The rollout of the three major U.S. carriers are clear leaders for the new wireless standard. At least, not quite yet.
5G has been a main focal point in the wireless industry for some time now. Carriers first started offering 5G services starting in late 2018, and in the years since then, it's been a constant work-in-progress. 5G smartphones are now widely available, and just about every carrier is touting 5G service to some degree, but how does all of this come together in real-world use? Thanks to some in-depth reporting recently published, the question is now a bit easier to answer.
three big carriers have constantly been touting that they have the best 5G network out of their competitors, but when the performance and quality of these networks are put to the test, it reveals something pretty interesting. While AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon all have their pros/cons for their respective 5G networks, none of them are outperforming each other to any considerable degree.
How AT&T, T-Mobile, And Verizon's 5G Networks Compare
Starting with AT&T, RootMetrics says that it's currently in first place in regards to 5G speeds. This is because AT&T has focused primarily on mmWave technology for its 5G network, with the carrier's mmWave service available throughout 38 cities across the country. It's reported that AT&T has "delivered the fastest 5G experience across three key speed metrics in the most cities of any carrier." AT&T is also doing well with the reliability of its 5G service, though here it's tied with Verizon. While RootMetrics reports that all three carriers "delivered generally exceptional 5G data reliability," AT&T and Verizon did manage to sur T-Mobile's performance.
T-Mobile gets a chance to show off its 5G prowess with the availability of its network. T-Mobile has invested a lot in mid-band spectrum for its 5G deployment, and while this results in speeds being a bit slower compared to the likes of AT&T and Verizon, it means T-Mobile 5G is available to more subscribers in more parts of the country.
While it is interesting to get a quick snapshot at 5G is only going to keep getting better as the months and years go on.
Source: RootMetrics