AT&T's '5GE' Service No Faster Than LTE From Verizon and T-Mobile

[MacRumors]

Starting with the iOS 12.2 beta, AT&T began displaying a 5G Evolution or 5GE icon on iPhones, misleading AT&T subscribers into thinking they're getting 5G transfer speeds when in fact, 5G on iPhone is not supported and AT&T has no 5G network as of yet.

AT&T uses the 5GE labeling to describe its 4G LTE networks that offer features like three-way carrier aggregation, 256 QAM, and 4x4 MIMO. These options are in no way limited to AT&T and are offered by other carriers, but no other carrier has chosen to use fake 5G branding.

As should come as no surprise, a recent test from OpenSignal has proven that AT&T's 5GE network is no faster than 4G networks from Verizon and AT&T that have the same speed upgrades.

AT&T users that have a 5GE capable smartphone, which includes modern iPhones and some Android devices, receive a "better experience" than other AT&T users with less capable smartphone models, but those same iPhones and Android devices get similar speeds on other carriers. Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile are all offering the same LTE advancements on iPhones with the newest LTE technology, but only AT&T is confusing customers with 5G branding.

What Opensignal's data shows is the extent to which LTE, or 4G, networks have improved since LTE's original launch. Technologies like carrier aggregation -- where two or more bands are used to simultaneously connect a user's smartphone -- 256 QAM or 4x4 MIMO, which together are normally called LTE Advanced Pro, offer a much faster experience than the initial version of 4G that was launched back in 2009-2011.

AT&T's fake branding has struck a nerve with other carriers, especially Sprint. Sprint has launched a full anti-AT&T campaign, filing a lawsuit against AT&T for its misleading branding and taking out ads in The New York Times.

Sprint rightly claims that AT&T is confusing customers and damaging the understanding of true 5G, which has the potential to impact Sprint's own 5G launch.

5G smartphones are only now just beginning to trickle out, and Apple isn't expected to launch one until 2020. No existing iPhone will be able to connect to a 5G network because it requires new hardware. 5G networks from the four major carriers in the United States will become available starting in 2019, but the technology is still new and there will be many bugs and coverage issues to work out.

Article Link: AT&T's '5GE' Service No Faster Than LTE From Verizon and T-Mobile

 

[Unity451]

Lol. Shocker.
Yet one more reason I'm not with AT&T anymore.

 

[nepalisherpa]

Well, duh! 5G E = 5G + Edge and that's why it's not faster.

 

[busuan]

But that "5" is printed in big, bold and gold font...

 

[Cmd-Z]

You, Mac Rumors readers, have a duty to call out AT&T's fake branding to those who are not aware of this nor understand.

 

[techwhiz]

Well, duh! 5G E = 5G + Edge and that's why it's not faster.

It's not even 5G, it's 4G.

 

[aneftp]

Well T-Mobile USA started this fake 4g hspa plus in 2010.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/t-mobile-stretching-the-truth-on-4g-speeds/

Att just continuing the fake 5g

Verizon barely fudge the truth with their 3g cdma best 3g coverage when cdma 3g speeds were barley faster than GSM EDGE speeds as well. Verizon cdma has more capacity but their “3g” speeds barely nudge 1mpbs on a good deal and usually average 0.5mpbs-0.8 mpbs in real time.

They all do the fake advertising

 

[zahuh]

I’m honestly shocked that Tim Cook doesn’t know about this number one, and number two would even allow this. It’s basically fraud.

 

[WannaGoMac]

Really surprised as well Apple for the second time has done this for AT&T. I wonder if there is some stipuilation in their original contract from 10 years ago that forces Apple to display anything AT&T requests or something?

 

[DrJohnnyN]

Death Star.

 

[whyamihere]

It becomes more evident every day that "marketing" is the driving force which will lead to the future outlined in Idiocracy.

 

[Oohara]

So cheap.

 

[ilikewhey]

apple have to wait til 2020 cause intel is not ready til 2020

 

[Dephtones]

AT&T and directv are garbage. Antiquated technologies trying to pass as futuristic. No wonder people are leaving both services in droves.

 

[69Mustang]

Well T-Mobile USA started this fake 4g hspa plus in 2010.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/t-mobile-stretching-the-truth-on-4g-speeds/

Att just continuing the fake 5g

Verizon barely fudge the truth with their 3g cdma best 3g coverage when cdma 3g speeds were barley faster than GSM EDGE speeds as well. Verizon cdma has more capacity but their “3g” speeds barely nudge 1mpbs on a good deal and usually average 0.5mpbs-0.8 mpbs in real time.

They all do the fake advertising

Bringing up TMobile transgressions from nearly a decade ago, doesn't mitigate what AT&T is doing now. As I have to remind my kids every now and then, "they did it too" is not an excuse. AT&T has dug in and doubled down on this nonsense. Even public ridicule doesn't seem to staunch their thirst for the fake 5G

 

[Andres Cantu]

That’s no shocker. T-Mobile has had the same technologies that go into “5GE” for years.

 

[AngerDanger]

As should come as no surprise, a recent test from OpenSignal has proven that AT&T's 5GE network is no faster than 4G networks from Verizon and AT&T that have the same speed upgrades.

Yet anther reason I'll stick to my own white-out based solution:

 

[UnusedLoginID]

Just looking at the chart, everyone should understand that no matter the lies, Verizon and T-Mobile are the best carriers for performance.
Sprint - and I used to be on their network - still is sub-par and it doesn’t matter if you’re going to pay less for “unlimited” data if you don’t have data or limited data speeds.
As to ATT, these sl...mb...gs need a lesson! And the only one they’ll understand - they couldn’t care less about a small fine in a lawsuit - is for all of you on their network to jump ship! Just don’t go to Sprint…

 

[jaybretzke]

ATT network is still hands down better especially if you travel the US and the world

 

[AppleFan91]

Sorry, this should be enough to go after them for false advertising. I’m sure there’s some stipulation or loophole they are exploiting but still. It’s not any different from a spec or hardware standpoint and now there’s independent 3rd party sources showing their research that it’s the same or less than other carrier’s 4G. They are claiming 5G when their hardware and speed claim 4G

 

[tagsaid]

ATT network is still hands down better especially if you travel the US and the world

That is very subjective. AT&T just charged me $230 for a call that was made over wifi. When I "complained", their only response was "if you don't like it, leave". So, I have been testing TMobile vs AT&T for the past month or so.

My real live tests within the Bay Area: AT&T wins hands down in cities like San Francisco. Once you are over the bridge, depending on location TMobile dominates. Again, real live recent testing was done for this.

AT&T is not the best, it is the best only in specific areas. Not to mention, overseas it'll cost you an arm and a leg unless you remember to turn on the international part of the plan before you go overseas.

 

[ItsBob]

This seems to familiar. Didn't AT&T do this just before 3g came out too?

 

[iBluetooth]

Amazing, according to the graph, AT&T is 50% faster than the other carriers. Even when using fake 5E, it's still much better. Thus, I really don't understand the headline that says "no faster" - as 50% is much faster?!?

 

[now i see it]

AT&T's 5GE marketing gimmick is brilliant. Everyone (including the all critics) are falling for it.
If people were to remove their rage glasses for a moment, they'd realize that every comment made about AT&T's 5GE advertising only promotes their cause. Everyone took the bait: hook, line & sinker.
Wake up!

 

[mi7chy]

AT&T is anti-consumer and sets bad precedent for the rest of the industry to copy like coming up with new ways to screw over consumers with fees and price increases. Much like Apple with setting precedent for $1K+ phones, removing standard accessories, etc.