Rootmetrics Finds Verizon 4G Fastest

Rootmetrics, a Seattle-based company that compiles data about mobile networks has released a study showing that Verizon’s LTE 4G network delivered faster upload and download speeds in a test conducted inside the Seattle area market. Verizon’s LTE network also had better access. Other 4G networks sampled in the test included T-Mobile, Sprint and AT&T. [Download the complete study here.]

“We used 4G capable smartphones to determine what the coonsumer epxerience looks like with regards to data speeds and data performance,” said Rootmetrics. “Each phone may or may not perform at 4G speeds all of the time and may connect to 3G or even 2G networks at some point depending upon time, location and network congestion.”

With respect to download speeds, Verizon’s LTE  “delivered speeds four times faster than the next fastest networks Sprint’s WiMax and T-Mobile’s HSPA+21 which tied for second place. Verizon was 14.5X faster than AT&T’s HSPA+ service.

Here are a few points from the study’s summary…

• Verizon’s LTE download speeds were above 10Mbps 88% of the time. T-Mobile’s HSPA+21 download speeds were above 10Mbps 7% of the time and below 5MBps 61% of the time. Sprint’s download speed has higher that 10MBps 13% of the time and AT&T’s never were above 10MBps.
• Methodology included using unaltered off-the-shelf smartphones equipped with the most up to date Android operating system (2.2). Devices used included HTC Evo (Sprint), HTC Inspire (AT&T), HTC Thunderbolt (Verizon) and Samsung Galaxy S (T-Mobile).
• Rootmetrics is not endorsing any carrier and cautions that its results are not necessarily indicative of those across all cities nationwide. “Only time will tell,” the report states, “if Verizon can maintain these speeds as more consumers start to use the network.”