4G speed test results are in, Verizon's LTE is fastest, but T-Mobile holds the fort in smartphone speeds

A number of measurements in 13 major US cities resulted in Verizon's LTE reaching 6.44 Mbps on average with the laptop modems, and T-Mobile's 4G HSPA+ technology scoring the best in smartphone tests - 2.28 Mbps.

The test results also demonstrated the low latency of Verizon's LTE network, and, overall, latency has greatly improved for all carriers, compared to the same measurements last year.

Granted, Verizon is yet to out a smartphone with LTE connectivity, which will probably place it ahead in the smartphone speeds as well, not to mention its coverage. If only LTE was cheaper.

Below are the results from the major US cities where the tests were taken in table form. The timed measuring methodology includes 20 test locations in each of the 13 cities, roughly two miles apart. A total of 177 000 download, upload and latency tests were made with the software. Indoor performance, and speeds while moving haven't been tested, only stationary results outdoors.

The latency has been significantly improved over last year's results, too, and the year-on-year comparison shows that everyone but Verizon's 3G service has improved their speeds, both 3G and 4G.

T-Mobile takes the cake by more than doubling the download speeds of its 3G and 4G services.

Again, Verizon doesn't have any 4G phones out yet, but the move from 3G to 4G has brought it sixfold increase in download speeds with the laptop modems.

We'll see how the LTE network holds up when it starts getting inundated with 4G smartphones as well.

source: PCWorld