BELLEVUE, Wash., Sept. 1, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The first-ever ranking of Winnipeg's mobile networks from RootMetrics®, the standard for independent mobile network performance information, reveals a close race across the board in the metro area. In fact, the top three national carriers shared first place in five of the six categories tested, including network reliability, speed, data, call, and overall performance.
This is the first time RootMetrics, recently acquired by IHS Inc., has tested the mobile networks in Winnipeg. According to the RootScore® Report, all three carriers earned high scores in each category, with no score below 94.6 out of 100. This is good news for mobile consumers in Winnipeg looking for high quality mobile performance.
RootScore Reports provide a scientific, independent, consumer-focused assessment of mobile network performance. The new Winnipeg report is part of RootMetrics' expanded mobile testing across Canada and follows recently-released results from Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, and Quebec City. With the Canadian mobile landscape undergoing major changes, RootMetrics is releasing RootScore Reports for the eight largest metro areas in Canada this year, up from three reports in 2014. 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 Winnipeg:
1 – Bell (97.9)
1 – Rogers (97.3)
1 – Telus (96.9)
RootScores are on a scale of 0 to 100. A good Overall RootScore means strong all-around performance and a good consumer experience.
"Our latest rankings of the mobile networks in Winnipeg show all-around strong mobile performance," said Julie Dey, RootMetrics vice president. "To have all three carriers tie in five out of six tested categories is excellent news for mobile consumers in Winnipeg, and means you really can't go wrong in your choice between the three major national carriers."
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 Index, a combination of results from data, call and text tests, and its Network Speed Index, which examines results across testing of data transfers, downloading email and web/app tasks.
All three carriers tied for first when it came to both network reliability and speed in Winnipeg.
Reliability Index rankings:
1 – Bell (99.0)
1 – Rogers (98.4)
1 – Telus (97.9)
Speed Index rankings:
1 – Telus (94.9)
1 – Bell (94.8)
1 – Rogers (94.6)
Data Performance: Fast Speeds Across 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. Once again, the three national carriers shared the top spot in data speeds with scores of 97.5 across the board.
Bell recorded the fastest median download speed at 19.8 Mbps, while Rogers recorded the fastest median upload speed at 16.5 Mbps.
Data Performance rankings:
1 – Telus (97.5)
1 – Rogers (97.5)
1 – Bell (97.5)
Call and Text Performance
All three carriers received high scores in the call and text categories. Another three-way tie emerged in call performance, with Rogers recording zero dropped calls. Text performance was the only category that did not result in a three-way tie, with Bell and Telus sharing first place. However, it's important to note that Rogers was less than one point behind in this category.
Call Performance rankings:
1 – Bell (98.1)
1 – Rogers (96.9)
1 – Telus (95.7)
Text Performance rankings:
1 – Bell (99.3)
1 – Telus (99.2)
3 – Rogers (98.5)
Comprehensive Testing
To evaluate the mobile experience in Winnipeg, RootMetrics performed 15,042 call, data and text tests across all hours of the day and night from June 11 through June 16. Using smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors at 28 locations, outdoors and while driving about 1,266 km, or 787 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 metropolitan markets, nations, states, airports, and venues, 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.
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CONTACT:Mike Kelly for RootMetrics
rootmetrics@shiftcomm.com
617-779-1800