Hacker News Reader

MetroPCS is using a 5x5 Mhz channel in most of its markets, that is the primary reason for low speed. This brings down the USA average. Most US network operators have the capability to reach the 100 Mbit/s downlink target; that requires a dedicated 20MHz channel (which no one has) and full-blown MIMO.

View on HN

The Japan average is also bought down a lot by one network (NTT DOCOMO). As well as the usual factors age of the network could also be an issue here. Both SoftBank (16.2 Mb/s), KDDI (14.8 Mb/s) are under 1 year old, presumably under capacity waiting for people to upgrade handsets and contracts. DOCOMO (5.5 Mb/s) on the other hand launched in 2010. You see a similar effect in the US, where AT&T's network is regularly beating the older, more congested Verizon. We expect this to even out over time.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com