AT&T is America’s fastest LTE mobile network

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AT&T logo
AT&T came out on top.
Photo: Luismt94/Wikipedia CC

AT&T has beaten out its rival networks to claim the title of fastest LTE carrier in the United States.

That’s according to a new rundown of mobile networks by PCMag. The publication issues its report every year, with Verizon and AT&T typically battling back and forth for first place. This year was AT&T’s turn — marking the first time in six years that it’s managed to overthrow Verizon.

The report, which you can check out here, calculates its winner based on a variety of different metrics. This culminates in a final score out of 100.

In this year’s contest, AT&T gets 97 out of a possible 100. Second place goes to Verizon with 94 out of 100. T-Mobile comes in third place with 91, followed by Sprint with a distant 82. Sprint and T-Mobile are currently trying to get approval for a merger between them.

Fastest network
Which network is the fastest?
Photo: PCMag

The figures don’t necessarily mean that AT&T is best throughout the United States, however. Speeds can vary across the country, and these stats are a broad average. AT&T either won or tied in 15 of the 30 cities measured. It also won or tied in rural regions. This win comes on the back of its much-maligned 5G Evolution upgrade.

This year’s report is the last that will focus entirely on 4G coverage. Next year’s figures are set to focus on 5G as it rolls out around the United States. (Although you’ll have to wait until September 2020 if you want to get your hands on one of the first 5G iPhones!).

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