For the most recent info, check out the 2011 Cricket 3G Speed Review.
Cricket Mobile Broadband operates on a CDMA network.
It’s the same technology that Verizon, Sprint and Alltel use. To be exact, the mobile broadband technology is EVDO Revision A / EVDO Revision 0 which offers average speeds of 600-1400 Kbps downloading and 500-800 Kbps uploading.
The absolute maximum download is 3.1 Mbps while the max upload is 1.8 Mbps. While this is pretty comparable to a DSL connection only portable, real world speeds have been known to differ from advertised speeds.
Let’s put this in context by comparing it to what we’re already used to:
| Connection Type | Average Download Speed | Maximum Download Speed | Average Upload Speed | Maximum Upload Speed |
| Dialup | 40-50 kbps | 1 Mbps* | N/A | N/A |
| 3G (EVDO/HSPA) | 600 – 1400 kbps | 3.1 Mbps | 500 – 800 kbps | 1.8 Mbps |
| DSL | 2.971 Mbps | 10 Mbps | 512 kbps | 896 kbps |
| Cable | 2 – 4.8 Mbps | 16 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 1 Mbps |
| WiFi Hotspots | 1 – 3 Mbps | 20 Mbps | N/A | N/A |
Some users over at DSLreports.com found regular speeds to be around 1000 Kbps downloading and 300 Kbps uploading. Not terrible. It’s actually pretty livable and falls right smack in the 3G range.
On that kind of speed you could play an online game or two and still download some music. Downloading movies via Netflix might take longer though.
Do not even think about High Definition movies.
While possible…that’s definitely an overnight job for your Cricket broadband connection.
We’ve always maintained that it helps to see what kind of connection you have now to put things in perspective.
Here’s a speed test tool to see what kind of connection you have now. When you see the numbers, you’ll be able to compare it to the average speeds we mentioned above to ‘get a feel’ for how fast Cricket would be.
While I haven’t tested out Cricket myself (can’t say I’d leave Sprint with my uncapped unlimited mobile broadband plan plus unlimited downloading), I might in the future.
The only thing stopping me is their limited coverage. If you love travelling and have to be able to take your connection wherever you go (like I do), then Cricket may give you some hiccups. Let’s find out if you’ll have any gaps in Cricket Broadband 3G coverage.
Joe G says:
Cricket SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!! they allow so much per month… but dont live up to their name …I will glady pay more per month to get rid of the basturds!!!!!!!!!!!!! After we get rid of the low lifes we can regulate internet and phone…. Please.. Dont use these BASTURDS!.. WOULD BE BETTER OFF USING HORSE AND BUGGY!