Report rates Verizon the best wireless carrier in Baltimore

When it comes to mobile network performance, a new survey says Verizon is the fastest in the Baltimore area, even as AT&T made big gains in the speed category.
The results of the Baltimore Metro RootScore Report issued for the second half of 2018 came from Seattle-based RootMetrics show Verizon topping all categories, including overall performance, network speed and reliability, and data and call performance. On text performance, Verizon shared the top spot with T-Mobile and AT&T.
While Verizon holds a “tight reign” over the top spots, RootMetrics Director of Business Development Doug King notes that all of the networks – also including Sprint – posted high reliability scores of 97.0 or higher.

After testing 60 locations over 979 miles, we found the #NetworkCarrier that offers top #MobilePerformance in #Baltimore. Check out our latest report here: https://t.co/8sHPwvJO2n pic.twitter.com/Ec75PnXMnA

— RootMetrics (@rootmetrics) December 18, 2018

Among Verizon’s chart-topping stats: The testing found no mobile-to-mobile dropped calls using the network.
It’s the sixteenth time RootMetrics conducted the survey. Verizon also had the highest overall performance score for the first half of 2018. The Verizon dominance marks a shift from when we checked in with the report in 2013, as RootMetrics found AT&T on top soon after it introduced LTE.
Since the first half of the year, the report found:

• AT&T’s median download speed increased from from 31.7 Mbps to 51.6 Mbps, topping that particular metric. The speed would allow for a 2-minute download of a TV show in HD.
• Verizon posted the fastest median upload speed, with 17.7 Mbps. Uploading a photo to social media would take two seconds. Meanwhile, AT&T increased its median upload speed from 9.0 Mbps to 11.7 Mbps.
• Sprint’s median download speed increased from 17.8 Mbps to 28.8 Mbps.

Tests were conducted from Nov. 10-20 using smartphones purchased off the shelf, according to RootMetrics. The report covers the metro area, which includes the city as well as parts of Baltimore, Anne Arundel and Howard counties.
See the report