New RootMetrics Mobile Performance Report for Atlanta: T-Mobile Heats Up the Competition with Verizon

BELLEVUE, Wash., April 30, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new report from RootMetrics®, an IHS Markit company and the gold standard for mobile performance benchmarking, reveals Verizon and T-Mobile take the lead when it comes to consumer mobile experience in Atlanta. According to the latest 1st Half 2018 Atlanta Metro RootScore Report, Verizon and T-Mobile tie for the award for Overall Performance and Data Performance, while T-Mobile earns the award outright for Network Speed and Verizon earns the award outright for Network Reliability for the second consecutive report.  Sprint also continues to do well in Call Performance, tying for the award with Verizon for the second consecutive report.

Looking at data performance in the metro area, Verizon records the fastest median download and upload speeds at 43.8 Mbps and 22.0 Mbps, respectively, allowing subscribers to download a high-def television show in less than two minutes, and upload a picture to social media in about two seconds. Notably, Verizon saw a big jump in its median download speed from RootMetrics’ last report, increasing from 31.7 Mbps to 43.8 Mbps.

“Verizon and T-Mobile are star performers in Atlanta in the first half 2018 testing,” said Doug King, director of business development at RootMetrics. “While both carriers dominate overall and in data performance, other networks are making clear improvements and ensuring that call and text performance are also not lost in the shuffle. As we see carriers identify new ways to improve networks in Atlanta, we can expect consumers to continue be supported in every way they choose to use their mobile devices.”

This is the fifteenth 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, and web/app tasks. While all four carriers earn high scores in the network reliability category, Verizon takes the outright win. Meanwhile, T-Mobile earns an outright award in network speed for the second consecutive testing period.

Data Performance
The data performance category reflects how well networks perform in downloading and uploading data, and downloading files that approximate loading typical webpages or apps. T-Mobile and Verizon tie for the Data Performance RootScore Award, breaking Verizon’s streak of earning the award outright for the last four reports. Verizon, however, still records the fastest median download and upload speeds in Atlanta at 43.8 Mbps and 22.0 Mbps, respectively. AT&T also made improvements when it comes to data speed increasing its median upload speed from 8.5 Mbps to 11.1 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. Verizon and Sprint share the award for call performance, for the second consecutive report. Meanwhile, all four carriers share the text performance award for the fourth consecutive testing period.

Comprehensive Testing
To evaluate the mobile experience in Atlanta, RootMetrics conducted tests across all hours of the day and night from March 26 through April 3. Using smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors at 251 locations and while driving 4,281 miles. For details about RootMetrics testing, see the methodology section of the RootMetrics website.

About RootMetrics®
RootMetrics®, an IHS Markit company, is an independent mobile analytics firm that measures mobile network performance and offers insights into the consumer mobile experience. RootMetrics provides data on mobile network performance to help the networks improve and give consumers an end-to-end look at mobile performance. 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. 

© 2017 RootMetrics. All rights reserved. 

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