AT&T smokes T-Mobile in download speed after 5G SA deployment

AT&T appears to have overtaken T-Mobile in 5G download speeds

YouTube channel Tech Life Channel tested how 5G speeds compare on T-Mobile and AT&T. He parked his car near a tower that hosted both networks and conducted the test. AT&T achieved a download speed of 1,543 Mbps and an upload speed of 132 Mbps. T-Mobile clocked in a download speed of 1,120 Mbps and an upload speed of 138 Mbps. The results were similar when he ran the test again.

Latency was lower on T-Mobile‘s network, meaning its users should experience fewer delays than AT&T’s. That’s understandable, given T-Mobile’s deployment of the Low Latency, Low Loss, Scalable Throughput (L4S) tech in late July. The L4S minimizes content load times, leading to a better real-time experience when using time-critical apps such as gaming, where delays can undermine the experience severely.

Similarly, T-Mobile’s slight edge in upload speeds is unsurprising, considering its increased its focus on uplink speeds.

AT&T may need a while to catch up, considering T-Mobile is the only company to have activated 5G Advanced. It’s a new 5G category and enables new technologies such as L4S and uplink Tx switching.

Peak speeds only give carriers bragging rights

While AT&T trumped T-Mobile in download speeds in Tech Life Channel’s tests, it’s worth remembering that he was situated near a tower. That’s not where most users use their phones, so these peak speeds may not mean much for an average user.

Also, the speed tests weren’t conducted in a controlled environment. We don’t even know if the phones had the same modems.

Besides, these record-breaking speeds have few implications in real-world use, given T-Mobile achieved peak speeds of 6.3 Gbps in March, but the median 5G download speed is 299.36 Mbps.

T-Mobile’s 5G lead is under threat

Even though this was just a casual test, the broadly similar testing conditions provide an initial idea of how AT&T‘s network has improved after the rollout of 5G SA.AT&T‘s 5G SA isn’t live for everyone, but the company is working on expanding availability.

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