Opensignal’s latest Fixed Broadband Experience report reveals intensifying competition among the largest U.S. internet service providers as network expansion, fiber investments, fixed wireless access (FWA), and industry consolidation reshape the broadband landscape.
Xfinity emerged as the strongest overall performer nationally, winning three of five broadband experience awards. Comcast’s broadband brand secured first place for Consistent Quality, Download Speed, and Video Experience, outperforming Verizon in Consistent Quality and Spectrum in both Download Speed and Video metrics. Video performance was highly competitive, with all five major ISPs earning a “Very Good” rating, indicating users could typically stream 1080p video or higher with minimal buffering and satisfactory loading times.
Spectrum delivered the highest Reliability score nationally, achieving 761 points on Opensignal’s 100-1000 scale. Xfinity followed with a score of 748. All major providers scored above 600, a threshold associated with highly reliable home internet connections that experience few interruptions and consistently support everyday online activities.
AT&T dominated Upload Speed performance with an impressive 120 Mbps average upload speed, more than double Verizon’s 58 Mbps result. The strong performance reflects the continued expansion of AT&T’s fiber infrastructure, which also helped the operator achieve leading results in upload-speed head-to-head comparisons.
Verizon remained highly competitive, particularly in Consistent Quality. Although it placed second nationally, Verizon topped head-to-head comparisons against Xfinity, AT&T, and T-Mobile for this metric, highlighting the quality of its broadband experience in overlapping service areas.
The report shows substantial year-over-year improvements across most performance categories. Xfinity and Spectrum improved upload speeds by 20% and 36%, respectively, driven by deployments of newer DOCSIS technologies. AT&T benefited from a growing fiber footprint, improving performance across all measured categories. T-Mobile posted a 58-point increase in Reliability, demonstrating the strengthening performance of its FWA network even as it continues to add broadband subscribers.
Industry consolidation is also accelerating. T-Mobile is expanding its fiber footprint through acquisitions of Lumos and Metronet, while planned purchases of i3 Broadband, GoNetspeed, and Greenlight Networks will further extend its reach. Verizon has strengthened its position through acquisitions of Frontier and Starry, while AT&T has expanded through purchases of Lumen’s fiber assets and EchoStar spectrum.
Meanwhile, Google Fiber’s merger with Astound and the FCC-approved merger between Charter and Cox underscore broader consolidation trends across the broadband sector.
AT&T’s long-term strategy includes a $250 billion investment plan focused on fiber deployment, retirement of legacy copper networks, and selective use of FWA in less economical fiber markets. Cable operators are also investing heavily in network upgrades, with Comcast and Charter accelerating DOCSIS 4.0 deployments to deliver faster and more symmetrical broadband speeds, narrowing the traditional upload-performance gap with fiber networks.
The Opensignal report evaluates the five largest U.S. broadband providers — AT&T, Spectrum, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Xfinity — across a mix of cable, DSL, fiber, and fixed wireless technologies. The findings highlight how network modernization, fiber expansion, DOCSIS 4.0 upgrades, and strategic acquisitions are driving improvements in broadband performance for U.S. consumers.
BABURAJAN KIZHAKEDATH