eir Meteor & Vodafone Win Mobile Performance Awards in new RootMetrics Study

RootMetrics today released its first RootScore Reports analysing mobile network performance in major Republic of Ireland cities. Looking at performance across all the ways we use our mobile phones, including data, calls, and texts, Vodafone achieved the highest Overall RootScore in Dublin (98.0 out of 100), while eir Meteor led in Limerick (96.7). In Cork, eir Meteor and Vodafone tied for first place (94.7 and 94.2 respectively).

The reports (available online here) are a first for the Republic of Ireland, providing consumers the industry standard for unbiased, comprehensive, and scientific mobile performance information for major cities. RootMetrics tested mobile performance from a consumer’s point of view in Cork, Dublin, and Limerick at 87 indoor locations and while driving more than 3,000 kilometers during the months of March, April, and June. Results are turned into easy-to-understand RootScore Reports that show which networks provide the most reliable and fastest experience, as well as each network’s performance across data, call, and text testing. Highlights of the reports include:

• EIR METEOR AND VODAFONE TAKE OVERALL PERFORMANCE AWARDS: Vodafone won the Overall Performance RootScore Award outright in Dublin while eir Meteor took the Overall Performance award outright in Limerick. The two operators tied for first place in Overall Performance in Cork.
• NETWORKS JOCKEY FOR LEADS IN RELIABILITY: Vodafone ranked highest for network reliability in Dublin, while eir Meteor and Three tied for first in Limerick, and all three networks tied for first in Cork. The Network Reliability RootScore Award is comprised of results across data, call, and text testing.
• VODAFONE AND EIR METEOR LEAD ON NETWORK SPEED AND DATA: Vodafone won the Data RootScore and Network Speed RootScore Awards in Dublin and Cork, and tied with eir Meteor in both categories in Limerick. The scores were awarded based on data testing and how reliably and quickly consumers can connect to networks and complete data tasks (such as downloading/uploading files).
• TOP AWARD FOR CALL PERFORMANCE DEPENDS ON LOCATION: eir Meteor and Three tied for the Call RootScore Award – assessed on how consumers are impacted by blocked and dropped calls – in Limerick and Cork, while Vodafone took the award outright in Dublin.
• DUBLIN HOLDS UP WELL FOR DATA: Vodafone’s top median download speed in Dublin (28.7 Mbps) was faster than the top speed in New York (T-Mobile, 23.7 Mbps), and comparable to the top speeds in London (EE, 29.8 Mbps) and Paris (Orange, 29.7 Mbps). Comparing Three’s and Vodafone’s median download speeds in Dublin with those in London, both carriers’ speeds were faster than in Dublin. Three recorded 14.0 Mbps in Dublin (compared to 9.6 Mbps in London) and Vodafone achieved 28.7 Mbps in Dublin (compared to 11.4 Mbps in London).

“A good mobile service is a vital part of a city’s basic infrastructure,” said Scott Stonham, RootMetrics General Manager of Europe. “While some mobile consumers will prioritise data speeds so they can use their phones for social media such as Instagram and Snapchat, others will be more concerned about being able to reliably make a call or send a text. Launching these reports in the Republic of Ireland for the first time means that consumers can now make more informed decisions based on scientific testing and analysis, the city where they live, and how they use their phones.”

Report Findings in Dublin

The first-ever RootMetrics RootScore results for Dublin (available here) show that Vodafone ranked first, outright or tied, in all six categories tested, including Overall Performance. All three operators tied for first in Text Performance.

Overall Performance RootScore rankings:

Network Reliability RootScore rankings:

Network Speed RootScore rankings:

Data Performance RootScore rankings:

Call Performance RootScore rankings:

Text Performance RootScore rankings:

Report Findings in Limerick

The first-ever RootMetrics RootScore results for Limerick (available here) show that eir Meteor swept first-place awards across all six categories tested, including an outright win for Overall Performance. eir Meteor tied with Three for first place in Network Reliability and Call Performance, and with Vodafone in Network Speed and Data Performance. There was a three-way tie between Vodafone, Three, and eir Meteor for Text Performance.

Overall Performance RootScore rankings:

Network Reliability RootScore rankings:

Network Speed RootScore rankings:

Data Performance RootScore rankings:

Call Performance RootScore rankings:

Text Performance RootScore rankings:

Report Findings in Cork

The first-ever RootMetrics RootScore results in Cork (available here) show that Vodafone took first place, outright or in a tie, across five of the six categories tested in the city. Vodafone tied for first with eir Meteor for Overall Performance. Three and eir Meteor shared the Call Performance category. Network Reliability resulted in a three-way tie for first between Three, eir Meteor, and Vodafone.

Overall Performance RootScore rankings:

Network Reliability RootScore rankings:

Network Speed RootScore rankings:

Data Performance RootScore rankings:

Call Performance RootScore rankings:

Text Performance RootScore rankings:

Testers from RootMetrics travelled to each of the three cities during March, April, and June 2016 to build this detailed view of the consumer mobile experience. Through proprietary testing methods, RootScores characterises a consumer’s experience of operator performance; RootScores are calculated by applying scoring algorithms to data, call, and text results. RootMetrics’ testing methodology is regularly updated to reflect changes in consumer behaviour, technology, and the mobile industry to ensure an accurate and current measurement of the consumer mobile experience. For details about RootMetrics testing, see the methodology section of the RootMetrics website.