While there isn’t lot of information on their mobile broadband speed or coverage, they do have this statement that provides a clue:
“High-Speed Wireless Internet service is made possible by using the constantly expanding network of third generation (3G) cellular telephone towers throughout the USA. Slingshot buys excess capacity from major network providers who own and operate these towers”.
While this is good information, it’s still lacking some meat on the bones. The major network providers right now are Sprint, Verizon and AT&T.
While Sprint and Verizon operate EVDO networks, AT&T operates on HSPA technology. Why is this important? The big reason is that EVDO devices don’t work on HSPA networks. The underlying technology is different.
It’s like trying to use a flat-head screwdriver to take out a nail. It’s just not happening. Screws and nails both hold things in place but they’re different.
The second reason this is important is because it affects the speed as well as coverage. Verizon and Sprint advertise speeds:
“average download speeds of 600-1400 Kbps, 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”
AT&T on the other hand advertises:
“typical download speeds of 700 Kbps – 1.7 Mbps” and “typical upload speeds of 500 Kbps – 1.2 Mbps”
Since all three networks have 3G speeds, they could be talking about any of them. For your purposes, just know that your mobile broadband speed will be one of the two above. To see how what you have right now may compare, use this speed test tool below:
Now that you’ve got some ethereal essence of what speeds might be like, the next logical question is: what’s Slingshot 3G coverage area like?