Sprint Mobile Broadband Speed

The Facts

Sprint mobile broadband average speeds are "600-1400 Kbps [downloading], peaking at 3.1 Mbps, and 350-500 Kbps average upload speeds, peaking at 1.8 Mbps.

Similar to DSL, and about ten times faster than using a dial-up modem".

Note that these speeds are available in Sprint EVDO Rev. A areas.

In EVDO Rev 0 areas "speeds are 400-700 Kbps with peak rates up to 2 Mbps, and at average upload speeds of 40-70 Kbps with peak rates up to 144 Kbps".

For everywhere else think, dialup speeds. If you're curious as to where you fall in the totem pole, check out your Sprint coverage area. To see how Sprint's coverage fairs against the competition, check out our service comparison.

Sprint mobile broadband speeds aren't terrible considering two studies done reporting average US broadband being 1.9Mbps to 4.8Mbps in 2007.

Just don't compare it to Japan's average of 61 Mbps and you'll sleep soundly at night.

What does that mean for real world purposes?

The Fine Print

Don't expect to play Halo online or download 300 in High Definition. You'll be waiting for maybe 3 weeks to see it happen, or worse yet, have your Sprint mobile broadband speed limited for excessive use.

What's excessive usage you ask?

All the fun stuff Think using bittorrent or P2P clients, downloading movies and the like. The official word from Sprint's contract is "you can't use our data Services:

(1) with server devices or host computer applications, or other systems that drive continuous heavy traffic or data sessions; and (2) as a substitute or backup for private lines or frame relay connections. br>
We reserve the right to limit, suspend or constrain any heavy, continuous data usage that adversely impacts our network performance or hinders access to our network".

While not as friendly as Mr. Rogers neighborhood, it's a crying shame better than Verizon and AT&T who've kicked users off their network. In case they missed the first slap across the face, they had the pleasure of paying an early termination fee to boot.

To learn how to deal with contract hoopla companies throw out there, sign up for the Wireless Broadband E-Course. Lesson 2 is dedicated to "How to Get Out That Contact...Legally".

Since then, both carriers have updated their marketing to reflect the reality of a capped 5GB per month. Not exactly ideal for huge media files. I ran a few tests (more to come) in an area that should provide the advertised speeds according to the Sprint Coverage Tool. Here are the speeds I found...