Two Carriers Lead the Mobile Performance Pack in San Francisco

BELLEVUE, WA, WASH., Oct. 29, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, RootMetrics®, the standard for independent mobile performance testing, released its latest report from San Francisco that shows two carriers tied for the top spot. Verizon and AT &T shared awards across almost every single category tested according to the 2nd Half 2015 San Francisco Metro RootScore Report. In fact, Network Speed was the only category where Verizon was the sole winner. Verizon and AT &T were the two clear winners when it came to mobile performance in the San Francisco metro area.

This is not the first time these two carriers have earned the top spot in the rankings from RootMetrics, an IHS (NYSE: IHS) company. Both Verizon and AT &T held on the top spot in overall mobile performance and call performance for the second consecutive testing period. This report also marked their fifth consecutive win in Network Reliability showing that when it comes to offering the best possible service, these carriers hold nothing back.
 
"Verizon and AT &T are in a very close race for best mobile performance in San Francisco," said Julie Dey, RootMetrics vice president. "Both carriers were ahead of Sprint and T-Mobile in every category but text performance, which resulted in a four-way tie. In the San Francisco metro area continued competition to provide the best mobile performance is good news for mobile users."
 
This is the ninth time RootMetrics has tested the mobile networks in San Francisco 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 San Francisco:
1 – Verizon (97.0)
1 – AT &T (96.3)
3 – T-Mobile (93.1)
4 – Sprint (91.0)
 
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 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.

When it came to Network Reliability in San Francisco, Verizon and AT &T shared the RootScore Award for the fifth consecutive testing period. Network Speed, on the other hand, resulted in an outright win for Verizon for the first time in San Francisco. Previously, T-Mobile and AT &T shared this award.

Reliability Index rankings:
1 – Verizon (98.3)
1 – AT &T (98.0)
3 – T-Mobile (95.2)
3 – Sprint (94.7)
 
Speed Index rankings:
1 – Verizon (93.6)
2 – AT &T (92.5)
3 – T-Mobile (89.7)
4 – Sprint (79.9)
 
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. Verizon and AT &T shared the top spot for data performance, an award previously held solely by AT &T.
 
When it came to fastest speeds in San Francisco, however, Verizon recorded the fastest median download speed at 21.1 Mbps, while T-Mobile recorded the fastest median upload speed at 15.1 Mbps. Notably, T-Mobile's median download speed decreased from 18.5 Mbps to 12.7 Mbps since the last round of testing in January.
 
Data Performance rankings:
1 – Verizon (96.9)
1 – AT &T (96.8)
3 – T-Mobile (95.0)
4 – Sprint (89.7)
 
Call and Text Performance

The RootScore Award for call performance resulted in a tie between Verizon and AT &T for the second consecutive report. When it came to text performance, all four carriers tied for the top spot, previously shared by only T-Mobile and AT &T for two consecutive periods.

Call Performance rankings:
1 – Verizon (97.0)
1 – AT &T (95.5)
3 – Sprint (91.9)
4 – T-Mobile (90.0)
 
Text Performance rankings:
1 – AT &T (98.5)
1 – Verizon (98.0)
1 – Sprint (97.8)
1 – T-Mobile (97.6)
 
Comprehensive Testing

To evaluate the mobile experience in San Francisco, RootMetrics performed 20,258 call, data and text tests across all hours of the day and night from Sept. 22 through Sept. 28. Using smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors at 36 locations, outdoors and while driving 903 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.