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AT&T's 5G E Falls Short of T-Mobile and Verizon 4G Speeds: OpenSignal (venturebeat.com)

Posted by msmash on from the how-about-that dept.

AT&T's "5G Evolution" cellular service isn't just controversial and arguably misleading, it's also slower than the 4G speeds offered by rivals T-Mobile and Verizon, according to a new report today from OpenSignal. From a report: Over a one-month period spanning January 28 through February 26, OpenSignal compared the average performance of "5G E capable" phones and "all others" on AT&T's network with similarly equipped devices on T-Mobile's, Verizon's, and Sprint's networks -- a fair test in that all four of the major U.S. carriers have deployed pre-5G, late-stage 4G technologies across the country. Only Sprint's network fell behind AT&T's performance, though that's no surprise, as the fourth-place carrier's network has lagged behind its rivals in performance for years.

28 comments

  1. What?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Reality fails to live up to promises, you say? That's amazing!

    They'll fix it by launching a marketing campaign and charging more for the existing disappointment.

    1. Re:What?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because 5g E is a bold faced lie - its just 4g with deceptive branding, and AT&T's 4g isn't up to snuff

  2. Room 641A by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I bet most Slashdot readers have never heard of it. I guess there's important news nerds aren't getting between all the hateful anti-Trump articles.

    1. Re:Room 641A by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Those are from disgruntled traitor losers who can't accept they lost the election. Why be upset on their part? They lose their entire welfare lives. Hence the welfare they're on generation to generation.

  3. Is it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Sur-prise, sur-prise, sur-prise!"

  4. Stop pandering to AT&T by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It's not "arguably misleading", it's blatant lying. It's the same network they were calling 4G several weeks ago, now with a new label on it. So of course it's not faster than rivals' 4G networks, because IT IS ALSO a 4G network.

  5. Huawei by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Maybe they need some real 5G hardware from Huawei ;)

    1. Re:Huawei by jellomizer · · Score: 0

      If we are allowed to open up the hardware, review the full specifications, Do analysis on the traffic and RF going in and out, I don't see the problem.
      I am sick of politicians making technical decisions, because they don't know how to verify technical claims. Huawei may be spying on us, but give us money to take the equipment apart and verify it does or doesn't actually spy on us.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    2. Re: Huawei by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I take Huawei claims of not spying seriously as well as the purported quality of the hardware. Complaints about any company should be specific and not generic like oh they spy or it doesn't work right. A specific complaint or concern is always easily addressed by a company that is honest and following its mission.

    3. Re:Huawei by zlives · · Score: 1

      what i have a difficult time with is the fact that the western corps bend over backward for Chinese rules (google search firewall, apple data retention, BB security compromise) so why is that the US can't ask for review? i guess they are worried some one might ask Cisco to open their products up or check up on ATT locations.

    4. Re:Huawei by Bob_Who · · Score: 1

      I like Huawei, but then I'm hungry again in an hour.

  6. Re:5g sucks.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    6G does exist and is being developed.

    https://www.networkworld.com/article/3285112/get-ready-for-upcoming-6g-wireless-too.html

  7. Everyone knows AT&T is bad by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

    I was just at the hospital and a receptionist there was complaining about their phone service. I mentioned that AT&T was both evil and incompetent and she almost fell over herself agreeing with me.

    That AT&T can continue to exist is proof that the whole system is corrupt from stem to stern.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    1. Re:Everyone knows AT&T is bad by tsqr · · Score: 1

      That AT&T can continue to exist is proof that the whole system is corrupt from stem to stern.

      That's a pretty broad brush you have there. I would say that ATT's continued existence is more a testament to the cluelessness of their customers than some systemic corruption.

    2. Re:Everyone knows AT&T is bad by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      I would say that ATT's continued existence is more a testament to the cluelessness of their customers than some systemic corruption.

      In addition to everything else ATT has done, telcos have stolen billions from Americans by taking money intended for infrastructure and handing it out to execs as bonuses. So no.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    3. Re:Everyone knows AT&T is bad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Post anonymously ... at&t is our largest customer...
      (we dig the ditches for them to put the lines in :)

      The joke around here is at&t makes money despite themselves.

      I've dealt with them as a customer -- and trust me ... dealing with them as a vendor makes it all too clear how incompetent they really are. Top to bottom (man :).

    4. Re:Everyone knows AT&T is bad by rogoshen1 · · Score: 1

      i hear this mentioned quite a bit, do you happen to have a citation/link for reference?

      (to be clear, it sounds absolutely plausible, and I wouldn't doubt it for a second -- but still curious as to the specifics)

    5. Re:Everyone knows AT&T is bad by tsqr · · Score: 1

      i hear this mentioned quite a bit, do you happen to have a citation/link for reference?

      (to be clear, it sounds absolutely plausible, and I wouldn't doubt it for a second -- but still curious as to the specifics)

      There are plenty of articles about the $1.5 billion in FCC subsidies given to ISPs annually (here's one), but I've never seen anything substantiating the part about "handing it out as bonuses to execs". Not that it might not be true, of course.

    6. Re:Everyone knows AT&T is bad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There's two kinds of people: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig. :)

  8. Consumer Cellular by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They have the simple easy to use Jitterbug flip phone with big easy to see numbers. They are even approved by AARP. Highly recommended.

  9. Thanks for the reminder... by rnturn · · Score: 1

    ...I haven't deleted that email from AT&T begging me to come back yet. I hope they have all sorts of trouble getting the egg off their faces. Bogus 5G advertising campaign and slower speeds to boot. Way to go, guys.

    --
    CUR ALLOC 20195.....5804M
  10. It's highly dependent on where you live and work by Solandri · · Score: 2

    I've been on Sprint for nearly 2 decades now despite them being the "worst" carrier because, aside from a short 1-year stint in a rental apartment, I've been fortunate to live and work in places where they had great service. Right now my home is close enough to one of their towers that I use my phone as a hotspot whenever my home Internet goes down. I typically get 25-40 Mbps from them at home, which is actually close to double the national average speed for Verizon and T-Mobile. And I'm on an ancient grandfathered plan with unlimited data and no hotspot restriction, so am extremely reluctant to switch carriers.

  11. AT&T commercials by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    When ever you hear "May not" in any AT&T always replace it with "Will not". As in "You may not get the Guaranteed speeds" becomes "You will not get the Guaranteed speeds".... "May not be available in your area", becomes "Will not be available in your area".... "Free phone may be subjected to other fees", becomes "Free phone will be subjected to other fees".

    Nathan

  12. Rest asured by NetNed · · Score: 1

    Well feel safe in that if it was true 5G all that use it will get great health problems faster than any 4G line can deliver!!

  13. Guess the wireless creators were right. by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 1

    Evolution is a myth. :-)

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  14. A 5G Choke Harness by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    IT has a lot of work to do with any form of 5G, primarily because the spec has been stolen since day zero. People stream movies on demand on their phones in completely inappropriate ways. Uncorking the speed of the phone as 5G is has led people to think that they can download around the clock. Think of it this way: Somebody downs a movie in the course of 5 seconds, and then takes out ALL the coverage of people simply trying to make a phone call. All for one, and all for nuns. Far past a movie over a phone 5G download.