Mobile Networks Provide Increasingly Fast Speeds, Reliable Performance in Atlanta

BELLEVUE, WASH., March 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to RootMetrics®, an IHS Markit (Nasdaq: INFO) company, mobile carriers are working to offer a strong mobile experience for consumers in Atlanta, evidenced by especially close races in the Network Reliability and Data Performance categories. Sprint makes impressive strides in the latest 1st Half 2017 Atlanta Metro RootScore Report, taking the Network Reliability and Call Performance awards outright while Verizon earns outright awards in Network Speed and Data Performance, both for the third consecutive time. T-Mobile is now tied with Verizon in the Overall Performance category.

Verizon takes the lead in Data Performance, but the other mobile carriers are making strides in this category. In fact, the latest report from RootMetrics, the independent source for real-world mobile performance comparison, shows improvement by all carriers in their median download speeds – especially important for consumers who rely heavily on mobile data. Sprint and T-Mobile show the biggest half-over-half improvements in this area, while Verizon clocked a blazing fast 41.6 Mbps median download speed in Atlanta.

"Our latest testing reveals that consumers in the Atlanta can expect a strong mobile experience throughout the metro area," said Annette Hamilton, RootMetrics director. "T-Mobie and Sprint made the biggest speed gains while all carriers recorded median download speeds faster than 18 Mbps – plenty fast for you to accomplish most of mobile tasks. This suggests all the mobile carriers are working hard to provide their Atlanta customers with solid mobile performance."

This is the thirteenth time RootMetrics has tested the mobile networks in Atlanta and issued findings for the metro area. RootScore Reports provide a scientific, independent, consumer-focused assessment of mobile network performance.

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.
 
Sprint takes first place outright in Network Reliability, which is an award the carrier previously shared with AT&T and Verizon during the last round of testing. Meanwhile, Verizon takes an outright win in Network Speed for the third consecutive testing period.
 
Data Performance
The Data Performance category reflects how well networks perform in downloading and uploading data, performing email tasks, and downloading files that approximate loading typical webpages or apps.
 
Verizon earns an outright win in the Data Performance category, which is an award the carrier has won for three consecutive testing periods. Verizon recorded the fastest median download speed at 41.6 Mbps,meaning consumers in Atlanta can download a high-definition TV show in less than two minutes. Meanwhile, T-Mobile recorded the fastest median upload speed at 23.7 Mbps.
 
Call and Text Performance
Call and text capabilities are fundamental to a strong mobile experience. Call Performance testing is based on how reliably each network can place and maintain calls, while Text Performance measures how reliably and quickly consumers can send and receive text messages.
 
Sprint takes the top spot outright in Call Performance, which marks the third consecutive win for the carrier. Meanwhile, all four carriers share the Text Performance RootScore Award for the second consecutive testing period.
 
Comprehensive Testing
To evaluate the mobile experience in Atlanta, RootMetrics conducted tests across all hours of the day and night from February 12 through February 21. Using smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors at 274 locations and while driving 6,049 miles. For details about RootMetrics testing, see the methodology section of the RootMetrics website.

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