AT&T's Open RAN Strategy Outshines T-Mobile's Performance Struggles
The competitive landscape of U.S. wireless carriers is dynamic, with AT&T's recent embrace of Open Radio Access Networks (Open RAN) allowing them to significantly enhance their network performance. Meanwhile, T-Mobile, despite maintaining strong median download speeds and robust 5G availability, faced criticism for its reliance on older equipment, resulting in a noticeable drop in reliability and task success. This article delves into the implications of these contrasting approaches and their impacts on customer experience.
Critics have raised eyebrows regarding AT&T's move towards Open RAN, questioning whether the company’s actions reflect hypocrisy. Initially, AT&T had adopted Open RAN, which enables a more flexible and cost-efficient infrastructure by integrating hardware and software from various vendors, as opposed to Closed RAN systems that rely on a single supplier's technology.
50% of AT&T's Wireless Traffic Runs Over Open RAN
As of now, 50% of AT&T's traffic operates on an Open RAN system, with aims to increase that figure to 70% by year-end. Open RAN not only reduces costs but also facilitates the use of general-purpose servers and the integration of third-party AI tools for benefits like traffic optimization and better resource management.
AT&T's Contradiction: Diminishing Nokia, Increasing Ericsson
The perceived contradiction arises from AT&T's ongoing transition to adopt Open RAN while simultaneously phasing out Nokia equipment in favor of products from Ericsson. This transition has resulted in a significant increase in AT&T's reliance on Ericsson, which now accounts for over 84% of AT&T's macro sites as of late 2025.
RootMetrics' Testing: AT&T vs. T-Mobile
Recent tests conducted by Ookla's RootMetrics, covering millions of site tests, highlighted the performance difference between carriers. AT&T led the rankings in terms of performance, while T-Mobile ranked at the bottom, demonstrating issues in task success despite leading in median download speeds and 5G availability.
- Ericsson's AT&T markets
- Ericsson's Verizon markets
- Samsung's Verizon markets
- Nokia's AT&T markets
- Nokia's T-Mobile markets
- Ericsson's T-Mobile markets
It was noted that T-Mobile finished low in reliability and task success, potentially due to the older technology deployed in their network, even as it maintained a competitive lead in other performance metrics.
Analyst Insights: Equipment Age Impact on T-Mobile
Mike Dano, a lead analyst at Ookla, indicated that the age of equipment could be a significant factor in the performance rankings. T-Mobile's reliance on its existing infrastructure, which includes older gear, may have hindered their overall performance, even as they previously pioneered advancements in 5G connectivity.
As Ericsson's technology advances with the use of more efficient semiconductor processes, the disparity in performance between AT&T and T-Mobile may widen unless T-Mobile upgrades its core equipment.
