Verizon and Sprint handled 16 billion more MB of data than AT&T in 2009

By on Apr 13, 2010 at 1:53 PM
News April 13, 2010

us-data-movers

AT&T might be the first carrier you think of when you picture the largest mover of wireless data in the US, but according to a new study published by ABI Research, the honor actually belongs to Verizon. In fact, not only does Verizon beat out AT&T, but so does Sprint with the two networks having handled a grand total of 63% of wireless data in 2009. To give you a idea of how much data that equates to, last year Verizon and Sprint moved a whopping 16 billion MB (or 15,625,000 TB) more data than AT&T. ABI claims the numbers have more to do with AT&T’s smaller 3G coverage and the prevalence of data cards on the two EV-DO networks, but it is predicting AT&T will be able to overtake Sprint come 2012. What do we think, class?

Thanks to everyone that sent this in!

Read

Tags:
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
179 Comments

Related Articles

  • Off Topic!

    How many of that 16 billion was people checking BGR? HA!

  • Win44

    Those numbers just seem borked, more than 40% of AT&T is smartphone customers. AT&T reports roughly 85 million users. That’s equates to about 35 million smartphone users with data access. That’s not counting datacard users.

    Sprint had 49 million users at one point last year then lost a few hundred thousand. They have a huge proportion of prepaid customers using devices that aren’t even 3G. Which leaves how many possible data users on their network?

    This analytics company has a serious flaw in their methodology, and it’s ridiculous that BGR posted this crap.

    • Numbers Aren’t Everything

      No… that’s roughly 35 million iphones that were bought so the person could say “look at me, look at me I’m one of the cool kids”. Just because a user has a “smartphone” doesn’t mean they use the phone as a smartphone. And the whole “rarely able to use the data due to no signal” also hinders data use.

      • Anonymous

        It’s so true. A good number of people I know seems to only use it for basic organizer purposes, and their primary purpose for purchase (especially the women) is “IT’S SO PRETTY”. There’s nothing wrong with that rationale, but IMHO, I would have purchased something cheaper since I wouldn’t need a high-end smartphone. To me, it’s like a desktop computer. You don’t need a quad core 3GHz, 12GB RAM, 2TB HD, system if you’re only going online to check your email. A $200 netbook will do that just fine.

    • John

      most AT&T smartphone users dont have to pay for internet so they dont use it trust me alll my friends have blackberrys and androids and none have internet only i do but im verizon lol so this seems to b right lol

  • zach

    cry a river … verizon is better then att . . shit sprint is shitty ass network but beats att… f att and the iphone . android bitches

    • Anonymous

      kids like you make android users look stupid. please stop talking. There’s good parts and bad parts about both systems, Verizon never got 5mb burst, at&t did.

      /owns an incredible on verizon

  • roach

    um, wouldn’t 16billion MB be 16 million GB not TB? just asking.

  • comparing oranges to grapefruits

    Sprint and Verizon have a combined 63% of data according to this report. Which leaves 47 percent to AT&T, T-mobile and the regionals. Which could work out to Verizon 34%, Sprint 29% , ATT 26% and T Mobile 18% and the others with 3%. Verizon is now the largest carrier by customers, so that doesnt suprise me, Nextel had a lot of buisness customers, that eventually went to Sprint after the buyout so that doesnt suprise me either.

    • Yo

      You fail at math…

  • Chad

    MB or GB?

    Sprint and Verizon’s networks are CDMA and spread out, whereas AT&T’s network (3G), although CDMA, is very concentrated and full of smartphones. Plus, AT&T’s network infrastructure is just not on par with the other networks. They’re cheap, plain and simple.

    • LaToya (AKA Digital Nightmare)

      It’s not CDMA, it’s WCDMA/UTMS/HSPA.

      • Mattg

        Wrong, Verizon/Sprint have CDMA networks(3G uses EV-DO), while AT&T/T-Mobile have GSM networks(3G uses WCDMA (UMTS)/HSPA, AT&T freq. is 850/1900, T-Mo is 1700/2100).

      • Anonymous

        Actually, everyone these days uses WCDMA these days. EV-DO old CDMA equivalent of GSM’s EDGE.

        Up in Canada, you can take an unlocked 3G phone and use it between the older cell carriers, both GSM and CDMA.

      • BTPLG

        Smelly Pirate hooker!

  • stnkyminky

    Well most of ATT’s customer’s were unable to receive a signal so this might be true. Although ATT does have the fastest 3G network, the wilson guy told me so, and greatest area of coverage [EDGE].

    I say this report is bogus.

    • Corey

      EDGE is not comparable to 3g. Someone can have an active transfer year round on an edge connection, and someone on 3g will post more data transfer in two months. The speeds, and thus amount of data that can be sent and received, are simply incomparable.

  • Big D

    Here’s what I’ve learned from the thread of comments. BGR posters are twenty-somethings (and younger) that think that they are privy to all the inner workings of all the carrier’s networks and plans. And they completely understand the difference in the wireless standards.

    Oh wait, that what they THINK they know. I’ve seen inacuracies in almost every post in this thread and I, by no means, am an expert.

    Come on kids. Firstly, what difference does it really make in the grand scheme of things. Use the carrier that works best for you and had the devices you want. Get yourself a girlfriend and a real life and don’t worry about what carrier’s ads are lying about what. News flash…they’re are all lying about something!!

    I use at&t. I do think that overall, Verizon has a much better network. I’ve been with at&t (actually, I started with BellSouth Mobility) longer than most of you have been shaving. I have stuck with them because I like to be able to use what ever phone I want, whenever I want. Their network works just fine everywhere I have needed to use it. If it becomes a problem, I will switch. No drama. I’ll just go with someone that can give me better service. I don’t understand the “Suck it at&t” comments, or the “Verizon Rules” comments or even the reverse. Really?? Do you guys really have that much of a non-life that you have to get worked up over whose wireless servce is better?? The media gets you guys lathered up like a bunch of rabid dogs. In other words, they are controlling you. Step back from this for a minute… look around…is what phone you have or the network you use defining you? I hope not.

    I read BGR and other sites daily. I love mobile technology. But I’m not going to let it BE my life. Grow up. Get a real life. Then use all the mobile data that you can to further that life on whatever network works best for you and your needs.

    • mak618

      Well said !

  • Kent

    This math is completely wrong:

    16 billion MB = 16 billion /1024^2 TB = 15 258.7891.

    Also, numbers represented at this large of a scale can be deceiving. Even a 1% lead in market share would mean gigantic increases in data usage.

    • John O

      I have had AT&T, Sprint and Verizon phones over the years. I have to agree with Big D’s statement, in general. If you have had a great experience with whomever your’e with, then awesome. Right now, I’m with Verizon. The coverage is better where I live and I wanted a Droid. If AT&T comes out with something just that amazing, I may switch. Brand loyalty is great to a degree…just ask anyone who remembers the Chevy Nova.

      • V4Voracious

        …or a Chevrolet Cavalier lol

  • http://infotainmentempire.blogspot.com Rob

    Sprint and Verizon both have portable routers – I wonder if that has something to do with it, considering AT&T doesn’t there might be more people who use Sprint and Verizon because of this feature and use it in their homes to download stuff and whatnot.

  • copr165

    I hate AT&T!!! Couldn’t even keep my home phone working so I cancelled it. Verizon has been good to do business with and I have done business with them for many years. Glad to see them pull ahead and by the way the like John O says the coverage is better in my area. I can actually talk on my DROID and STORM. Friends have AT&T and have Iphones and many of them complain and plan on cancelling when contract up.

  • tim-n-ar

    @spikedude: Sprint owns over 50% of Clear. Therefore, Sprint technically owns the network.

  • StevenGlansburg

    Disregard everything I’ve said. I suck Cox…and remember it doesn’t say Cox, unless I say it tastes like Cox.

  • StevenGlansburg

    Eh. You know since leaving my iPhone behind I’ve grown so much. My eyes have been opened as to how good some of these other phones are. I considered trading in my Droid for an Evo 4G when I heard about it. But I didn’t want to have issues being I just ported my number from AT&T. My Droid had hardware failure so I traded it in for a Pre Plus and OMG I love it so much. WebOS is honestly the best I’ve used.

  • tim-n-ar

    CDMA will still be used for phone calls, due to its efficiency…something GSM can’t handle well.

    • Anonymous

      This is true. Something i miss about it. What i don’t miss is paying verizon’s international rates and getting a rental GSM phone from them.

      that’s more fail imo

  • http://WWW.MIFI-2372.COM PJB

    AT&T will quickly catch up when word of the Mifi 2372 gets out. The Mifi is a mobile hotspot that operates up to 5 wifi enabled devices at the same time wirelessly. Only AT&T users will be able to enjoy the maximum capabilities of the Mifi 2372 which has 7.2 Mbps download and 5.76 Mbps upload. AT&T’s upgrade of there 3G system offers this capability. According to BGR, AT&T the upgrade has taken place in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Miami. Since Mifi 2372 supports: HSPA/UMTS -900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz
    EDGE/GPRS -850 / 900 / 1800 /1900 MHz
    you can use in USA & abroad. For more information:
    http://www.mifi-2372.com

    PJB

  • http://www.thedigs.us Ken Dignan

    This is because if you want to be on Sprint or Verizon’s network using your phone as a phone you can’t use it for data so every Verizon and Sprint Customer that is a true data customer has to have two devices and two accounts if they are a serious user of data. The reality is that AT&T customers have free access to nearly every AT&T wi-fi hot spot in the US. That’s every Starbucks not to mention most hotels, motels, airports, etc. They don’t use cell data because they use wi-fi so much.

  • Phil Rosenthal

    This makes no sense … This suggests that VZ and Sprint did 4000 Gbps more than AT&T on average — Probably the largest high speed backbones in the world do ~1000 Gbps — it’s very unlikely that VZW and Sprint Wireless do 4000 Gbps total combined …

1 2 3 4
blog comments powered by Disqus