Los Angeles
eSIM

Why Data is Non-Negotiable in Los Angeles

Every other major city on Earth has a metro system tourists can use. Los Angeles does not, in any practical sense. The Metro Rail exists but covers a fraction of tourist destinations. Getting from Santa Monica to Hollywood, from Venice Beach to Beverly Hills, from Griffith Observatory to downtown — every single journey requires either a rideshare app or Google Maps navigation in a rental car. Running out of data in LA is equivalent to being stranded. Our unlimited plans were built for cities like this.

T-Mobile vs AT&T: Which is Better in LA?

T-Mobile has the fastest 5G in Los Angeles by Ookla's measurements, particularly in dense urban areas like Downtown LA, Hollywood, and Koreatown. AT&T has stronger signal in the Santa Monica Mountains, Malibu canyon roads, and parts of the San Fernando Valley. Ovosim's dual-network access means your phone automatically connects to whichever carrier is stronger as you move across the city — critical when your Waze route takes you through Laurel Canyon at midnight.

The LAX Rideshare Situation

In 2023, LAX restructured its pickup system. Uber, Lyft, and all rideshares now pick up exclusively at the LAX-it lot, a separate facility accessible by free shuttle from all terminals. The process: land → collect bags → take shuttle to LAX-it → book rideshare → wait. If you book before you get on the shuttle, your driver is waiting when you arrive. If you book at the lot, you wait 15–25 minutes. Ovosim active before landing = driver waiting at LAX-it. No eSIM = standing in the California sun for 20 minutes.

Coverage Across LA's Key Areas

Hollywood and West Hollywood — excellent T-Mobile 5G on Hollywood Blvd and the Sunset Strip. Santa Monica and Venice — strong AT&T and T-Mobile on the beachfront; the Venice canals neighborhood has good 4G. Beverly Hills — T-Mobile 5G throughout. Downtown LA (DTLA) — fastest speeds in the city. Griffith Park — signal is good at the Observatory but drops on hiking trails behind it. Malibu PCH — AT&T is stronger along Pacific Coast Highway; expect 4G rather than 5G on canyon roads.

Waze vs Google Maps in LA

Angelenos use Waze almost exclusively for driving — it has better real-time incident reporting and more aggressive traffic avoidance routing than Google Maps. Both apps work perfectly with Ovosim. For LA specifically, Waze's data usage of 10–20MB per hour of navigation is worth noting — a day of driving the 405, PCH, and Mulholland Drive will use 50–80MB. Factor this into your data plan choice if you're renting a car.

Theme Parks: A Network Congestion Note

Disneyland (Anaheim, 45 mins from LA) and Universal Studios Hollywood both experience extreme network congestion during peak hours (10:00–18:00) as tens of thousands of visitors simultaneously use the official park apps for virtual queues and Lightning Lane bookings. T-Mobile invests in temporary capacity at major venues. Ovosim's T-Mobile connection gives you a better chance of loading the Disneyland app than visitors on budget carriers, but download the park app and pre-load your reservation before entering the gates.