5G is getting better, but does anyone notice?

Ookla, the firm behind Speedtest, just published its semi-annual U.S. connectivity report covering the second half of 2024. One takeaway is that 5G performance is improving. However, this raises one key question: can anyone notice?

The report shows that 5G performance has continued to improve nationwide, delivering faster download and upload speeds. For iPhone users, better 5G performance means faster app downloads and fewer streaming video interruptions.

Yet 5G seems to have a reputation for being an upgrade in name only. Aside from ultrafast mmWave 5G performance in specific venues, 5G can seem like a continuation of 4G/LTE.

5G in 2024

So what does the data say? Ookla’s oldest comparable report covers the first half of 2024. Here are some comparisons between the first half and second half of last year.

5G Speed Score factors in download, upload, and latency results.

• T-Mobile jumped from 228.24 to 242.76.
• Verizon dipped from 191.56 to 185.26.
• AT&T inched from 131.63 to 132.68.

Meanwhile, in the category of what do customers actually think, the needle hasn’t moved favorably, although the results are virtually unchanged.

Customer sentiment is based on a 5-star rating system.

• T-Mobile slightly slipped from 3.73 to 3.7.
• Verizon held up at 3.29 throughout the year.
• AT&T moved from 3.14 to 3.12.

Better than mid, but the story is largely unchanged.

Ookla adds 5G availability rankings to its latest report. This factors in how often a carrier’s customers can access 5G a majority of the time.

• T-Mobile leads at 89.4%.
• AT&T comes in second at 86.2%.
• Verizon stays below 50% at 49.3%.

That’s an area that we’ll have to watch in future reports. See both reports in full below:

• Ookla U.S. Speedtest Connectivity Report H1 2024
• Ookla U.S. Speedtest Connectivity Report H2 2024

For now, you can learn more about Ookla’s testing methodology here, and be sure to let us know what you think about 5G in the real world these days.

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