Verizon Retains Its Overall Mobile Performance Lead in Los Angeles

BELLEVUE, Wash., Dec. 18, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verizon won the Overall Performance award in Los Angeles for the fourth consecutive time according the latest report from RootMetrics®, the standard for independent mobile performance testing. In the 2nd Half 2015 Los Angeles Metro RootScore Report, Verizon also won outright in Network Speed and Data Performance, while sharing awards across all other categories tested, including Network Reliability, Call Performance and Text Performance. Furthermore, the carrier recorded the fastest speeds in all of Los Angeles.

While Verizon swept the rankings, the other carriers aren't far behind in most categories. In the Overall Performance category, AT&T and T-Mobile tied for second place, falling only about two points behind the winner. Furthermore, AT&T shared the top spot with Verizon in Network Reliability, while all carriers earned excellent scores above 97.0. The latest testing from RootMetrics, an IHS (NYSE:IHS) company, also revealed shared wins in both Call and Text Performance.
 
"Verizon won our Overall Performance RootScore Award outright for the fourth consecutive time in Los Angeles," said Julie Dey, RootMetrics vice president. "However, the other carriers are showing strong performance across most categories, with all four earning excellent scores above 97.0 in Network Reliability and shared first-place wins in three of the six categories tested. This means mobile consumers in Los Angeles can expect reliably good performance when it comes to most everyday mobile tasks."

This is the ninth time RootMetrics has tested the mobile networks in Los Angeles and issued its findings for the metro area. RootScore Reports provide a scientific, independent, consumer-focused assessment of mobile network performance.
 
The final RootMetrics Overall Performance RootScore rankings for Los Angeles:
1 – Verizon (97.2)
2 – AT&T (95.4)
2 – T-Mobile (94.9)
4 – Sprint (93.6)
 
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 quality 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.

Verizon and AT&T shared the award for Network Reliability, while all four carriers were in a tight race, with scores ranging from 97.1 to 98.4. Network Speed resulted in an outright win by Verizon for the fourth consecutive time. Notably, this is the only category in which carriers scored below a 90.0 with T-Mobile, AT&T, and Sprint scoring between 82.2 and 88.6.

Network Reliability rankings:
1 – Verizon (98.4)
1 – AT&T (98.2)
3 – T-Mobile (97.4)
4 – Sprint (97.1)
 
Network Speed rankings:
1 – Verizon (94.8)
2 – T-Mobile (88.6)
3 – AT&T (87.2)
4 – Sprint (82.2)
 
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.
 
For the fourth consecutive test period, Verizon came in first place outright for Data Performance, while also recording the fastest median download speed at 19.5 Mbps and the fastest median upload speed at 21.5 Mbps. Of note, Verizon has won or shared this award during every round of testing in Los Angeles.
 
Data Performance rankings:
1 – Verizon (97.8)
2 – T-Mobile (95.2)
3 – AT&T (94.6)
4 – Sprint (91.2)
 
Call and Text Performance

Call Performance resulted in a three-way tie between Sprint, Verizon and AT&T, marking the first time Sprint has won or shared this award in Los Angeles. All four carriers shared the award for Text Performance.

Call Performance rankings:
1 – Sprint (96.5)
1 – Verizon (96.4)
1 – AT&T (96.2)
4 – T-Mobile (94.2)
 
Text Performance rankings:
1 – AT&T (98.1)
1 – Verizon (98.0)
1 – T-Mobile (97.7)
1 – Sprint (97.4)
 
Comprehensive Testing

To evaluate the mobile experience in Los Angeles, RootMetrics performed 61,349 call, data and text tests across all hours of the day and night from Nov. 13 through Nov. 19. Using smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests were conducted indoors at 113 locations, outdoors and while driving 3,212 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 the nation, 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 150 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 about 8,800 people in 32 countries around the world.