With just a handful of markets still to test, Verizon dominates AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint in RootMetrics network performance testing through first half of the year

Updated to clarify current results don’t necessarily signify final rankings

With just a few days of testing still to go, Verizon Wireless looks set to again dominate in terms of top metro market rankings in the latest bi-annual network testing regime conducted by RootMetrics.

With 114 of its planned 125 markets in the books, Verizon Wireless has a top or share of a top ranking in 89 markets tested through the first half of this year. The domination continues the latest testing trend seen earlier this year, when through three months and 52 markets tested the carrier had a top ranking or share of a top ranking in 40 markets.

AT&T Mobility maintained its No. 2 position in the RootMetrics testing in terms of specific market placings, though its lead over No. 3 carrier T-Mobile US looks to be dwindling. AT&T Mobility currently has a top ranking or share of a top ranking in 50 of the 114 markets tested so far, building on the 24 top or share of top rankings from earlier in the year. However, T-Mobile US is currently sitting on a top ranking or share of a top ranking in 33 markets, which is well ahead of the 12 markets it topped at the end of the first quarter. No word yet on how T-Mobile US CEO John Legere will take the latest RootMetrics results, as he has a history of downplaying the company’s methodology in favor of other network testing sources that show a better comparative for the carrier.

Sprint continues to pull up the rear in RootMetrics testing, with the carrier currently sitting on a top ranking or share of a top ranking in six markets. It could be noted the carrier has shown some progress through the first half of the year as it was at just two markets at the end of the first quarter, though it also looks set to lose the No. 3 position it garnered for the second half of last year to rival T-Mobile US.

Despite a top ranking across the vast majority of metro markets tested so far, RootMetrics also takes into account state and national level testing in granting its overall National Report ranking, thus the metro testing so far is not indicative of where Verizon Wireless or the other carriers will end up in the final report. RootMetrics typically tests mobile network performance both indoors and outdoors across 125 markets, and across five metrics: network reliability, network speed, data performance, call performance and text performance. The company is expected to release its full findings and scores for the first half of this year sometime in August.

Julie Dey, VP at RootMetrics, recently explained the company’s testing methodology in an interview for the RCR Wireless News Carrier Wrap show.

Verizon Wireless came out on top of RootMetrics last complete nationwide ranking, garnering a score of 94.5 across all 125 markets the firm tested for the second half of 2015. AT&T Mobility came in at No. 2 in those tests with a 91.3 score, followed by Sprint with a score of 86 and T-Mobile US with a score of 80.9. Verizon Wireless also topped RootMetrics’ first half of 2015 results, though in those results was No. 2 to AT&T Mobility in text performance.

The RootMetrics results were the basis for a Verizon Wireless advertising campaign that included colored balls representing the number of markets it topped in rankings as compared to its rivals. Some of those rivals, however, took that campaign to question the results.

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