BELLEVUE, Wash., Sept. 29, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RootMetrics®, the standard for independent mobile network performance information, is out with its latest results from Montreal, and Videotron and Rogers led the way in overall performance. Although Videotron won outright or shared awards in every category, it remains a tight race among all of the major carriers in Montreal, with four-way ties in network reliability, call and text performance.
According to the Montreal 2nd Half 2015 RootScore® Report from RootMetrics, an IHS (NYSE: IHS) company, none of the carriers earned RootScores below 94.5 in any category, showing that the Montreal metro area is a hub for excellent mobile service.
RootScore Reports provide a scientific, independent, consumer-focused assessment of mobile network performance. With the Canadian mobile landscape undergoing major changes, RootMetrics is releasing RootScore Reports for the eight largest metro areas in Canada this year. Montreal is the last metro report from RootMetrics' expanded mobile testing across Canada, following recently released results from Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Quebec City, Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Toronto. All of these 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 Montreal:
1 – Videotron (98.7)
1 – Rogers (98.4)
3 – Bell (97.5)
3 – Telus (97.3)
RootScores are on a scale of 0 to 100. A good Overall RootScore means strong all-around performance and a good consumer experience.
"Our final Canadian metro report for the second half of 2015 revealed remarkable sevice across the Montreal metro area," said Julie Dey, RootMetrics vice president. "All four carriers recorded high scores across the board and half of the tested categories resulted in four-way ties. Mobile users in Montreal can rest assured that whichever carrier they choose, they will not encounter many problems when it comes to mobile service."
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 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 Montreal, all four carriers shared the top spot in the Network Reliability category, while Videotron claimed the award for Network Speed.
Network Reliability rankings:
1 – Rogers (99.1)
1 – Videotron (99.0)
1 – Bell (98.6)
1 – Telus (98.4)
Network Speed rankings:
1 – Videotron (98.2)
2 – Rogers (96.9)
3 – Bell (95.0)
3 – Telus (94.5)
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. Videotron and Rogers came out on top in this category, while Bell and Telus followed closely.
Videotron recorded the fastest median download speed at a lightning-fast 41.0 Mbps, while Rogers recorded the fastest median upload speed at 25.6 Mbps.
Data Performance rankings:
1 – Videotron (98.9)
1 – Rogers (98.5)
3 – Bell (97.8)
4 – Telus (97.4)
Call and Text Performance
Both the call and text categories resulted in four-way ties in Montreal. Notably, Bell had won both of these awards outright during our last round of testing in 2014.
Call Performance rankings:
1 – Videotron (98.5)
1 – Rogers (98.3)
1 – Telus (97.1)
1 – Bell (96.9)
Text Performance rankings:
1 – Telus (99.1)
1 – Bell (98.9)
1 – Rogers (98.4)
1 – Videotron (98.3)
Comprehensive Testing
To evaluate the mobile experience in Montreal, RootMetrics performed 20,046 call, data and text tests across all hours of the day and night from Aug. 20 through Aug. 27. Using smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors at 36 locations, outdoors and while driving about 1,866 km, or about 1,159 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 nations, states, metro areas, airports, venues, transit centers, retail areas, and campuses, 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.
###