Our reliance on technology is so total that for many it feels like the world is ending when a popular site or service on the internet is inaccessible, and 2024 saw many outages that reminded us how much one such interruption can disrupt the daily lives of millions. We analyzed Downdetector® data from Q1-Q3 2024 to see where that pain of disconnection was felt most acutely. Read on to revisit the largest outages of 2024 at a global level and sorted by region.
Note that while some companies experienced more than one large outage during this time period, we’ve listed only the largest incident per company in each chart.
The world’s biggest outages this year
Users of social media sites, internet providers, and gaming sites and services suffered the most disruptions this year according to Downdetector data on the world’s biggest outages. Facebook had the largest outage on our list. On March 5, over 11.1 million people across the world reported issues with the popular social media site.
The second largest global outage may be the most memorable. While CrowdStrike is not a service most people think of, we saw nearly 5 million reports to services that rely on it (or rely on Microsoft which relies on Crowdstrike), including emergency services, airlines, and ride sharing apps when a routine software update went bad on July 19.
AT&T suffered the third largest outage in the world, according to Downdetector data, when an equipment configuration error caused customers across the entire United States to lose network access for over 12 hours.
Biggest outages in each region
Asia Pacific region hit by global outages
The March 5 Facebook outage also topped the list of outages in the Asia-Pacific region, instigating over 908k user reports to Downdetector and taking Instagram down with it as the second largest outage. The third largest outage happened on June 26 when over 168k Microsoft 365 users in the Asia-Pacific region reported service disruptions on the service. Japan was especially hard hit with over 139k user reports from that country alone.
People in the Asia-Pacific region were also affected by local outages, with over 76k users reporting issues with Japanese payment system PayPay in May, and 65k users in India reported issues with Jio during a September service disruption.
Europe struggles with social media sites
Social media sites were the main source of disconnection in Europe according to data from Downdetector. Over 3.4 million European users reported issues with Facebook during the March 5 outage, making that the largest outage in Europe during Q1-Q3 2024. WhatsApp users suffered the second largest outage in Europe with over 1.1 million people reporting issues during an outage in early April.
Two German companies also showed up on our list of largest outages in Europe with over 218k reports of issues with 1&1 and over 209k reports of issues with Deutsche Telekom when the two companies experienced service disruptions almost a week apart in late May.
Latin America feels pain from global social outages
Latin America’s top three outages mirrored those in Europe with social media sites causing the most pain for users according to data from Downdetector. The March 5 Facebook outage was felt profoundly with almost 850k user reports on Downdetector in Latin America for issues related to Facebook and over 260k related to Instagram. WhatsApp had the second largest outage in the region with almost 420k user reports during the two hours the service was down on April 3.
Bait, a Mexican Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) owned by Walmart, suffered an outage on April 2 where almost 99k users reported issues to Downdetector. And on September 24, over 74k users reported issues with Brazilian fintech bank Nubank.
Middle East and Africa experience mix of local and global outages
Outage patterns in the Middle East and Africa differed from those in other regions with users reporting about as many issues with local sites and services as global ones. The two largest outages, Microsoft 365 on March 14 and Facebook on March 5, were part of global events.
The third largest outage in the region was with South African telecommunications provider Telkom. Almost 55k users across Africa reported issues to Downdetector when Telkom experienced an outage on May 13. MTN, Vodacom, and du are other telecom providers that made our list of top outages in the Middle East and Africa during Q1-Q3 2024.
United States and Canada
As we saw with much of the rest of the world, Facebook topped the list of outages in the U.S. according to Downdetector with over 5.8 million users reporting issues with the service during its outage on March 5. The Crowdstrike and AT&T outages also hit the U.S. hard with almost 5 million and over 3.4 million user reports, respectively. Gaming sites and services and telecom providers filled out the rest of the list in the U.S.
Downdetector is your source for information about service disruptions, monitoring real-time performance for thousands of popular web services globally. Find Downdetector on the web or in the free Speedtest app for Android or iOS. We’ve recently introduced push notifications so you can learn about outages as soon as they happen. Businesses looking for early alerting on service issues may be interested in Downdetector ExplorerTM.
Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.
Consumers around the world eagerly awaited Samsung’s release of the latest line of its flagship Galaxy S series of smartphones on February 1, 2024. Was the wait worth it? In this article, we analyze how the Samsung Galaxy S24 family measures up against its predecessors in terms of 5G speed and latency during its first several weeks on the market (February 1 – March 24, 2024).
With new chipsets and technologies alongside plenty of other cool new features in Galaxy S24 devices, we examined early results from Speedtest® users in 15 select countries around the world to see whether the Galaxy S24 lineup — comprising the S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra models — outpaced Samsung’s earlier S22 and S23 families for 5G performance. Additionally, we’ve compared the 5G speeds and latency of Apple’s iPhone 15 family — including the iPhone 15, 15 Pro, and 15 Pro Max — against Samsung’s offerings.
It’s important to note that device performance metrics can vary significantly from one country to another. Factors such as government and mobile operator investments in 5G infrastructure, spectrum allocations, and the extent of 5G network deployment all contribute to these variations.
Key takeaways:
The Samsung Galaxy S24 family showed a statistically significant lead for median 5G download speeds in seven out of 15 countries in this study. On the other hand, the Apple iPhone 15 family posted the fastest 5G speeds in only one country. It’s worth noting, however, that speed differences between Galaxy S24 devices and iPhone 15’s were relatively minor in some of the countries analyzed (see the charts below for details).
The S24 family recorded the lowest median 5G multi-server latency in 10 of 15 countries, whereas iPhone 15 devices offered the highest median 5G latency in 10 markets.
Samsung Galaxy S22 models unsurprisingly offered the slowest median 5G download speeds in eight countries, while the Galaxy S23 family was slowest in four countries.
Devices in the Galaxy S24 family experienced the fastest median 5G upload speed in 13 of the 15 countries examined for this analysis. However, upload speeds were much slower than 5G download speeds, ranging from 11.83 Mbps to Mbps to 66.52 Mbps, with median 5G upload speeds of 50 Mbps or better found in only three countries (South Korea, Qatar, and the U.A.E.).
To learn more about what speeds mean in real-world terms, check out our article looking at how much speed users need for a variety of daily mobile activities.
Everyone wants to know if the newest technology is worth the upgrade when they’re investing in an expensive new smartphone. Each device within the Galaxy S24 family has various upgrades (including new AI features), but when it comes to features that impact speed and latency performance, here’s a look at the chipsets and modems for each line of smarthpones in our study:
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra models use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset globally, while the S24 and S24+ use it only in Canada, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the United States. The Samsung Exynos 2400 is used elsewhere for the S24 & S24+.
The Galaxy S23 series uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 worldwide, while Samsung S22 models use an Exynos 2200 chipset in Europe and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 elsewhere.
Galaxy S24 devices utilize the Snapdragon X75 5G modem, S23 models have a Qualcomm Snapdragon X70 modem, while S22 models have a Qualcomm Snapdragon X65 modem.
Apple iPhone 15 models use Apple’s A16 Bionic chipset, while iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models use the A 17 Pro chip. All devices in the Apple iPhone 15 family utilize Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X70 5G modem.
Do you own one of these devices? See how your speeds compare by taking a quick Speedtest. And to learn more about mobile and fixed broadband performance in cities and regions across the world, visit the Speedtest Performance Directory™, where you’ll find ISP recommendations, insights on mobile and fixed broadband performance, and more.
Digging into the Data: Where does the Samsung Galaxy S24 Family Lead its S22, S23, and iPhone 15 Counterparts Around the Globe?
Early findings from Speedtest Intelligence® reveal that the latest Galaxy S24 family outperformed its predecessors — especially S22 models — in terms of 5G speed across several of the countries we analyzed. While differences in speed between devices were minimal in some countries, S24 models showed significant speed advantages over previous generation Samsung devices in markets like Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and others.
Does that mean users in those locations should upgrade immediately? Not necessarily. The decision to upgrade depends on various factors, from price to features to performance and more. However, if speed is your primary concern, the Galaxy S24 series is a compelling option, especially for consumers currently utilizing devices from the Galaxy S22 lineup, which is now over two years old.
Read on to see our complete analysis of all 15 countries in this study or select a region below to dig into more localized results.
Consumers in Hong Kong who want new features might want to upgrade
Speedtest Intelligence data revealed strong performance for all device families in Hong Kong, with the new Galaxy S24 family performing particularly well, boasting a median 5G download speed of 165.74 Mbps and the lowest median 5G multi-server latency in the market at 21.74 ms. However, the S24’s median 5G download speed was statistically comparable to that of its older Samsung and iPhone 15 peers, making the choice to upgrade currently more about new features than about performance.
Bottom line: With strong — and similar — 5G download speeds across all device families in Japan, upgrading to a new Galaxy device isn’t a must just yet, unless you want to enjoy the S24 family’s new features.
5G speeds were fast across the board in India, where the Samsung Galaxy 24 family held a slight edge
In the early days following the release of the Galaxy S24 series in India, the latest Samsung models led for both 5G download speeds and 5G multi-server latency. While 5G speeds impressed across all device families in India — all notched speeds of at least 273.78 Mbps — Galaxy S24 models posted the top median 5G download speed at 302.43 Mbps and the lowest median 5G multi-server latency at 41.56 ms. On the other hand, Galaxy S22 devices showed the slowest — but still impressive — speeds in India at 273.78 Mbps, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 was just a tick behind at 279.93 Mbps. The iPhone 15 family, meanwhile, clocked in with a median 5G download speed of 285.78 Mbps.
Bottom line: Consumers in India currently using S22 devices might want to upgrade to an S24 model, given the nearly 30 Mbps speed advantage the new devices provided in this study. However, with excellent 5G speeds across all device families and similar speeds for devices in the S22, S23, and iPhone 15 families, users might not feel a huge difference in their 5G experience from one device to another.
Samsung Galaxy enthusiasts in Indonesia needn’t rush to upgrade to an S24 device — yet
In contrast with what our results showed in most countries, the iPhone 15 family emerged as the leader in Indonesia with a median 5G download speed of 80.49 Mbps. All three Samsung Galaxy families trailed with speeds ranging from 55.61 Mbps for the S24 family to 69.24 Mbps for S23 models. While the iPhone 15 family’s 5G speed was nearly 25 Mbps faster than that of S24 devices, it’s worth noting that the difference among all three Samsung Galaxy models was only about 14 Mbps, and our results revealed no statistical difference in median 5G download speeds between the S22 and S23 families.
Bottom line: Despite the iPhone 15 providing the top speeds in the market, the Galaxy S24 could hold greater long-term potential for consumers in Indonesia, especially when compared to older Samsung models. Equipped with a newer processor and modem, the S24 could see quicker speeds over time as Indonesia’s 5G networks evolve. In the meantime, users shouldn’t experience notable disparities in speed or latency among all three Samsung device families analyzed.
No clear advantage to upgrading to a new Galaxy S24 in Japan
People in Japan who upgraded to a Galaxy S24 device likely haven’t seen a performance boost just yet. While all four device families performed similarly well in Japan, there was no statistical difference in the median 5G download speeds offered by all three Galaxy families, with speeds ranging from 110.48 Mbps to 118.93 Mbps across all three Galaxy devices. The iPhone 15 lineup also had a strong speed at 125.48 Mbps.
Bottom line: With generally similar median 5G download speeds across all device families in Japan, users who are considering upgrading to a new Galaxy smartphone might want to wait. While we anticipate the S24’s speeds to surpass those of its predecessors over time, 5G speeds in the market were quite close across all three Galaxy device families in the early days of the S24’s release.
For users in the Philippines who want the fastest 5G, Galaxy S22 users may want to upgrade.
Samsung Galaxy S24 users in the Philippines might have noticed a modest improvement to their 5G speeds compared to those on older S23 and S22 models since they upgraded, as the Galaxy S24 family’s median 5G download speed of 157.38 Mbps was about 20 Mbps faster than that of Galaxy S22’s (137.68 Mbps) and a little over 15 Mbps faster than the Galaxy S23 family (140.06 Mbps). Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 family’s median 5G download speed of 120.04 Mbps trailed all three Samsung Galaxy families in the market.
Bottom line: For users in the Philippines seeking the fastest possible 5G experience, upgrading to an S24 device is worth considering. However, it’s worth noting that the differences in speed between devices wasn’t as stark as that in some other countries, and upgrading likely isn’t for everyone just yet.
Samsung Galaxy S24 and iPhone 15 much faster on 5G in South Korea than S22 devices
In South Korea, home to the first widespread 5G launch in the world, our results reflected outstanding 5G speeds, with the iPhone 15 and Samsung Galaxy S24 families posting similar median 5G download speeds of 598.64 Mbps and 590.28 Mbps, respectively. The S22 family, meanwhile, offered the “slowest” 5G speeds in South Korea, posting an excellent median 5G download speed of 475.42 Mbps, while Galaxy S23 devices came in at 511.82 Mbps.
Bottom line: 5G users in South Korea can expect remarkable 5G speeds across the board, regardless of their device. However, Samsung Galaxy loyalists who currently use S22 models might want to consider moving to an S24 model, given that the S24 family was over 100 Mbps faster than Galaxy S22’s, while also offering the top median 5G upload speed in the market at 55.22 Mbps. For users who prioritize the fastest 5G experience, Galaxy S24’s and iPhone 15’s are both worth a look.
Samsung Galaxy S24 family provides top 5G download speeds in Thailand
In Thailand, Speedtest Intelligence showed that the Galaxy S24 family delivered the fastest median 5G download speed in the market at 171.27 Mbps. That speed marks a notable improvement of roughly 35 Mbps over the S22’s 132.60 Mbps and the S23’s 135.55 Mbps. The Galaxy S24 family also offered the lowest median 5G multi-server latency in Thailand at 32.46 ms. The iPhone 15 family provided the second-fastest median 5G download speed in the market at 147.53 Mbps.
Bottom line: If you’re thinking of upgrading from an S22 or S23 device, our findings suggest that the Galaxy S24 might be the right choice. With faster 5G speeds compared to previous generations, coupled with low latency, smartphones in the Galaxy S24 family should allow for quick content downloads and smooth connectivity overall.
Middle East and Africa
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Excellent 5G speeds in Nigeria, but too soon to tell if you should upgrade for performance
In Nigeria, 5G speeds were impressive overall, from the Galaxy S23 family’s median 5G download speed of 281.67 Mbps to the new Galaxy S24’s speed of 383.97 Mbps. However, in these early days of the S24 lineup’s release, we are still waiting to see how things stabilize in the market before we can make a firm recommendation on whether to upgrade.
Bottom line: For users who like to have the latest gear and/or want the new features offered by the S24 lineup, upgrading is certainly worth considering. But with fast 5G speeds in general, users on any of the device families we looked at should see a quick download experience in general.
Samsung Galaxy S24 by far the fastest 5G in Qatar
Home to some of the fastest 5G speeds in the world, Qatar showcased impressive median 5G download speeds across all three device families analyzed. The Galaxy S24 family led the pack with a jaw-dropping median 5G download speed of 971.49 Mbps and the top median 5G upload speed in the market at 66.52 Mbps. The Galaxy S22 and S23 families trailed, albeit with great median 5G download speeds of 675.06 Mbps and 758.49 Mbps, respectively. The iPhone 15 family also had a strong showing in Qatar, posting a median 5G download speed of 788.97 Mbps.
Bottom line: Consumers in Qatar with older Galaxy S22 or S23 devices might want to make the switch, given that the S24 family’s remarkable median 5G download speed of nearly 1 Gbps was much faster than those of either the Galaxy S23 or especially S22 families.
Galaxy S24 a good option for Samsung fans in the U.A.E.
In the U.A.E., which is home to outstanding 5G speeds in general, the Samsung Galaxy S24 and iPhone 15 families delivered the top median 5G download speeds in the market at 828.11 Mbps and 819.48 Mbps, respectively. When compared to its earlier generation Samsung predecessors, the S24 family held a commanding speed advantage, boasting speeds that were at least 170 Mbps higher than those of either the S22 (639.33 Mbps) or S23 (657.79 Mbps) families.
Bottom line: With median 5G download speeds ranging from 639.33 Mbps to 828.11 Mbps, consumers in the U.A.E. will likely enjoy fantastic speeds regardless of device model. However, for current S22 or S23 users hoping to boost their speeds, the Galaxy S24 family stands out as a good choice.
Europe
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Galaxy 24 family clocked 5G speeds over 80 Mbps faster than those on S22 devices in France
In France, the Galaxy S24 family was the frontrunner, delivering the fastest median 5G download speed among all device families in the market at 292.15 Mbps. That marks a significant improvement of over 80 Mbps compared to the S22 family’s speed of 211.32 Mbps, along with a jump of more than 60 Mbps compared to the S23’s speed of 229.78 Mbps. Meanwhile, iPhone 15 users experienced the second-fastest median 5G download speed in the market at 257.15 Mbps, with 5G latency nearly identical to that of the S22 and S23 families.
Bottom line: For consumers currently using an S23 or especially an S22 model, upgrading to an S24 device is worth considering. Our results in France showed that the latest Samsung lineup delivered a superior 5G speed experience over older Galaxy models, especially those in the Galaxy S22 family.
Galaxy S24’s a good choice over S22 models in Spain
All four device families in Spain provided good 5G speeds, ranging from the S22’s median 5G download speed of 141.33 Mbps to the S24 family’s speed of 179.34 Mbps. While speeds recorded on S24, S23, and iPhone 15 devices were statistically similar, the difference in speed between the S24 and S22 was much starker, with the S24 nearly 40 Mbps faster than the S22.
Bottom line: The decision to upgrade should be more straightforward for S22 users in Spain compared to those with S23 or iPhone 15 models, as the S24’s median 5G download speed of 179.34 Mbps was almost 40 Mbps faster than that of the S22 family.
Samsung Galaxy S24 likely worth an upgrade from S22 in the U.K.
In the U.K., Samsung Galaxy S24 models were the fastest in the market, with the S24’s median 5G download speed of 156.71 Mbps offering a speed gain of nearly 40 Mbps compared to the Galaxy S22 family. Galaxy S24 models also posted faster speeds than both the Galaxy S23 and iPhone 15 families, but the difference was less stark than it was with the S22 family, with Galaxy S22 models clocking in at 120.49 Mbps, Galaxy S23’s at 133.49 Mbps, and iPhone 15’s at 138.07 Mbps.
Bottom line: U.K. consumers using either S22 or S23 models may want to look into upgrading to the S24 to enjoy faster speeds. That’s especially true for S22 users, given that the S24’s median 5G download speed was nearly 40 Mbps faster than that of S22 devices.
North America
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No major 5G speed boost for users in Mexico who upgraded to a Galaxy S24
5G speeds in Mexico were impressive, with all device families posting median 5G download speeds of 176.53 Mbps or better. While Speedtest users of the Galaxy S24 family experienced the fastest median 5G download speed in the market at 197.42 Mbps, that speed marked only a modest improvement compared to Galaxy S22 devices (186.51 Mbps) and iPhone 15 models (193.73 Mbps). The Galaxy S23 family showed the slowest 5G speed in the market at 176.53 Mbps, coming in about 20 Mbps slower than Galaxy S24 models
Bottom line: For users eager to embrace the new features offered by Galaxy S24 devices or move on from S23 devices, an upgrade might be worthwhile. However, with fast 5G speeds across all device families in Mexico and only about 20 Mbps separating all four device families in our study, users likely won’t see a major change in their 5G experience by upgrading.
Galaxy S22 users in the U.S. could get faster 5G with the S24 family.
5G speeds in the U.S. had an impressive showing across the board, with median 5G download speeds of at least 232.46 Mbps across all device families. The Samsung Galaxy S24 family led the way with an excellent median 5G download speed of 306.90 Mbps and the lowest median 5G multi-server latency at 45.71 ms. Users of the Galaxy S24 family enjoyed speeds roughly 75 Mbps faster than those on S22 models (232.46 Mbps) and approximately 65 Mbps faster than those on S23 devices (241.60 Mbps). Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 family also offered a strong performance, with a median 5G download speed of 272.99 Mbps.
Bottom line: Users of older Samsung device models in the United States may want to switch to one of the newer models to capitalize on the faster 5G speeds offered by S24 devices, though speeds were strong for all device families in this study.
Ookla will continue monitoring how devices are performing
We’ll continue to check in on device performance as new models enter the market, so stay tuned for further insights into mobile and fixed broadband performance in countries around the world.
If you’ve recently made the switch to an S24 device, make sure you’re getting the speeds you need by downloading the iOS or Android Speedtest® app.
Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.
You know Ookla® Downdetector as a powerful tool to troubleshoot your internet connection, giving you real-time details about internet sites and services that might be having issues. You probably also know you can access Downdetector in the free Speedtest® app. We know you’re busy and sometimes you want to know what’s broken on the internet before you get there, so we’ve added push notifications to the Speedtest app to give you real-time alerts about the services that are most important to you.
Downdetector push notifications you might want to set up today:
Major retailers — discover whether all the Black Friday traffic overwhelmed their servers before you try to load up your cart
Social media sites — did your latest video fail to get likes or is the site just not responding since you uploaded it?
Your internet provider — whether a big storm is coming or you have a big call, you want to know early if your internet is out so you can plan for alternatives
Streaming services — did the series finale crash the site? Find out before you pop the popcorn
Gaming sites and services — launch days are notoriously hard on these. Avoid the frustration of refreshing over and over to get that big game by knowing what’s not working in advance
Your bank — get alerted when the site is down before you go to pay your bills
How to set up Downdetector push notifications
You should see a new “Introducing Downdetector Notifications” pop-up next time you open the free Speedtest app. If you have an account already, you can sign in and visit the Downdetector tab to start selecting favorites.
If you don’t already have an account or are looking for more detailed instructions, see below.
First create a free account
Downdetector push notifications are available to anyone with a free Speedtest account. There are two ways create an account:
In the app — open the Speedtest app on either Android or iOS. Click the hamburger menu in the upper right corner. Click the blue button near the top of the app labeled “Create Account” and fill in the fields on the next screen. We’ll send you a verification email to confirm your account. Click the link in that email and you are ready to go.
On Speedtest.net — click “Sign In” in the upper right corner. This will take you to a page where you can either create an account or sign in to an existing account. To create an account, click “Register” on the left side of the screen. Simply fill in the fields on the “Create an account” screen, check the Captcha box if you see one, and click “Register” again. We’ll send you a verification email to confirm your account. Click the link in that email and you are ready to go.
Pick your favorite services
Tap the Downdetector tab at the bottom of your screen inside the Speedtest app. You’ll see a “Get Outage Alerts” pop-up where you’ll then want to click “Sign In” to sign into your free Speedtest account (if you aren’t already).
Once you have signed in, you will see the Downdetector page you are used to seeing but with stars to the left of all the services. You can favorite up to three services to monitor by pressing the star the the left of the service name. The stars next to the services you have chosen will then turn blue.
Next, you will be given a new pop-up where you can select “Allow Notifications.” This is the permission that allows us to notify you when your favorite services are experiencing reports of service disruptions. If you have already enabled push notifications from the Speedtest app, you will not have to do so again.
You’re all set! We’ll send you a notification the next time one of your favorite services is having issues.
Prepare for the next major internet outage by setting up push notifications for your favorite services today. Easy access to outage details will help you decide if you need to work on something else for a while. Download the free Speedtest app for Android and iOS to set yourself up for success today.
Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.
The latest iPhone 16 family of smartphones launched on September 20, and with Black Friday approaching, many potential buyers are considering upgrading to a new iPhone model. But a key question remains: Is it worth it? To help answer that question, we’ve analyzed how the iPhone 16 family of devices measures up against its predecessors in terms of 5G speed and latency during its first several weeks on the market.
Looking at Speedtest® data from 11 select countries around the world from September 20 – October 20, 2024, we examined whether the iPhone 16 lineup — comprising the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max models — outpaced Apple’s earlier iPhone 14 and 15 families for 5G speed and latency performance. We’ve also compared the 5G speeds and latency of iPhone models with Samsung’s most recent offering, the Galaxy S24 family, including the S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra.
It’s important to note that device performance metrics can vary significantly from one country to another. Factors such as the performance of networks themselves in each country, government and mobile operator investments in 5G infrastructure, spectrum allocations, and the extent of 5G network deployment all contribute to speeds and variations across countries.
Key takeaways:
The Apple iPhone 16 lineup showed a statistically significant lead for median 5G download speeds in five out of 11 countries in this study.
At the slower end of the scale, the Apple iPhone 14 offered the slowest median 5G download speeds in 7 out of 11 countries. It’s worth noting, however, that speed differences between the devices were relatively minor in some of the countries analyzed (see the charts below for details).
The Samsung Galaxy S24 family recorded the lowest (and, therefore, best) median 5G multi-server latency in 8 countries, whereas the iPhone 16 lineup led for 5G latency in one market.
The Galaxy S24 family led on median 5G upload speeds in 8 of 11 countries, while iPhone 14 and 15 devices typically showed the slowest upload speeds.
To learn more about what speeds mean in real-world terms, check out our article looking at how much speed users need for a variety of daily mobile activities.
When investing in an expensive new smartphone, consumers naturally want to know if the upgrade will be worth it. While the iPhone 16 lineup includes various new upgrades and features, let’s look at the components that impact connectivity performance, specifically the chipsets and modems across our study’s devices:
iPhone 15 base models use the A16 Bionic chipset and Pro models run on the A17 Pro, and both are paired with the Snapdragon X70 5G modem
iPhone 14 and 14 Plus models are equipped with an A15 chipset, and the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max feature the A16 Bionic chip. All iPhone 14 devices use a Snapdragon X65 5G modem
Samsung Galaxy S24 devices also utilize the Snapdragon X75 5G modem
Do you own one of these devices? See how your speeds compare by taking a quick Speedtest!
Digging into the data: Where does the Apple iPhone 16 lead its earlier iPhone and Samsung counterparts around the world?
Early findings from Speedtest Intelligence® show that the latest iPhone 16 family outperformed its predecessors in terms of 5G performance across several of the markets we analyzed. While the performance differences between device families were minimal in some countries, iPhone 16 models demonstrated major speed advantages over previous generation Apple and Samsung devices in markets like Canada, France, Taiwan, and the United States.
Does that mean users in those locations should upgrade immediately? Not necessarily. The decision to upgrade depends on factors other than network performance, from price to new features and plenty of other things. However, our initial data on the 5G capabilities of the iPhone 16 series is encouraging in its early days of release.
Read on to see our complete analysis of all 11 countries in this study or select a region below to dig into more localized results.
In India, all device families posted strong 5G results, with speeds ranging from 231.94 to 261.57 Mbps. The iPhone 16 lineup posted a median 5G download speed of 261.57 Mbps and the lowest median 5G multi-server latency at 44 ms. The Galaxy S24 family followed closely at 251.17 Mbps for downloads and claimed the top spot for 5G upload speeds at 19.69 Mbps. The iPhone 15 and 14 families trailed but still delivered solid speeds above 230 Mbps, with median 5G upload speeds of roughly 14 Mbps each.
Bottom line: Current iPhone 14 users might be tempted by the 30 Mbps advantage seen with the iPhone 16 lineup in this study. While 5G speeds were excellent across all device families in India, early adopters who want the latest and greatest might find the iPhone 16’s performance edge helps justify that upgrade itch.
Galaxy S24 family leads the Philippines for 5G speeds, while iPhone 16’s show modest advantage over previous iPhones
Speedtest Intelligence data revealed the Galaxy S24 family leading the Philippines market with a median 5G download speed of 158.47 Mbps and the lowest median 5G multi-server latency at 32 ms. The iPhone 16 lineup showed relatively minor improvement over its predecessors, posting a median 5G download speed of 125.68 Mbps, a tick above the iPhone 15 and 14 families (both registered speeds of about 120 Mbps).
Bottom line: While the iPhone 16 showed slight improvements over previous iPhone generations, the Galaxy S24 family offered the strongest 5G performance in the Philippines, with a roughly 33 Mbps advantage in 5G download speeds.
iPhone 16 lineup leads Taiwan for 5G speed, with impressive performance across all devices
5G speeds were excellent across the board in Taiwan, with median 5G download speeds ranging from 287.83 to 342.37 Mbps. The iPhone 16 lineup led the market with a median 5G download speed of 342.37 Mbps. The Galaxy S24 family followed at 313.96 Mbps and matched the iPhone 16’s 5G upload performance at around 38 Mbps. The iPhone 15 and 14 families trailed the 16 lineup but still impressed with speeds above 287 Mbps.
Bottom line: The iPhone 16 lineup led Taiwan’s impressive 5G speed landscape by roughly 30 Mbps. However, with all device families delivering median 5G download speeds of at least 287 Mbps, users should experience excellent 5G performance regardless of which phone they choose, making the decision to upgrade a bit tricky and potentially more about the new model’s features than about speed.
Europe
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For users in Belgium, the iPhone 16 is worth a look
Speeds in Belgium were strong across the board, with the iPhone 16 lineup clocking a median 5G download speed of 237.37 Mbps. The iPhone 14 and 15 lineups trailed, posting median 5G download speeds of a little over 170 Mbps each. Latency was also impressive in general, with all four device families registering median 5G multi-server latency of 40 ms or better.
Bottom line: The iPhone 16 family’s current speed advantages over its predecessors in Belgium suggest an upgrade might be worth considering for users focused on 5G performance. That said, all devices in the market delivered good speeds that should provide users with quick downloads and strong connectivity overall.
Upgrading to an iPhone 16 may be appealing for France users
In France, the iPhone 16 lineup led the way for 5G speed with a median 5G download speed of 279.29 Mbps, offering a speed advantage of nearly 60 Mbps compared to older iPhones. The Galaxy S24 family placed second at 242.34 Mbps and posted the lowest median 5G multi-server latency at 38 ms.
Bottom line: With the iPhone 16 lineup clocking 5G download speeds significantly faster than both previous iPhone generations and the latest Samsung devices, users seeking faster speeds may want to consider a new iPhone.
German users could see 5G speed gains with an iPhone 16
The iPhone 16 lineup led the pack in Germany with a median 5G download speed of 172.69 Mbps, more than 40 Mbps faster than iPhone 14 and 15 models, which delivered speeds of roughly 130 Mbps each. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S24 series trailed in download speed, but it registered the lowest median 5G multi-server latency in the market at 34 ms.
Bottom line: If you’re using an older iPhone in Germany, the iPhone 16’s speed advantage over previous models – and Galaxy S24 devices – could make it an appealing upgrade option.
Latin America
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No compelling reason to upgrade just yet in Brazil
All devices in our study showed outstanding 5G speeds in Brazil, with speeds ranging from the iPhone 14’s median 5G download speed of 444.29 Mbps to the Galaxy S24’s 482.95 Mbps. The iPhone 16 and 15 families posted similar speeds of 468.11 Mbps and 465.75 Mbps, respectively.
Bottom line: Brazil was home to the fastest 5G speed on an iPhone in our 11-country study, with even the “slowest” speed in the market outpacing the top performers in other markets by over 100 Mbps. With all device lineups performing exceptionally well, the decision to upgrade in Brazil might come down to features rather than speed.
Galaxy S24 outpaces the iPhone 16 lineup for 5G speed in Colombia
The Samsung Galaxy S24 family had a performance edge in Colombia, with its median 5G download speed of 246.05 Mbps coming in about 50 Mbps faster than its iPhone competitors. Its median 5G upload speed of 35.66 Mbps also led the market. All three iPhone lineups posted median 5G download speeds ranging from 181.27 Mbps to 195.25 Mbps.
Bottom line: The Galaxy S24 series led for 5G performance in Colombia, but when deciding whether to get a new device, raw speed isn’t always everything. Apple enthusiasts might consider the iPhone 16’s complete feature set and strong 5G speeds (even though they trailed those of the Galaxy S24 family), while current S24 users in Colombia will likely stand pat with the knowledge that their devices offer strong 5G performance in the market.
North America
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iPhone 16 lineup in Canada faster than its predecessors
The iPhone 16 lineup showcased strong performance in Canada with a median 5G download speed of 182.43 Mbps, about 45 Mbps faster than those of earlier iPhone models. The Galaxy S24 family placed second at 155.61 Mbps and achieved the lowest median 5G multi-server latency at 34 ms, while iPhone 14 and 15 models trailed with still-strong speeds of 124.64 Mbps and 137.54 Mbps, respectively.
Bottom line: For Canadians looking for top-notch 5G performance, the iPhone 16 lineup makes a strong case with its lead in speed over older iPhone models. While all device families in Canada delivered good 5G speeds, for users who want both top performance and the latest features, the iPhone 16’s speed advantage might help justify that upgrade you’ve been considering.
No clear speed advantage in Mexico for the new iPhone 16
The latest iPhone devices showed remarkably close 5G speeds in Mexico, with speeds varying by just a few megabits per second across the different iPhone families. While the iPhone 14 family had a median 5G download speed of 191.31 Mbps, the iPhone 15 and 16 lineups performed similarly well, clocking in at 185.88 Mbps and 185.79 Mbps, respectively. The Galaxy S24 family followed at 173.70 Mbps.
Bottom line: Users in Mexico considering an iPhone upgrade might want to weigh factors beyond 5G performance, as our data shows minimal speed differences between recent iPhone generations. The choice to upgrade likely depends more on desired features and other device capabilities than network performance alone.
iPhone 16 offers a strong choice in the United States
In the United States, our results showed the iPhone 16 lineup reaching a median 5G download speed of 324.23 Mbps, well ahead of both the Galaxy S24 family at 287.35 Mbps and older iPhones at 244.48 Mbps (iPhone 15) and 220.76 Mbps (iPhone 14). All device families provided solid latency performance below 53 ms.
Bottom line: While all devices in our study provided good speeds in the U.S., the iPhone 16’s standout performance is hard to ignore and makes a strong case for upgrading, particularly for users seeking the fastest 5G.
Ookla will continue monitoring how devices are performing
We’ll continue to check in on device performance as new models enter the market, so stay tuned for further insights into mobile and fixed broadband performance in countries around the world.
If you’ve recently made the switch to a new iPhone, make sure you’re getting the speeds you need (and pay for) by downloading the Speedtest app for iOS or Android.
Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.
Airports in the United States have seen record-breaking numbers of travelers this year, and the always-busy Thanksgiving weekend could put even more stress on airport services. Including free Wi-Fi. We took a careful look at recent performance at the 50 largest airports by passenger volume in the U.S. as part of our ongoing series to help you plan ahead. Speeds have slipped at some of the top airports, but two more airports have free Wi-Fi download speeds over 150 Mbps than last year. Read on for details.
10 airports have free fixed broadband Wi-Fi over 150 Mbps
Fixed Broadband Internet Download Speeds Over Free Wi-Fi at U.S. Airports
Speedtest Intelligence® | Q3 2024
A map showing fixed broadband speeds in selected airports in the United States.
Speedtest Intelligence® shows Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport were once again home to some of the fastest free airport Wi-Fi among the country’s busiest airports, with median download speeds of 195.89 Mbps (down from 259.37 Mbps last year), 181.94 Mbps (down from 187.58 Mbps), and 176.29 Mbps (down from 210.09 Mbps), respectively, during Q3 2024.
Rounding out the top 10 were:
John Glenn Columbus International Airport (173.52 Mbps),
San Francisco International Airport (166.37 Mbps),
Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (162.18 Mbps in Terminal 3),
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (160.39 Mbps),
Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (158.38 Mbps),
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (157.68 Mbps),
Pittsburgh International Airport (154.02 Mbps), and LaGuardia Airport (152.77 Mbps).
Ekahau®, our Wi-Fi solution, helps airports and other large-scale businesses ensure the networks you depend on are meeting your needs. Unfortunately, some airports are still not meeting the Wi-Fi optimization challenge. Specifically, two airports (William P. Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport) showed median download speeds over Wi-Fi of less than 25 Mbps. However, we are heartened that this is down from five last year with Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport (Free PHL Airport WiFi-24), and Logan International Airport graduating by improving their speeds.
There was one change to our airport list this year, which is based on passenger volume: Kahului Airport was removed and John Glenn Columbus International Airport added. We have not included Kansas City International Airport, San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport, San Antonio International Airport, or San Diego International Airport because there were insufficient samples.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport splits their free airport Wi-Fi among four separate SSIDs for different terminals, which we have listed separately in these results. While terminals 2 and 3 have a slight edge, the performance does not vary widely enough between them to intentionally hang out in the wrong terminal just to get a minor bump in speed, but if you’re in Philadelphia you definitely want to choose “Free PHL Airport WiFi” when possible, rather than “Free PHL Airport WiFi-24” if your device supports 5 GHz.
Mobile performance at 24 airports beats 150 Mbps
Mobile Internet Download Speeds at U.S. Airports
Speedtest Intelligence® | Q3 2024
Speedtest Intelligence® shows Sacramento International Airport and John Wayne Airport were the fastest airports on our list for mobile download speed during Q4 2024 at 535.02 Mbps and 451.72 Mbps, respectively. In all, 24 airports in our study had median download speeds over 150 Mbps, up from 18 in 2023. Fifteen of the airports showed median download speeds over 200 Mbps in 2024.
We’re happy to report that no airport on our list showed median mobile download speeds of less than 25 Mbps.
Wi-Fi or mobile? The airports where it makes a difference
Where Wi-Fi wins
Wi-Fi is the fastest choice at 10 airports where download speed over mobile network service is significantly slower than the free airport Wi-Fi. Details on how much faster the Wi-Fi is than mobile are as follows:
102% at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport,
90% at Orlando International Airport,
82% at San Francisco International Airport,
77% at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport,
70% at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport,
42% at Baltimore/Washington International Airport,
28% at John F. Kennedy International Airport,
25% at Harry Reid International Airport, and
10% at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.
It’s important to note that many of these differences are smaller than last year as mobile speeds are catching up to Wi-Fi capabilities.
Places to choose mobile service instead
Twenty-nine airports had faster download speeds over mobile than over free airport Wi-Fi during Q3 2024. Special mention goes to the following airports with massive improvements:
Southwest Florida International Airport showed mobile service 635% faster than airport Wi-Fi,
Mobile at Tampa International Airport was 528% faster than Wi-Fi, and
Mobile was 341% faster than airport Wi-Fi at Sacramento International Airport.
Mobile service was 4X faster than airport Wi-Fi at:
Salt Lake City International Airport, Logan International Airport, and
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
Mobile was 3X faster than airport Wi-Fi at:
Philadelphia International Airport,
Indianapolis International Airport,
John Wayne Airport,
Denver International Airport,
Detroit Metropolitan Airport, and
George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Mobile service was 2X faster at:
Raleigh-Durham International Airport,
Midway International Airport,
Portland International Airport,
St. Louis Lambert International Airport,
Austin–Bergstrom International Airport,
William P. Hobby Airport,
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport,
Los Angeles International Airport,
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport,
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport,
John Glenn Columbus International Airport,
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and
Miami International Airport.
And mobile service was 1X faster than airport Wi-Fi at:
Charlotte Douglas International Airport,
Washington Dulles International Airport,
LaGuardia Airport, and
Nashville International Airport.
All in all, it looks like your airport internet will probably be faster than the security line, and in many airports, faster than your mobile service. Set yourself up for success by downloading a few of your favorite shows along with the Speedtest apps for Android and iOS before you leave the house. And while you’re waiting for that flight, help out travelers next year by taking a Speedtest at the airport to share your experience.
Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.
All eyes are on Paris this month for the 2024 Olympic Games. Hundreds of thousands of people will converge to watch the events or compete, and every single one will want to share their experience with friends, loved ones, and the internet at large. Which can only happen if they can find mobile coverage. So we analyzed Speedtest® data from Q2 2024 to help you find the best connection near the various Olympic venues in Paris.
Paris is 5G-ready overall
Our analysis of Speedtest data across Paris shows that 5G is available in almost every corner of the city. Coverage is not quite as complete in or near the cemeteries of Montparnasse or Pere Lachaise or in the parks of Bois de Boulogne or Bois de Vincennes, but for the most part you’ll have a hard time finding an area where you cannot connect at all. 5G offers better performance for mobile customers than 4G LTE, providing higher speeds and lower latency. To learn more about 5G, visit our 5G FAQ.
Each of the sections below will give you a good idea of what cellular connection type is most common in the area. For a view of the most common connection types for each mobile carrier, download the Speedtest app for Android or iOS and check the map tab. Pull up the drawer to select a carrier and whether you want to see the best connection type available or the most common. Remember that if you’re roaming, you may not get the performance you’re used to at home.
4th Arrondissement: Hôtel de Ville
The Olympic marathon begins at Paris’s iconic city hall. You should be in luck for 5G coverage both at the start of the race and anywhere you wander along Rue de Rivoli and into the Arsenal section of the Marais. In northern parts of the Marais, 4G is more common, though you may still be able to connect to 5G.
7th Arrondissement: Eiffel Tower Stadium, Champ de Mars Arena, Invalides
You’ll probably visit the Eiffel Tower and nearby Champ de Mars, even if you aren’t a fan of beach volleyball, judo, or wrestling. The good news is that 5G is the most common mobile technology near both those venues. The bad news is that there are a few small areas running up the middle of the 7th arrondissement where you’ll be on 3G or you could have no service at all. If this happens, keep walking east because you’ll pass through those areas quickly and find 5G again close to Les Invalides and leading up to Pont Alexandre III.
8th Arrondissement: Grand Palais, La Concorde, Pont Alexandre III
The 8th arrondissement is home to venues featuring some of the newest Olympic sports, including breakdancing and skateboarding; it’s also teeming with 5G coverage and shows no dead zones. So whether you’re into fencing, taekwondo, cycling, or swimming, you’ll have access to 5G near all the major venues in this district.
12th Arrondissement: Bercy Arena
Sharing all the gymnastics highlights should be easy at Bercy Arena in the 12th arrondissement with 5G solidly covering the southwest side of the venue up and down the Seine on Quai de Bercy. LTE is more common along the northeast side of the venue and deeper into the middle of the district. There are a few anomalous spots of 3G or no service dotted throughout the 12th arr., including near the Musée des Arts Forains, Place de la Nation, and in the Bois de Vincennes.
15th Arrondissement: South Paris Arenas
5G is most commonly found along the southwest edge of the 15th arrondissement, including near the South Paris Arena. If you’re walking south from the Eiffel Tower and the 7th arrondissement for the handball, table tennis, volleyball, or weightlifting events at South Paris Arenas, you’ll likely be bumping back and forth between 4G and 5G. There are also a few small areas of 3G or no service scattered throughout the district, so if you’re having trouble connecting, walk a few hundred meters and try again because you’ll be back on LTE.
16th Arrondissement: Trocadéro, Parc des Princes, Stade Roland-Garros
If you’re watching football, cycling, boxing, or tennis at any of the three Olympic venues in the 16th arrondissement, you’ll likely have 5G. However, you may quickly find yourself on 4G LTE if you’re wandering the district at large. As we saw in other districts, the edge of the Seine is a reliable place to find 5G should you need a faster connection.
18th Arrondissement: Porte de la Chapelle Arena
Fans of badminton and rhythmic gymnastics will find the area around Porte de la Chapelle Arena in the 18th arrondissement to be well covered with 5G. In general, the northern part of this district has more 5G coverage, but there are a few areas of 3G or no service scattered throughout the southern half of the 18th arr.
To see what mobile coverage you can expect at Olympic venues outside of Paris or for a personalized view of mobile coverage by operator, download the free Speedtest app for Android or iOS and check the map tab. Be aware that massive crowds can weigh heavily on a network, so if you are having trouble connecting, check Downdetector® to see if there’s an outage or if a particular service is down.
Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.
There’s nothing quite like picking up your phone for a little “me” time only to open up that first web page… and wait for it to load. Maybe the images aren’t there yet or the content jumps around while the ads load — it’s the worst. 5G is meant to help, so we dug into Speedtest® quality of experience data to see if this newer technology is living up to its promise. Read on for an analysis of page load speed (how many milliseconds it takes for a page to load) on three popular services in nine major countries around the world during Q1 2024.
Click the country below to go directly to that section or read on for the full article:
Page speed relies on low latency for the best internet experience
Page load speed is a critical measure of your web browsing experience. It measures how long it takes for a page to load, fully displaying the content on that page. This is directly impacted by latency, which is how quickly your device gets a response after you’ve sent out a request. A typical request on the internet requires two to five round trip communications between various entities over different latency sensitive protocols.
5G lived up to the latency promise, showing a faster page load speed than 4G on all services in all countries we surveyed. However, the improvement was not the same in all places, with Canada topping the list of fastest page load speed over 5G on all the services we surveyed while South Africa had the slowest 5G page load speed on Google and YouTube of countries reviewed here. Read on for details.
5G loads 20-30% faster than 4G in Brazil
Speedtest data shows that 5G delivered a much lower page load speed than 4G on all three services in Brazil during Q1 2024. Google loaded 20% faster on 5G than 4G, YouTube was 25% faster, and Facebook was 30% faster on 5G.
Canada’s 5G page load speed among the fastest on all 3 services
As mentioned, Canada’s 5G page load speed was the fastest or among the fastest for all countries analyzed in this article, with Canada having the fastest page load speed on Facebook, Google, and YouTube. Our analysis demonstrated that 5G delivered a decently faster page load speed than 4G on all three services in Canada during Q1 2024. YouTube loaded 16% faster on 5G than 4G, Google was 18% faster, and Facebook was 23% faster on 5G.
French 5G loads 14-20% faster than 4G
Speedtest data shows 5G page load speed on all three services was decently faster than on 4G in France during Q1 2024. YouTube loaded 14% faster on 5G than 4G, Facebook was 19%, and Google was 20% faster on 5G.
5G loads 23-33% faster than 4G in India
Analysis of Speedtest data shows the page load speed on all three services was much lower on 5G than 4G in India during Q1 2024. Google loaded 23% faster on 5G than 4G, YouTube was 32% faster, and Facebook was 33% faster on 5G. India and Mexico had the slowest page load speeds for Facebook over 5G of any of the countries we looked at.
Mexican 5G loads 26-28% faster than 4G
Speedtest data shows 5G delivered a much lower page load speed than 4G on all three services in Mexico during Q1 2024. Google and Facebook loaded 26% faster on 5G than 4G and YouTube was 28% faster on 5G. Mexico and India had the slowest 5G page load speeds for Facebook among the countries examined.
5G loads up to 47% faster than 4G in Nigeria
Our analysis revealed 5G delivered a much lower page load speed than 4G on all three services in Nigeria during Q1 2024. Google loaded 24% faster on 5G than 4G, YouTube was 27% faster, and Facebook was a whopping 47% faster on 5G.
South Africans see 22-36% faster 5G page load over 4G, but slow Google and YouTube
Speedtest data shows 5G delivered a much lower page load speed than 4G on all three services in South Africa during Q1 2024. Google loaded 22% faster on 5G than 4G, YouTube was 27% faster, and Facebook was 36% faster on 5G. South Africa had the slowest 5G page load speed for both Google and YouTube of any of the countries analyzed.
5G loads 11-15% faster than 4G in Spain
5G page load speed in Spain was somewhat faster than 4G on all three services during Q1 2024. YouTube loaded 11% faster on 5G than 4G, Google was 14% faster than 4G, and Facebook was 15% faster on 5G.
U.S. 5G loads 21-26% faster than 4G
Speedtest data from the U.S. shows 5G delivered a much lower page load speed than 4G on all three services during Q1 2024. Google loaded 21% faster on 5G than 4G, YouTube was 22% faster, and Facebook was 26% faster on 5G.
Your time is valuable. Our data shows that you can get some of that important time back if you have access to 5G and can afford to upgrade. To learn more about your network experience, download the Speedtest app for Android or iOS. Remember, too, that there’s a Downdetector® tab in the Speedtest apps to help you troubleshoot pages that aren’t loading at all.
Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.
Airports around the world have been packed with travelers this year, which puts extra stress on the Wi-Fi. With summer travel already well in swing in the northern hemisphere, we’re back with fresh data for our seriesonairport Wi-Fiperformance to help you plan for connectivity at all your connections. You’ll find information about Wi-Fi on free networks provided by the individual airports as well as mobile speeds at some of the busiest airports in the world during Q1 2024. Read on for a look at internet performance at over 50 of the world’s busiest airports with data on download speed, upload speed, and latency.
Key takeaways
The seven fastest airports for downloads over Wi-Fi were in the United States: San Francisco International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, and Harry Reid International Airport.
Six U.S. airports had the fastest uploads over Wi-Fi: San Francisco International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, and John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The fastest mobile download speeds on our list were at Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in China, and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in the U.S.
Eight of the 10 airports with the fastest mobile upload speeds were in China.
9 airports have 100+ Mbps Wi-Fi download speeds
Speedtest Intelligence® showed seven of the nine airports with median Wi-Fi download speeds over 100 Mbps were in the U.S.:
San Francisco International Airport (173.55 Mbps),
Newark Liberty International Airport (166.51 Mbps),
John F. Kennedy International Airport (151.59 Mbps),
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (151.28 Mbps),
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (137.31 Mbps),
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (119.92 Mbps), and
Harry Reid International Airport (107.84 Mbps).
Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, France and China’s Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport rounded out the list with median download speeds of 107.13 Mbps and 101.01 Mbps, respectively. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Sea–Tac had the lowest median multi-server latency on Wi-Fi of any of the airports surveyed during Q1 2024.
Hover on the pins on the map below to see full details for download and upload speeds as well as latency at all the airports analyzed.
Fixed Broadband Internet Speeds Over Free Wi-Fi at Global Airports
Speedtest Intelligence® | Q1 2024
A map showing fixed broadband speeds in selected global airports.
At Ookla®, we’re dedicated to making sure the networks you depend on are always at their best. With Ekahau®, our Wi-Fi solution, we know firsthand just how challenging it can be to optimize Wi-Fi at airports, especially when you have up to 900 people waiting at each boarding gate during the busiest travel times. While the speeds achieved by these top airports are impressive, we saw two smaller U.S. airports with median Wi-Fi download speeds over 200 Mbps during our U.S.-only analysis of airport Wi-Fi in the fall.
Six airports on our list use multiple SSIDs for their Wi-Fi networks for different terminals or to take advantage of the coverage advantages of 2.4 GHz and the speed advantages of 5 GHz frequencies. We have included data for all the SSIDs with sufficient samples in the map and reported in the text on the best result when using multiple SSIDs results in dramatically different speeds.
Eighteen airports on our list had median Wi-Fi download speeds of less than 25 Mbps. Mexico City International Airport in Mexico had the lowest median Wi-Fi download speed at 5.11 Mbps, followed by:
Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Vietnam (7.07 Mbps),
Beijing Capital International Airport in China (9.45 Mbps),
Cairo International Airport in Egypt (10.62 Mbps), and
Tokyo Haneda Airport in Japan (11.37 Mbps).
You may struggle with everything from video chatting to streaming at any airport with a download speed below 25 Mbps. Latency is also a factor in performance so if your airport is one of the three with a median Wi-Fi latency over 60 ms, a mobile hotspot may be a better option for a stable connection.
Wi-Fi 6 has arrived
Our analysis shows at least 15 airports on our list were using the new Wi-Fi 6 standard in their Wi-Fi setup. Wi-Fi 6 uses Multi-User Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) to increase performance and throughput, especially when serving multiple devices. This offers a real advantage at a large public location like an airport. In order to get maximum benefit from Wi-Fi 6, consumers would need to be using Wi-Fi 6-compatible devices. Speedtest data shows a fairly even split between airports that saw faster download speeds on Wi-Fi 6 and airports where Wi-Fi 6 results were comparable to those on other earlier Wi-Fi generations.
As you know, international travel can be complicated. Even if the airport offers free Wi-Fi, you may encounter other barriers to access. For example, a local number is required in Cairo to receive the access code to connect to the airport Wi-Fi. And while we’d love to include other large airports like Nigeria’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport in future Wi-Fi analyses, they currently do not offer free Wi-Fi so we have included mobile data below.
11 airports show mobile speeds over 200 Mbps
Speedtest® data shows mobile speeds massively outpaced Wi-Fi, with 14 airports showing faster median downloads over mobile than the fastest airport for Wi-Fi. Hamad International Airport in Qatar had the fastest median download speed over mobile on our list at 442.49 Mbps during Q1 2024, followed by:
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (341.19 Mbps),
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (295.94 Mbps),
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (264.71 Mbps),
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (258.42 Mbps), and
Istanbul Airport (255.51 Mbps).
Mobile Network Speeds at Global Airports
Speedtest Intelligence® | Q1 2024
Fastest mobile speeds at airports in Africa and South America
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Kenya had the fastest mobile download speeds of the four African airports we analyzed at 88.12 Mbps during Q1 2024. São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport in Brazil was the faster of the two Latin American airports analyzed with a median download speed of 55.44 Mbps.
Airports with slow mobile speeds
Mobile can’t fix everything, because six airports came in with a median mobile download speed below 25 Mbps. Mexico City International Airport was again at the bottom with 8.75 Mbps, followed by:
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (20.96 Mbps), and
Indira Gandhi International Airport (21.80 Mbps).
Latency on mobile was generally higher than that on Wi-Fi with 46 airports showing a Wi-Fi latency lower than the lowest latency on mobile, 27.51 ms at China’s Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. As noted above, latency is an important factor in performance, so it might be worth investigating the airport Wi-Fi by running a Speedtest if your mobile performance seems to lag.
Airport Wi-Fi or mobile? Connecting on your next trip
We created a quick guide to help you decide whether to try out the Wi-Fi or simply use the local mobile network if you have access. Use it to compare free airport Wi-Fi performance against mobile performance for the 52 airports we have both Wi-Fi and mobile data for during Q1 2024. Twenty-six airports had faster mobile internet than airport Wi-Fi. Eight airports had faster Wi-Fi than mobile, and seven airports showed only a slight distinction between Wi-Fi and mobile or download speeds over 100 Mbps on both, so we gave both the green check marks. We were able to include more airports in the mobile analysis because there were more mobile samples to analyze at those airports than there were samples over Wi-Fi.
The averages reported here are based on real-world data, so your experience may differ, especially on a busy travel day. Take a Speedtest® at the airport to see how your performance compares. Cheers to safe travels and rapid connections wherever you’re flying.
Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.
The internet has become a fundamental tool of daily life, serving as a key resource for consumers and businesses alike. As our reliance on connectivity continues to grow, it’s become critical for all internet users to have access to accurate and transparent information about their internet service providers (ISPs). This need for transparency has prompted the FCC to introduce its Broadband Consumer Label initiative, which will educate consumers with standardized, easy-to-understand information about the broadband services that ISPs across the United States are offering.
Broadband Consumer Labels are similar in appearance to the nutrition labels affixed to nearly every product at the grocery store, with both types of labels providing consumers with key information–and transparency–about the products they’re buying. ISPs will soon be required to display their own version of “nutrition labels” at the point of sale, including in marketing materials and on provider websites. Broadband Consumer Labels, which must be machine-readable, are required to disclose several key service attributes, such as the typical download and upload speeds associated with a plan, the typical latency users can expect, as well as pricing and other information. Specifically, ISPs are required to display the following information on Broadband Consumer Labels:
Plan name/tier
Monthly pricing information, including one-time charges, early termination fees, introductory discounts, and bundled services
Whether or not an ISP participates in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), though this could change if the ACP program isn’t extended
Performance metrics, including typical download and upload speed, as well as typical latency
Data cap information
Links to ISP policy information
Customer support contact information
FCC reference ID (a unique identifier supplied by the FCC), as well as a link to the FCC’s consumer page
Providers with more than 100,000 subscribers are required to display Broadband Consumer Labels by April 10, 2024, while all other providers have until October 10, 2024.
Broadband Consumer Labels will provide consumers with much-needed transparency into the level of service they can expect when choosing an ISP. By organizing performance and pricing details in a simple, repeatable format, users can be sure they’re getting what they pay for, and they can compare different providers and plans more easily. The benefits to providers, meanwhile, largely comes in the form of increased consumer trust, confidence, and ultimately, brand loyalty. The labels will also provide ISPs with a medium to promote their offerings to users across the country.
Broadband Consumer Label risks & challenges
On the other hand, the introduction and continued maintenance of broadband labels marks a sea change for the telco industry at large. The more pricing tiers and technologies that exist across multiple markets, the more unique labels will need to be published. For example, one provider’s label in Seattle could be different from the same provider’s label in nearby Tacoma in terms of price, plan tiers, speeds, and more. It will be a behemoth effort for many ISPs to create and update labels, and internet providers will undoubtedly face challenges. Providers not only need to adhere to the FCC’s guidelines in relatively short order, but labels must also be updated every six months, as well any time an ISP modifies an existing plan or introduces a new one.
Providers also face both regulatory and commercial risks with the new labels. Some of those risks and challenges include:
Regulatory Risks:
Although the program begins in April, the rules are subject to change as the FCC is still requesting input from key stakeholders.
Latency is considered particularly important for people who use video conferencing, including those with disabilities.
The FCC has yet to define what “typical” means in the context of speeds and latency.
Consumer advocacy groups believe many subscribers are not getting what they pay for.
Expect FCC enforcement mechanisms to be developed for situations in which the information displayed on labels doesn’t match with the real-world user experience.
Commercial Risks:
Competition will have broad visibility into performance claims for every plan a provider offers.
Administrative overhead for ISPs driven by the number of price plans, markets, technologies, etc.
Existing subscriber misconceptions of service experienced compared to the actual service delivered.
Resellers must provide performance metrics even though they have limited control over quality of service (QoS) metrics.
Consumer advocacy groups and consumers pose a legal risk for providers if information on labels isn’t reflected in reality.
How Ookla can help ISPs with the broadband label revolution
With deadlines for providers right around the corner, it’s critical for ISPs to coordinate across IT, marketing, legal, and regulatory teams to determine the number of labels needed for various regions, price points, performance metrics, and more. Two label requirements that may prove particularly difficult for providers to manage are the typical speed and latency performance metrics in a given area.
While the FCC hasn’t yet defined what “typical” means for performance metrics on broadband labels, providers could find it difficult to both determine and validate those metrics because the real-world speeds experienced by consumers often differ from a provider’s advertised speeds, and it can also be difficult to distinguish real-world performance between different technologies or tiers of service, such as fiber or cable.
That’s where Ookla can help. Ookla receives over 11 million consumer-initiated Speedtests per day from all over the world, with over 50 billion total tests taken to date. Ookla’s detailed data and insights on speed, latency, and a host of other metrics can help Internet Service Providers substantiate typical speed or latency claims, ensuring their subscribers know what to expect and ultimately get what they pay for.
Three Ookla solutions that should be particularly helpful in both the rollout and maintenance of broadband labels are Speedtest Embedded™, Speedtest Custom™, and the Ookla Enrichment API™.
Speedtest Embedded allows Speedtest to be integrated as a testing solution on servers and desktops, as well as CPE devices. Ookla captures millions of these CPE tests every day on consumer gateways, Wi-Fi routers, and set-top boxes, providing ISPs with measurements directly from or very near to the service connection.
Speedtest Custom provides users with accurate network performance testing backed by the same trusted testing engine as Speedtest, helping ISPs and their customers understand their connected experiences with performance metrics including download, upload, latency, and jitter.
Ookla Enrichment API lets ISPs link a given test to a specific plan subscription, allowing providers to enrich test data with subscriber tiers/provisioned speeds, technology types, whether a test was conducted in a residential or commercial area, and more. Please reach out to learn more about the Ookla Enrichment API.
Conclusion
As we navigate the quickly approaching deadlines of April and October 2024 for the implementation of Broadband Consumer Labels, the urgency for ISPs to adapt cannot be overstated. These labels should add a new level of transparency and trust within the telecommunications sector, offering consumers and businesses clear, standardized information about broadband services.
However, the path to compliance won’t be easy. ISPs must navigate complex logistical and data management hurdles to produce and maintain these labels accurately. Each label must reflect specific service characteristics relevant to the geographic location it serves, which will require a granular level of detail and regular updates (every six months) to ensure accuracy. What’s more, regulatory uncertainties and the dynamic nature of broadband services can add layers of additional complexity to this endeavor. The FCC will likely offer some latitude on implementation during the first several months, but ISPs should prepare to contend with eventual enforcement of the rules. Perhaps more immediate is the potential for challenges from aggressive public interest groups and impassioned subscribers.
Ookla is here to help! With an unmatched depth and breadth of connectivity data derived from millions of consumer-initiated Speedtests taken daily, Ookla’s solutions can help ISPs streamline the process of substantiating the claims made on these new broadband labels. With Speedtest Embedded, Speedtest Custom, and the Ookla Enrichment API, ISPs can access real-time insights into network performance, customer experience, and other critical metrics.
These tools are instrumental in validating the typical speed and latency performance information required on broadband labels, ensuring that ISPs can meet FCC guidelines with confidence and precision. Contact us to learn more.
Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.
You know Ookla® Speedtest as a powerful tool to diagnose and troubleshoot your internet connection, and we know sometimes you simply need a quick look at whether or not you’re connected. We’ve improved the Speedtest app to give you just that. With our new Network Status feature, you can open the Speedtest app and quickly see whether your device is online or not. This immediately tells you if you need to focus your troubleshooting on getting connected – or if you can dig deeper to fine-tune your network connection.
How Network Status works
First, a blue circle
You’ll see a blue circle around the Go button when you open the Speedtest app, along with a “Checking your internet connection” message. During this time we are sending multiple requests to multiple services to check your online status. The Speedtest app determines your device connectivity strength based on the success rate of these requests. You’ll see the circle change to green, yellow, or red, depending on the state of your connection.
A green circle confirms you’re connected
If the initial check is successful, the circle around the Go button will change to green and you’ll see a “You are connected to the internet” message. Hooray! This means you’re ready to run a Speedtest to get the full picture of your internet performance or a video test to see if your connection is streaming ready. You can also check out the Downdetector tab to see if the services and sites you want to connect to are experiencing difficulties or click on the map tab for a look at coverage in your area.
A yellow circle means something isn’t quite right
You’ll see a yellow circle and a “Your internet connection may be unstable” message if the response rate to the initial check is lower than expected. You can still proceed with using the Speedtest app or the internet at large, but you may not get the performance you are hoping for.
A red circle indicates you’re probably disconnected
The circle around the Go button will turn red if there is a really poor response rate (or no response) to the initial check. You’ll also get a “Check your connection, taking a Speedtest may fail” message. This is a good time to see if your device is in airplane mode or if you might need a restart. It could also indicate that you have no coverage if you’re on a mobile network or that your Wi-Fi is experiencing difficulties if you’re trying to use Wi-Fi.
Network Status offers a quick check for users who need it
We know you don’t always need the full performance evaluation Speedtest provides, and we know that data is sometimes limited and usage can be expensive in some parts of the world. Network Status gives you a lightweight peek at what’s happening with your network just by opening the Speedtest app. You’ll have real-time information about whether you’re connected to a network and then you can take a Speedtest to get the full view of your network’s performance if you need it.
Network Status is already available in the Speedtest app for Android and iOS. Open the Speedtest app on your device to try it today or download the app using Google Play or the Apple App Store. If you don’t see the new Network Status feature, update your app to the latest version.
Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.
First, a blue circle
A green circle confirms you’re connected
A yellow circle means something isn’t quite right
A red circle indicates you’re probably disconnected