Verizon may have the best overall coverage in the U.S., but can they really boast the fastest network speeds anymore? This morning Ookla and OpenSignal, two data analysis sites, released separate reports on the fastest network speeds, and guess what? Verizon is no longer number one.
Over the last few years, we've witnessed a tug of war between T-Mobile and Verizon, with the trophy for fastest network speed being passed back and forth or even shared for brief periods of time.
Right now, however, it's T-Mobile's time to shine, winning first place for:
- Fastest 4G download speed
- Fastest 3G download speed
- Fastest 4G upload speed
According to OpenSignal, T-Mobile's 4G download speeds were just over 1Mbps faster than Verizon's from March to June this year while their upload speeds were about 1.5Mbps faster. T-Mobile has even caught up to Verizon in terms of 4G network availability—a category that Verizon has been consistently winning independently over the last few years.
Even with this new data, Verizon still claims to have the fastest network speeds, with their own data coming from RootMetrics. But with both OpenSignal and Ookla claiming T-Mobile have the fastest network, will their RootMetrics report be enough to stand on? The argument here is that both OpenSignal and Ookla crowdsource their data, while RootMetrics carry out their own tests to determine network performance—which side has the stronger argument? I really don't know.
What we do know is, that T-Mobile and Verizon will continue to fight for the number one spot, leaving Sprint and AT&T behind in their dust.
Here's a look at the last few reports from OpenSignal and which networks won in each category.
OpenSignal Award Winners
| Date | 4G Download Speed | 3G Download Speed | Download Speed Overall | 4G Latency | 3g Latency | 4G Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q4 2015 | T-Mobile & Verizon | T-Mobile | n/a | Sprint | T-Mobile | Verizon |
| Q2 2016 | T-Mobile | T-Mobile | T-Mobile | Sprint | T-Mobile | Verizon |
| Q4 2016 | T-Mobile & Verizon | T-Mobile | T-Mobile & Verizon | Verizon | T-Mobile | Verizon |
| Q2 2018 | T-Mobile | T-Mobile | T-Mobile | AT&T | T-Mobile | T-Mobile & Verizon |
It's clear to see that overall, T-Mobile and Verizon dominate in data coverage and speed. We'll keep an eye out on how this plays out, but in the meantime, T-Mobile can bask in its glory.
If you're reconsidering your choice in cell phone plan and carrier, why not make the switch to one of the two fastest networks in town? Browse the cheapest plans from both T-Mobile and Verizon below.
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#1
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|
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T-Mobile
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Verizon
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T-Mobile
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Verizon
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T-Mobile
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T-Mobile
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T-Mobile
Prepaid Unlimited Plan
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