Internet testing firm Ookla has criticised AT&T’s promotion of its controversial “5G‑E” network, calling the marketing misleading and questioning the interpretation of speed-test results used to support AT&T’s claims.
AT&T’s “5G‑E” label applies to its LTE‑Advanced network, a technology that the carrier says will be a core component of its future 5G rollout. Critics and competitors, however, argue the branding gives consumers the false impression that they are accessing true 5G rather than an enhanced 4G LTE service.
In a recent press release, AT&T declared that its 5G‑E network delivered “the fastest wireless network in the nation,” citing Ookla speed‑test data as evidence. The operator reported an average download speed of 34.65 Mbps in Q1 2019, ahead of Verizon at 33.07 Mbps and Sprint at 31.21 Mbps.
Ookla responded that while those numbers are factual, they do not necessarily reflect the full picture. The company pointed out that AT&T’s rise to the top was fairly recent—having been third the previous quarter—and likely tied to a later adoption of newer LTE enhancements such as MIMO (multiple‑input, multiple‑output antenna arrays) and carrier aggregation compared with its rivals.
Ookla also highlighted an important anomaly in the data. During the final week of Q1, AT&T reported a spike in average download speeds—40.7 Mbps—that coincided with the rollout of iOS 12.2. That software update included the new 5G‑E icon for devices on AT&T’s network, which appears to have led many users to run speed tests after seeing the icon. Ookla’s analysis found that the surge in tests came largely from iPhone models that display the 5G‑E indicator (including XR, XS Max, XS, X, 8 and 8 Plus), suggesting consumer behaviour—testing after noticing the icon—skewed the metrics for that week.
“In the final week of Q1, we also observed an increase in faster tests taken on AT&T’s network. Upon investigation, we discovered that this correlated with the release of iOS 12.2 and the roll out of AT&T’s 5G E icon. We also found that the increase in tests was coming from device models that would have started to display the 5G E icon, such as the newer generations of iPhone (XR, XS Max, XS, X, 8, 8 Plus), indicating that consumers were seeing the new icon and taking a test to see what speeds they were getting.”
Because of such short‑term anomalies, Ookla says it avoids drawing definitive conclusions from results covering less than a full quarter. Even when that final week’s data is excluded, AT&T’s average speed remains near the top—however, the overall landscape shows the four major U.S. carriers clustered closely together, with no single, decisive leader in consistent nationwide performance.
The 5G‑E branding has attracted regulatory and legal attention. Sprint has taken legal action against AT&T, arguing that the label is misleading to consumers who may believe they are receiving 5G service rather than an enhanced 4G experience.
Industry observers say the incident underscores broader challenges in how carriers communicate network evolution to customers. Distinguishing marketing language from the technical reality of incremental upgrades is important for consumer clarity, and independent measurements from organisations like Ookla help contextualise performance claims—but interpreting those measurements requires attention to testing patterns, device behaviour, and short‑term effects such as software updates.
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