Verizon: 4G gets 12Mbps average, 50Mbps peak in real world
updated 11:15 am EST, Mon March 8, 2010
Verizon says LTE faster than rivals in practice
Verizon today expanded on some of the actual results for its expected 4G network. After testing in the Boston and Seattle areas, the provider estimates that a real connection on a populated network should average between 5Mbps to 12Mbps in download rates and between 2Mbps to 5Mbps for uploads. Actual, achievable peak speeds in these areas float between 40-50Mbps downstream and 20-25Mbps upstream.
The speed is significantly less than the theoretical 100Mbps promised by Long Term Evolution (LTE), the chosen standard, but would still give Verizon one of the fastest cellular networks in North America. All three major Canadian providers, as well as T-Mobile USA, are running or about to launch HSPA+ 3G networks that promise somewhat similar speeds but are less likely to reach as high as 4G in typical experience.
LTE at Verizon should be publicly available later this year in 25 to 30 areas but will primarily be limited to modems and other non-phone devices. Carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile also plan to use LTE but are waiting until 2011 to make their services public, in part because they don't expect phones to be readily available this year.
