We’re past the 2022 halfway point, and as far as one wireless testing company is concerned, the 5G performance ratings look pretty much the same as they did at the beginning of the year. This is good news if you are getting wireless service from T-Mobile.
According to the latest report from RootMetrics (Opens in a new tab)And the T-Mobile has held its place as the best 5G network in the US, thanks to speed and availability. While these factors make it difficult for competitors Verizon and AT&T to displace T-Mobile among the The best phone company As for 5G coverage, both networks made great strides in the first half of the year.
Verizon in particular looks promising with Add C-Band 5G integratedIt was released online at the beginning of the year. In areas where C-Band spectrum is available, RootMetrics has found it has made significant speed improvements, reaching speeds of over 250Mbps in a single market. Combined with Verizon’s continued dominance of 5G data reliability in the RootMetrics rankings, the mobile provider may soon be within walking distance of T-Mobile.
T-Mobile continues to have the best 5G availability
Based on RootMetrics numbers, T-Mobile dominates in terms of the amount of 5G coverage available in a given market. The Uncarrier had the highest 5G availability in 100 markets, crushing AT&T (39 markets) and Verizon (3 markets).
In fact, T-Mobile was the only carrier that did not record less than 55% of 5G availability in any market. It also increased the availability of 5G in 110 markets for T-Mobile, which was more than either of the other two carriers.
However, Verizon and AT&T have made some improvements – notably Verizon. Big Red has improved in 99 markets and improved to 85% or more 5G availability in five cities than it did in the last six months of 2021.
AT&T slipped in some markets, with 5G coverage less than 25% in 36 markets. However, the carrier has made strides in 85 markets and has more markets than Verizon with 5G network coverage of 85% or greater.
Verizon C-Band Improves 5G Speed But It’s Still Less Than T-Mobile
While Verizon and AT&T were probably hoping to catch up with T-Mobile with its new C-Band 5G spectrum, they still have a bit of a leg to go before they can take the top spot. T-Mobiles’ average download speeds were phenomenal, exceeding 250Mbps in nearly 40 markets; It also boasts the only network that has not recorded speeds below 25 Mbps.
However, the C-Band provided significant benefits to Verizon. C-Band is a type of mid-band 5G spectrum that AT&T and Verizon have just started rolling out in the US
For AT&T, the gains appear to be average, in part because its rollout is more limited than Verizon’s approach. RootMetrics registered the C-Band spectrum only in 23 AT&T markets, but in 81 Verizon markets. This allowed Verizon to increase 5G speeds in 63 cities where it used its own C-Band spectrum.
T-Mobile is using mid-band 5G, although it won’t launch C-band spectrum networks until 2023. However, its mid-band spectrum holdings acquired in the Sprint merger gave the Uncarrier a huge boost. It’s a big reason why T-Mobile has now held the title of fastest 5G network for 12 months in a row.
5G reliability remains a strong fit for Verizon
This was one of the areas where AT&T’s 5G network stood out. AT&T phones have been successfully connected to 5G in their markets 99.5% of the time in 107 markets, which is better than any other network.
Unfortunately, that’s the end of AT&T’s most notable perks, as the carrier has only been able to stay connected in 54 of those markets, behind T-Mobile and Verizon. T-Mobile made minor improvements in both areas but remained 3rd in connectivity and 2nd in staying in touch.
Verizon was the clear winner in terms of 5G reliability. It achieved a connection success rate in only five markets that was few compared to AT&T but remained connected in more than 100 markets, which no other network has come close to. This was the third consecutive 6-month period where Verizon’s 5G network won Best Reliability for RootMetrics.
T-Mobile continues to be RootMetrics’ top rated 5G network
Despite access to C-band spectrum which produced really important improvements, Verizon and AT&T weren’t able to catch up with T-Mobile in the first half of the year. Frankly, we are not surprised, as this is consistent with the results of previous tests.
Speed data for the second quarter of this year showed that T-Mobile was The fastest mobile network in the USAnd the This dominance is seen in 5G networks as well. The 5G market is constantly changing, but for now, the T-Mobile era is proving to be pretty consistent.