RootMetrics Report: Verizon Maintains the Lead in Los Angeles

BELLEVUE, Wash., May 19, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RootMetrics®, the standard for independent mobile performance information, today released a new report recognizing Verizon as the top-performing mobile carrier in Los Angeles for the third consecutive report. The RootMetrics 1st Half 2015 Los Angeles RootScore® Report highlighted Verizon's continued success in the area, ranking first outright in overall performance, network speed, and data performance, while sharing the top rank with AT &T and T-Mobile for network reliability and call performance.

With more than 335 million mobile subscriber connections in the U.S. , mobile network performance insights and comparisons are critical elements to a positive consumer experience. RootScore® Reports provide an independent and consumer-focused assessment of mobile network performance in the 125 largest metro areas across the US, the 50 busiest US airports, major event venues across the country, as well as at state and national levels.

The final RootMetrics Overall Performance RootScore rankings for Los Angeles:

1 – Verizon (97.9)
2 – T-Mobile (96.4)
2 – AT &T (96.0)
4 – Sprint (93.9)

The overall performance category includes results across data, call, and text testing; the top-performing network is awarded the Overall RootScore Award. A good Overall RootScore means strong overall performance and a good consumer experience.

Network Reliability and Speed

RootMetrics measures network reliability and speed utilizing two distinct indexes to offer the most comprehensive look at the consumer mobile experience in Los Angeles. The Network Reliability Index is a combination of results from data, call, and text tests, while the Network Speed Index examines data and text results. For the 1st Half 2015 Los Angeles RootScore® Report, Verizon shared the number one spot for network reliability with T-Mobile and AT &T for the second consecutive time. Verizon also ranked first for network speed, earning the top spot on the speed index for the third consecutive report. Looking at the network reliability and speed indices in conjunction with Overall RootScores offers the most comprehensive look at the consumer mobile experience in Los Angeles.

Reliability Index rankings:

1 – Verizon (99.0)
1 – T-Mobile (98.4)
1 – AT &T (98.3)
4 – Sprint (97.0)

Speed Index rankings:

1 – Verizon (94.6)
2 – T-Mobile (90.2)
3 – AT &T (88.9)
4 – Sprint (84.1)

Data Performance: Verizon Remains Steady in the Lead

Data Performance RootScores® factor in each network's reliability and speed when downloading and uploading data, performing email tasks, and downloading files that approximate loading typical webpages or apps. Verizon maintained the top spot for data performance in Los Angeles for the third consecutive report and has now won outright or shared the Data RootScore Award in the last eight rounds of testing. Verizon provided the fastest median download and upload speeds in Los Angeles, recording impressive speeds of 25.1 Mbps and 22.2 Mbps, respectively.

The lastest report showed faster speeds for Sprint compared to testing in December 2014, as Sprint's median upload speed doubled, increasing from 2.7 Mbs to 5.4 Mbps. On the other hand, T-Mobile's median download speed dropped from 13.7 Mbps to 9.9 Mbps since December.

Data Performance rankings:

1 – Verizon (98.2)
2 – T-Mobile (95.5)
3 – AT &T (95.0)
4 – Sprint (91.8)

"Our recent testing in Los Angeles shows that the carriers are focused on providing their customers a reliable experience," said Bill Moore, RootMetrics CEO. "Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT &T tied for the highest rank on our network reliability index, but with scores above 97 for all four networks, reliability in L.A. was outstanding. We also found strong data speeds, but speed doesn't mean much if you can't reliably connect to your network. In that respect, consumers in the Los Angeles area have multiple options for choosing a carrier with both reliability and speed."

Call and Text Performance

Examining other key functions of the consumer mobile experience in Los Angeles, Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT &T tied for the top rank in call performance, while T-Mobile and AT &T shared the Text RootScore® Award. Text performance was the only category in which Verizon was not on top.

To evaluate the mobile experience in Los Angeles, RootMetrics performed 83,907 call, data, and text tests across all hours of the day and night (4/18/15 – 4/24/15). Using smartphones purchased off-the-shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors (at 108 locations), outdoors, and while driving (covering 3,699 miles). For details about RootMetrics testing, see the methodology section of the RootMetrics website.

About RootMetrics®

RootMetrics® is an independent mobile analytics firm that offers insights into the consumer mobile experience. RootMetrics provides data on mobile network performance to help people make more informed mobile decisions. RootMetrics offers its RootScore® Report series for metropolitan markets, nations, states, airports, and event venues, as well as its downloadable CoverageMap app. To ensure that RootMetrics testing reflects real-world mobile usage, testing is conducted based on where, when, and how consumers use their smartphones most often.