Verizon Wireless again came out on top in RootMetrics latest nationwide network testing regime, scoring top marks across all five categories.
Verizon Wireless continued to dominate RootMetrics network performance testing, with the carrier yet again getting the best of its rivals AT&T Mobility, Sprint and T-Mobile US in nationwide network performance.
RootMetrics’ latest results were from tests run during the second half of last year, which again showed Verizon Wireless coming out on top. The carrier garnered an overall score of 93.9 on the test measurement scale, which equaled the mark from tests conducted during the first half of 2016.
AT&T Mobility maintained its No. 2 overall position with a score of 90.5, which was a slight improvement from the 89.9 score from the previous test. Sprint also maintained its No. 3 overall position, though its overall score dropped from 85.5 to 84.7, while T-Mobile US came in at No. 4 with a score of 81.2 in the latest tests.
Verizon Wireless’ top ranking was on the back of leading scores across the five individual metrics tested by RootMetrics, including network reliability, network speed, data availability, call performance and text messaging performance.
“In short, Verizon’s results at the national level were exceptional across the board,” RootMetrics noted, adding the carrier also “delivered excellent performances across all levels of our testing at the state and metropolitan levels.”
AT&T Mobility’s position included second-place showings in four of the five categories, with a third-placing showing in call performance. RootMetrics singled out the carrier for its consistent historical performance across its testing regime.
“The bottom line is that AT&T has remained a strong No. 2 performer behind Verizon in our United States RootScore testing for seven consecutive test periods,” the testing firm said.
RootMetics also noted its LTE spectrum analysis showed AT&T Mobility deployed the greatest amount of LTE spectrum among carriers across the 125 metropolitan markets tested in the second half of 2016, which “helped increase its median download speeds significantly in second-half 2016 testing, while the carrier also delivered excellent network reliability results.”
In again taking the No. 3 spot overall, Sprint managed to take the No. 2 spot in call performance, which offset fourth-place showings in network speed and data availability. RootMetrics noted if the carrier could improve its consistently lagging data performance scores, it “could close the gap with the other networks in multiple categories in our national testing.”
Sprint didn’t seem to mind being No. 3 overall, with CTO John Saw in a blog post touting the carrier’s triumph over T-Mobile US and expectations of improved data performance based on the roll out of new network technologies.
T-Mobile US snared the No. 3 spots in network speed and data availability, which were not enough to overcome last-place rankings in network reliability, call and text messaging performance.
The carrier, as it has done in the past, struck out at RootMetrics’ testing program as being paid for by Verizon Wireless and not as relevant as other tests that showed better results for T-Mobile US.
“Let me be clear: these tests Verizon likes to scream about aren’t altogether bad,” said T-Mobile US CTO Neville Ray, in a blog post. “They do tell you something – like how a single phone performs on a few scripted tests conducted mostly on roads. And that can be valuable information. Especially if you’re a long-haul trucker. And, when you’re on a mission to build the best damn network in the country, you learn from everything you can, so we learn from those paid drive tests, too, and use that information to inform our network plans.”
T-Mobile US’ network did come out better in a recent test released by OpenSignal, which used device application performance data between November 2016 and last month. Those results showed the carrier in a tight race at the top with Verizon Wireless, with LTE network speeds matching those of its larger rival and a close second in terms of LTE network availability.
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