Here's Proof of How Bad Cell-Phone Service Is in Denver

There are plenty of great things about living in Denver. But one of the few negatives involves cellphone service — which most of us think is terrible. Yes, we know: Service is such a challenge in these parts is due in part to our proximity to the mountains — among...

By Michael Roberts

April 21, 2016

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

There are plenty of great things about living in Denver.

But one of the few negatives involves cell-phone service — which most of us think is terrible.

Yes, we know: Service is such a challenge in these parts due in part to our proximity to the mountains — among the big reasons life here is so wonderful. But that doesn't make it any less frustrating when calls are dropped or fail to connect because of sluggish network speed.

Now, here's evidence of how bad the situation is.

RootMetrics, a site dedicated to mobile communication insights, recently took a look at the U.S. cities with the best and worst mobile-network performance.

In all, RootMetrics graded 125 communities across these United States, and Denver's ranking is distressingly awful — so much so that we decided to include all of the places on the list, rather than concentrating on the top ten or twenty, as a way of accentuating the results.

Count down the photo-illustrated roster below from best to worst — and know that it'll be a long time before you get to Denver. To see the original RootMetrics post, click here.

1. Atlanta, GA
Population: 4,515,419
Weighted average: 98.2

2. Chicago, IL
Population: 8,608,208
Weighted average: 98.2

3. Indianapolis, IN
Population: 1,487,483
Weighted average: 98.2

4. Sacramento, CA
Population: 1,723,634
Weighted average: 98.0

5. Rockford, IL
Population: 296,863
Weighted average: 97.9

6. Port St. Lucie, FL
Population: 376,047
Weighted average: 97.8

7. Chattanooga, TN
Population: 381,112
Weighted average: 97.7

8. Dallas, TX
Population: 5,121,892
Weighted average: 97.7

9. Tampa, FL
Population: 2,441,770
Weighted average: 97.7

10. Stockton, CA
Population: 370,583
Weighted average: 97.6

11. Houston, TX
Population: 4,944,332
Weighted average: 97.5

12: Richmond, VA
Population: 953,556
Weighted average: 97.5

13. Flint, MI
Population: 356,218
Weighted average: 97.5

14. Lansing, MI
Population: 313,532
Weighted average: 97.5

15. Nashville, TN
Population: 969,587
Weighted average: 97.4

16. Jacksonville, FL
Population: 1,065,219
Weighted average: 97.4

17. Palm Bay, FL
Population: 452,791
Weighted average: 97.4

18. Syracuse, NY
Population: 412,317
Weighted average: 97.3

19. Cleveland, OH
Population: 1,780,673
Weighted average: 97.2

20. Modesto, CA
Population: 358,172
Weighted average: 97.2

21. Denton, TX
Population: 366,174
Weighted average: 97.2

22. Toledo, OH
Population: 507,643
Weighted average: 97.2

23. Ogden, UT
Population: 546,026
Weighted average: 97.2

24. Fort Myers, FL
Population: 530,290
Weighted average: 97.2

25. Detroit, MI
Population: 3,734,090
Weighted average: 97.2

26. Akron, OH
Population: 569,499
Weighted average: 97.1

27. San Jose, CA
Population: 1,664,496
Weighted average: 97.1

28. Miami, FL
Population: 5,502,379
Weighted average: 97.1

29. Shreveport, LA
Population: 298,317
Weighted average: 97.1

30. Seattle, WA
Population: 3,059,393
Weighted average: 97.1

31. Harrisburg, PA
Population: 444,474
Weighted average: 97.1

32. Louisville, KY
Population: 972,546
Weighted average: 97.1

33. Providence, RI
Population: 1,190,956
Weighted average: 97.0

34. Jackson, MS
Population: 351,478
Weighted average: 97.0

35. Raleigh, NC
Population: 884,891
Weighted average: 97.0

36. Fort Wayne, IN
Population: 313,492
Weighted average: 96.9

37. Greenville, SC
Population: 400,492
Weighted average: 96.9

38. Des Moines, IA
Population: 450,070
Weighted average: 96.9

39. Spokane, WA
Population: 387,847
Weighted average: 96.9

40. Mobile, AL
Population: 326,183
Weighted average: 96.9

41. Austin, TX
Population: 1,362,416
Weighted average: 96.9

42. Philadelphia, PA
Population: 5,441,567
Weighted average: 96.8

43. Orlando, FL
Population: 1,510,516
Weighted average: 96.8

44. Birmingham, AL
Population: 749,495
Weighted average: 96.8

45. Salt Lake City, UT
Population: 1,021,243
Weighted average: 96.8

46. Fresno, CA
Population: 654,628
Weighted average: 96.8

47. Columbus, OH
Population: 1,368,035
Weighted average: 96.7

48. Rochester, NY
Population: 720,572
Weighted average: 96.7

49. Augusta, GA
Population: 386,787
Weighted average: 96.7

50. Bakersfield, CA
Population: 523,994
Weighted average: 96.7

Continue to keep counting down the cities with the best and worst cellphone service, including Denver.

51. Tulsa, OK
Population: 655,479
Weighted average: 96.7

52. Boston, MA
Population: 4,181,019
Weighted average: 96.7

53. Minneapolis, MN
Population: 2,650,890
Weighted average: 96.6

54. Milwaukee, WI
Population: 1,376,476
Weighted average: 96.6

55. Kissimmee, FL
Population: 314,071
Weighted average: 96.6

56. Sarasota, FL
Population: 643,260
Weighted average: 96.6

57. Grand Rapids, MI
Population: 569,935
Weighted average: 96.6

58. Wichita, KS
Population: 472,870
Weighted average: 96.6

59. Victor Valley, CA
Population: 328,454
Weighted average: 96.6

60. St. Louis, MO
Population: 2,150,706
Weighted average: 96.6

61. Hampton Roads, VA
Population: 1,439,666
Weighted average: 96.6

62. Youngstown, OH
Population: 387,550
Weighted average: 96.5

63. Little Rock, AR
Population: 431,388
Weighted average: 96.5

64. Allentown, PA
Population: 664,651
Weighted average: 96.5

65. Honolulu, HI
Population: 802,459
Weighted average: 96.5

66. Kansas City, MO
Population: 1,519,417
Weighted average: 96.5

67/ Memphis, TN
Population: 1,060,061
Weighted average: 96.4

68. Buffalo, NY
Population: 935,906
Weighted average: 96.4

69. Baltimore, MD
Population: 2,203,663
Weighted average: 96.4

70. Baton Rouge, LA
Population: 594,309
Weighted average: 96.4

71. Mission Viejo, CA
Population: 583,681
Weighted average: 96.4

72. Oklahoma City, OK
Population: 861,505
Weighted average: 96.3

73. Charleston, SC
Population: 548,404
Weighted average: 96.3

74. Pensacola, FL
Population: 340,067
Weighted average: 96.3

75. Temecula, CA
Population: 441,546
Weighted average: 96.3

76. New York City and the Tri-State Area
Population: 18,351,295
Weighted average: 96.3

77. Corpus Christi, TX
Population: 320,069
Weighted average: 96.3

78. Columbia, SC
Population: 549,777
Weighted average: 96.2

79. San Diego, CA
Population: 2,956,746
Weighted average: 96.2

80. Fayetteville, NC
Population: 310,282
Weighted average: 96.2

81. Hartford, CT
Population: 924,859
Weighted average: 96.2

82. Provo, UT
Population: 482,819
Weighted average: 96.1

83. Charlotte, NC
Population: 1,249,442
Weighted average: 96.1

84. Washington, D.C.
Population: 4,586,770
Weighted average: 96.1

85. Bonita Springs, FL
Population: 310,298
Weighted average: 96.1

86. Durham, NC
Population: 347,602
Weighted average: 96.1

87. Knoxville, TN
Population: 558,696
Weighted average: 96.0

88. Daytona Beach, FL
Population: 349,064
Weighted average: 96.0

89. Oxnard, CA
Population: 367,260
Weighted average: 95.9

90. Ann Arbor, MI
Population: 306,022
Weighted average: 95.9

91. Portland, OR
Population: 1,849,898
Weighted average: 95.8

92. Pittsburgh, PA
Population: 1,733,853
Weighted average: 95.8

93. Tucson, AZ
Population: 843,168
Weighted average: 95.7

94. Los Angeles, CA
Population: 12,150,996
Weighted average: 95.7

95. Winston-Salem, NC
Population: 391,024
Weighted average: 95.6

96. Cincinnati, OH
Population: 1,624,827
Weighted average: 95.6

97. San Antonio, TX
Population: 1,758,210
Weighted average: 95.6

98. New Haven, CT
Population: 562,839
Weighted average: 95.6

99. Madison, WI
Population: 401,661
Weighted average: 95.6

100. Albany, NY
Population: 594,962
Weighted average: 95.5

101. Indio, CA
Population: 345,580
Weighted average: 95.5

102. Worcester, MA
Population: 486,514
Weighted average: 95.5

103. Antelope Valley, CA
Population: 341,219
Weighted average: 95.5

104. Concord, CA
Population: 615,968
Weighted average: 95.4

105. Greensboro, NC
Population: 311,810
Weighted average: 95.4

106. New Orleans, LA
Population: 899,703
Weighted average: 95.3

107. San Francisco, CA
Population: 3,281,212
Weighted average: 95.2

108. Las Vegas, NV
Population: 1,886,011
Weighted average: 95.2

109. Albuquerque, NM
Population: 741,318
Weighted average: 95.2

110. Springfield, MA
Population: 621,300
Weighted average: 95.0

111. Boise, ID
Population: 349,684
Weighted average: 95.0

112. Bridgeport and Stamford, CT
Population: 923,311
Weighted average: 94.9

113. Colorado Springs, CO
Population: 559,409
Weighted average: 94.8

114. Riverside, CA
Population: 1,932,666
Weighted average: 94.7

115. Phoenix, AZ
Population: 3,629,114
Weighted average: 94.7

116. Dayton, OH
Population: 724,091
Weighted average: 94.5

117. Reno, NV
Population: 392,141
Weighted average: 94.4

118. El Paso, TX
Population: 803,086
Weighted average: 94.4

119. McAllen, TX
Population: 728,825
Weighted average: 93.8

120. Scranton, PA
Population: 381,502
Weighted average: 93.8

121. Denver, CO
Population: 2,374,203
Weighted average: 93.8

122. Santa Rosa, CA
Population: 308,231
Weighted average: 93.0

123. Lancaster, PA
Population: 402,004
Weighted average: 92.4

124. Omaha, NE
Population: 725,008
Weighted average: 91.5

125. Hudson Valley, NY
Population: 423,566
Weighted average: 90.5

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Westword has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

Contact: Michael Roberts

Follow:

Facebook: 111180895657427

Twitter: @mikerobertscolo