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In a comprehensive study of the mobile broadband network performance of mobile carriers around the world, ARCchart reveals that T-Mobile Hungary has the best overall performing 3G network, supporting average download and upload data speeds of 1,605 kbps and 194 kbps respectively, and an average latency of 212 milliseconds. The carrier's download throughput is almost 60% higher than the average for all UMTS carriers worldwide.

The unique study is based on the data speed and latency measurements collected for 268 wireless carriers operating within 103 different countries worldwide, using a smartphone software application available on iPhone, Android and BlackBerry devices. This approach has allowed ARCchart to collect over two million individual test readings from tens of thousands of users who have conducted numerous tests for virtually every mobile carrier in virtually every country in the world.

Cellular networks are finally delivering on the promise of broadband data speeds over the air, and the marriage of these networks with smartphones and mobile broadband laptops/netbooks has ignited a paradigm shift in consumer demand for mobile Internet access far beyond simple messaging and browsing. Carriers are using mobile data as the weapon of choice in their fight against the commoditization of voice and falling ARPU, and this reliance on data is set to become more entrenched.

However, according to Matt Lewis, Research Director at ARCchart, "We see wide variation in 3G performance between carriers, with some mobile operators achieving data speeds two or three times faster than their competitors in the same market." There is a genuine risk that carriers which deliver inferior performance will suffer high subscriber churn as their customers defect to better performing competitors.

Ranking carriers' overall performance, based on their download, upload, latency and network quality measurements, shows that eight of the top ten mobile operators are located in Europe - only one is in North America and one in Asia. T-Mobile has three carriers appearing in the top ten and Telenor has two operations. Vodafone and Orange each have one portfolio carrier achieving a top ten placement.

More information:
- The Mobile Broadband Performance of Carrier Networks

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