If you’re a Vancouverite whose cellular coverage cuts out frequently or you have problems speedily browsing the Internet on your smartphone, chances are you’re a Wind Mobile customer.
The Toronto-based wireless company ranks last among the four primary mobile service providers in Metro Vancouver, according to data released Wednesday (June 24) from RootMetrics.
The independent mobile analytics firm gave its highest score to Telus, but the margin of error means the Vancouver-based telecom giant is in a statistical tie with Bell (TSX:BCE). Both providers surpassed Rogers (TSX:RCI.B) to become the best performer in the first half of 2015.
RootMetrics based its results on the speed, reliability and data performance of various wireless carriers operating within Vancouver.
It gave Telus an overall score of 98.7, while Bell registered just a few fractions below that at 98.5.
Rogers fell from a first-place score of 98.2 in August 2014 to a third-place score of 95.6.
Wind Mobile, meanwhile, placed a distant fourth with a score of 79.9.
But the regional carrier has been making strides in recent months when it comes to improving services to members.
Wind came away the winner in March’s wireless spectrum auction after it paid Ottawa the minimum bid price of $56 million for high-speed AWS-3 spectrum.
And in April, it began offering service on the SkyTrain’s Canada Line after complaining three years ago about the high cost of paying Telus for its underground infrastructure.
“The Canadian mobile landscape is going through a dramatic change, as carriers work to improve their networks and attract new customers,” RootMetrics CEO Bill Moore said in a statement.
“Even though Telus and Bell passed Rogers to share the overall award, all three carriers scored in the high 90s on network reliability, while offering data speeds that rival those in major American cities.”
Full results:
Reliability
1 – Telus (99.4)
1 – Bell (99.2)
3 – Rogers (96.7)
4 – WIND (87.3)
Speed
1 – Telus (96.6)
1 – Bell (96.1)
3 – Rogers (94.9)
4 – WIND (57.0)
Data
1 – Telus (98.5)
2 – Bell (98.1)
3 – Rogers (98.0)
4 – WIND (75.6)
Overall
1 – Telus (98.7)
1 – Bell (98.5)
3 – Rogers (95.6)
4 – WIND (79.9)
