Want to Know Which Mobile Network Is the Best? RootMetrics Settles the Score
LONDON, March 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
First-ever national UK study gives consumers unparalleled insight on differences between networks
Independent mobile analytics firm RootMetrics® (http://www.rootmetrics.co.uk) today announced the results of its UK RootScore® Report, a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive report on mobile performance across the UK. Offering an unbiased, transparent characterisation of UK mobile performance from a consumer's perspective, the company found that the major UK networks provide hugely varying levels of service across the UK.
During its UK-wide testing, RootMetrics collected more than 840,000 samples, which is approximately one sample for every 100 mobile phone contracts in the UK. Visiting all four UK nations, the company drove more than 23,000 miles - the equivalent of driving from Land's End to John O'Groats 27 times. Focused on representing the consumer experience, RootMetrics used off-the-shelf mobile phones to test outdoors, during driving, and at more than 1,000 indoor locations.
"These results give UK consumers and businesses the most accurate view of mobile performance in the UK that has ever been made available. From nation to neighbourhood, people now have access to data showing them the best network in their area," said RootMetrics CEO and President Bill Moore. "No other study of this size and scale for mobile performance has ever been carried out before in the UK, and it has, for the first time, shown consumers the true services they are receiving from their network provider."
The UK-wide report provides a full breakdown of how each network performed across mobile internet, call, and text testing, as well as a summary view of which network was the fastest and which was the most reliable.
UK Report Findings
EE's early rollout of 4G paid big dividends. EE won every RootScore Award, whilst also finishing first in the RootMetrics Reliability and Speed Indices. Three stood out for its strong, second-place showing in the reliability results, while Vodafone trailed markedly in this category.
Overall Performance
Rank Network RootScore(R)
1 EE 84.6
2 Three 73.5
3 O2 66.5
4 Vodafone 52.4
Call
Rank Network RootScore(R)
1 EE 86.3
2 O2 79.2
3 Three 76.3
4 Vodafone 66.6
Mobile Internet
Rank Network RootScore(R)
1 EE 81.0
2 Three 67.1
3 O2 48.4
4 Vodafone 30.2
Text
Rank Network RootScore(R)
1 EE 93.0
2 O2 90.8
3 Three 90.4
4 Vodafone 88.3
Network Reliability
Rank Network Index Score
1 EE 77.7
2 Three 74.2
3 O2 59.1
4 Vodafone 40.2
Network Speed
Rank Network Index Score
1 EE 102.4
2 O2 75.9
3 Vodafone 72.9
4 Three 69.0
RootMetrics also compared network performance within each of the four UK nations. As at the UK level, EE led the way in the overall nation-by-nation RootScore results. EE and Three again proved to be the most reliable networks, with particularly strong reliability performances in Northern Ireland.
Overall Performance
RootScore Award
Nation Winner(s) RootScore(R)
England EE 82.4
Northern
Ireland EE 86.3
Scotland EE 78.0
Wales EE & Three 73.1 and 70.7
Network Reliability - England
Rank Network Index Score
1 EE 74.1
2 Three 68.7
3 O2 51.3
4 Vodafone 27.4
Network Reliability - Northern Ireland
Rank Network Index Score
1 Three 82.7
1 EE 82.3
3 O2 51.3
4 Vodafone 37.7
Network Reliability - Scotland
Rank Network Index Score
1 EE 74.6
1 Three 71.3
3 O2 44.0
Vodafone *
* Below minimum performance threshold
Network Reliability - Wales
Rank Network Index Score
1 Three 82.7
1 EE 82.3
O2 *
Vodafone *
* Below minimum performance threshold
Network Speed - England
Rank Network Index Score
1 EE 103.7
2 O2 76.7
3 Three 72.5
4 Vodafone 68.7
Network Speed - Northern Ireland
Rank Network Index Score
1 EE 94.6
2 Three 73.1
3 O2 67.0
4 Vodafone 66.5
Network Speed - Scotland
Rank Network Index Score
1 EE 83.0
2 Vodafone 70.0
3 Three 68.9
4 O2 68.0
Network Speed - Wales
Rank Network Index Score
1 EE 79.4
2 O2 67.1
3 Three 66.6
4 Vodafone 62.4
Summarising the Results
Bringing together results and insights from its UK, UK-Nations, and Metro RootScore Reports, the company also announced its first-ever Mobile Performance Review. In addition to a look at UK-wide performance, the article provides consumers with a summary of nation-by-nation and metro results, with EE again performing strongly.
Connecting the dots across all levels of mobile performance, the new report provides consumers a complete picture of the current mobile landscape. (http://www.rootmetrics.com/state-of-the-mobile-union-2014-uk).
The company also offers consumers an online CoverageMap that combines professional and crowdsourced results down to the street level, and a free app that allows people to test performance for themselves. Taken together, the RootMetrics suite of products lets consumers find the insights that are most relevant to their individualized needs.
About RootMetrics
RootMetrics is an independent company that, via its website and free smartphone application, provides free, unbiased maps and reports on mobile network performance across the UK.
Using professional testers, RootMetrics measures network coverage, mobile internet speeds, and call success and failure rates for all of the major operators across all major cities and towns. A free-to-download mobile phone application allows consumers to view coverage near them and upload their own test results whether they are in an area that has been professionally tested or not. All of this information is put into easy-to-read on-line maps giving mobile phone users all the information they need to make informed decisions about the mobile phone company that's right for them.
Press contacts
Jess Ballinger
+44(0)20-7025-6493 / +44(0)7709-809709
Jessica.ballinger@redconsultancy.com
rootmetricsteam@redconsultancy.com
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