How fast is hspa on 3

Anything that's HSPA 7. I tried out the Rocket, which works with Mac and PC, all over Philly, and was impressed with the results. I tried the same tests we used in our nationwide 3G test : several runs of speedtest. Here's where I went. Some of the places were suggested by T-Mobile as optimal testing spots—and cheating or not, I followed them in search of the biggest bandwidth readings.

It uses the frequency spectrum more efficiently as compared to HSPA, which allows it to offer high data rates.

LTE is one of the most popular cellular technology standards today and has seen a lot of enhancements in the last decade. The download and upload speeds that you get with LTE depend on at least two key factors. Firstly, it depends on which of the LTE enhancements you are served by, i.

Secondly, your device must support the enhancement to benefit from it, which is where device categories come in. If you are interested in device categories, have a look at this page from 3GPP , which is a few years old but outlines the concept.

Basically, the higher the device category, the better speed you can expect as long as you are on the advanced LTE technology type. LTE can enable peak download speeds of up to Mbps and peak upload speeds of up to 75 Mbps. The average download speed of LTE is around 15 to 20 Mbps. Have a look at our dedicated post on the difference between LTE and LTE Advanced but generally, the most noticeable difference for you as a mobile phone user may be the download and upload speeds.

With newer devices, i. For completeness, other factors like distance between the phone user and the base station and obstacles like buildings, trees, mountains, thick walls etc. And here's where HSPA comes in. In fact, maximum peak speeds are considered Mbps, although average speed will likely be more like 3 Mbps to 10 Mbps — still quite fast and nothing to scoff at.

A 4G network operates on a different frequency than 3G, so be sure you have a device that's capable of taking advantage of it. The four major U. In addition to cellular data speed standards like 3G and 4G, cell phone consumers need to be aware of radio frequency bands.

A 3G network usually operates on one of five frequencies — , , , , and — so you need to be sure that your 3G phone supports those frequencies all modern phones do. A phone's supported frequencies are usually listed on the box, or you can call the manufacturer to be sure. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data.

Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. But these hypotheticals are extremely low priority considering the much more salient issues of availability, price, signal, and handsets. The new networks are all fast as hell, much faster than your 3G phone. What you need to find out is whether you can even get at those speeds where you live, work, and hang out. Ask a representative about local coverage, plans to expand to other parts of the city, what average speeds are in the area, and so on.

Verizon might not have LTE coming out in your area at all. WiMax might have a line-of-sight issue with your neighborhood. Here is some recent coverage info on T-Mobile , Verizon , and Sprint.