Verizon Revealed as Overall Mobile Performance Winner in Washington, D.C.

BELLEVUE, WA, WASH., Dec. 10, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, RootMetrics®, the standard for independent mobile performance testing, released its latest report revealing Verizon as the Overall Performance winner in the Washington, D.C., metro area. For the past four consecutive testing periods, this award was held by both Verizon and T-Mobile, but during this round of testing T-Mobile fell about one point behind the first-place winner. According to the 2nd Half 2015 Washington, D.C. Area Metro RootScore Report, Verizon also shared awards in both Network Reliability and Call Performance.

Although T-Mobile was knocked out of first place in the Overall Performance category, the carrier won outright first-place awards in both Network Speed and Data Performance. Furthermore, in the latest report from RootMetrics, an IHS (NYSE: IHS) company, T-Mobile also recorded some of the fastest speeds in all of Washington, D.C. The other two carriers also made significant strides during this round of testing, with Sprint sharing awards with Verizon for Network Reliability and Call Performance, while AT&T won outright in the Text Performance category.

"Our latest rankings in Washington, D.C. revealed a close race for the top spot in Overall Performance, with all four carriers scoring within 2.5 points of each other," said Julie Dey, RootMetrics vice president. "Furthermore, the carriers' excellent scores in Network Reliability mean mobile users can depend on highly reliable service in the Washington, D.C. metro area."

This is the tenth time RootMetrics has tested the mobile networks in Washington, D.C. RootScore Reports provide a scientific, independent, consumer-focused assessment of mobile network performance.
 
The final RootMetrics Overall Performance RootScore rankings for the Washington, D.C.:
 
1 – Verizon (97.4)
2 – T-Mobile (96.3)
3 – Sprint (95.3)
3 – AT&T (95.0)
 
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.

In Washington, D.C., Verizon and Sprint shared the award for Network Reliability; however, all four carriers earned excellent scores above 97.7. As for Network Speed, T-Mobile claimed the top spot for the fifth consecutive testing period. This is the only category in which a carrier scored below 90.0, with AT&T and Sprint at 84.9 and 84.0, respectively.

Network Reliability rankings:
1 – Verizon (99.2)
1 – Sprint (98.7)
3 – AT&T (98.0)
3 – T-Mobile (97.8)
 
Network Speed rankings:
1 – T-Mobile (92.9)
2 – Verizon (92.0)
3 – AT&T (84.9)
3 – Sprint (84.0)
 
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.
 
For the third time in a row, T-Mobile claimed the Data Performance RootScore award in Washington, D.C. The carrier also recorded the fastest median upload speed at 17.2 Mbps during this round of testing; at this speed you could expect to upload or email a photo in about two seconds. Notably, all four networks recorded the fastest median download speeds, ranging between 11.2 Mbps and 14.4 Mbps, meaning you could expect to download a song on any network in about four seconds or less.
 
Data Performance rankings:
1 – T-Mobile (96.9)
2 – Verizon (96.4)
3 – AT&T (93.3)
3 – Sprint (93.0)
 
Call and Text Performance
Verizon and Sprint shared the award for Call Performance, an award previously shared by Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. This marks the first time Sprint has won or shared this award in almost four years. Meanwhile, AT&T took the Text Performance RootScore award, which was previously held by T-Mobile for two consecutive periods.

Call Performance rankings:
1 – Verizon (98.8)
1 – Sprint (98.1)
3 – AT&T (96.7)
4 – T-Mobile (95.2)
 
Text Performance rankings:
1 – AT&T (99.2)
2 – T-Mobile (98.2)
2 – Sprint (97.9)
2 – Verizon (97.9)
 
Comprehensive Testing
To evaluate the mobile experience in Washington, D.C., RootMetrics performed 38,266 call, data and text tests across all hours of the day and night from Nov. 3 through Nov. 10. Using smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors at 68 locations, outdoors and while driving 1,810 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.