OpenSignal tests show Verizon with better LTE coverage, T-Mobile edge is LTE speed
T-Mobile US can claim network superiority over its rivals in the latest nationwide testing results from OpenSignal, though in terms of LTE network performance Verizon Wireless can stake its claim to leadership.
The monitoring firm, which relies on an application downloaded by consumers to measure network metrics, handed T-Mobile US top placing in three of five total categories, including 3G network latency, 3G download speeds and LTE download speeds. T-Mobile US, like AT&T Mobility, rely on HSPA-based 3G networks that have shown superior performance to the CDMA-based 3G networks operated by Verizon Wireless and Sprint.
Verizon Wireless, which has a history of strong performance showings, raked in a pair of top placings, including LTE coverage and a tie with T-Mobile US in LTE download speeds.
Specifically looking at LTE network performance, T-Mobile US’ network posted average download speeds of 12.26 megabits per second, compared with 11.98 Mbps for Verizon Wireless’ LTE network. With speeds that close, OpenSignal gave both carriers the top prize.
AT&T Mobility was a distant No. 3 in the metric with an average LTE download speed of 7.93 Mbps, with Sprint coming in fourth at 6.56 Mbps.
In terms of LTE coverage, Verizon Wireless topped the charts with tests showing customers able to connect to the carrier’s network 86.73% of the time. AT&T Mobility was a close No. 2, posting a 82.63% connection rate, followed by T-Mobile US at 81.23% and Sprint at 70%.
Sprint managed to snare a single top placing, with its LTE network posting the tests lowest latency performance of 66.06 milliseconds, with Verizon Wireless next at 73.65 Ms, T-Mobile US at 77.44 Ms and AT&T Mobility at 85.03 Ms.
AT&T Mobility failed to garner a single category victory, but did show strong results in 3G download speeds (second to T-Mobile US) and the previously mentioned LTE coverage.
OpenSignal said its tests included more than 376 million network samples during the final three months of last year.
Third-party network testing has been a focal point in marketing efforts by carriers looking to taut a leg-up on the competition.
Verizon Wireless has been top dog in a number of results from RootMetrics, the latest of which from late last year showed the carrier scoring a top ranking in nearly twice the number of larger markets compared with its closest rival AT&T Mobility. According to RootMetrics’ testing for the second half of 2015, Verizon Wireless had either the top score or was tied for the top score in 96 “metro” markets across the country. The carrier topped RootMetrics’ first half of 2015 rankings as well, with a top or tied for top score in 110 metro markets.
Management at T-Mobile US and Sprint last year took to Twitter to hash out RootMetrics first half of 2015 performance rankings. Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure touted his company’s improved performance, while T-Mobile US CEO John Legere downplayed the RootMetrics results as being antiquated. Legere instead touted results from its own network performance testing partner Ookla, which T-Mobile US claims provides a more up-to-date measurement of consumer experiences.
Sprint last month cited results from a recent Nielsen Mobile Performance, which showed the carrier’s network providing faster download speeds compared with Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility and T-Mobile US. The testing was also conducted during the last three months of 2015, with a claimed 75 million download events from devices representing more than 270 million potential customers covered.
“We’re pleased to have won the LTE latency award for the third consecutive time, an important measurement of application performance,” Sprint noted in a statement connected to the OpenSignal results. “As for speed, we think what really matters most is the actual customer experience, which is why we’re proud of Nielsen Mobile Performance data showing we deliver the fastest LTE download speeds.”
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