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Who has the fastest mobile broadband? Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T speed tests

Then you open your browser and jump to Google. Write something like:

Who has the fastest mobile broadband?

There are 3 very familiar looking sites that say things like:

“The Verizon Wireless BroadbandAccess Evolution Data Optimized (EV-DO) network has been enhanced with EV-DO Rev. A to deliver even faster data speeds and greater efficiency. Fast downloads: typical speeds of 600 Kbps to 1.4 Mbps. Fast uploads: typical speeds of 500-800 Kbps. “

“With a Sprint Mobile Broadband card, you get average download speeds of 600-1400 Kbps, peaking at 3.1 Mbps, and average upload speeds of 350-500 Kbps, peaking at 1.8 Mbps. Similar to DSL, and roughly ten times faster than using a dial-up modem “

“AT&T delivers the broadband speed and responsiveness of BroadbandConnect … the latest 3G devices provide typical download performance of 700 kbps to 1.7 Mbps for download and 500 kbps to 1.2 Mbps for upload.”

Yuck.

Tell me directly, Doc. You speak English. How the hell is anyone supposed to find out who’s the fastest with this “can’t sue me” lawyer speech?

All ranges seem to overlap. Even looking at top speeds, Verizon and Sprint appear identical … until, that is, you realize they are just theoretical. A scenario at best that is not overly optimistic.

It’s like the range on your speedometer that goes from 0 mph to 120 mph. Just because there’s 120 mph on your dash doesn’t mean your rusty 16-year-old Honda Civic Hatchback with the check engine flashing light will pull it off.

Businesses also know that you can’t call them because “there are too many variables.” What were the road conditions like? How fast were you going? When was the last time you had a tune-up? How was the weather? Do you know how many cell phone towers there were in the area? How many satellites were placed around it at that time? Or my personal favorite ‘You were probably roaming and we have no control over other networks’.

It’s like trying to get fresh organic vegetables at McDonald’s. It just won’t happen.

It just is what my friend is.

The only way to get to the heart of the matter and bask in the raw truth is to get out into nature. Outside of my own testing, I draw on the experiences of others from ComputerWorld, Gizmodo, and jkOnTheRun. I’ll give you a short chronological summary of what happened to each one:

Computer world – Which 3G network is the best? – 05/13/08

Rental:

New York, New Jersey and Connecticut

Broadband cards:

(AT&T) Sierra Wireless USBConnect 881, (Sprint) Novatel Wireless Ovation U727 and (Verizon) Sierra Wireless USB AirCard 595U

Result: AT&T had the highest maximum speed (1.6 Mbps), average download speed (755 Kbps), and upload speed (484 Kbps)

Gizmodo – The Ultimate Coast-to-Coast 3G Data Test – 12/17/08

Rental:

Austin, Boston, Chicago, New York, Portland, Raleigh-Durham, San Francisco, and the Bay Area

Broadband cards:

Sierra USBConnect 881 from AT&T, Sierra Wireless Compass 597 from Sprint and Novatel USB727 from Verizon Wireless

Results: Sprint had the highest national average download speed (1.4 Mbps) while AT&T (640 kbps) had the highest average upload speed

jkOnTheRun – 3G speed test: EV-DO vs. HSDPA in Phoenix – 12/27/08

Location: Phoenix, AZ

Broadband Cards: Verizon Wireless USB727, AT&T USB Quicksilver

Results: Verizon had the highest download speed (2.1 Mbps) and upload speed (744 Kbps)

So here we have 3 different tests, all showing someone else as the winner. It is not surprising. Mobile broadband speeds vary from place to place. The only way to get a clear winner is to test multiple locations, take a couple of averages, and then see who wins.

Since Gizmodo’s test was the most comprehensive, it’s fair to say that it’s the most reliable as well. Sprint is kicking butt in the mobile broadband game. Even if you only compare the tests that Gizmodo conducted in New York City to the tests that ComputerWorld conducted in New York, Sprint still outperforms AT&T in download and upload speeds.

Sprint is clearly the overall winner and offers serious competition at all venues.. If we add the fact that they are the largest and fastest mobile broadband network, it has a double whammy.

It’s no wonder Andy Abramson of Working Anywhere recommends Sprint. Spend about $ 900 per month testing mobile broadband and wireless internet services. It seems like he might know a thing or two.

To further defeat a dead horse …

I have personally tested it on 1001 highway miles at 70 miles per hour. (New Orleans to Jacksonville and Tampa to Atlanta). My connection was dropped once … for 15 minutes total. That is solid.

Now, before we all start bowing down to the amazing network that is Sprint, ComputerWorld points out a few things you need to know:


“Using this technology can be a bit like being on a roller coaster. I found out that I could be screaming at 1.1 Mbit / sec. Just to have slow speeds at a 20 Kbit / sec creep. A moment later. That. it’s because, as with all cellular service, speed and reliability depend on a variety of conditions, such as how far you are from a cell tower, how many other users are connected in your vicinity, and how much data is moving. “

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