Root Wireless, a start-up company chaired by former AT&T Wireless exec Scott Anderson, has conducted a study of 7 major US cities and found that AT&T Wireless has the fastest wireless network in several major US cities. According to Network World:
Root Wireless conducted the study by testing out 3G connectivity in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., and it found that AT&T’s average 3G downlink speed beat out Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile in all seven markets.
Overall, AT&T’s average 3G data speeds ranged from a low of 246Kbps in New York and a high of 428Kbps in Dallas. Verizon, meanwhile, had average 3G speeds ranging from 195Kbps in Seattle to 259Kbps in Chicago. The study also found that both carriers had comparably low rates of 3G connectivity failure, as each carrier’s connection failure averaged between 1% and 3% for all seven cities. Sprint fared poorly in this particular category, as the carrier experienced data connection failures of 11% or higher in all seven markets.
AT&T Wireless has been under a barrage of criticism lately, including a Consumer Reports study that said it has the lowest customer satisfaction rate of all 4 major network carries and a PC World study that concluded its network was slower than Verizon and had the least reliable network. It also has been under a marketing attack by Verizon through a series of television ads:
Root Wireless, the company that conducted the survey, describes itself as
“…a team of wireless industry veterans with the vision to provide accurate and timely data on wireless network and consumer phone performance. We deliver a full spectrum of solutions via the Root Coverage wireless intelligence system. Root Coverage provides robust reporting on the many different Key Performance Indicators including signal strength, data speed and network latency. Objective data on network performance is displayed in a new and friendly way. Now publishers and retailers can give the power of choice to consumers to make informed decisions about their wireless carrier and phone purchases.”
An example of their services can be found at CNET, where a online tool lets you view wireless network strength from major networks in your area.