RootMetrics Report: AT&T Named Top-performing Network in Dallas
(PRWEB) December 09, 2013 -- AT&T was named as the top-performing carrier in Dallas, but T-Mobile’s recent launch of LTE service has significantly boosted the carrier’s data speeds. That’s according to independent mobile analytics firm RootMetrics®, which measures mobile performance of the four national carriers with tests designed to replicate real-world consumer behavior.
AT&T had the strongest overall results in Dallas with the top spot in the combined performance category, which includes results across data, call, and text testing. A good Combined RootScore means good overall coverage and a good consumer experience.
The final combined performance RootScore rankings for Dallas:
1 – AT&T (98.6)
2 – Verizon (96.7)
3 – T-Mobile (93.7)
4 – Sprint (86.1)
“Looking at these results, it’s clear that consumers have good choices in Dallas, and we love to see that,” said Bill Moore, RootMetrics CEO. “AT&T continues to deliver a strong performance in Dallas, but T-Mobile is shaking things up with an impressive increase in data speeds thanks to its recent LTE rollout.”
Reliability and Speed
RootMetrics offers two indices within RootScore Reports that give consumers a clear view of each network’s performance in the key areas of network reliability and speed. The Reliability Index is based on a combination of results from data, call, and text tests, while the Speed Index includes data and text results. Looking at the network reliability and speed indices in conjunction with Combined RootScores offers the most comprehensive look at a typical mobile experience in Dallas.
AT&T and Verizon tied for the highest rank in network reliability, and AT&T had the highest rank in network speed.
Reliability Index rankings:
1 – AT&T (98.7)
1 – Verizon (98.5)
3 – T-Mobile (93.4)
4 – Sprint (87.4)
Speed Index rankings:
1 – AT&T (98.3)
2 – T-Mobile (93.3)
3 – Verizon (90.3)
4 – Sprint (73.3)
T-Mobile Gains Speed in Dallas
While AT&T earned the top spot in the data category, T-Mobile registered dramatically improved data speeds since the last round of testing in March 2013. T-Mobile’s average download speed jumped from 8.0 Mbps to 15.7 Mbps, and its average upload speed increased from 1.8 Mbps to 7.6 Mbps.
It’s important to note that AT&T had the fastest average download speed among all carriers, but its download speeds dipped since March, decreasing from 20.0 Mbps to 17.7 Mbps.
Average download and upload speeds by carrier
AT&T: 17.7 Mbps download/10.8 Mbps upload
T-Mobile: 15.7 Mbps download/7.6 Mbps upload
Verizon: 14.2 Mbps download/8.0 Mbps upload
Sprint: 5.2 Mbps download/2.9 Mbps upload
Data speeds affect how quickly consumers can perform various tasks online. For example, in an ideal situation, uploading medium-sized pictures (1 MB) to Facebook or other online albums typically takes 25 to 45 seconds on average at speeds below 3.0 Mbps. At speeds above 6.0 Mbps, uploading a similar picture generally takes less than 1 second.
You’ve got mail — how long does it take to get it?
RootMetrics measured the average time it took each carrier to download a set of 10 emails. AT&T and T-Mobile had the fastest time in Dallas, at 2.8 seconds, with Verizon shortly behind at 3.4 seconds. Dallas residents using Sprint, however, might have to wait a bit longer than those on other networks for emails to download, with the carrier recording an average of 5.3 seconds.
Making the call
Making calls on any of the four networks in Dallas should be a smooth experience, but AT&T and Verizon shared the RootScore Award in the category. Both carriers had stellar, statistically comparable call failure rates below 0.3% on average. Approximately 1 in 300 calls would fail (drop or block) at this rate.
Text me
Dallas has plenty of fast and reliable options for texting. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon tied for the most reliable texting performance in Dallas, with failure rates at 0.1% or lower. All four carriers delivered texts in less than 10 seconds at least 97% of the time.
Over 76,000 tests in Dallas
To evaluate the mobile experience in the Dallas area, RootMetrics conducted 76,758 call, data, and text tests on the networks of AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon during all hours of the day and night from October 25 – November 1, 2013. The tests were conducted using the RootMetrics RootScout app running on Android-based, off-the-shelf consumer smartphones purchased from carrier stores. Tests were conducted both indoors (at 107 locations) and outdoors during drive tests (covering 3,405 miles). Mobile performance varies depending on where people live, work, or otherwise spend time. Because a variety of factors can influence performance, examples that show what data speeds mean while performing various mobile activities are a general look at data speeds for illustrative purposes and aren’t specific to Dallas. For details about the results, see the methodology section of the online report.
About RootMetrics™
RootMetrics®, based in Bellevue, WA, is an independent mobile analytics firm that offers insights into the consumer mobile experience. With its downloadable CoverageMap app for Android or iOS, RootScore Reports for 125 U.S. markets, and an online CoverageMap, RootMetrics provides data on carrier performance to the public to help people make more informed mobile decisions. To ensure that RootMetrics testing reflects real-world mobile usage, testing is conducted based on where, when, and how consumers use their devices most often.
Ann Marie Ricard, Rootmetrics, +1 (206) 683-0552, [email protected]
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