RootMetrics: US Mobile Speeds Jump 74% in 2026, with the latest data showing a massive 74% increase in US mobile network speeds during the early months of the year. This sharp rise marks a significant milestone for mobile connectivity across the country, driven largely by ongoing network upgrades and spectrum deployments by major carriers. However, while aggregate speeds have improved dramatically, the specific performance for enterprise workloads tells a more nuanced story.
The RootMetrics report highlights that aggregate mobile speeds jumped sharply in early 2026, but carrier rankings alone do not show which network will perform best for enterprise workloads. Verizon and T-Mobile split the honors in RootMetrics testing, each excelling in different categories. Verizon demonstrated strong reliability and consistency, while T-Mobile led in raw speed and capacity. This split means that businesses must look beyond simple speed metrics when choosing a provider for critical applications.
For enterprises, the 74% speed jump is encouraging, but it does not guarantee optimal performance for specialized workloads such as video conferencing, cloud access, or real-time data processing. A network that performs well for general consumers might still struggle with the latency and consistency demands of enterprise operations. Therefore, IT decision-makers should analyze RootMetrics data by specific use cases rather than relying on overall carrier rankings alone.
In conclusion, while US mobile speeds jumped sharply in 2026, the results from RootMetrics show that Verizon and T-Mobile are both strong contenders depending on the priority. Enterprises must evaluate their unique needs to select the network that delivers the best reliability and speed for their specific workloads, rather than assuming a single carrier leads across all scenarios.