The two largest LTE networks in the US right now are Verizon and AT&T. Sprint has a very small network, with T-Mobile getting ready to launch their first couple of LTE markets any day now. There is a new report out from Root Metrics, that shows us the differences between AT&T and Verizon’s LTE networks. AT&T wins the speed test with 18.6mbps download and 9mbps upload. With Verizon scoring 14.3mbps download and 8.5mbps upload.
Verizon did beat AT&T in their LTE coverage. RootMetrics tested both networks in 77 different markets. Of those 77, Verizon had LTE in every single one of them. While AT&T only had LTE coverage in about 47 of those 77 markets. The maps below show RootMetric’s data for their reports. AT&T did quickly state that they have added many more markets/cities since Root did their tests, which were at different times in the second half of 2012. There were 30 cities where Root did not find AT&T LTE connectivity, and since the testing, AT&T has added LTE to 26 of those 30 markets.
On another note, RootMetrics did also measure Sprint’s LTE which came in at 10.3mbps download and 4.4mbps upload, along with T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network which tested at 7.3mbps download and 1.5mbps upload. Which is great to see that T-Mobile’s backhaul for their upcoming LTE market is still quite fast, and should get a bit faster once more people hop onto their LTE network. Sprint’s speed was lower because they are using half the spectrum for LTE that AT&T and Verizon are tapping for their rollouts. Which kinda sucks that Sprint was so late to the LTE game.
So which carrier do you have? And do you use LTE? Can you agree with the findings that RootMetrics had here? Let us know in the comments below.