A spectrum-related software fix is reportedly providing Samsung Galaxy S8 and HTC U11 users on Sprint’s network with a significant speed boost.
As first reported by PC Magazine, Sprint indicates it has released a software update for the S8 and U11 that gives the devices more connectivity on the carrier’s 2.5 GHz spectrum. Those who take advantage of the update have reportedly seen average download speeds increase by at least 20 percent.
Sprint COO of Technology Guenther Ottendorfer said the software fix addresses an issue that was limiting the amount of time those two devices spent on the carrier’s Band 41 spectrum. That band – 2.5 GHz – is the carrier’s fastest, he said, and the S8 and U11’s limited connectivity to those airwaves negatively impacted the carrier’s download speed results.
“A non-optimized function in the software of the GS8 was limiting the amount of time the device spent on our fastest spectrum band – 2.5 GHz – causing the device to fall back to 1.9 GHz or 800 MHz too early,” Ottendorfer explained. “Our team worked quickly with our OEM partners to release an update and we’re pleased to see speeds have increased 20 to 30 percent.”
Since the update was released on June 7, a Sprint spokeswoman said the carrier has seen a “notable improvement” in its Ookla Speedtest Intelligence data. The PC Magazine report points out average speeds for the S8 jumped from 21.6 Mbps before the fix to 28.9 Mbps after, while U11 speeds got an even bigger boost from an average speed of 19.2 Mbps before to 27.9 Mbps after.
