Wireless Network Quality Continues to Drive Competition as Customer Demands Grow, J.D. Power Finds

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TROY, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 15, 2026--

The U.S. wireless network continues to deliver strong performance and consistency across providers, with the industry reporting just 9 problems per 100 uses (PP100) or fewer over the past year, according to the J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Wireless Network Quality Performance Study℠—Volume 1, released today. Additionally, younger mobile users, who tend to engage with their devices more frequently, indicate more problems and less time spent on their phones compared to the previous volume.

“Despite generational differences in the types of problems experienced, one thing is clear: wireless network quality is strong,” said Carl Lepper, senior director of technology, media and telecom at J.D. Power. “Younger consumers continue to push network limits through streaming and video calls, yet the industry has responded with resilience. Major carriers are delivering consistent performance, keeping the average overall problems per 100 uses steady at or below 9 over the past year.”

Study Rankings

T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless rank highest in a tie in the Mid-Atlantic region with a score of 8 PP100. The region average is 8 PP100.

Verizon Wireless ranks highest in the North Central region with a score of 6 PP100, followed by UScellular with 7 PP100. T-Mobile ranks third with 8 PP100.

T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless rank highest in a tie in the Northeast region with a score of 9 PP100. The region average is 9 PP100.

T-Mobile ranks highest in the Southeast region with a score of 8 PP100. AT&T and Verizon Wireless rank second in a tie with 9 PP100.

T-Mobile ranks highest in the Southwest region with 8 PP100. Verizon Wireless ranks second with 9 PP100.

T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless rank highest in a tie in the West region with a score of 9 PP100.

See the rank charts for each region at http://www.jdpower.com/pr-id/2026004.

The 2026 U.S. Wireless Network Quality Performance Study—Volume 1 is based on responses from 20,050 wireless customers. Carrier performance is examined in six regions: Mid-Atlantic, North Central, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest and West. In addition to evaluating the network quality experienced by customers with wireless phones, the study also measures the network performance of tablets and mobile broadband devices. The study was fielded from June through November 2025.

For more information about the U.S. Wireless Network Quality Performance Study, visit https://www.jdpower.com/business/resource/jd-power-wireless-network-quality-performance-study.

About J.D. Power

J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services, and data and analytics. A pioneer in the use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understand consumer behavior, J.D. Power has been delivering incisive industry intelligence on customer interactions with brands and products for more than 55 years. The world's leading businesses across major industries rely on J.D. Power to guide their customer-facing strategies.

J.D. Power has offices in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. To learn more about the company's business offerings, visit JDPower.com/business. The J.D. Power auto-shopping tool can be found at JDPower.com.

About J.D. Power and Advertising/Promotional Ruleswww.jdpower.com/business/about-us/press-release-info

View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260115330612/en/

CONTACT: Media Relations Contacts

Joe LaMuraglia, J.D. Power; 714-621-6224;[email protected]

John Roderick; East Coast; 631-584-2200;[email protected]

KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA MICHIGAN

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TECHNOLOGY MOBILE/WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS 5G NETWORKS CARRIERS AND SERVICES

SOURCE: J.D. Power

Copyright Business Wire 2026.

PUB: 01/15/2026 08:00 AM/DISC: 01/15/2026 08:00 AM

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