Summary

a benchmark study of DISH Wireless and T-Mobile SA/NSA Networks

SRG just completed its 38th 5G benchmark study.  For this endeavor we collaborated with Accuver Americas and Spirent Communications to conduct an independent benchmark study of the DISH Wireless and T-Mobile networks, looking at 5G FDD performance in the uplink and downlink directions, as well as the differences between NSA and SA architecture options.

Highlights of the Report include the following:

Our Thanks. We did this study in collaboration with Accuver Americas (XCAL-M and XCAP) and Spirent Communications (Umetrix Data). SRG is responsible for the data collection and all analysis and commentary provided in this report.

Our Methodology. We used a Galaxy A23 smartphone (Boost Mobile SIM) on the DISH Wireless network and a Galaxy S23 smartphone on the T-Mobile network. We locked the phones to specific 5G bands to compare downlink and uplink performance (bps/Hz) on the two networks during drive tests in the Twin Cities area. We used low bit rate UDP data transfers to look at one-way latency, as well as measuring handover frequency, handover times, and RRC connection times.

Downlink efficiency favors DISH with FDD. The spectral efficiency (bps/Hz) favored the DISH network (Samsung) over the T-Mobile network (Nokia) in two separate extended drive tests. This analysis was limited to Band n70 versus Band n25 and Band n71 on the two networks. Band n41 (T-Mobile), was widely available, and it most likely delivered higher spectral efficiency than all FDD bands, but it wasn’t specifically included in our study.

Uplink efficiency results were less clear. Given differences in uplink channel bandwidth and the impact these differences have on uplink coverage, the results in the uplink were less clear – bps/Hz favored DISH but clearly helped by the use of narrower channel bandwidths. It was very evident that T-Mobile had a denser cell grid in the areas where we tested.

NSA and SA Latency. We looked at the distribution of latency measurements by using continuous 1 Mbps and 5 Mbps UDP data transfers, both downlink and uplink. Latency distributions favored T-Mobile SA over DISH SA while SA on both networks was much better / lower than NSA.

Playing Second Fiddle. For reasons explained in the executive summary, it can be clearly advantageous to be a DISH Wireless subscriber – the network coverage is good, the performance can be quite good, and the unlimited data plans are cheap. Using another operator’s network when there isn’t DISH coverage can result in a poor user experience, but only when there is network congestion.