RootMetrics Report: Verizon Named Top-performing Network in New York City for Fifth Consecutive Time
Bellevue, Wash. (PRWEB) December 19, 2013 -- Verizon has clinched the title of top-performing network in New York City for the fifth consecutive time, but the recent launch of LTE service from both T-Mobile and Sprint accounted for faster data speeds for those carriers compared to testing in March 2013. In fact, T-Mobile ranked highest on the RootMetrics Network Speed Index.
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.
Verizon had the strongest overall results in New York City and the Tri-State Area, securing 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 New York City and the Tri-State Area:
1 – Verizon (94.8)
1 – AT&T (92.7)
3 – T-Mobile (90.9)
4 – Sprint (80.0)
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 New York City and the Tri-State Area.
Verizon ranked highest in network reliability and T-Mobile had the highest rank in network speed.
Reliability Index rankings:
1 – Verizon (96.1)
2 – AT&T (93.8)
3 – T-Mobile (88.6)
4 – Sprint (79.9)
Speed Index rankings:
1 – T-Mobile (92.7)
2 – Verizon (89.6)
3 – AT&T (86.6)
4 – Sprint (69.1)
“Verizon has consistently delivered a strong performance in the New York City area, but T-Mobile is shaking things up with an impressive increase in data speeds thanks to its recent LTE rollout,” said Bill Moore, RootMetrics CEO. “The choices for consumers are getting better in New York, and that’s good news.”
T-Mobile and Sprint Gain Data Speed in New York City and the Tri-State Area
While Verizon earned the top spot in the data category, T-Mobile and Sprint registered improved data speeds since the last round of testing in March 2013. T-Mobile’s average download speed rose from 8.4 Mbps to 13.6 Mbps, and its average upload speed increased an amazing five-fold, from 1.7 Mbps to 8.5 Mbps. Sprint’s average download speed jumped from 2.1 Mbps to 3.7 Mbps, and its average upload speed jumped from 0.7 Mbps to 2.1 Mbps.
Average download and upload speeds by carrier
Verizon: 13.9 Mbps download/6.9 Mbps upload
T-Mobile: 13.6 Mbps download/8.5 Mbps upload
AT&T: 12.3 Mbps download/5.5 Mbps upload
Sprint: 3.7 Mbps download/2.1 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. T-Mobile was fastest in the category with an average time of 2.4 seconds, but AT&T and Verizon were immediately behind, at 2.5 and 2.6 seconds, respectively. Residents using Sprint in New York City and the Tri-State Area might have to wait a bit longer than those on other networks for emails to download, with the carrier recording an average time of 5.4 seconds.
Making the call
Making calls on any of the four networks in New York and the Tri-State Area should be a smooth experience. This category was a draw. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon all had strong, and statistically comparable, call failure rates below 0.9% on average. Fewer than 1 in 100 calls would fail (drop or block) at this rate on average.
Text me
There are plenty of fast and reliable options for texting in New York City and the Tri-State Area. With send failure rates below 0.5% on average, all four networks provided reliable texting services during testing. Each carrier delivered texts in less than 10 seconds at least 96% of the time.
More than 124,000 tests in New York City and the Tri-State Area
To evaluate the mobile experience in the New York City and the Tri-State Area, RootMetrics conducted 124,601 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 November 18 – November 26, 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 125 locations) and outdoors during drive tests (covering 6,625 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 New York City and the Tri-State Area. 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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