Verizon continues its reign as the top mobile network in Los Angeles;
however, consistent data speed improvements from AT&T are heating up the
mobile performance competition in the metro area. A new report from RootMetrics
by IHS Markit, the standard for mobile performance benchmarking, reveals
AT&T significantly increases its median download speed for the second
straight report in Los Angeles, growing from 19.5 Mbps in the first half
of 2018 to 36.5 Mbps in this latest round of testing.
In addition to improving its speed, AT&T earns two awards in the 1st
Half 2019 Los Angeles Metro RootScore Report, including a shared win
with Verizon in call performance and a four-way tie in text. Across all
the remaining mobile performance categories, AT&T finishes a close
second behind Verizon.
“Verizon has long dominated our mobile performance awards in Los
Angeles, and its stellar reliability is helping keep it on top, but
network improvements from AT&T are tightening the race,” said Francis
Sideco, vice president, technology at IHS Markit. “From nearly doubling
its median download speed within a year to earning first and second
place finishes across all categories in this round of testing, AT&T is
closing the gap with Verizon.”
This is the sixteenth time IHS Markit 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.
Mobile Performance You Can Depend On
Verizon earns the Network Reliability RootScore Award outright, snapping
the three-way tie it held with AT&T and T-Mobile in the second half of
2018. Verizon also holds the network speed award outright for the
eleventh consecutive report. Reliability and speed are crucial to a
consistently good mobile experience. The network reliability category is
a combination of results from data, call and text tests, while the
network speed category examines results across testing of data transfers
and web/app tasks.
Data Performance
Verizon takes the Data Performance RootScore Award outright for the
eleventh report in a row. However, AT&T records the fastest median
download speed at 36.5 Mbps, while T-Mobile records the fastest median
upload speed at 21.7 Mbps. During outdoor walking tests in the dense
urban core of Los Angeles, Verizon records the fastest median download
speed at 47.7 Mbps and T-Mobile records the fastest median upload speed
at 27.9 Mbps. These speeds suggest that the two carriers shine even with
a higher volume of users on their networks. The data performance
category reflects how well networks perform in downloading and uploading
data and downloading files that approximate loading typical webpages or
apps.
Call and Text Performance
Verizon and AT&T share the award for call performance for the third
consecutive report, while all four carriers share the Text Performance
RootScore Award. Call performance testing is based on how reliably each
network can place and maintain calls, while text performance measures
how reliably and quickly consumers can send and receive text messages.
Comprehensive Testing
To evaluate the mobile experience in Los Angeles, IHS Markit conducted
tests across all hours of the day and night from March 24 through April
4. Using smartphones purchased off the shelf at carrier stores, tests
were conducted indoors at 174 locations and while driving 3,310 miles.
For details about RootMetrics testing, see the methodology
section of the RootMetrics by IHS Markit website.
About RootMetrics by IHS Markit (www.RootMetrics.com)
RootMetrics by IHS Markit is mobile analytics that measure mobile
network performance and offers insights into the consumer mobile
experience. IHS Markit provides data on mobile network performance to
help the networks improve and give consumers an end-to-end look at
mobile performance. To ensure that RootMetrics reflects real-world
mobile usage, testing is conducted based on where, when and how
consumers use their smartphones most often.
About IHS Markit (www.ihsmarkit.com)
IHS Markit (Nasdaq: INFO) is a world leader in critical information,
analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive
economies worldwide. The company delivers next-generation information,
analytics and solutions to customers in business, finance and
government, improving their operational efficiency and providing deep
insights that lead to well-informed, confident decisions. IHS Markit has
more than 50,000 business and government customers, including 80 percent
of the Fortune Global 500 and the world’s leading financial institutions.
IHS Markit and RootMetrics are registered trademarks of IHS Markit
Ltd. and/or its affiliates. All other company and product names may be
trademarks of their respective owners © 2019 IHS Markit Ltd. All rights
reserved.
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