All three mobile operators improved their network speeds at Levi’s Stadium in preparation for the big game.
The 65,000 or more football fans heading to Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, this Sunday, will likely experience fast 5G upload and download speeds from all three of the big wireless providers. This high-visibility event is considered a prime opportunity for mobile operators to showcase their wireless networks.
But Verizon outshines its competitors in median upload, median download, and median multi-server latency at Levi’s Stadium, according to Ookla Speedtest Intelligence® data.
The operator’s dominant position is likely a result of Verizon’s lengthy partnership with the National Football League (NFL). Verizon signed a 10-year deal with the NFL in 2021 to equip multiple stadiums with 5G and use that technology to enhance the fan experience.
Key Takeaways:
- Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile users at Levi’s Stadium all experienced significant increases in median download and median upload speeds from June 2025 to January 2026.
- Verizon tops its competitors AT&T and T-Mobile in network speeds at Levi’s Stadium. The operator’s median download speed hit 1464.38 Mbps in January 2026, which is much higher than T-Mobile’s median download speed of 768.01 Mbps and AT&T’s median download speed of 796.61 Mbps.
- Verizon’s median multi-server latency is half that of T-Mobile. In January 2026 Verizon’s median multi-server latency was just 17 milliseconds (ms) compared to AT&T’s latency of 24 ms and T-Mobile’s 34 ms of latency.
Prepping the network for the big game
Lots of work went into preparing the wireless networks at Levi’s Stadium for the big game. In August 2024, stadium management said it upgraded its distributed antenna system (DAS) to 5G with the help of system integrator America Fujikura Ltd (AFL). This DAS upgrade was intended to help ensure fans have connectivity throughout the stadium and was part of a big tech upgrade the stadium undertook in preparation for hosting the Super Bowl and the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
In addition to the DAS, Verizon also improved its network with additional deployments of mmWave and C-band antennas throughout the stadium and in its parking lots.
Verizon spent billions over the last several years to acquire mmWave spectrum licenses. mmWave provides 5G with massive “data pipes” that enable multi-gigabit speeds and faster response times. However, the signals have a very short range so they are best if used to provide high-capacity coverage in crowded areas like stadiums and urban centers.
Verizon also said it deployed a dedicated C-band small cell in the ride-share area specifically to create a better experience for fans as they arrive and depart.
AT&T said it made upgrades to the Levi Stadium DAS, expanded its macro sites and small cells within the stadium, and deployed Cell on Wheels (CoW) and Cell on Light Truck (COLT), to provide temporary network coverage for high-traffic events.
AT&T’s improvements are part of its Turbo Live program. The new paid service from AT&T provides priority cellular performance during big sporting events and concerts. AT&T is rolling this service out to 10 stadiums, including Levi’s Stadium, and will charge up to $15 for the service.
Bandwidth blitz: mobile performance rises across all three operators
Users across all three mobile operators experienced better network speeds at Levi’s Stadium during the seven-month period leading up to the Super Bowl. Verizon’s median download speed increased from 914.30 Mbps in June 2025 to 1464.38 Mbps in January 2026. T-Mobile’s median download speed increased from 132.61 Mbps in June to 768.01 Mbps in January 2026 and AT&T’s median download speed jumped from 238.56 Mbps to 796.61 Mbps.
Upload speeds across all three operators also significantly increased during that six-month time frame, however Verizon’s median upload speed is well above its peers. Upload speed is becoming a bigger priority for game-goers as many fans want to livestream snippets of game play and half-time entertainment.
Verizon’s median upload speed grew from 115.98 Mbps in June 2025 to 244.06 Mbps in January 2026. T-Mobile’s median upload speed increased from 18.48 Mbps in June to 101.04 Mbps in January. And AT&T’s median upload speed nearly doubled during that seven-month time period from 40.99 Mbps to 79.71 Mbps.
It’s important to note that the network speeds consumers experience at Levi’s Stadium are optimized for the in-stadium experience and vary greatly from the network speeds that are typically experienced elsewhere. These speeds also represent the network capacity that is available to ensure that there is enough speed available for all 65,000-plus fans that are expected to attend stadium events.
For comparison, according to Ookla’s latest Speedtest Connectivity Report, during the second half of 2025 the median download speed across all carriers in San Jose, California, which is just a few miles from Levi’s Stadium, was 167.57 Mbps and the median upload speed was 11.8 Mbps.
Network Performance at Levi's Stadium, Home of Super Bowl LX
Speedtest Intelligence® | June 2025 – January 2026
A look at download, upload and latency for the three top US providers over time at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, CA.
Latency goes low
Another area where Verizon stands apart from its peers is in median multi-server latency, which is the measure of the responsiveness of the network. Verizon’s latency is half that of T-Mobile, indicating that Verizon users will likely see a more immediate reaction when they click on a link on their phone. In January 2026 Verizon’s median multi-server latency was just 17 milliseconds (ms) compared to AT&T’s latency of 24 ms and T-Mobile’s 34 ms of latency.
These latency measurements at Levi’s Stadium are also dramatically lower than the typical consumer experience outside the stadium. For reference, according to Ookla’s Speedtest Connectivity report from the second half of 2025 the median multi-server latency from all providers from nearby San Jose, California, was 41 ms.
Throughput throwdown: comparing past Super Bowl performance
Speedtest data from Levi’s Stadium shows all three providers have increased their network speeds and decreased median multi-server latency in the months leading up to Sunday’s game with Verizon leading its peers.
A look back at the performance of the big-three operators at Super Bowl LIX in February 2025 at Caesar’s Superdome in New Orleans shows similar results.
On February 9, 2025 during Super Bowl LIX at Caesar’s Superdome Ookla Speedtest data clocked Verizon with a median download speed of 1190.53 Mbps compared to AT&T with a median download speed of 683.13 Mbps and T-Mobile’s median download speed of 562.95 Mbps.
Likewise Verizon also was a leader in median upload speeds on game day with speeds of 101.38 Mbps compared to AT&T at 20.72 Mbps and T-Mobile at 21.12 Mbps.
It’s interesting to note the difference in upload speeds for all three providers from January 2026 at Levi’s Stadium as compared to February 2025 at Caesars Superdome.
Verizon’s median upload speed of 244.06 Mbps at Levi’s Stadium in January 2026 is more than 2x that of its median upload speed the prior year at Caesars Superdome. T-Mobile’s median upload speed of 101.04 Mbps in January at Levi’s Stadium is more than 4.5x that of its median upload speed of 21.12 Mbps in February 2025 at Caesars Superdome. And AT&T’s median upload speed of 79.71 Mbps in January 2026 at Levi’s Stadium is more than 3x that of its median upload speed of 20.72 Mbps from February 2025 at Caesars Superdome.
Verizon Wins the Connectivity Bowl
While all three major carriers have significantly bolstered their network performance at Levi’s Stadium in anticipation of Super Bowl LX, Verizon claims the top position. By leveraging a decade-long partnership with the NFL and aggressive deployments of mmWave and C-band technology, Verizon has developed a strong lead over its peers.
But the real winners are the fans. The 65,000 attendees at Levi’s Stadium can expect to have a strong wireless experience on game day and throughout the rest of the year. Levi’s Stadium is just one example of how operators and stadium owners are investing in permanent infrastructure upgrades to ensure better connectivity at stadium events throughout the year.
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