Verizon Reigns in Houston, Sweeping Mobile Performance Awards in New RootMetrics Report

BELLEVUE, Wash., June 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A new report from RootMetrics®, an IHS Markit company and the gold standard for mobile performance benchmarking, reveals that Verizon was undefeated across all award categories for the fifth consecutive testing period in Houston. According to the latest 1st Half 2018 Houston Metro RootScore Report, Verizon earns outright wins in five out of six categories, including overall performance, network reliability, network speed, data performance, and call performance.

While Verizon remains on top when it comes to data performance in Houston, T-Mobile is heating up the competition. Both T-Mobile and Verizon record the fastest median download speeds at 21.2 Mbps and 22.4 Mbps, respectively, allowing a subscriber to download a high-definition TV show in about four minutes. Meanwhile, T-Mobile also records the fastest median upload speed at 17.3 Mbps, allowing a subscriber to upload a picture to social media in about two seconds.

"Our latest report showcases Verizon's dedication to ensuring a solid mobile experience in Houston, sweeping our network performance awards for five straight reports," said Doug King, director of business development at RootMetrics. "Luckily for mobile users in Houston, all of the carriers are making network reliability a top priority, with excellent scores across the board. It's clear that the carriers are continuing to invest in network improvements in Houston, allowing consumers to use their smartphone whenever, however."

This is the fifteenth time RootMetrics has tested the mobile networks in Houston 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, downloading email, and web/app tasks. While all four carriers are neck-in-neck in the network reliability category with excellent scores of 97.6 and above, Verizon takes the outright win for the fourth consecutive report. Verizon also wins the Network Speed RootScore Award outright for the fourth consecutive testing period.

Data Performance

The data performance category reflects how well networks perform in downloading and uploading data, performing email tasks, and downloading files that approximate loading typical webpages or apps. Verizon wins the Data Performance RootScore Award outright for the fourth consecutive testing period. However, T-Mobile and Verizon record the fastest median download speeds at 21.2 Mbps and 22.4 Mbps, respectively. T-Mobile also records the fastest median upload speed at 17.3 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 wins the Call Performance RootScore Award outright, which the carrier previously shared with T-Mobile and AT&T.  Meanwhile, all four carriers share the Text Performance RootScore Award for the fifth consecutive report.

Comprehensive Testing
To evaluate the mobile experience in Houston, RootMetrics conducted tests across all hours of the day and night from May 7 through May 12 Using smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors at 171 locations and while driving 3,349 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.
© 2018 RootMetrics. All rights reserved.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Lori Niquette for RootMetrics
[email protected]
617-779-1800

SOURCE RootMetrics

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