WNA

OpenSignal released a report today that looks at the state of LTE coverage and speeds around the world.

OpenSignal offers an OpenSignal app that enables users to contribute to their coverage maps. Open Signal took data from their 6 million users who have LTE and focussed on two key metrics: download speed, and the proportion of time spent with LTE access.

All data included in this report comes from the second half of 2013.

Australia has the fastest average LTE speeds in the world, with the USA and the Philippines coming in the slowest of our qualifying countries. Claro Brazil is among the world’s fastest LTE network, averaging an exceptionally fast 27.8Mbps – although their poor ‘Time on LTE’ performance shows that the roll-out is far from complete.

OpenSignal’s coverage measurements looks at the proportion of time a user has access to the LTE network. Open Signal says that shows how real-world users are being served by their connection.

The United States was among the first countries to get LTE. Verizon’s LTE Network was launched on December 5, 2010, and the initial buildout has been substantially completed.

But 700 MHz towers cover more people than a PCS or AWS tower (using frequencies around 2000 Mhz). That means more people share a tower. AT&T and Verizon are now apparently getting close to saturation in that band.