Verizon Holds Its Lead in Los Angeles, Sweeps Mobile Performance Awards for Second Consecutive Time

BELLEVUE, Wash., June 20, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the latest report from RootMetrics®, the standard for independent mobile performance information, there's one carrier leading the rankings in Los Angeles. Verizon took first place in every aspect of mobile performance, including outright wins in Overall Performance, Network Speed, and Data Performance. RootMetrics' 1st Half 2016 Los Angeles Metro RootScore Report also revealed that Verizon has taken the top spot, outright or shared, in the overall mobile performance category all 11 times RootMetrics has tested in Los Angeles.

While Verizon led the rankings in the Los Angeles metro area, two other carriers made their way to the top of the latest rankings from RootMetrics, an IHS (NYSE:IHS) company. In fact, half of the categories tested resulted in three-way ties between Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, including Network Reliability, Call Performance, and Text Performance.
 
"Verizon continues to lead our latest mobile performance rankings in Los Angeles, but the other carriers aren't backing down," said Julie Dey, RootMetrics vice president. "AT&T and T-Mobile both rose to the top with Verizon in three important mobile performance categories – reliability, call, and text. While Verizon may have swept our rankings, it's clear the other carriers are working hard to deliver solid mobile performance to consumers in L.A."
 
This is the eleventh time RootMetrics has tested the mobile networks in Los Angeles and issued findings for the metro area. RootScore Reports provide a scientific, independent, consumer-focused assessment of mobile network performance.
 
The RootMetrics Overall Performance RootScore rankings for Los Angeles
1 – Verizon (97.1)
2 – T-Mobile (95.9)
3 – AT&T (94.1)
4 – Sprint (91.8)
 
RootScores are on a scale of 0 to 100. A good Overall RootScore means strong all-around performance and a good consumer experience.
 
Mobile Performance You Can Depend on
Reliability and speed are crucial to a consistently good mobile experience. RootMetrics indicates performance in these key areas with its Network Reliability category, a combination of results from data, call, and text tests; and its Network Speed category, which examines results across testing of data transfers, downloading email, and web/app tasks.

When it came to Network Reliability in Los Angeles, the competition was close, with Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T sharing the top spot and Sprint falling fewer than two points short. Network Speed resulted in an outright win from Verizon for the sixth consecutive testing period.
 
Network Reliability RootScore rankings:
1 – Verizon (98.4)
1 – T-Mobile (98.3)
1 – AT&T (97.9)
4 – Sprint (96.0)
 
Network Speed RootScore rankings:
1 – Verizon (94.0)
2 – T-Mobile (89.0)
3 – AT&T (82.0)
4 – Sprint (78.8)
 
Data Performance
Data Performance RootScores reflect how well networks perform in downloading and uploading data, performing email tasks, and downloading files that approximate loading typical webpages or apps.
 
Verizon took the top spot in Data Performance outright for the eleventh time in a row. The carrier was also recorded the fastest median download and upload speeds in Los Angeles at 20.3 Mbps and 18.9 Mbps, respectively. This means that on the network, uploading a picture would generally take two seconds and downloading a song would only take about three seconds.
 
Data Performance RootScore rankings:
1 – Verizon (97.4)
2 – T-Mobile (95.3)
3 – AT&T (92.5)
4 – Sprint (90.1)
 
Call and Text Performance
Both Call and Text Performance categories resulted in three-way ties between Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T. Notably, Text Performance previously resulted in a four-way tie between all of the carriers, while Call Performance was shared between AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon during the last round of testing.

Call Performance RootScore rankings:
1 – Verizon (96.5)
1 – T-Mobile (96.3)
1 – AT&T (95.6)
4 – Sprint (93.4)
 
Text Performance RootScore rankings:
1 – T-Mobile (99.1)
1 – AT&T (98.9)
1 – Verizon (98.5)
4 – Sprint (97.6)
 
Comprehensive Testing
To evaluate the mobile experience in Los Angeles, RootMetrics performed 61,550 call, data, and text tests across all hours of the day and night from May 11 through May 17. Using smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors at 98 locations and while driving 3,777 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 and companies make more informed mobile decisions. RootMetrics offers its RootScore® Report series for nations, states, metro areas, airports, campuses, venues, and transit stations, 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.

About IHS
IHS (NYSE:IHS) is the leading source of insight, analytics and expertise in critical areas that shape today's business landscape. Businesses and governments in more than 140 countries around the globe rely on the comprehensive content, expert independent analysis and flexible delivery methods of IHS to make high-impact decisions and develop strategies with speed and confidence. IHS has been in business since 1959 and became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange in 2005. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, USA, IHS is committed to sustainable, profitable growth and employs nearly 9,000 people in 33 countries around the world.