Bell, Rogers Share Top Overall Honors in Toronto

BELLEVUE, Wash., Sept. 15, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The latest testing results from RootMetrics®, the standard for independent mobile network performance information, revealed a tie between Bell and Rogers for overall performance in Toronto. While Bell shared the top spot in all six aspects of mobile performance tested, all three national carriers showed strong mobile performance across categories.

According to the Toronto 2^nd Half 2015 RootScore® Report from RootMetrics, which was recently acquired by IHS Inc., Bell, Rogers and Telus received high RootScores of at least 94 out of 100 across the board, while WIND fell behind in almost every category of testing.
 
RootScore Reports provide a scientific, independent, consumer-focused assessment of mobile network performance. The Toronto report is part of RootMetrics' expanded mobile testing across Canada and follows recently released results from Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Quebec City, Winnipeg, and Ottawa. With the Canadian mobile landscape undergoing major changes, RootMetrics is releasing RootScore Reports for the eight largest metro areas in Canada this year. Those metro results will also be included in a national report based on the most comprehensive measurement of mobile performance ever conducted in Canada.
 
The final RootMetrics Overall Performance RootScore rankings for Toronto:
 
1 – Bell (98.3) 
1 – Rogers (98.0)
3 – Telus (96.9)
4 – WIND (75.4)
 
RootScores are on a scale of 0 to 100. A good Overall RootScore means strong all-around performance and a good consumer experience. 
 
"In this latest round of testing in Toronto, we saw excellent mobile performance across the three national carriers in the metro area," said Julie Dey, RootMetrics vice president. "Although these three carriers remained in a close race in every category tested, WIND lagged far behind the others in all but text performance. For the most part, consumers in Toronto should experience strong mobile performance across the national carriers, but when it comes to choosing a network, they should consider what mobile tasks are most important to them. "
 
Mobile Performance You Can Depend on
 
Reliability and speed are crucial to a quality mobile experience. RootMetrics indicates performance in these key areas with its Network Reliability category, a combination of results from data, call and text tests, and its Network Speed category, which examines results across testing of data transfers, downloading email and web/app tasks.
Rogers and Bell shared the award for Network Reliability, while Bell and Telus came out on top in the Network Speed category. In both categories, however, the third-place winner closely trailed the top two.
 
Network Reliability rankings:
 
1 – Rogers (99.1)
1 – Bell (98.8)
3 – Telus (97.5)
4 – WIND (83.1)
 
Network Speed rankings:
 
1 – Bell (97.8)
1 – Telus (97.3)
3 – Rogers (96.0)
4 – WIND (54.6)
 
Data Performance: Fast Speeds from Three National Carriers
 
Data Performance RootScores reflect how well networks perform in downloading and uploading data, performing email tasks, and downloading files that approximate loading typical webpages or apps. Bell and Telus shared the top spot, with Rogers right behind.
 
Bell and Rogers recorded statistically comparable fastest median download speeds at 39.1 Mbps and 41.8 Mbps, respectively. At 41.8 Mbps, you could download a TV show in less than 2 minutes. Meanwhile, at WIND's median download speed of 2.8 Mbps, the same task would take more than 28 minutes.
 
Bell and Telus recorded statistically comparable fastest median upload speeds at 22.6 Mbps and 23.8 Mbps, respectively. At 23.8 Mbps, it would take around 3 seconds to upload a short video to social media, while it would take more than 70 seconds at WIND's median upload speed of 0.9 Mbps.
 
Data Performance rankings:
 
1 – Bell (98.9)
1 – Telus (98.5)
3 – Rogers (98.4)
4 – WIND (74.5)
 
Call and Text Performance 
 
Again, awards in both the call and text categories in Toronto were divided among the top three national carriers. Rogers and Bell shared the award for call performance, while Bell and Telus came out on top in the text category. 
 
Notably, the text performance category was the only one in which WIND scored above 90.0, leaving the carrier not far behind the others.
 
Call Performance rankings:
 
1 – Rogers (97.9)
1 – Bell (97.5)
3 – Telus (94.5)
4 –WIND (74.6)
 
Text Performance rankings:
 
1 – Bell (98.5)
1 – Telus (97.9)
3 – Rogers (95.4)
4 – WIND (92.1)
 
Comprehensive Testing

To evaluate the mobile experience in Toronto, RootMetrics performed 23,154 call, data and text tests across all hours of the day and night from Aug. 10 through Aug. 18. Using smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors at 38 locations, outdoors and while driving about 1,482 km, or about 921 miles. For details about RootMetrics testing, see the methodology section of the RootMetrics website.
 
About RootMetrics®

RootMetrics® is an independent mobile analytics firm that offers insights into the consumer mobile experience. RootMetrics provides data on mobile network performance to help people make more informed mobile decisions. RootMetrics offers its RootScore® Report series for nations, states, metro areas, airports, venues, transit centers, retail areas, and campuses, as well as its downloadable CoverageMap app. To ensure that RootMetrics testing reflects real-world mobile usage, testing is conducted based on where, when and how consumers use their smartphones most often.  
 
About IHS

IHS (NYSE: IHS) is the leading source of insight, analytics and expertise in critical areas that shape today's business landscape. Businesses and governments in more than 150 countries around the globe rely on the comprehensive content, expert independent analysis and flexible delivery methods of IHS to make high-impact decisions and develop strategies with speed and confidence. IHS has been in business since 1959 and became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange in 2005. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, USA, IHS is committed to sustainable, profitable growth and employs about 8,800 people in 32 countries around the world.
 
###