Internet speeds have come a long way since dial-up — and not all providers deliver what you pay for. Here's how Verizon Wireless stacks up on the latest LTE speed tests.
1 Internet Speeds Have Come a Long Way
For those who've been using the Internet long enough to remember the interminable wait times associated with dial-up modems, you'll know that Internet speeds have come a long way since then. And they get faster every month.
The advent of broadband put us all light-years ahead of the days when you couldn't make or receive phone calls because your phone line was tied up sending and receiving data, which crawled across your screen like a lazy snail. And in the last ten years, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have made enormous progress in increasing speeds.
As Billshark reported recently (Speed Test Your Internet Device Here), faster Internet speeds aren't just a nice-to-have perk. They are crucial if you're going to download or upload any type of data, which is pretty much everything you do on the Internet. Unfortunately, not all ISPs are equal when it comes to delivering the speed they've promised or that you're paying for.
2 What the FCC Found on Broadband Speeds
In December 2016, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released the latest in its reports as part of its Measuring Broadband America (MBA) program to study directly measured consumer broadband performance throughout the United States. A summary of its key findings reported that “maximum advertised download speeds amongst the most popular service tiers offered by ISPs have increased from 12-30 Mbps in March 2011 (when the program first launched) to 100-300 Mbps in September 2015. These increases are not uniform across access technologies and have been driven primarily by the CableTV industry, with smaller increases in fiber based systems. Average DSL speeds have increased only slightly over these years and satellite speeds, over a shorter time interval, have remained constant.”
Over the past few weeks, Billshark has presented information on the latest speed test results for the top ISPs in the country. This information will allow you to better gauge the performance of your own ISP, and the value you receive for your broadband dollar. To speed test your own ISP, Speed Test Your Internet Device Here.
This time we will focus on Verizon Wireless, specifically as related to speed increases and delivery.
3 Why Wireless Is Different — and Is It Really 4G?
Verizon Wireless (as with other Wireless carriers) has an advantage over DSL, in that its signals are carried by microwaves rather than through physical entities such as copper wires or even the more superior fiber-optic lines. Such 4G networks as Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) are becoming the standard for Wireless broadband. (“4G” means the fourth generation of data technology for cellular networks, following “3G,” the third generation.)
Although touted by Verizon Wireless as 4G, according to cnet.com this new generation of speed technology is not, technically, 4G. “While current versions of WiMax and LTE are typically referred to in the industry as ‘4G,’ they do not actually meet the International Telecommunication Union's strict definition. To be legitimately considered a 4G technology by the ITU, the network technology is required by the agency to be IP-based and use orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM). The other main requirement is that the technology needs to support peak download speeds of 100Mbps. The current flavors of LTE and WiMax are not that fast,” the online tech site reported.
4 How Verizon Performed in the Speed Tests
But that technicality may prove irrelevant to the service's everyday users. Tomsguide.com, a well-known online reviewing service, released test results of nine popular Wireless carriers last month. Its overall finding: “When it comes to LTE download speeds, there's Verizon and then there's everybody else. The company posted the fastest average download speeds in our testing across six U.S. cities, as well as the fastest average time for downloading an app. That was enough to help Big Red keep its hold on our award for the best network performance, after claiming the crown in our last round of testing.”
When it comes to LTE download speeds, there's Verizon and then there's everybody else.
Of the nine carriers tested, said Tom's Guide, “Verizon performed the best on our tests, because it had the highest average download speed (36 Mbps) and fastest app-download time (1 minute, 2 seconds). It finished third in average upload speed, behind T-Mobile and MetroPCS, which use the same network.
5 Coverage, Indoors, and Choosing Verizon
There are, however, coverage issues involved in choosing a Wireless ISP. As with satellite and cellphone service, a Wireless connection can be impacted by such physical barriers as trees, tall buildings, and local geography, and by the construction of your home or office.
According to Tom's Guide, however, Verizon Wireless was superior even in this category. “We split the locations we tested between indoor and outdoor locations to see how being indoors affected carrier performance,” it said. “Generally speaking, speeds slowed down for most carriers when we tested at indoor locations—dramatically, in some cases. The lone exception was Verizon, whose average download speeds improved during indoor testing in four of our six test cities.”
Although Billshark's speed test reports up to now have focused on fixed broadband, we wanted to include Verizon Wireless in these tests as an option our readers should definitely consider when selecting an ISP service.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How fast is Verizon Wireless compared to other carriers?
In Tom's Guide testing of nine popular wireless carriers across six U.S. cities, Verizon posted the fastest average download speeds and the fastest average time for downloading an app. It recorded the highest average download speed at 36 Mbps and the fastest app-download time of 1 minute, 2 seconds, earning the award for best network performance.
Is Verizon Wireless really 4G?
According to cnet.com, the technology is not technically 4G. Current versions of WiMax and LTE are commonly called “4G” but do not meet the International Telecommunication Union's strict definition, which requires the network to be IP-based, use orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM), and support peak download speeds of 100Mbps. Current LTE and WiMax flavors are not that fast.
Why does wireless Internet have an advantage over DSL?
Verizon Wireless and other wireless carriers carry their signals by microwaves rather than through physical entities such as copper wires or even superior fiber-optic lines. Networks like Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) are becoming the standard for wireless broadband, giving wireless an advantage over DSL.
How did Verizon perform on indoor speed tests?
Tom's Guide split test locations between indoor and outdoor sites. Speeds slowed down for most carriers indoors—dramatically in some cases. The lone exception was Verizon, whose average download speeds actually improved during indoor testing in four of the six test cities, making it superior even in coverage performance.
What can affect a wireless Internet connection's performance?
As with satellite and cellphone service, a wireless connection can be impacted by physical barriers such as trees, tall buildings, and local geography, as well as by the construction of your home or office. These coverage issues are worth considering when choosing a wireless ISP, alongside the measured download and upload speeds.
Verizon Wireless Speed Test & History page context
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See how Verizon Wireless speed ranks in Tom's Guide LTE tests, why it beats rivals indoors, and what the FCC found on broadband. Speed test yours today.
Visitors can use this route to review relevant Billshark information and continue to the next page that best matches their savings or account needs.
Billshark publishes this information to help visitors make informed decisions about recurring expenses and related account actions.
Internet speeds have come a long way since dial-up — and not all providers deliver what you pay for.
For those who've been using the Internet long enough to remember the interminable wait times associated with dial-up modems, you'll know that Internet speeds have come a long way since then.
The advent of broadband put us all light-years ahead of the days when you couldn't make or receive phone calls because your phone line was tied up sending and receiving data.
As Billshark reported recently ( Speed Test Your Internet Device Here ), faster Internet speeds aren't just a nice-to-have perk.
In December 2016, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released the latest in its reports as part of its Measuring Broadband America (MBA) program to study directly measured consumer broadband performance throughout the United States.
Over the past few weeks, Billshark has presented information on the latest speed test results for the top ISPs in the country.
This time we will focus on Verizon Wireless , specifically as related to speed increases and delivery.
Verizon Wireless (as with other Wireless carriers) has an advantage over DSL.
Although touted by Verizon Wireless as 4G, according to cnet.com this new generation of speed technology is not, technically, 4G.
But that technicality may prove irrelevant to the service's everyday users.
Of the nine carriers tested, said Tom's Guide, “ Verizon performed the best on our tests, because it had the highest average download speed (36 Mbps) and fastest app-download time (1 minute, 2 seconds).
There are, however, coverage issues involved in choosing a Wireless ISP.
According to Tom's Guide, however, Verizon Wireless was superior even in this category.
Although Billshark's speed test reports up to now have focused on fixed broadband.
In Tom's Guide testing of nine popular wireless carriers across six U.S.
According to cnet.com, the technology is not technically 4G.
Verizon Wireless and other wireless carriers carry their signals by microwaves rather than through physical entities such as copper wires or even superior fiber-optic lines.
Tom's Guide split test locations between indoor and outdoor sites.
As with satellite and cellphone service, a wireless connection can be impacted by physical barriers such as trees, tall buildings, and local geography, as well as by the construction of your home or office.
Our experts handle providers for customers and share updates throughout the process.
