T-Mobile is the speed king, but for how much longer? | Image by PhoneArena
AT&T and Verizon are ripping and replacing their infrastructure as they light up 5G Standalone (SA) across the US. Meanwhile, T-Mobile is enjoying a comfortable lead thanks to its early architectural decisions, as highlighted by a detailed RootMetrics analysis in a new report from Ookla.
Mid-band supremacy
Sub-6 GHz spectrum holdings. | Image by Ookla
Not all spectrum is created equal. While low-band (under 1 GHz) travels far and penetrates deeply, it's the slowest. mmWave (over 24 GHz) is the fastest but has a poor range. Mid-Band (1 GHz to 6 GHz) is the Goldilocks zone, offering the best balance of speed and coverage.
While hardware, wireless technologies, engineering expertise, and AI also influence data speeds, spectrum is still king.
T-Mobile nailed the 5G rollout, exhibiting more acumen than AT&T and Verizon in various areas.
T-Mobile is the richest where it matters
5G usage on T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T. | Image by Ookla
According to the report, 5G SA usage hit 93% for T-Mobile and 58% for Verizon in the second half of 2025. On AT&T, it was too sparse to even register.
T-Mobile owns more of the mid-band frequencies that actually get used (253 MHz), followed by Verizon (161 MHz) and AT&T (151 MHz). While the amount of spectrum a carrier deploys is the most influential factor in determining performance, carriers also rely on Carrier Aggregation (CA) — the tech that combines multiple frequency blocks into a single pipe — to boost throughput.
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5G Carrier Aggregation | Image by Ookla
The Un-carrier frequently uses 4CA (68% of the time), while AT&T mostly uses 2CA (49%), and Verizon utilizes 3CA (42%).
T-Mobile offers the fastest download speeds
T-Mobile leads in download speeds. | Image by Ookla
Thanks to its valuable spectral resources and aggressive use of the most advanced carrier aggregation tech, T-Mobile delivered median download speeds of 485.20 Mbps. That is nearly double the speed offered by Verizon (295.30 Mbps) and AT&T (273.40 Mbps).
While download speed isn't the only benchmark for gauging network health, it's an excellent barometer. RootMetrics' latest data proves T-Mobile's early bet on 5G SA bought it a massive head start that rivals are still sweating to close.
How does this data impact you?
AT&T and Verizon are making gains
They may have stumbled out of the gate, but make no mistake that they are catching up. Both are ditching older Nokia equipment for more capable radios, resulting in improved spectral efficiency. The ongoing network modernization means a wave of untapped capacity is about to hit the market.
Both companies are expected to show visible improvements and even match T-Mobile's speeds by the time the RootMetrics 1H 2026 State of the Mobile Union report drops.
Competition aside, the analysis also shows that the Big Three have enough capacity to support 5G internet, keep up with AI network loads, and hold the line until the 6G era begins.
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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
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