The best wireless network in Durham for calling, texting and Internet belongs to AT&T, according to an independent analysis of the four major carriers by mobile research and testing company RootMetrics.
Overall, Verizon ranked second in Durham, followed by T-Mobile and Sprint. RootMetrics analyzed more than 17,282 wireless test calls, texts and data transmissions conducted during the month of July.
AT&T’s network offered the fastest download and upload speeds. AT&T was also fastest for downloading 10 emails with an average time of 2.1 seconds. Verizon was a close second at 2.5 seconds followed by T-Mobile at 4.3 seconds. Sprint’s customers on average had to wait 8 seconds for the downloads.
Verizon managed to tie AT&T on average web and app performance at an average of 0.4 seconds to load an app or a webpage. By comparison, Sprint users had to wait an average of 2.5 seconds; T-Mobile customers waited an average of 1.7 seconds.
According to RootMetrics data, AT&T was also first in Charlotte and and tied for first in Greensboro from January through June this year.
AT&T claims is attributing its performance to investments made in its wireless and wireline networks. The carrier says it spent more than $250 million on its networks in North Carolina during the first half of the year, which included an expansion of its 4G LTE network, the latest generation of network technology. Markets launching AT&T’s 4G LTE this year include Asheville, Kinston, Dunn, Goldsboro, Henderson, and Wilson-Rocky Mount.
AT&T performed well in another independent assessment of wireless networks; PC Magazine’s study earlier this year ranked AT&T as having the fastest 4G LTE network in a 30-market study that included Raleigh.
From 2010 through 2012, AT&T says it has spent more than $1.5 billion on its North Carolina networks.
