-->

Verizon Offers Best Mobile Video Performance: OpenSignal Report

Article Featured Image

Verizon is the leader for mobile video performance finds a report by mobile analytics company OpenSignal. With the aid of its new video experience metric (which considers video loading times, stalling times, top resolutions, and other factors) OpenSignal calculated how well each of the big four U.S. cellular services handles video. Verizon won with a score of 52.1. T-Mobile took second with 48.8, Sprint third with 43.3, and AT&T fourth with 42.5. Those numbers are on a 100-point scale, so OpenSignal sees plenty of room for improvement.

Why did Verizon take first (and AT&T, surprisingly, take last)? OpenSignal credits Verizon's focus on building its back-end network. AT&T, which acquired DirecTV in 2015 and launched DirecTV Now in 2016, has focused on building out its content portfolio to the detriment of actual content performance.

OpenSignal sees video throttling as a significant hurdle for all players. The report points out that unlimited data plans have grown in popularity so operators have made it a policy to downgrade hi-res streams, often in ways that are noticeable even on small screens. An OpenSignal report from September 2018 points out that dozens of countries enjoy stronger mobile video performance than the U.S.

OpenSignal's U.S. Mobile Network Experience Report is available online for free (no registration required).

Streaming Covers
Free
for qualified subscribers
Subscribe Now Current Issue Past Issues
Related Articles

Verizon Boosts Media Platform With Personalization, Smart Routing

Getting the jump on next week's IBC releases, Verizon has announced three enhancements to its Media Platform

Verizon Improves its Mobile Video Streaming Experience, Finds Report

Verizon's video performance has improved in the last six months, as it achieved a 56.1 in Opensignal's latest report, making it the first U.S. carrier to reach the Good category.

VDMS Launches 4K Encoding, Built-In Multi-CDN Support at NAB

Streaming viewers expect an instant-on, high-quality experience. Verizon Digital Media Services improves its quality of service tools to continuously monitor for problems.

Mobile Video Frustrations Are on the Rise: 88% Report Issues

A report from Penthera shows that people expect instant start up and no buffering from mobile video. If they experience problems, most of them will leave.

Mobile Operators Are Being Crushed By the Demand for HD Video

Video is taking up an increasingly large share of mobile traffic. The reason is HD video using more data. So how will operators manage the shift to 4K?

MWC 2019 Preview: Manufacturers Look Beyond the Handset

Mobile World Congress starts next week, and it won't be all about the phone. 5G, driverless cars, and the internet of things will bring a whole new world of cellular connectivity.

Verizon Launching Residential 5G in 4 U.S. Cities This Year

The telco is partnering with Apple and YouTube to bring streaming video to home customers, but hasn't yet offered price or plan details.

AT&T Named Best Cellular Network for Video Streaming in U.S.

In tests run by Global Wireless Solutions, AT&T delivered the most reliable video streams with the strongest video quality.

AT&T Sees Big Losses with Pay TV, But Gains With DirecTV Now

An Android box uncovered in FCC filings points the way to DirecTV's future: More streaming, less satellite. Will that be enough to attract subscribers?