Report: T-Mobile Avg Mobile Download Speed Exceeds 50 Mbps, Verizon Also Gains

T-Mobile is the first U.S. wireless carrier to see average download speed exceeding 50 Mbps, according to the latest report from Opensignal. The carrier’s average download was 54.1 Mbps, an increase of 22.4 Mbps since the previous USA Mobile Network Experience Report in July 2021.

AT&T had the top download speeds in four previous USA Mobile Network Experience Reports but is now in second place with an average download speed of 35.3 Mbps, which was virtually unchanged from the company’s previous measurement.

Verizon came in third at 30.2 Mbps, up 1.5 Mbps since the previous report.

The speed measurements include 4G and 5G traffic. Opensignal attributes T-Mobile’s and Verizon’s speed increases to more customers being able to use faster 5G connectivity more of the time.

T-Mobile also had the fastest average upload speed at 10.5 Mbps, followed by Verizon at 8.2 Mbps and AT&T at 6.7 Mbps.

Beyond Average Download

T-Mobile had the top score in four out of six categories in the Opensignal report and tied for the top spot in the fifth category. In addition to having the fastest download and upload speeds, the company had the best 4G availability and the best voice experience. The company tied with AT&T for the best gaming experience.

The only category T-Mobile wasn’t at the top in was 4G coverage, which Verizon won.

Specific scores in the four categories beyond average download and upload:

• In the gaming experience category, T-Mobile had a score of 67.4 on a 100-point scale and AT&T had a score of 67.3, making them a statistical tie.
• In the voice experience category, T-Mobile’s score was 78.6, followed closely by Verizon at 77.6 and AT&T at 77.5. All three scores were in what Opensignal calls the “acceptable” range but were not far from a “good” rating of 80.
• Verizon’s 4G coverage rating was 9.9 on a 10-point scale, followed by AT&T at 9.8 and T-Mobile at 9.4.
• T-Mobile barely won the 4G availability category at 97.8%. compared with 97.7% for Verizon and 97.4% for AT&T.

Opensignal didn’t include categories for 5G coverage and availability in the new report because those metrics were studied in the company’s 5G experience report in October. At that time, T-Mobile was tops in 5G coverage and availability.