In just a month, T-Mobile witnessed a significant increase in its median download speed in the U.S. by 29.64 Mbps, according to Ookla. This boost, coupled with the pending acquisition of US Cellular’s wireless operations and spectrum holdings, positions T-Mobile to further outpace Verizon and AT&T in the telecommunications market.
T-Mobile’s median 5G download speed in March stood at an impressive 287.14Mbps, slightly dipping to 275.50Mbps in May. In comparison, Verizon’s median 5G download speed was 224.67Mbps in March, trailing behind T-Mobile by 22%. Meanwhile, AT&T recorded a median 5G download speed of 145.36Mbps in March.
To maintain its innovative edge, T-Mobile collaborated with Ericsson and Qualcomm to conduct tests using six carrier aggregation techniques. By combining channels from its 2.5 GHz, PCS, and AWS spectrum bands, T-Mobile achieved download speeds exceeding 3.6 Gbps.
Verizon faced delays utilizing C-band mid-range 5G spectrum due to interference issues at airports as reported by the FAA. Once resolved, Verizon leveraged its mid-band airwaves to enhance its 5G performance significantly. By August last year, both Verizon and AT&T gained full access to C-band airwaves they acquired at auction in 2021.
In terms of user experience metrics like streaming video and gaming over 5G networks:
– T-Mobile (82 points) and Verizon (80 points) provide similar streaming experiences for subscribers.
– Verizon (88) surpasses T-Mobile (87) in delivering an enhanced gaming experience on their respective networks.
– AT&T lags behind as a distant third with scores of 75 for video streaming and 84 for gaming.
The U.S.’s telecom landscape has witnessed a notable rise from the rank of 20th on Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index to reach the impressive position of 11th as of February 2024. This advancement is primarily attributed to the availability and utilization of mid-band spectrum frequencies.
Mid-band spectrum plays a crucial role in enhancing U.S. 5G services due to its ability to cover greater distances than mmWave spectrum while offering faster speeds than low-band options like the popularly used 600MHz band. T-Mobile recognized this potential early on, leading them to acquire Sprint’s valuable holdings of mid-band spectrum through a $26 billion deal.
With continuous advancements and strategic acquisitions shaping the competitive landscape among major players like T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T, users can expect improved network performance and enhanced connectivity experiences across the U.S telecom market landscape.
