EE retained its position as top-performing operator in the new RootMetrics® 2nd Half 2014 UK Network Performance Review. Collecting over a million samples during the second half of 2014 – one sample for approximately every 65 people in the country, an increase of almost 100,000 samples from its previous report, and building on the most comprehensive study of its kind – RootMetrics found EE earned the highest Overall RootScore Award (89.4). This was followed by Three (86.2), O2 (79.5), and Vodafone (78.8).
During the second half of 2014, RootMetrics drove over 24,000 miles – covering the distance from London to New York and back nearly four times – while testing across the UK. Tests were conducted around the clock, indoors, outdoors, and whilst driving. The RootMetrics 2nd Half 2014 UK Mobile Network Performance Review provides the industry standard for unbiased, comprehensive, and accurate consumer characterisation of major mobile operators’ network performance for the UK as a whole; each of the four UK nations; as well as the 16 largest metro areas.
RootMetrics 2nd Half 2014 UK Mobile Performance Review Findings National (UK-wide) Performance
In individual RootScore categories EE was top – either outright, or as a tie – in all six (Overall, Reliability, Speed, Mobile Internet, Call, and Text) Award categories. Three tied for 1st in Reliability and came in 2nd (outright or tie) in all other categories, notably in Speed. Three also jumped from 4th to 2nd in Call performance (tie). O2 edged for 3rd Overall, 2nd in Call (tie), but dropped to 4th in Mobile Internet and Speed. Vodafone, whilst 4th Overall, moved into 3rd in both Mobile Internet and Speed.
“The networks are all getting better, period. We saw improvements across the board in speed, mobile internet performance, and network reliability,” said RootMetrics CEO and president Bill Moore. “Consumers deserve reliable mobile experience wherever they are, whether they’re making a call, downloading a video, or texting friends. That’s why, in this third time we tested the UK, we went even further into cities, rural communities and on the road to provide the most comprehensive, scientifically sound, and fiercely independent view of mobile coverage available anywhere.”
Nation-by-Nation Performance
RootMetrics also compared network performance within each of the four UK-nations: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Across the UK nations, EE earned top honours (outright, or as a tie) in 20 of 24 cases. Three won or tied three out of four Reliability Awards – more than EE – and came in 1st or 2nd in all categories, increasing its total award count to 10. Meanwhile, Vodafone picked up a Call award in Northern Ireland, and O2 was shut out of 1st place RootScore Awards.
UK Metro Performance
In addition to EE’s strong showings for the entire UK and four UK-nations, it also performed well in the 16 largest metro areas. EE ranked 1st outright in 13 out of 16 markets, tied for 1st place with O2 or Three in the other three metros, and won 91 metro RootScore Awards in total (outright wins and ties, combined). O2 showed more improvement in terms of award wins than any other operator at the metro level, going from 15 total metro awards in H1 2014 to 20 metro awards in H2 2014. Three also performed well in metro markets, winning 27 total metro awards – the second most of any operator – tying for 1st twice in Overall network performance, winning 2nd place outright eight times, tying for 2nd place in five markets, and placing 4th in only one market. Vodafone picked up eight awards, including two 1st place (tied) wins in the Speed category.
Summarising the Results
The RootMetrics 2nd Half 2014 UK Mobile Network Performance Review brings together results and insights from its UK, UK-nations, and Metro RootScore Reports providing consumers with a complete picture of the current mobile landscape in the UK.
RootMetrics also offers consumers an online CoverageMap providing information down to the street level, and free apps on iOS and Android that allow people to test performance for themselves. RootMetrics understands how important mobile performance is to daily life, and mobile consumers can rely on the company to provide information that helps them make more informed mobile decisions.
