An independent testing organisation has concluded that T-Mobile has the best 5G network in the country, based on a year-end study. However, considering how its competitors have spent the first half of 2022, the phone provider shouldn’t get too comfortable in first place.
RootMetrics’ newest analysis claims that T-Mobile has the fastest 5G speeds and the widest 5G coverage of any network. Another provider — in this instance, Verizon — came out on top only when gauging 5G dependability.
However, the timing of this RootMetrics report’s testing is important. During the second half of 2021, the best mobile carriers’ 5G performance is examined. More than 90 million people now have higher average speeds thanks to Verizon’s new C-Band 5G installations, which were turned on at the start the new year. AT&T has also launched its C-Band 5G, but only in a few places.
RootMetrics is likely to give Verizon and AT&T a boost when it releases its next report because of the speedier installation times. For the time being, expect T-Mobile to make a lot of noise about the fact that their 5G coverage is superior in certain important areas.
RootMetrics’ findings on T-5G Mobile’s network
As a result of their research, RootMetrics revealed that in 48 of the country’s major cities, T-Mobile had the highest 5G download speeds, compared to three for Verizon and nil for AT&T. More than half of the cities where RootMetrics tested found download speeds of 100 Mbps or higher for T-Mobile customers. The Uncarrier’s speeds surpassed 200 Mbps in 26 cities.
RootMetrics has shown that T-Mobile has the greatest 5G coverage. It was T-Mobile, not AT&T or Verizon, that had the most coverage in 83 of the 86 tested areas (6 markets).
T-Mobile, on the other hand, did not come out on top. In 93 markets, Verizon had the greatest 5G dependability, beating AT&T in 67 and crushing T-Mobile in 19.
As with previous third-party testing, the RootMetrics results are in line with what we’ve witnessed. OpenSignal produced a 5G testing report in January that showed T-Mobile to be 93.9 Mbps faster than its nearest competitor in 5G download speeds. In same 5G performance study, T-Mobile also came out on top in terms of availability and reach.
When it came to expanding its 5G network, T-Mobile chose a different route than other carriers, employing sub-6GHz spectrum to develop a vast countrywide network. There are already over 310 million users on the carrier’s national 5G network. As a result of its acquisition of Sprint’s mid-band spectrum, the company is now able to increase speeds. T-Ultra Mobile’s Capacity 5G service is available to around 210 million customers.
Verizon’s and AT&T’s potential reactions
Verizon and AT&T first focused on 5G based on mmWave, which is fast but has a restricted range. To build up countrywide 5G coverage, Verizon and AT&T are employing slower sub-6GHz 5G networks with mmWave towers in specific locations.
In mid-January, however, both networks received a boost in the shape of upgraded high-speed 5G using C-Band spectrum, which was rolled out in the second half of the month. A larger range of consumers may benefit from quicker 5G service because to the higher-band spectrum’s greater range compared to the narrower band used by mmWave technology. During a Verizon C-Band 5G preview, we were able to see this in action. As a result, Verizon’s Ultra Wideband 5G is currently available to more than 90 million customers. At this point, AT&T is only deploying its C-Band-based 5G on a limited scale.
Verizon seems to be benefiting from the use of C-Band. C-Band 5G went online only a week after the testing company Ookla claimed that Verizon’s average 5G download speed increased from 76.5Mbps to 116.3Mbps. That same time period saw T-Mobile speeds rise from 182 Mbps to 187.1 Mbps.)
Because of Verizon’s enhanced network, the final 5G assessment might look significantly different from what RootMetrics publishes today, as the testing company has already admitted.
It’s hardly a surprise that the scoreboard will alter in the 5G race as we go into 2022 and beyond, RootMetrics writes in its research.