Ookla Study: T-Mobile Leads Mobile Speeds, Verizon Tops Coverage

A new internet speed ranking from Ookla identifies the fastest mobile and broadband providers in the U.S. for the first half of 2026. The report, based on data from Ookla's Speedtest service, offers crucial insights into network performance for businesses and consumers.

T-Mobile emerged as the fastest mobile provider, boasting both the best overall mobile network and 5G network. The company's median download speed across all technologies averaged 275.55 Mbps, with 5G users experiencing a median of 314.38 Mbps. Overall, T-Mobile was 12 percent faster than its main competitors, Verizon and AT&T. However, Ookla noted that T-Mobile's Speedtest Connectivity Score, which measures overall network performance by combining raw speed, web browsing, and video streaming quality, was lower than in the second half of 2025, suggesting that the overall user experience may not be improving across all metrics.

Verizon secured the top position for mobile network coverage, indicating a broader geographic footprint in the U.S. compared to its competitors. This is a significant factor for businesses deploying field staff across the country. T-Mobile ranked last in coverage.

The study also revealed significant disparities in mobile network speeds across states. The fastest downloads were recorded in Kansas, while speeds in Alaska were nearly five times slower. Latency, a key indicator of connection reliability, was lowest in Washington and highest in Alaska and Hawaii.