Per T-Mobile news, their President of Technology has this to say about today’s win: 

“Our 5G network is delivering a powerful performance boost and it’s resonating, with over 40% of our customers now using a 5G device, accounting for more than HALF of our network traffic. And we’re just getting started – this leading network experience will continue to improve as we accelerate our 5G build this year and beyond.”

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Who is the fastest 5G carrier in the US?

According to the latest report from RootMetrics T-Mobile may have the fastest 5G speeds and greatest 5G availability, but what about reliability?

When measuring only 5G reliability, a different carrier, Verizon, came out on top.

The timing of this testing however, is important to note. 5G performance was done during the second half of 2021. At the start of the New Year, you may recall that Verizon and AT&T were finally able to turn on their new C-Band 5G coverare, which brings faster average speeds to a greater number of people (more than 90 million, according to Verizon). AT&T has only a handful of cities covered at this point.

The RootMetrics report gathered results from tests that were run in 125 of the largest cities in the U.S. In the end, they found T-Mobile had the fastest 5G download speeds in 48 markets, compared to three for Verizon and zero for AT&T. Median download speeds for T-Mobile topped 100 Mbps in more than half the cities RootMetrics tested in. In 26 markets, the speeds topped 200 Mbps.

T-Mobile was also determined to have the best 5G availability. With the highest availability in 83 tested markets, T-Mobile topped AT&T (62 markets) and Verizon (6 markets).

In comparison with 5G reliability, T-Mobile was actually found to have the lowest amount at 19. Verizon had the best in 93 markets, also topping AT&T, which only showed in 67 markets. 

These findings weren’t just determined by RootMetrics either. Their results are right inline with what has been seen from other third party testers. Back in January, OpenSignal published a 5G performance report in which T-Mobile not only had the fastest 5g download speeds, but was 93.9 Mbps faster than its closest rival. T-Mobile also came out on top for availability and reach.

When comparing T-Mobile’s approach to the 5G rollout to that of AT&T and Verizon’s, it’s clear that T-Mobile got ahead by using sub-6GHz spectrum to create a far-reaching 5G nationwide network. The network now reaches more than 310 million people. More recently, they’ve begun using mid-band spectrum — much of it obtained through the merger with Sprint — to boost speeds. T-Mobile calls this their Ultra Capacity 5G service and it covers some 210 million people.

Verizon and AT&T started their 5G journey by concentrating on mmWave-based 5G. This can be very fast, but has a limited range. mmWave-based towers are in select cities. To provide more coverage, but at slower speed, the two carriers use sub-6GHz 5G.

After a few delays and limitations AT&T and Verizon were able to roll out more coverage in January, this time on the faster C-Band spectrum. The higher band spectrum has a wider reach than mmWave, enabling both carriers to reach more people with faster 5G service. In Verizon’s case, they have more than 90 million people being covered with the carrier’s fastest Ultra Wideband 5G. AT&T is rolling out its C-Band 5G, though on a more limited basis currently.

C-Band tests have been done in a number of different locations and already seems to be improving performance for Verizon. Right after C-Band 5G went live, testing firm Ookla published a report claiming that Verizon’s average 5G download speed jumped to 116.3 Mbps from 76.5 Mbps within the course of a week. For comparison, T-Mobile speeds increased from 182 Mbps to 187.1 Mbps in that same time period.

With the recent upgrades and third party tests that have come out, it would seem the leader board is bound to shift by RootMetrics’ next test. Only time will tell!

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