The RootMetrics report has revealed the 5G mobile experiences of smartphone customers on the telecom network of AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile.
AT&T offers broad 5G footprint based on 5G results for AT&T in 78 metros as compared with T-Mobile’s 112. AT&T’s 5G network has shown impressive improvement over a short period of time. AT&T has a broad range of spectrum assets and a strong 4G LTE network as a foundation.
AT&T uses low-band for its 5G network extensively. AT&T will be offering mmWave for its consumers after experimenting with enterprise customers. AT&T is beginning to use dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) technology in low-band.
Sprint’s mid-band 5G spectrum is considered the most desirable type of spectrum as it offers advantages of both low-band and mmWave spectrum, with fast speeds and broad geographical coverage.
Sprint’s mid-band 5G assets are expected to bring a major boost to T-Mobile 5G performance in the future. Note that Sprint’s 5G performance was tested prior to its 5G network being shut off by T-Mobile in June. Sprint 5G results from testing in June are not indicative of current 5G performance.
Sprint deployed only mid-band spectrum for its 5G network prior to the merger with T-Mobile.
T-Mobile’s 5G performance is expected to boom thanks to Sprint merger: T-Mobile already has the most widespread 5G network among all carriers, but currently the carrier’s 5G speeds are similar to those on 4G LTE. That should change, once T-Mobile integrates Sprint’s highly coveted mid-band spectrum into its 5G solutions in more and more cities.
T-Mobile deployed low-band and mmWave 5G spectrum prior to the merger with Sprint. T-Mobile now has active deployments in all three spectrum types in its “Layer Cake” 5G strategy.
Verizon’s 5G is fast based on results on Verizon’s millimeter wave (mmWave) 5G network in 27 cities in H1 2020. The availability of Verizon’s mmWave 5G is targeted to densely populated areas of various cities where greater capacity can help enhance service.
Verizon has deployed only mmWave 5G spectrum with plans to expand its 5G network through DSS technology. Verizon’s lower 5G availability doesn’t mean it isn’t active with 5G; rather, it reflects the smaller coverage footprint of mmWave spectrum itself, the report said.
