PC World: AT&T download speeds 67% faster than its competitors

By on Feb 23, 2010 at 5:22 PM
News February 23, 2010

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Before we begin let’s just get this out of the way: if you are a customer of AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, or Verizon it is most likely because that particular company provides a service you want, need, and/or like. The following article is based on tests done by PCWorld in December of 2009 and January of 2010 and may not necessarily reflect your experience with, or preference of, mobile providers. Now, let’s continue…

The PCWorld tests, from December 2009 and January 2010, were done as a follow up to tests done last spring in an attempt to see if the major U.S. mobile networks had made any improvements to their wireless data infrastructure. The speed tests were conducted in: Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Denver, New Orleans, New York City, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle on both mobile phones and laptop data cards. We’ve linked to PCWorld’s thorough article for your scrutiny, however, here is the high level overview.

In the Spring 2009 tests the companies results were as follows:

  • AT&T: average download speed 812 Kbps, average upload speed 660 Kbps
  • Sprint: average download speed 808 Kbps, average upload not listed in article
  • T-Mobile: not tested, no significant 3G footprint at time of testing
  • Verizon: average download speed 951 Kbps, average upload speed 426 Kbps

In the Winter of 2009/2010 tests the companies results were as follows:

  • AT&T: average download speed 1410 Kbps, average upload speed 773 Kbps
  • Sprint: average download speed 795 Kbps, average upload speed 396 Kbps
  • T-Mobile: average download speed 868 Kbps, average upload speed 311 Kbps
  • Verizon: average download speed 877 Kbps, average upload speed 434 Kbps

PCWorld Speed Tests

As you can see, AT&T’s network, in PC World’s pretty rigorous tests, has improved tremendously and is over 67% faster. Not bad for less than a year, no?

Read [Spring '09 tests] Read [Winter '09/'10 tests]

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  • Brett

    Tethered via my N900 on TMO 3G (speakeasy.net test) in Seattle, WA

    Download Speed: 2481 kbps (310.1 KB/sec transfer rate)
    Upload Speed: 356 kbps (44.5 KB/sec transfer rate)

  • T

    Once AGAIN AT&T’s shiting down the necks of all the verizon fanboys! verizon really needs to fix what is truely wrong = CDMA. Until verizon gets rid of the ancient technology they will continue to be on the path too bankruptcy. verizon should’ve been investing in their network, now their to far behind times. Sucks to be them or especially the customer. Glad I left when I did.

    • skim

      wow… shows just how much you know about networks. just because its an older technology does not mean that it is worse. I guess that is why both Japan and Korea, from which most innovative wireless technology originate still use it, huh? But then again I guess that would be asking to much from an AT&T/Iphone fanboy. Oh and that bit about Verizon not investing money in its network? Again shows how little you know. AT&T is the company who is notorious for not completing a single thing they started. Thats why their 3G network is so spotty, and 4G for Verizon is right around the corner. Also, anyone who knows anything about business will tell you Verizon Wireless is far from bankruptcy. I doubt a badly run company can afford to pay every employee a pretty hefty bonus even in this economy.

    • Joe B.

      You know absolutely nothing about cell phone providers. Verizon invests MORE money into its network yearly than any other cell phone company. That’s the reason Verizon has 5 Times More 3G coverage than AT&T. In fact AT&T is notorious for not investing back into their network which is the reason they have the second smallest network out of the 4 major providers which results in terrible iphone service. This is made all the more ironic by the fact that AT&T has posted record profits the past 2 years. And as far as bankruptcy again your ignorance is amusing, Verizon is the most Successful cell phone provider in the country with 91 Million Customers. If you’re going to support a company then use facts not bullshit.

      • drake

        well joe if u do wanna put up mapss lets look at exactly what verizon is showing on the “maps”…. 3g correct? yes big area but with all that money that they investin to these large area maps…look at the at&t edge networking speeds… faster than verizon 3g ….basically our second is better than ur first….

      • Joe B.

        Edge is absolutely not faster than Verizon 3G in any way shape or form. The speed tests are comparing AT&T 3G speeds not Edge speeds. If you believe that Edge is faster than 3G than I should tell you that 56K is faster than Cable.

      • jonno

        Drake… do you know the actual through-put of EDGE? Do you know how close that is to dial-up? In fact, it’s barely any faster than GPRS (the protocol it had replaced for wireless data transfers). EV-DO rev. 0 ran circles around EDGE to the point where it was pointless for people who needed high-speed to stay on the networks of Rogers or AT&T because the speed simply was not there.

        HSPA (the 3G network speed being tested in this article) is what finally leveled the playing field out, and even gave GSM the advantage. HSPA is much much more like broadband internet, even to the point of being able to place a call while using the data service simultaneously. This is something that EVDO cannot do (SVDO, the new standard being pushed by the CDMA association, can handle this), but EVDO speeds are still usually quite comprable to HSPA speeds in most areas of the USA.

        Here in Canada, well, now that we’re up to HSPA+ and flying at a maximum 21 mbps, well, that’s a different story… but even then, as the HSPA networks get bogged down by data-hogs like the iPhone, sometimes CDMA and EVDO look a little more reliable and the shortcomings (which are few) are quite tolerable. I know I won’t be switching to an HSPA device until the coverage is a little bit better, though, as typically CDMA has had a larger coverage area here in Canada than even GSM, let alone HSPA.

  • DL

    @TowerGuy
    Carriers are constantly upgrading and expanding network capabilities, normally on a local basis. As much as it sounds good to say “we’re rolling out nationally” in terms of network expansion, it just doesn’t happen that way. Speed and throughput will also vary widely based on a number of factors (uh, do you think every Comcast or Cablevision customer gets the exact same speed and throughput?). Before you condemn someone else as a liar, consider that you may not know everything about everything.

  • neXus

    what they fail to mention is how shitty AT&T’s network is, partly because it’s so clogged with all of the iPhone data usage.

  • Josh

    wow. the number of apple/att/iphone fanboys on BGR is astounding. i’m seeing more negative rated comments from vzw customers that are making good points and are backing up what they say, and positive rated comments from what seems like att/iphone customers who are just talking shit without any good points and without backing up what they write. i’m sure this post will get negative ratings because of this too.

  • jawman

    “People are stupid if they isolate themselves to one carrier continually brainwashed for decades believing “no other carrier provides service in their area,” in order to make themselves feel better about paying more each month.

    You guys know who you are.”

    Yeah, I know who it is. It’s BGR, brainwashed and biased with their iPhones. Seriously they cut the disclaimer out on the photo and leave out a lot of important info form the article. Always read the full article yourself, never read the biased, summarized edition that BGR puts up!!

  • Chris

    Heh.. it’s not over until the fat lady sings. Regardless of whoever you support, Verizon will have an eff’in fast LTE network. LTE for Verizon will first be publicly released most likely 4th quarter this year (2010). It will not be for phones, it will be for mobile broadband cards/netbooks. Why? Because there is no better product than a laptop/netbook which is a data-hog. After they get all the statistics of how many they can support on their network with stability and speed, they will release LTE for phones.

    • fuzion

      what is LTE? is it 4G?

      • kieran

        yes its a form of 4G

    • kieran

      BTW! its going to be 8-12 Mbps.. its not gonna be that actually. thats just the test VZW is supposedly brodcasting 3.2 Mbps but look what they have NOTHING. the will be as fast as AT&T’s network when the hit 4G. but not if they dont switch to GSM! OH and they will not have 4G phones its gonna be like sprints network. laptops and connect cards only! LOSER

    • Raisedcrazy

      Chris, If you look at the Mobile evolution of all carriers, it always starts with the data, Cellular, TDMA, CDMA, GSM, and yes LTE they all do data first….Device manufacturers have to adopt the new standards to make devices and anyone in manufacturing will tell you it’s not an overnight process to produce handsets.

  • StevenGlansburg

    hey just wanted to point out that verizon sucks and doesnt have the iphone so they REALLY suck

  • whoareu

    And the network for CALLS mind you has drastically improved in the Metro NYC area. Yes Monday through Friday 9-5 calls still drop and data is not as fast….BUT…. I commend AT&T for doing ALOT of improvements in only 2 months. I now have 3 bars of 3G in Times Square where before I had 1 or I would drop to Edge, and I would still have Call/Data Problems. Good for you AT&T. Your keeping me for a while now. Let the Android phones rain, and Let the Iphone shine.

  • BaKilla

    Maybe my math is off, but where do they get the 67% figure. If sprint is at 795kps, and At&t is at 1410kps. Thats not even 50% faster. Average reliabilty 94%, my girl has an Iphone and she can’t get 3G in my house. oh and sprint dropping a 4g phone at the end of Q2.

    • HD2 man

      I can definitely tell you are confusing the order, so I am just going to fix that. First of all you’re right at&t is not even 50% faster…its closer to 177% faster, if you we were just focus on this and not on anything else. Like for example lets make it easy, lets say sprint is 800kps and at&t is 1600kps. According to your thinking we get at&t opperating at 50% more right? Once again your confusing the order. Yes, your are correct in saying that 800/1600 = 1/2 = 50% but notice we start with 800, which is SPRINT, so we then say SPRINT is operating at 50% of at&t. But turn the order around…and we get 1600/800 = 2 = 200%, which we then say AT&T is operating at 200% more than sprint. Now as far as how they got 67% thats a different story but I just wanted to clarify that even what you did was right just reversed.

      • Brandon

        Actually, you are missing a step. AT&T is 77% faster than Sprint, not 177% faster, 60% faster than VZW, and 62% faster than T-Mobile. The article averaged those 3 to get roughly 67%

        Also, if something is 100% faster, it is TWICE as fast. Ergo, your 1600/800 example is twice as fast and 100% faster. 200% faster is THREE TIMES as fast.

        Still though, taking data from 1 location at 1 time is a terrible indicator of quality and this article is horribly, horribly biased and fails to mention that speed means nothing if you don’t have bars :)

  • Darryl Vaughn

    We have to give credit where credit is due. AT&T has vastly improved, especially in my city of Charlotte, NC. Before, I’d have about 1-3 bars. Now, I usually have full bars and I still get service in basements. Say what you will, but AT&T has done a great job improving their network. Instead of bashing them for doing something good, congratulate them. But wait, like every other cell phone blog site, when AT&T does something good, it’s not good enough. *sigh*

  • DrewL

    AT&T clearly focused on improving its network in the major metro areas for the iPod data. I have a Windows Mobile phone, but my primary use for my phone is to TALK to people. I cannot hold a conversation on my AT&T phone for longer than 10 minutes without dropping a call on my commute just 30 miles outside Baltimore. Up/Download speeds are important at my house, voice reliability is critical for my cell phone. It seems the mobile carriers have moved away from this focus as the data is in vogue.

  • Chuck

    Let all agree that their is so much competition for the all mighty dollar. That all services improve over time in one form or another. I can say that I had Verizon for nearly six years before I switched to Sprint. I like most people are looking for more bang for the buck. Turns out that with Sprint that voice to voice is lack luster to say the least. But with Verizon’s fees I felt I was getting ripped off. And when I tried to get a better deal if I stayed with them, they refused so I walked. Now my contract is coming to an end I’m not sure if I will try AT&T or stick with Sprint strictly for cost reasons. Either way we all suffer whether it’s great service that the price dictates such. Or moderate service for a moderate price. Maybe someday it will be even across the boards and we as the consumer will finally reap the benefits. Wishful thinking!!

  • TowerGuy

    Thanks DL for letting me know about network rollout, I wasnt so sure how that worked considering I actually set them up for a living….rolls eyes (and that guy was full of crap). I just finished reading through the last page or so, and it amazes me how much people try to talk as if they know something, yet are way off. I just dont have the time to get into all of it, but one thing, I think “kieran” said VZW will roll out 4G @ 8-12mbps?? Really, you pull that out of your ass? Try closer to 40-60mbps at launch. But how would I know??

  • Haha

    And thanks StevenGlansburg for being insightful as always. But I thought I read that you had a BB Bold?? So why are you always talking about the iPhone etc? Unless you were joking about the BB.

  • reena@yahoo.com
  • at&t Rep

    Where’s the big red map now that we have concrete 3rd party evidence?? Owen was right! LOL!

    • Brandon

      It’s Luke Wilson, and you have no idea what you’re talking about. This says nothing about the map, and the map VZW advertises WAS done by a 3rd party, not themselves.

  • AT&T Rep 2

    i heard a few of you talking about at&t’s investment in their network and how were not investing much. WE HAVE THE IPHONE, are you stupid? If we dont invest as much as we can will fall to the ground from to many iphone customers. At&t will not let that happen, futhermore these customers are allowing us to invest more than other providers with our revenue off the iphone. We are the leaders in smartphones if you dont believe me look it up. these customers build more revenue than any other and everyone wants the iphone.
    PS will have androids soon bitches!!

  • Don

    ATT may have gotten better over the last year but someone explain this to me. I live in San Diego and in my office which does not have tinted windows, my cell phone sitting on the desk has full bars one minute and no bars the next. It flucuates from 3G to Edge to no effing service and the phone is not moving! Can someone explain this?

    • Don

      Oh ya…I have a 3GS Iphone and I had the phone checked out and its fine.

      • Brandon

        Inconsistency with AT&T.

  • AT&T Rep 2

    get a new sim card. If that doesnt work you’ll need to quit and find a job where your iphone works.

    • Storm

      You, my friend, are not very bright. The cell phone companies need to cater to our needs, not customers cater to your coverage, or lack thereof. I am an iPhone user and absolutely hate AT&T but stick with it, like all other iPhone users, cause the phone rocks. I really wish AT&T would simply double their towers and fix the voice calls. I have full bars and drop voice calls constantly. It’s not my sim card, it’s the network. I have no problem with data. I was with verizon for 15 years. They used to be awesome customer service and i loved them. Then they started acting like stuck up a-holes who didn’t care if you stayed with them. They overcharged for their service too. Shoot, the Verizon CEO recently said they would raise their rates because people would pay for them because they were the best, so they COULD raise rates.

      • Storm

        In other words, I haven’t found a company that is really all that great. We have some of the slowest access speeds in the world and some of the most expensive plans. Unlimited access should be included with every plan by now and they should be trying to do things like in Japan, where you can have two phones, switch the sim card out to your second phone and be up and running. It should be about getting people on to a solid very fast network and then entice them with other services or even use ads.

      • Raisedcrazy

        “I really wish AT&T would simply double their towers and fix the voice calls. I have full bars and drop voice calls constantly” FYI- Talk to Apple about THEIR device, the voice coverage is NOT the issue, YOUR device is the issue. BTW- You can’t just add towers at will, that cost a lot of money to get through all the red tape and after a few years of waiting some cornhole will say it will block the view of thier mole hill and the thousands invested by any carrier goes down the drain!

  • AT&T Rep 2

    Im so sick you all you ignorant people talking crap about At&t. if your not in the indrustry then you have no clue what is involved when upgrading a network. Every business has a financial schedule. They are not going to spend billions on correcting some complaining customer who says they get dropped calls. if you are having issues with your service and the iphone then get a life. 5 years ago the iphone didnt exsist. with the ecomony falling a few years ago do you think our financial schedule changed ya so blame the world. go for a walk in the woods like our parents did or maybe find a girl to keep you company vs your virtual girlfriend on your iphone clogging up our network. by the way its not thousands we spend. To cover one state with a simple software and minor hardware update on average costs 20 billion dollars. talk to bill gates about your problems if you need someone to make a quick change.

  • Corey

    The biggest problem in my books is the test spots they used. Even the worst networks in the nation (T-Moble and AT&T) have coveraging in the biggest cities in the US. Lets talk realistically about AT&T’s shoddy coverage everywhere else in the US, not just the ten biggest cities where they have no choice but to have service.

    States where AT&T has less than 5% of the state covered by 3G:

    ID
    NV
    MT
    WY
    NM
    ND
    SD
    NE
    KS
    IA
    WI
    ME
    NH
    VT
    VA
    WV
    AL
    UT

    Pretty sad

  • Darren

    Yeah and less 25% in the big states. Pathetic. Dropped calls…3rd world, old GSM technology…at&t is just a joke. I can’t believe they charge the same amount as Verizon for plans. That’s like saying a brand new Hyundai is the same price as a Ferrari. At&t the best, Next joke….lol

  • P

    anyone who is getting there hopes up for verizons 4g network, dont in order to reach the 100mb/s verizons will have to go from CDMA technology to GSM meaning they have billions more to invest soom at&t will catch up within the next 2-3 years even though they already have the fastest and r ahead in it already

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