Chicago made news as one of the first 5G-enabled cities in the world
when Verizon launched its service in April. But even the best and
fastest 5G service won’t be available at all times, for all users.
Consistent performance on existing 4G LTE networks will be needed as 5G
rolls out to assure the best overall mobile experience for consumers.
Recent testing from RootMetrics
by IHS Markit, the standard for mobile performance benchmarking, shows
that impressive improvements by the carriers in Chicago have created a
strong foundation for 5G networks to build upon.
According to the 1H
2019 Chicago Metro RootScore Report, Verizon dominated the mobile
performance race, sweeping the awards for the third straight testing
period and earning outright wins in overall performance, network
reliability, data and call performance. While Verizon leads the mobile
competition across Chicago, all the carriers scored wins of their own in
RootMetrics data performance testing.
Data Performance Improves in Chicago
As the carriers plan for 5G services in Chicago, the latest RootMetrics
report reveals current LTE speeds are improving. Since the last round of
testing, AT&T’s median download speed increased from 25.4 Mbps to 36.5
Mbps, while Sprint’s median download speed jumped significantly, from
18.5 Mbps to 34.9 Mbps. Sprint also more than doubled its median upload
speed, from 2.1 Mbps to 4.5 Mbps. Despite those improvements, Verizon
once again separated itself from the pack, recording the fastest median
download speed at 40.8 Mbps.
“Our recent testing in the Chicago metro area shows continued
performance improvement as carriers and consumers ready for 5G,” said
Francis Sideco, vice president, technology at IHS Markit. “While Verizon
leads the rankings, significant download speed improvements from AT&T
and Sprint along with strong upload speed from T-Mobile suggest that all
the carriers see Chicago as a key market for mobile innovation. We’re
already testing 5G speeds in South Korea and will be testing 5G
performance in Chicago in the very near future. We look forward to
seeing how 5G speeds in Chicago will compare to the LTE speeds we
recently found in the city.”
This marks the seventeenth time IHS Markit has tested the mobile
networks in Chicago and issued findings for the metro area. RootScore
Reports provide a scientific, independent, consumer-focused assessment
of mobile network performance.
Comprehensive Testing
To evaluate the mobile experience in Chicago, IHS Markit conducted tests
across all hours of the day and night from May 3 through May 15. Using
smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests were
conducted at 242 indoor locations and while driving 4,547 miles. For
details about testing, see the methodology
section of the RootMetrics by IHS Markit website.
A Holistic Look at 5G
As network operators across the globe race to deploy 5G, IHS Markit has
launched “5G
First Look,” a new service that provides insight into the world
of 5G and how 5G networks perform from the consumer’s perspective. It
includes 5G readiness benchmarks, 5G smartphone teardown analysis and
first look results from 5G network performance testing in South Korea,
the United States, Switzerland and the United Kingdom—with more
countries and regions added as 5G networks are launched across the globe.
About RootMetrics by IHS Markit (www.RootMetrics.com)
RootMetrics by IHS Markit provides mobile analytics that measure mobile
network performance and offer insights into the consumer mobile
experience. IHS Markit 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 reflects real-world
mobile usage, testing is conducted based on where, when and how
consumers use their smartphones most often.
About IHS Markit (www.ihsmarkit.com)
IHS Markit (Nasdaq: INFO) is a world leader in critical information,
analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive
economies worldwide. The company delivers next-generation information,
analytics and solutions to customers in business, finance and
government, improving their operational efficiency and providing deep
insights that lead to well-informed, confident decisions. IHS Markit has
more than 50,000 business and government customers, including 80 percent
of the Fortune Global 500 and the world’s leading financial institutions.
IHS Markit and RootMetrics are registered trademarks of IHS Markit
Ltd. and/or its affiliates. All other company and product names may be
trademarks of their respective owners © 2019 IHS Markit Ltd. All rights
reserved.
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