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Since last test eight months ago, network speed, reliability has improved
PCWorld
During December and January, PCWorld and testing partner, Novarum Inc., tested the download speeds, upload speeds and network dependability of the AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon 3G networks from 20 locations in each of 13 U.S. cities.
AT&T says it has worked hard to improve its much-maligned third-generation (3G) network over the last eight months erecting hundreds of new cell towers, using better-performing wireless spectrum, and souping up its cell sites across the country and the results of our latest 13-city, 3G network performance tests suggest that the network has indeed undergone a drastic makeover.
After registering the lowest average download speeds in our 3G performance tests last spring, AT&Ts network turned in download speeds that were 84 percent better than the numbers from eight months ago; in our latest tests, AT&T's download speeds were 67 percent faster on average than those of the other three largest U.S. wireless providers Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon.
In our tests last spring, AT&T posted an average download speed of 818 kbps (kilobits per second) across 13 cities. In our tests conducted in December 2009 and January 2010, AT&Ts average download speed increased to 1,410 kbps.
AT&T's download speeds in New York City were three times faster in our latest tests than in our tests last spring; in San Francisco, the AT&T's download speeds were 40 percent faster.
Network reliability much better
The AT&T networks reliability improved dramatically, too: Last spring, PCWorld testers obtained a usable broadband connection with AT&T only 68 percent of the time. In our latest tests, testers connected to AT&T successfully in 94 percent of their attempts.
Verizon Wireless, which turned in the best all-around performance in last spring's 3G network testing, and Sprint, which finished a close second, both continue to perform well, according to our latest test results. Our tests found that Sprints network delivered download speeds nearly identical to those we measured eight months ago in the 13 test cities; Verizons download speeds decreased by 8 percent overall.
In the past year, Sprint and Verizon like AT&T have seen a marked increase in the number of 3G smartphones that rely on their networks.
Our speed results suggest that Sprint is upgrading its network capacity fast enough to meet the demand, while Verizon may be having trouble keeping up. Nevertheless, both networks reliability (the likelihood that a user can connect to the Internet at a reasonable speed) improved in the most recent tests over how they fared last spring.
We tested the T-Mobile 3G network for the first time in December and January, and found that it supported download and upload speeds that were competitive with Sprints and Verizons in most of our test cities. In one city New York T-Mobiles network even delivered download speeds that are usually associated with 4G networks.
Testing that was done
Before getting into the details of our test results, a few words about the testing and the data. During December and January, PCWorld and our testing partner, Novarum Inc., tested the download speeds, upload speeds, and network dependability of the AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon 3G networks from 20 locations in each of 13 U.S. cities.
Click here to see the detailed results of our laptop-based testing of the Big Four 3G wireless networks (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon) in 13 U.S. cities.
Click here for the detailed results of our smartphone-based testing of the Big Four 3G wireless networks in 13 cities.
Click for related content
Wireless carriers tell FCC they disclose fees
AT&T settles class action over termination fees
Is 2010 the year of wireless congestion?
Altogether we ran more than 51,000 separate tests covering 850 square miles of wireless cell coverage servicing 7 million wireless subscribers (see How We Do the Testing).
At each testing location, we connected to the 3G network via both laptops and smartphones. The laptop tests accurately measured the capacity and performance potential of a given network, while the smartphone tests approximated the real-world connection speeds users of these popular devices might experience, given the less-powerful processors and 3G radios that the devices contain.
CONTINUED : Dramatic AT&T makeover1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
| Next >
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35565833/ns/technology_and_science-wireless/
During December and January, PCWorld and testing partner, Novarum Inc., tested the download speeds, upload speeds and network dependability of the AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon 3G networks from 20 locations in each of 13 U.S. cities.
AT&T says it has worked hard to improve its much-maligned third-generation (3G) network over the last eight months erecting hundreds of new cell towers, using better-performing wireless spectrum, and souping up its cell sites across the country and the results of our latest 13-city, 3G network performance tests suggest that the network has indeed undergone a drastic makeover.
After registering the lowest average download speeds in our 3G performance tests last spring, AT&Ts network turned in download speeds that were 84 percent better than the numbers from eight months ago; in our latest tests, AT&T's download speeds were 67 percent faster on average than those of the other three largest U.S. wireless providers Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon.
In our tests last spring, AT&T posted an average download speed of 818 kbps (kilobits per second) across 13 cities. In our tests conducted in December 2009 and January 2010, AT&Ts average download speed increased to 1,410 kbps.
AT&T's download speeds in New York City were three times faster in our latest tests than in our tests last spring; in San Francisco, the AT&T's download speeds were 40 percent faster.
Network reliability much better
The AT&T networks reliability improved dramatically, too: Last spring, PCWorld testers obtained a usable broadband connection with AT&T only 68 percent of the time. In our latest tests, testers connected to AT&T successfully in 94 percent of their attempts.
Verizon Wireless, which turned in the best all-around performance in last spring's 3G network testing, and Sprint, which finished a close second, both continue to perform well, according to our latest test results. Our tests found that Sprints network delivered download speeds nearly identical to those we measured eight months ago in the 13 test cities; Verizons download speeds decreased by 8 percent overall.
In the past year, Sprint and Verizon like AT&T have seen a marked increase in the number of 3G smartphones that rely on their networks.
Our speed results suggest that Sprint is upgrading its network capacity fast enough to meet the demand, while Verizon may be having trouble keeping up. Nevertheless, both networks reliability (the likelihood that a user can connect to the Internet at a reasonable speed) improved in the most recent tests over how they fared last spring.
We tested the T-Mobile 3G network for the first time in December and January, and found that it supported download and upload speeds that were competitive with Sprints and Verizons in most of our test cities. In one city New York T-Mobiles network even delivered download speeds that are usually associated with 4G networks.
Testing that was done
Before getting into the details of our test results, a few words about the testing and the data. During December and January, PCWorld and our testing partner, Novarum Inc., tested the download speeds, upload speeds, and network dependability of the AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon 3G networks from 20 locations in each of 13 U.S. cities.
Click here to see the detailed results of our laptop-based testing of the Big Four 3G wireless networks (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon) in 13 U.S. cities.
Click here for the detailed results of our smartphone-based testing of the Big Four 3G wireless networks in 13 cities.
Click for related content
Wireless carriers tell FCC they disclose fees
AT&T settles class action over termination fees
Is 2010 the year of wireless congestion?
Altogether we ran more than 51,000 separate tests covering 850 square miles of wireless cell coverage servicing 7 million wireless subscribers (see How We Do the Testing).
At each testing location, we connected to the 3G network via both laptops and smartphones. The laptop tests accurately measured the capacity and performance potential of a given network, while the smartphone tests approximated the real-world connection speeds users of these popular devices might experience, given the less-powerful processors and 3G radios that the devices contain.
CONTINUED : Dramatic AT&T makeover1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
| Next >
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35565833/ns/technology_and_science-wireless/
