Verizon Unlimited on the network you deserve: RootMetrics® ranks Verizon highest in overall network performance for seventh time in a row

Verizon sweeps all performance awards in consecutive national reports, an industry first; unbeaten in overall performance in 48 states and 93% of 125 metro markets

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Feb 22, 2017, 23:15 ET

NEW YORK, Feb. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- You're looking for the unlimited plan you want on the network you deserve. And once again, the nation's most rigorous, independent study has rated Verizon the #1 network in the U.S. According to RootMetrics^® new National RootScore^®Report, released today, Verizon swept all six network categories for all of 2016, including reliability, data, speed, call, text and overall performance – an industry first since testing began.

According to the RootMetrics Second-Half 2016 US Mobile Network Performance special report, "Based on our testing, Verizon is the undisputed leader in terms of coverage and network reliability. Indeed, Verizon's network reliability results were the strongest among all carriers at the metro, state, and national levels in the second half of 2016." The study is RootMetrics' most recent, gathering input from the four national U.S. wireless companies over the exact same period of time.

"These test results are absolutely overwhelming. Only Verizon's network offers superior performance, unrivaled reliability and the best speeds for customers making it the best option for unlimited data plans," said Nicola Palmer, Verizon's chief wireless network officer. "We are extending our lead in network performance in the top 125 Metro areas and in state and national network performance results."

Verizon has been able to pull ahead significantly in network performance thanks to consistent investment in reliability, innovation and the latest engineering technologies. Since 2000, the company has invested $122 billion, more than any competitor. Verizon's 4G LTE network covers more than 2.4 million square miles and 314 million people, more than any other wireless company.

Better network performance in 48 states
The RootMetrics Second-Half 2016 State Network Performance special report finds: "Verizon's performance in our state-level testing was exceptional across the board." Verizon repeated its industry leadership from the first half of 2016 into the second half of the year, with wins or first place ties in 48 of 50 states in overall network performance. The two discount networks did not win or tie a single state, contributing to their total of zero wins in overall network performance since state RootScore Report studies began in the second half of 2013.

Overall Network Performance, States
Wins/Ties		Wins
Verizon	48	(39 outright)
AT&T	11	(2 outright)
T-Mobile	0	(0 outright)
Sprint	0	(0 outright)

Extending the lead in metro reports
In the second half of the year, Verizon won or tied 93 percent of the time in overall network performance – that's 116 of 125 metro markets tested – further extending the lead over the other providers.

According to the RootMetrics Second-Half 2016 Metro Network Performance special report of top 125 cities: "Verizon's award total of 658 was easily the highest among all networks, and the carrier's increase of 95 awards compared to first-half 2016 testing was the largest gain of any network." (Verizon's 658 awards, outright or tied, is out of a total possible 750 awards in the six testing categories for the 125 Metro areas.)

Overall Network Performance, 125 Metros
Wins/Ties		Wins
Verizon	116	(55 outright)
AT&T	55	(4 outright)
T-Mobile	25	(2 outright)
Sprint	9	(0 outright)

RootMetrics 2H2016 Wins and Ties

North East Region
States – Connecticut, Delaware*, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont*.
Metro Areas – CT: Bridgeport-Stamford*, Hartford*, New Haven; MA: Boston, Springfield, Worcester*; NY: New York City & Tri-State Area, Buffalo*, Hudson Valley*, Rochester*, Syracuse*; PA: Allentown*, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia*, Scranton; RI: Providence*.

South East Region
States – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia*.
Metro Areas – AL: Birmingham*, Mobile; FL: Bonita Springs, Daytona Beach, Fort Myers*, Jacksonville*, Kissimmee, Miami, Orlando, Palm Bay-Melbourne, Pensacola, Port St. Lucie*, Sarasota, Tampa-St. Petersburg; GA: Atlanta*, Augusta*; MD: Baltimore*; NC: Charlotte, Durham*, Greensboro*, Raleigh*, Winston-Salem*; SC: Charleston, Columbia*, Greenville*; TN: Chattanooga*,Knoxville*, Memphis*, Nashville*; VA: Hampton Roads, Richmond*, Washington, DC-Virginia-Maryland.

Great Lakes Region
States – Illinois*, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan*, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin.
Metro Areas – IL: Chicago*, Rockford; IN: Indianapolis; KY: Louisville*; MI: Ann Arbor*
Detroit, Flint*, Grand Rapids*; OH: Akron*, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo, Youngstown; PA: Pittsburgh; WI: Madison*, Milwaukee*.

South Central Region
States – Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi*, New Mexico, Texas*.
Metro Areas – AZ: Phoenix*, Tucson; AR: Little Rock*; LA: Baton Rouge*, New Orleans, Shreveport; MS: Jackson; NM: Albuquerque*; OK: Oklahoma City*, Tulsa*; TX: Corpus Christi*, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Houston, McAllen*.

North Central Region
States – Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota*, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming.
Metro Areas – CO: Colorado Springs*, Denver*; IA: Des Moines*; KS: Wichita; MN: Minneapolis-St. Paul*; MO: Kansas City*, St. Louis*; NE: Omaha; UT: Ogden*, Provo, Salt Lake City.

Pacific Region
States – Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Washington
Metro Areas – CA: Antelope Valley, Bakersfield*, Concord*, Fresno*, Indio, Los Angeles, Mission Viejo*, Modesto*, Oxnard, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego*, San Francisco*, San Jose*, Stockton, Temecula, Victor Valley; HI: Honolulu; NV: Reno; OR: Portland*; WA: Seattle Spokane*.

*Denotes ties

To learn more about how Verizon maintains the best network, check out http://www.verizon.com/about/news/verizon-unlimited-network-you-deserve-rootmetrics-ranks-verizon-highest-overall-network, and for the latest on Verizon Unlimited, visit www.verizonwireless.com. Visit RootMetrics for more on their study methodology.

Media Contacts:
National: Howie Waterman
917-359-5505
[email protected]

National: Karen Smith
763-595-2511
[email protected]

North East: David Weissmann
(Includes: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont)
917.359.7215
[email protected]

South East: Kate Jay
(Includes: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia)
678.339.4828
[email protected]

Great Lakes: Steve Van Dinter
(Includes: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Wisconsin)
847.706.1791
[email protected]

South Central: Jeannine Brew
(Includes: Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas)
972.444.5233
[email protected]

North Central: Meagan Dorsch
(Includes: Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming)
303.694.8990
[email protected]

Pacific: Heidi Flato
(Includes: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Washington)
925.324-8692
[email protected]

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York City, has a diverse workforce of 160,900 and generated nearly $126 billion in 2016 revenues. Verizon operates America's most reliable wireless network, with 114.2 million retail connections nationwide. The company also provides communications and entertainment services over mobile broadband and the nation's premier all-fiber network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers worldwide.

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Network rankings based on RootMetrics US National and State RootScore Reports, covering July- December 2016. 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.