GWS completes annual performance test of U.S. networks (covering 93% of the US population).
Key Findings
After collecting and analyzing millions of key network data points across the U.S. between the months of February and July, the following report provides the findings of our annual nationwide wireless network testing. An annual testing program that is unmatched in the industry in terms of the number of miles driven and amount of controlled test data collected and analyzed. Our evaluation is based on scientific and engineering test methods that we have been conducting and refining for over 26 years. The results from this year’s evaluation show that AT&T and Verizon are tied for the Best Network OneScore™.
How it’s calculated: GWS Best Network OneScore takes into account voice, data, video, coverage, and reliability metrics, and combines them into a single score that highlights the overall performance of each network. The testing includes results from 498 markets in all 50 states, representing 93% of Americans. In addition, the importance of each metric is weighted based on feedback from consumers across the U.S.; feedback that focuses on those elements of network performance that matter most to everyday people. By combining the engineering-led test results with consumer research, GWS has created what has been considered as the most comprehensive evaluation in the industry that highlights the performance of each major network in the U.S.
Key Findings
After collecting and analyzing millions of key network data points across the U.S. between the months of February and July, the following report provides the findings of our annual nationwide wireless network testing. An annual testing program that is unmatched in the industry in terms of the number of miles driven and amount of controlled test data collected and analyzed. Our evaluation is based on scientific and engineering test methods that we have been conducting and refining for over 26 years. The results from this year’s evaluation show that AT&T and Verizon are tied for the Best Network OneScore™.
How it’s calculated: GWS Best Network OneScore takes into account voice, data, video, coverage, and reliability metrics, and combines them into a single score that highlights the overall performance of each network. The testing includes results from 498 markets in all 50 states, representing 93% of Americans. In addition, the importance of each metric is weighted based on feedback from consumers across the U.S.; feedback that focuses on those elements of network performance that matter most to everyday people. By combining the engineering-led test results with consumer research, GWS has created what has been considered as the most comprehensive evaluation in the industry that highlights the performance of each major network in the U.S.
Key Test Facts
8.8 million individual controlled tests were conducted by GWS wireless network specialists in all 50 states
498 markets were tested including all US metropolitan areas as well as many other cities and towns – representing 93% of US population
900,000 miles were driven while testing
GWS collection and evaluation of data was conducted using specialized network test equipment, Samsung Galaxy mobile devices, GWS’ Mobistat data reporting platform, and big data analytics
Best Overall Network
Based on GWS OneScore ranking.
1st AT&T (tie)
1st Verizon (tie)
3rd T-Mobile
Most Reliable Network
Based on GWS OneScore ranking factoring voice and data reliability tests combined with related consumer research.
1st AT&T
2nd Verizon
3rd T-Mobile
Overall Data Reliability
AT&T has the highest success rate across the nation in completing data tasks.
1st AT&T
2ndT-Mobile
3rd Verizon
5G Data Reliability
AT&T has the highest success rate across the nation in completing data tasks while on their 5G network
1st AT&T
2nd T-Mobile
3rdVerizon
Data Speed
Download– Verizon is the fastest for small download tasks like receiving app-related content or loading web pages while T-Mobile is the fastest for large download tasks like receiving photos and videos.
Small Tasks
1stVerizon
2ndT-Mobile
3rdAT&T
Big Tasks
1st T-Mobile
2ndVerizon
3rdAT&T
Upload– Verizon has the fastest uploads for small and large tasks like posting social media content, videos, and photos.
Small Tasks
1st Verizon
2nd AT&T
3rdT-Mobile
Big Tasks
1st Verizon
2nd AT&T (tie)
2nd T-Mobile (tie)
Network Capacity Stress Tests
T-Mobile experienced the highest average throughputs during GWS’ network stress tests.
1st T-Mobile
2nd Verizon
3rdAT&T
Video Streaming
Verizon has the best overall video streaming experience in terms of highest video quality, least amount of rebuffering, and quickest loading time.
Best Video Quality
1st Verizon
2ndT-Mobile
3rdAT&T
Lowest Video Rebuffering
1st Verizon
2ndT-Mobile
3rdAT&T
Quickest Video Loading
1st Verizon
2ndT-Mobile
3rd AT&T
Voice Calls
AT&T had the highest voice accessibility (i.e., successful call initiations), the best voice retainability (i.e. lowest number of dropped calls), and the best voice quality while Verizon had the lowest call setup time.
Best Voice Quality
1st AT&T
2ndVerizon
3rdT-Mobile
Lowest Call Setup Time
1st Verizon
2nd T-Mobile
3rd AT&T
Best Accessibility
1st AT&T
2nd Verizon
3rd T-Mobile
Best Retainability
1st AT&T
2ndVerizon
3rd T-Mobile
Coverage
AT&T had the most coverage in the areas tested.
1st AT&T
2nd Verizon
3rdT-Mobile
498 markets in total. Orange pins represent top 25 metropolitan markets in terms of population.
All 2022 survey figures are from a study that was commissioned by GWS and conducted by Toluna. Total sample size was 5,000 adults. The survey was undertaken online in July 2022. The figures have been weighted and are representative of Americans (ages 18 and older).
The following are a few select highlights from the consumer survey results. As mentioned previously, the survey results are taken into consideration and used to determine weighting when analyzing the network test results in the determination of GWS' OneScores.
Voice Calling – so important
For the fifth year in a row, consumers consider making and receiving phone calls as the single, most important function on their phone.
5G or Not – bargain hunters and late adopters
Just under a quarter of consumers bought non 5G phones in 2022 because it was either a bargain or they’re not interested in 5G or they don’t think 5G capabilities are ready for use. This is down from 32% in 2021.
Mobile Security – consumers worry
Most consumers (51%) are concerned about their mobile phone connection while 8% don’t know what to think.
Phone Etiquette – seriously? speakerphone?😡
People really don’t like listening to other people’s calls in public; in fact, nearly half (47%) find speakerphone calls unacceptable or unbearable.
In addition to measuring real-world network performance, GWS’ OneScore also looks at what consumers want from their wireless network in terms of data speed, coverage, video performance, voice quality and network reliability. In particular, GWS annually conducts third party polling of 5,000 consumers across the country.
In addition to measuring real-world network performance, GWS’ OneScore also looks at what consumers want from their wireless network in terms of data speed, coverage, video performance, voice quality and network reliability. In particular, GWS annually conducts third party polling of 5,000 consumers across the country.
By combining engineering-level testing with the results from current nationwide-level polling, GWS’ OneScore creates the most balanced picture of the mobile experience that consumers care most about today. Further, this combination of controlled, scientific testing (conducted with test equipment in each market across the U.S.) along with in-depth nationwide consumer research results in the industry’s most comprehensive, realistic evaluation of network performance.
Network performance is often tested by looking only at factors like throughput or signal quality. This provides a good high-level overview of the state of a wireless network. But what does that mean to consumers using those networks? Would they rather be able to make a high quality call, or do they only care about fast data speeds? To truly understand if networks are providing measurable benefits, it’s crucial to understand consumer expectations and behavior when using their mobile devices.
More specifically, our consumer survey includes questions asking respondents to rank the importance of different tasks they perform on their mobile device, as well as the importance of different aspects of network performance. Our nationwide network test results are then weighted according to how consumers prioritize what’s important to them, and evaluated in eleven different network performance areas related to voice, data, network reliability and network coverage.
GWS’ team of network testing specialists drove 900,000 miles across the U.S. conducting scientifically controlled tests of network performance. Network specialists drove routes within specified geographic regions based on a weighted algorithm that reflects population demographics, targeting areas likely to have higher mobile usage. What this means is that GWS tested in both urban and rural areas, on major highways and minor roads – testing in areas where consumers live, work and play.
GWS collection and evaluation of data was performed between February and July 2022 using specialized test equipment, Samsung Galaxy mobile devices, GWS’ Mobistat reporting system, and big data analytics. The resulting setup enables the collection of a wide array of key network and device information, from radio frequency to packet and other network engineering data (including layers 1, 2 and 3; Ethereal IP and IMS Signalling).
Our testing platform also enables us to perform detailed voice quality score and call testing using standard algorithms such as perceptual objective listening quality analysis; all of which helps determine network voice quality and performance.
Using this platform, GWS network testing specialists were able to run tests and collect millions of measurements from multiple networks simultaneously (this also eliminates time and location as variables; something that cannot be done with other forms of network testing such as crowd source data collection). Over the last 26 years, we have benchmarked mobile networks of all shapes and sizes across the globe with all types of technology and features; and along the way we’ve invested millions of dollars and extensive resources in developing our collection and evaluation process. It’s a process that eliminates random, anomalous data found in other forms of network testing and it’s a process that emphasizes accuracy and “real world” consumer experience.
