T-Mobile Gains Ground in Tight Race, Sweeping the Mobile Performance Awards in Kansas City

Bellevue, WA, June 19, 2017 -- According to RootMetrics®, the independent source for real-world mobile performance comparison, T-Mobile sweeps the RootScore Awards in Kansas City after sharing four awards during the last round of testing. This marks the first time since RootMetrics began testing in the metro area that T-Mobile has taken top honors, outright or in a tie, across all six mobile performance award categories. The latest 1st Half 2017 Kansas City Metro RootScore Report shows T-Mobile claiming three RootScore Awards outright, including wins in network speed and data performance.

When it comes to data performance in Kansas City, T-Mobile and AT&T improve their median download speeds from the previous half, and T-Mobile records the fastest speeds in the metro area.  Specifically, the carrier records the fastest median download speed at 29.4 Mbps, meaning subscribers can download a high-definition TV show in less than three minutes, as well as the fastest median upload speed at 16.3 Mbps, meaning uploading a photo to social media would take about two seconds.

“Our latest report shows the mobile performance competition in Kansas City is red hot, with significant strides from the networks,” said Annette Hamilton, RootMetrics director. “Substantial data speed improvements suggest carriers are continuing to make important investments in the metro area, and mobile consumers have solid carrier options depending on how they use their mobile devices most.”

This is the thirteenth time RootMetrics has tested the mobile networks in Kansas City 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. All four carriers perform well in network reliability, but T-Mobile and Sprint ultimately share the Network Reliability RootScore Award. Meanwhile, T-Mobile claims the Network Speed Award outright. 

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. T-Mobile claims the Data Performance RootScore Award outright for the first time since RootMetrics began testing in Kansas City, with the fastest median download and upload speeds of 29.4 Mbps and 16.3 Mbps, respectively. This means Verizon subscribers can download a high-definition TV show in less than three minutes and upload a photo to social media in around two seconds.

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. T-Mobile and Sprint tie for the Call Performance RootScore Award, while the text performance category results in a four-way tie for the fourth consecutive time.

Comprehensive Testing

To evaluate the mobile experience in Kansas City, RootMetrics conducted tests across all hours of the day and night from May 10 through May 18. Using smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors at 59 locations and while driving 1,538 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. 

© 2017 RootMetrics. All rights reserved. 

###

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8cfc1657-370b-448c-8cb2-0d191d0fbba3

Lori Niquette
RootMetrics
617-779-1800
[email protected]