New RootMetrics Report Reveals Shake-Up in Atlanta Mobile Performance Rankings

BELLEVUE, Wash., March 25, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the latest data from RootMetrics®, the standard for independent mobile performance testing, there are big changes and a tight race in Atlanta's mobile performance landscape. In the 1st Half 2016 Atlanta Metro RootScore Report, AT&T and Verizon shared top honors in the Overall Performance category, while the other networks fell less than a point short. In fact every category was neck-and-neck, with fewer than than five points separating first and last places across the board. Additionally, none of the carriers scored below a 90.0 in any of the categories tested, revealing solid network performance throughout Atlanta.

When it came to Network Speed and Data Performance, Verizon took the award from T-Mobile, which held first in these categories after the last round of testing. Verizon also recorded the fastest speeds in all of Atlanta. Meanwhile, each of the other carriers took first place in at least one category of testing in this latest report from RootMetrics, an IHS (NYSE:IHS) company.
 
"In our latest RootScore Report for Atlanta, we noticed some major shifts in our mobile rankings, ultimately revealing excellent reliability and good data speeds for mobile consumers," said Julie Dey, RootMetrics vice president. "Atlanta continues boast some of the best mobile performance in the nation. This is made clear throughout our rankings, where each network earned first-place awards in at least one category, and the rankings were close across the board. This competition is great news for mobile consumers in Atlanta."
 
This is the eleventh time RootMetrics has tested the mobile networks in Atlanta 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 Atlanta:
1 – AT&T (98.0)
1 – Verizon (98.0)
3 – T-Mobile (97.5)
3 – Sprint (97.5)
 
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.

Network Reliability resulted in a shared win between Sprint and AT&T, while Verizon and T-Mobile trailed less than a point behind. Mobile users in Atlanta can expect excellent reliability across the mobile networks, with every carrier scoring 98.8 or above in this category. Meanwhile, Network Speed revealed an outright win from Verizon.

Network Reliability rankings:
1 – Sprint (99.5)
1 – AT&T (99.3)
3 – Verizon (99.0)
4 – T-Mobile (98.8)
 
Network Speed rankings:
1 – Verizon (95.3)
2 – AT&T (94.5)
3 – T-Mobile (93.9)
4 – Sprint (90.8)
 
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.
 
In Atlanta, the carriers exhibited good scores in Data Performance. While Verizon earned first place outright, the other carriers trailed by two points or less. Verizon recorded the fastest median download and upload speeds in Atlanta at 33.3 Mbps and 23.6 Mbps, respectively.
 
Data Performance rankings:
1 – Verizon (98.0)
2 – AT&T (97.7)
3 – T-Mobile (97.3)
4 – Sprint (96.0)
 
Call and Text Performance
For the very first time in Atlanta, Sprint earned first place outright in Call Performance, with the carrier not recording any dropped calls during testing. Meanwhile, Text Performance resulted in a three-way tie between AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. During the previous round of testing, all four carriers shared the Text RootScore Award.

Call Performance rankings:
1 – Sprint (99.5)
2 – AT&T (98.3)
2 – Verizon (97.7)
2 – T-Mobile (97.6)
 
Text Performance rankings:
1 – AT&T (99.6)
1 – T-Mobile (99.6)
1 – Verizon (99.4)
4 – Sprint (98.3)
 
Comprehensive Testing
To evaluate the mobile experience in Atlanta, RootMetrics performed 82,224 call, data, and text tests across all hours of the day and night from Feb. 21 through Feb. 28. Using smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors at 126 locations and while driving 5,864 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.