Fixed broadband speeds in the United States are rapidly increasing, according to the 2018 Speedtest U.S. Fixed Broadband Performance Report by Ookla®. Results from its Speedtest® data, reveals a 35.8 percent increase in mean download speed during the last year and a 22.0 percent increase in upload speed. As a result, the U.S. ranks 7th in the world for download speed, between Hungary and Switzerland. The U.S. ranks 27th for upload, between Bulgaria and Canada.
Though 5G looms on the mobile horizon, fixed broadband speeds in the U.S. continue to outpace those on mobile showing greater increases in speed.
The Report is based entirely on Speedtest Intelligence® data from Q2-Q3 2018. During this period, 24,283,160 unique devices were used to perform over 115 million consumer-initiated fixed broadband tests on Speedtest applications. After analyzing those tests, Ookla is able to determine the internet service providers (ISPs) with the fastest and most consistent speeds across the nation. This report also includes data on performance in all 50 states and the 100 largest cities in the country.
The average download speed over fixed broadband in the U.S. was 95.25 Mbps. Average upload speed was 32.88 Mbps.
According to Speedtest Intelligence data Comcast was the fastest provider in the U.S. with their XFINITY Internet receiving a Speed Score™ of 104.67. Recently, Comcast announced that they are the nation’s largest provider of gigabit broadband servicing 58 million homes and businesses. Verizon and Cox are close behind in a tie for second, with a Speed Score 102.57 and 101.84, respectively. Spectrum was next, followed by AT&T and CenturyLink.
Mean download speeds varied widely across the U.S. with the fastest state (New Jersey) coming in 139.8 percent faster than the slowest (Maine). The East Coast fared well with five states (New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Delaware and Rhode Island) and the District of Columbia, ranking in the top ten.
Kansas City, Missouri topped the fixed chart as the fastest city in the U.S. with an average download speed of 159.19 Mbps. The southernmost state of Texas held three of the top five cities with Austin, Lubbock and San Antonio ranking second, third and fifth fastest, respectively. Raleigh, North Carolina put the East Coast on the map as fourth fastest. Memphis, Tennessee came in last with an average download of 44.86 Mbps.
XFINITY was the fastest provider in the U.S. as a whole, in nine states and in 17 of the country’s largest cities. Cox tied for second fastest at the national level and was fastest in three states and 19 cities. Spectrum tied with Cox at the country level and was fastest in six cities, tying for a seventh. Spectrum was also the fastest provider in 19 cities. Comments? Email Us.
December 13, 2018
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