Verizon snared network performance wins across all 6 categories from AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile in RootMetrics 1H 2016 testing; T-Mobile improves in metros
Verizon Wireless yet again topped nationwide operators in RootMetrics’ latest network performance testing, with the carrier easily outpacing rivals AT&T Mobility, Sprint and T-Mobile US.
The latest report, which took into account network performance testing through the first six months of 2016, gave Verizon Wireless the top spot with an “overall” RootScore of 93.9. AT&T Mobility came in No. 2 with a score of 89.9, followed by Sprint with a score of 85.5 and T-Mobile US with a score of 82.5.
By comparison, Verizon Wireless also topped the previous RootMetrics report for the last six months of 2015, posting a 94.5 score, compared with 91.3 for AT&T Mobility, 86 for Sprint and 80.9 for T-Mobile US.
Breaking down the five categories that make up the overall score – network reliability, network speed, data performance, call performance and text performance – Verizon Wireless came out on top across the board, similar to the previous test.
Network reliability testing resulted in a 95.7 score for Verizon Wireless, followed by AT&T Mobility at 92.4, Sprint at 90.1 and T-Mobile US with a score of 84.
Verizon Wireless held a healthy lead in network speed, posting a score of 91, compared to 86.1 for AT&T Mobility, 85.8 for T-Mobile US and 72.2 for Sprint. In terms of data performance, Verizon Wireless scored a 95.6, with AT&T Mobility at 92.8, T-Mobile US at 89.9 and Sprint with a score of 84.3.
For those people who still talk to other people via their mobile phones, Verizon Wireless came out on top in call performance with a score of 91.2. Sprint posted its strongest showing in second place with a score of 86.2, followed by AT&T Mobility with a score of 85.2 and T-Mobile US with a score of 71.3.
Text messaging performance was close among all four nationwide operators, with Verizon Wireless scoring 96.9, followed by AT&T Mobility with a score of 95.6, Sprint with a score of 94.1 and T-Mobile US with a score of 90.8.
“The high level results show that Verizon remains the top carrier when it comes to overall network performance at the national level,” RootMetrics noted. “In fact, this round of testing marked the first time that Verizon was able to earn the National RootScore Award for all six categories outright.”
At a state level, RootMetrics noted Verizon Wireless had the outright top performing network in 41 states, and was tied in seven others for the top spot. AT&T Mobility managed an outright win in two states, with a tie for the top spot in six states, while T-Mobile US managed a tie for the top spot in one state. Sprint didn’t score any top state rankings in overall performance, but did manage to top the test’s network speed results for Nevada, so there’s that.
Focusing on performance across 125 metro areas tested, Verizon Wireless scored outright wins or tied for the top spot in 98 markets; AT&T Mobility was the outright winner or tied for the top spot in 51 markets; T-Mobile US managed a top ranking in 40 markets; and Sprint scored a top spot in six markets. Those results showed significant improvements for T-Mobile US, which managed a top placing in just 17 markets in the last round of testing, while Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility both lost some ground and Sprint stayed the same.
RootMetrics cited a strong performance by T-Mobile US in terms of call performance across metro markets as driving results, “likely due to its increased roll out of voice-over-LTE services.” That comment seemed geared toward past criticism from T-Mobile US CEO John Legere, who claimed RootMetrics disabled VoLTE capabilities when testing the carrier’s past call performance despite the carrier’s claim of nearly 50% of its voice traffic traveling over its data network.
Results of this latest round of testing is sure to be hyped by Verizon Wireless, which has a history of touting RootMetrics’ numbers in its advertisements.
By contrast, the other carriers are likely to look at other recent network performance and consumer surveys in promoting their networks and services. For instance, AT&T Mobility recently came out on top in a J.D. Power consumer survey in “wireless purchasing experience performance” ahead of T-Mobile US; T-Mobile US nudged past Verizon Wireless in combined peak upload and download data speeds in a Speedtest Market Report and testing from OpenSignal; while Sprint is hanging its hat on beating out T-Mobile US and AT&T Mobility in peak download speeds according to testing by PC Magazine.
Bored? Why not follow me on Twitter
