AT&T claimed dominance in U.S. mobile network performance in RootMetrics’ 2H 2024 awards, winning six of eight national RootScore categories. The carrier’s strong results reinforced its reputation for consistent reliability and robust data performance, even as rivals T‑Mobile and Verizon showed notable strengths—particularly in urban speed and accessibility.
RootMetrics awarded AT&T six U.S. RootScore Awards, including outright wins for overall performance, reliability, speed, and data. The carrier also shared honors in call and text performance, underlining its broad competitiveness across key metrics.
AT&T extends its streak
AT&T captured the U.S. Speed RootScore Award for the eighth consecutive reporting period, driven by strong 5th percentile network speeds that reflect consistent performance for users at the lower end of the speed distribution.
Jenifer Robertson, Executive Vice President and GM of Mass Markets at AT&T, said the company’s investments in both wireless and broadband networks enhance customers’ connectivity at home, work, and on the move. She noted that RootMetrics’ awards confirm AT&T’s commitment to delivering fast, reliable service backed by the AT&T Guarantee.
Despite winning the Speed Award based on 5th percentile performance, AT&T did not post the fastest median download speeds nationally—both T‑Mobile and Verizon recorded higher median download figures in the aggregate national results.
Tough competition for RootMetrics honors
Verizon was a strong competitor in 2H 2024, taking four U.S. RootScore Awards and finishing second in each category it did not win outright. Verizon emphasized its focus on delivering a reliable, secure 5G experience through continued technology innovation.
T‑Mobile, while placing third in six national categories, stood out for its speed achievements. The carrier posted an aggregate median download speed of 350.9 Mbps—more than double the median speeds of both AT&T and Verizon nationally. T‑Mobile’s advantage was particularly pronounced in metropolitan areas, where it achieved median download speeds of at least 100 Mbps in all 125 tested markets and exceeded 200 Mbps in 122 of them. By comparison, Verizon surpassed 200 Mbps in 61 cities and AT&T in 106. T‑Mobile was also the only carrier to exceed 500 Mbps median speeds in 22 markets.
State-level results: AT&T edges Verizon
On a state-by-state basis, AT&T led with 278 State RootScore Awards, narrowly ahead of Verizon’s 264; T‑Mobile earned 73 state awards. Verizon performed strongly in certain state-level categories, including accessibility (43 awards) and video performance (37 awards). Verizon and AT&T tied with 27 State Data RootScore Awards apiece, while T‑Mobile earned eight.
Although T‑Mobile had fewer total state awards, it remained competitive in accessibility and speed, securing 22 and 16 state-level awards in those categories respectively—evidence that the carrier’s speed-focused strategy keeps it in contention across multiple markets.
Verizon leads in major cities
Verizon dominated metropolitan testing, collecting 874 RootScore Awards across 125 markets—an increase from 838 awards in 1H 2024 and a substantially higher tally than AT&T (513) and T‑Mobile (463). Verizon posted median download speeds of at least 100 Mbps in 109 cities and exceeded 200 Mbps in 61 cities, up from 56 in the prior testing cycle.
AT&T improved its urban performance as well, raising the number of markets with 100 Mbps median downloads from 92 in 1H 2024 to 106 in 2H 2024. Still, T‑Mobile remained the clear leader in urban speed: it achieved at least 100 Mbps median downloads in every tested city, exceeded 200 Mbps in 122 cities, and surpassed 500 Mbps in 22 metropolitan areas—making it the standout choice for users prioritizing the fastest possible connections.
Distinct strengths across carriers
RootMetrics’ 2H 2024 results highlight a competitive U.S. wireless market where each major carrier demonstrates clear strengths:
- AT&T: Known for balanced, reliable performance across national and state testing, with particular strength in consistent 5th percentile speeds that support dependable service for a broad user base.
- Verizon: Strong in urban markets and accessibility, delivering robust download speeds and a high number of metro-level awards.
- T‑Mobile: Dominant in median speed, especially in metropolitan areas, delivering exceptional download rates that favor demanding mobile and streaming use cases.
As carriers continue investing heavily in expanding 5G coverage and improving customer experience, the competitive landscape is likely to evolve further in the first half of 2025.
See also: T‑Mobile expands Starlink beta to AT&T and Verizon
Looking to revamp your digital transformation strategy? Learn about Digital Transformation Week, held in Amsterdam, California, and London. The event is co-located with IoT Tech Expo, AI & Big Data Expo, Cyber Security & Cloud Expo, and other industry gatherings focused on enterprise technology and innovation.
Explore additional enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge.