Verizon Takes the Lead in San Francisco, Sweeping Mobile Performance Awards

BELLEVUE, Wash., March 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RootMetrics®, the standard for independent mobile performance testing, today released its latest results from San Francisco and they are noticeably different from the last round of testing. In the newest 1st Half 2016 San Francisco Metro RootScore Report, Verizon took first place outright in Overall Performance while also sweeping awards across every other category tested. RootMetrics' previous report from the 2nd Half of 2015 had Verizon and AT&T sharing awards across almost every category. This time around, the only category in which Verizon did not take first place outright was Text Performance, where the carrier shared top honors with T-Mobile and AT&T.

While Verizon earned awards across the board, the other carriers weren't far behind in this latest report from RootMetrics, an IHS (NYSE:IHS) company. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint shared a close second-place in Network Reliability and Call Performance, and AT&T and T-Mobile tied for second in Overall Performance, Network Speed, and Data Performance.
 
"San Francisco continues to be a highly competitive market for mobile carriers, which is good news for consumers," said Julie Dey, RootMetrics vice president. "After sharing first place with Verizon across almost every category in September, AT&T is now a close runner-up, sharing second place with T-Mobile in five of six categories. This ongoing competition means mobile consumers in San Francisco are the real winners, and the prize is solid mobile network performance."
 
This is the tenth time RootMetrics has tested the mobile networks in San Francisco and issued its findings for the metro area. RootScore Reports provide a scientific, independent, consumer-focused assessment of mobile network performance.
 
The final RootMetrics Overall Performance RootScore rankings for San Francisco:
1 – Verizon (98.0)
2 – T-Mobile (96.3)
2 – AT&T (95.4)
4 – Sprint (94.1)
 
RootScores are on a scale of 0 to 100. A good Overall RootScore means strong all-around performance and a good consumer experience.
 
Mobile Performance You Can Depend on
Reliability and speed are crucial to a consistently good 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.

In San Francisco, Verizon took first place outright for Network Reliability, with T-Mobile, Sprint, and AT&T close behind in second place. Meanwhile, Network Speed resulted in a first place win by Verizon for the second consecutive period. AT&T and T-Mobile shared second place in this category, while Sprint trailed about 10 points behind the rest.

Network Reliability rankings:
1 – Verizon (99.4)
2 – T-Mobile (98.0)
2 – Sprint (97.8)
2 – AT&T (97.1)
 
Network Speed rankings:
1 – Verizon (93.3)
2 – AT&T (92.1)
2 – T-Mobile (92.0)
4 – Sprint (82.3)
 
Data Performance
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.
 
Verizon earned first place outright for Data Performance in San Francisco, recording the fastest median download speed at 19.6 Mbps. At this speed, downloading a high-definition TV show would take about four minutes. Meanwhile, T-Mobile recorded the fastest median upload speed at 12.9 Mbps, which means it would take less than four seconds to send a picture on the network.
 
Data Performance rankings:
1 – Verizon (97.0)
2 – T-Mobile (96.5)
2 – AT&T (96.5)
4 – Sprint (92.2)
 
Call and Text Performance
In San Francisco, Verizon took the top spot for Call Performance, an award previously held by both Verizon and AT&T. Text Performance, on the other hand, resulted in a three-way tie between T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon.

Call Performance rankings:
1 – Verizon (99.2)
2 – Sprint (96.2)
2 – T-Mobile (95.6)
2 – AT&T (93.6)
 
Text Performance rankings:
1 – T-Mobile (99.3)
1 – AT&T (98.5)
1 – Verizon (98.5)
4 – Sprint (98.1)
 
Comprehensive Testing
To evaluate the mobile experience in San Francisco, RootMetrics performed 20,166 call, data, and text tests across all hours of the day and night from Feb. 21 through Feb. 27. Using smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors at 33 locations and while driving 1,172 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 the nation, states, metro areas, airports, campuses, venues, and transit stations, 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.