Verizon’s median 5G download speeds range from first to worst among U.S. majors

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PhoneArena exclusively learned that an analysis of download speeds of 5G data collected by research firm Ookla, shows that Verizon’s median 5G download speeds have plunged significantly after the launch of its Nationwide 5G service last month. For most of this year, Verizon had the fastest median 5G download speed, hitting around 1 Gbps. However, comparing that number to the other two major US carriers was like comparing apples to oranges since T-Mobile and AT & T’s median 5G download speeds included numbers from their low-band 5G signals; Verizon did not have 5G low band until last month and once Ookla included that number in the calculations, Verizon’s median number fell to 60.6 Mbps. AT&T is the current leader with median 5G data speeds of 76 Mbps with T-Mobile next at 64.2 Mbps.

Verizon’s median 5G download data speeds plummet

But T-Mobile’s 5G layer cake plan has Analysts expect operator to eventually deliver industry’s fastest 5G signals thanks to the inclusion of the mid-spectrum it acquired during the acquisition of Sprint. Let’s take a step back to explain the differences between 5G signals. The high band 5G spectrum does not travel far, does not penetrate structures well, but offers the fastest 5G data speeds. Low-band spectrum travels long distances, has no trouble penetrating structures, but does not offer the fastest 5G data speeds. The mid-band spectrum has capacities between low and high band airwaves. T-Mobile’s acquisition of Sprint was for T-Mobile to get its hands on Sprint’s treasure of 2.5 GHz mid-spectrum. Because mid-band spectrum is hard to come by in the United States, T-Mobile has an advantage over its competition. By the end of the year, the carrier’s mid-band signal could reach 100 million POPs (points of presence).

The fact that Verizon’s 5G data download speed has plummeted on Earth has a lot to do with how Big Red decided to focus on its mmWave high-band spectrum when it started building its 5G network. The limited distance that Verizon’s Ultra Wideband covers, and its lack of average bandwidth spectrum, meant two things: Verizon would be the latest to offer nationwide coverage, and it would quickly lead the way in 5G data download speeds. T-Mobile, on the other hand, was the first to announce 5G nationwide in the United States thanks to its low-band 600 MHz spectrum. This became the first layer of T-Mobile’s 5G tri-layer cake topper. At the bottom of the cake are the low band waves that travel from coast to coast. The second layer contains the middle spectrum of the band that has been called the “sweet spot” of 5G. At the very top of the cake, high band mmWave waves are perfect for dense urban areas thanks to the limited distances they cover.

Earlier this year, an Omdia analyst named Daryl Schoolar said that if there is enough medium-band spectrum to flow, all operators in the United States are using it. He said: “I believe if the operators could in the United States they would all do the middle of the band first. The millimeter wave is the icing on the cake. It’s not what you should be doing. really be in the lead. The only reason you see it so much here is that these operators have no choice. “

Since mid-band signals are hard to find, you might be wondering how Verizon was able to enable its Nationwide 5G. This was done using “Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS)”. With DSS, Verizon’s 4G LTE and 5G work side-by-side on the same band. When a 5G Ultra Wideband client leaves the service area, it is connected to the 5G lower band using DSS. T-Mobile, on the other hand, was the first to launch a standalone commercial 5G network in August. With standalone 5G, the next generation of wireless connectivity is delivered without using and being part of an existing 4G network. Autonomous 5G offers “faster speeds, lower latency and massive connectivity”.

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