VZ Verizon Communications Inc

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon customers in California are enjoying all of the benefits of America's most reliable network, according to the California RootScore® Report, conducted by Seattle-based RootMetrics.  The results are in and Verizon won the Overall RootScore award in the state of California, and also was ranked 1^st in: reliability, speed, data, and call performance.

This marks the fourth consecutive time Verizon's wireless network has been acknowledged as the leader in overall performance among national wireless service providers in the U.S. 

RootMetrics uses scientific methods to conduct their rigorous testing regimen, based on where people actually use their mobile devices.  From January through June 2015, using off-the-shelf, unaltered smartphones, RootMetrics measured and analyzed key performance indicators that provide an unbiased characterization of network attributes in the state of California. The company evaluated all four U.S. wireless providers in six network performance categories: overall, reliability, speed, data, call, and text performance.

"What makes a good test? An actual, scientific process that replicates real-world experience," said Nicola Palmer, senior vice president and chief network officer for Verizon Wireless. "That's why we test our own network so relentlessly and winning this RootMetrics award is so critical: it validates that our persistent focus on providing the best network translates into a real world, high-quality experience. People don't want to have to guess if their service will work or not – they want to do what they want, when they want, wherever they want."

While Verizon took the honors in California, the network also outranked the competition with the most wins or ties in five state categories:

• 47 states for Overall Performance (vs. 12 wins/ties for the nearest competitor)
• 44 states for Network Reliability (vs. 15 wins/ties for the nearest competitor)
• 44 states for Network Speed (vs. 7 wins/ties for the nearest competitor)
• 46 states for Data Performance (vs. 6 wins/ties for the nearest competitor)
• 45 states for Call Performance (vs. 19 wins/ties for the nearest competitor)

In recent months, Verizon has been enhancing its network by deploying new technology such as small cells, distributed antenna systems as well as XLTE, which uses Verizon's AWS (Advanced Wireless Services) spectrum to double 4G LTE bandwidth in cities coast to coast, with faster peak speeds and greater capacity than before. This means that more wireless interactions can occur with more people in the same location, so more people can send photos, download videos, surf the internet, and use real-time navigation.

In 2014 alone, Verizon invested more than $10 billion to improve and fortify its network, which covers 98% of the U.S. population.

In July, Verizon's wireless network was also recognized by RootMetrics as earning the most 1^st place rankings among the nation's top airports in the first half of 2015, with 29 Data RootScore Awards, including Los Angeles International.

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering the promise of the digital world. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with 109.5 million retail connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers worldwide. A Fortune 15 company with more than $127 billion in 2014 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 178,500. For more information, visit www.verizon.com/news/.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts and other information are available at Verizon's online News Center at www.verizon.com/news/. The news releases are available through an RSS feed. To subscribe, visit www.verizon.com/about/rss-feeds/.

Network rankings based on RootMetrics US National, State, Airport  RootScore Reports, covering January– June 2015. Performance rankings of four mobile networks rely on scores calculated from random samples across all available network types. Your experiences may vary. The RootMetrics award is not an endorsement of Verizon. Visit www.rootmetrics.com for more details.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/verizons-wireless-network-ranked-1-by-rootmetrics-for-overall-performance-in-california-300130086.html

SOURCE Verizon Wireless