• March 31, 2022

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With the launch of Verizon’s mid-band spectrum for 5G, the carrier’s download speeds have greatly improved for users connected to C-band as it works to catch up to T-Mobile, who is ahead in terms of 5G download speeds compared to carriers like Verizon and AT&T.

Verizon and AT&T began deployments of C-band spectrum in the 3.7 GHz range earlier this year in January. According to Francesco Rizzato, a senior technical analyst at Opensignal, a mobile analytics company, the two carriers are deploying their C-band spectrum in “very different ways.” While AT&T launched on a smaller scale in parts of just eight metro markets, Verizon took a more widespread approach and utilized 5G Ultra Wideband using C-band to now cover over 100 million people. These efforts are being put forth to chase down the industry leader in download speeds, T-Mobile. Rizzato also explained that T-Mobile starting their deployment of mid-band 2.5 GHz in 2020 has given the carrier a substantial head start and clear edge on the competition.

Upon looking at the average 5G download speeds for T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T, Verizon experienced a significant improvement to its overall numbers nationwide after the C-band launch by approximately 15 megabits (Mbps) per second. Although T-Mobile continues to push ahead of Verizon and T-Mobile in terms of average speeds for users with fast mid-band and those without, when Opensignal just looked at mid-band 5G download speeds, the gap between carriers became much closer. T-Mobile remains on top delivering 225.5 Mbps, but Verizon isn’t far behind with 211.8 Mbps and AT&T sits at 160 Mbps.

With more expansion upcoming in 2022 for Verizon and AT&T, time will tell if the two carriers can continue to close the gap on 5G download speeds with T-Mobile and possibly dethrone the industry leader, or if T-Mobile will continue to reign supreme.

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Sources:

fiercewireless.com/5g/verizon-c-band-lifts-5g-speeds-it-chases-t-mobile-speed-leader

rcrwireless.com/20220330/spectrum/verizon-att-start-the-chase-on-t-mobile-us-opensignal-on-c-band-deployments

theverge.com/2022/3/29/23001716/5g-analysis-verizon-t-mobile-att-speeds-c-band-mid