Author: Ookla

Ookla® is a global leader in connectivity intelligence that provides consumers, businesses, and other organizations with data-driven insights to improve networks and connected experiences.
Ookla Research™ Articles
| December 20, 2024

How Batelco Makes Strategic Network Improvements in Bahrain with Ookla Data [Case Study]

For tier-one operators like Batelco, part of Beyon group, continuous innovation is required to meet the rising user demands and deliver exceptional service quality across the Kingdom as well as positioning itself among the best networks globally. To achieve its goal, Batelco not only relies on its expertise and traditional methods it also leverages on data from Ookla Cell Analytics™ and Consumer QoE™ to identify areas for strategic network optimization and enhance the end-user network experience.

Situation

For telecommunications operators, prioritizing the right investments can be challenging, especially when the ultimate aim is to continue delivering the best customer experience and driving service improvements for users. 

Batelco tackled this challenge using Ookla data as the foundation for informed decision-making. This data enabled Batelco to implement innovative solutions including coverage enhancements, enhanced content delivery methods, and the refarming of existing 3G spectrum to improve the consumer network experience.

Read the full case study here.

Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.

About the Author

Ookla

Ookla Research™ Articles
| December 13, 2024

Controlled Network Testing in one of the World’s Top Performing Cities - Seoul

5G

South Korea stands out as an international 5G benchmark

South Korea is a global leader in 5G technology and adoption, having launched the first commercial 5G networks in April 2019. Its exclusive use of C-band for 5G services, with no sub-GHz spectrum allocated for 5G, also puts it in a unique position. 

This focus on C-band across the entire market has led to strong 5G network densification, with the OECD’s most recent Digital Economy Outlook 2024, highlighting the lead South Korea enjoys among a selection of advanced global markets on 5G deployment, with 593 5G base stations per 100,000 inhabitants, well ahead of next placed Lithuania (328) and Finland (251). Earlier this year, the Korean regulator, the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced that South Korea had attained nationwide 5G coverage.

MSIT allocated wide bands to each of the three mobile operators, KT, SK Telecom and LG U+, with the former two receiving 100 MHz, and the latter initially receiving 80 MHz. Despite its spectrum disadvantage, our previous South Korean benchmark placed LG U+ in pole position in terms of median download performance. Since that benchmark, LG U+ was awarded an additional 20 MHz of C-band spectrum in mid-2022, which it deployed during 2023, which brought its C-band holdings in line with the competition.

Given its level of network densification, and deployment in wide spectrum bands in the prized C-band, it’s no surprise that South Korea consistently ranks in the top-10 of Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index for mobile performance, (which ranks countries based on median download speeds), currently placing 6th as of October 2024.

This lead is helping deliver improved consumer experiences, with South Korea outpacing other East Asian markets (including Japan, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong) on mobile gaming performance, recording the lowest latency, as well as the highest median download and upload performance in the region.

Strong 5G adoption, but performance has been a concern for consumers

From a consumer perspective, South Korea is a mature 5G market, with LG U+, for example, recording a 5G penetration rate (among handsets) in excess of 70% as of Q3 2024. South Korean users have been swift to embrace the new technology, with 5G connections in the market growing steadily, crossing the 30 million mark during 2023, and reaching 36.11 million as of Q3 2024, according to GSMA Intelligence.

Despite strong adoption, and 5G providing a significant uplift over 4G performance in the market – median 5G download speeds in November 2024 were 524.23 Mbps across the market according to Speedtest Intelligence, compared to 64.08 Mbps for 4G-LTE – the mobile providers have had to focus their efforts on continuous improvements in performance levels. All three mobile providers were fined by South Korea’s antitrust regulator in 2023, following consumer complaints that 5G had not delivered on promises the mobile providers had made in their marketing.

To assess how South Korean mobile performance has evolved since our last benchmark, and how mobile providers have responded to consumer concerns on performance, we returned to the capital Seoul during 2H 2024 to benchmark performance in the city. We measured mobile performance using RootMetrics’ controlled methodology across a variety of indoor and outdoors locations, using the latest Samsung Android devices. We tested where and when people most often use their smartphones: tourist areas, business districts, and other areas at times of peak mobile usage. Tests were conducted while walking and driving across more than 900km in distance within Seoul, and including in excess of 17,000 samples, including more than 50 major indoor locations. RootMetrics controlled testing methodology is specifically designed to mimic the end-user’s real-world mobile experience.

In addition to benchmarking the mobile providers based on median download and upload performance, as well as latency and availability metrics, we also examined video streaming and voice call performance.

The results: LG U+ approaches gigabit median mobile speeds

LG U+ led the market in 2H 2024 overall performance, with the carrier’s consistently strong showings across speed, reliability, and latency, allowing it to capture the award for the Best 5G Network in Seoul. Based on RootMetrics RootScore methodology, which combines scores across all components of the testing, LG U+ scored 990 out of 1000, ahead of both KT and SK Telecom, which ranked second jointly, with scores of 979 and 978, respectively.

South Korean mobile providers continue to push the boundaries of mobile performance in the South Korean capital, with all three providers recording a significant uplift in download throughput when compared to 1H 2022. LG U+ led the pack, with a median download speed of 916.90 Mbps, while it also led the market based on its performance at the 5th and 95th percentiles. This marks a large increase when compared to our controlled testing in 1H 2022, where LG U+ led the market with a median download speed of 663.4 Mbps, with all three mobile providers increasing median performance significantly, highlighting their continued investment in their 5G networks to help meet consumer expectations. LG U+ recorded the highest median upload speed, with 108.00 Mbps, while SK Telecom led the way on median latency, with 98 ms.

RootMetrics Performance Results – Seoul

5G performance driving impressive user experience metrics

RootMetrics benchmarks voice calling and video streaming performance as part of its comprehensive testing suite. Among South Korean mobile providers, both LG U+ and SK Telecom use a 5G non-standalone (NSA) network configuration, where voice is delivered via VoLTE (using the 4G network), while KT employs a 5G standalone (5G SA) network, where voice is carried over the 5G new radio (VoNR). LG U+ recorded the shortest voice call setup time, of 0.882 seconds, while also achieving an impressive zero call drops or blocks from our testing.

Based on our video testing, KT recorded the fastest median video start time, at 0.91 seconds, while both LG U+ and SK Telecom were able to drive higher bitrates over their networks, of 8.0 Mbps. With these consistent bitrates, 1080p video quality was consistently delivered to users.

RootMetrics User Experience Results – Seoul

Outlook: Seoul serves as a benchmark for other cities across Asia Pacific

South Korea stands out as a global leader in 5G technology and adoption, having launched the first commercial 5G networks in April 2019, and is investing heavily in next generation technologies, with a strong focus on AI and 6G. Its capital city, Seoul, stands out as a benchmark for mobile network performance globally and has maintained its first-mover advantage.

To learn more about Ookla’s controlled drive and walk testing with RootMetrics® and first-party crowdsourced data from Speedtest®, please contact us.

Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.

5G
RootMetrics

About the Author

Ookla

Ookla Research™ Articles
| November 15, 2024

Introducing Downdetector® Push Notifications

Consumer

You know Ookla® Downdetector as a powerful tool to troubleshoot your internet connection, giving you real-time details about internet sites and services that might be having issues. You probably also know you can access Downdetector in the free Speedtest® app. We know you’re busy and sometimes you want to know what’s broken on the internet before you get there, so we’ve added push notifications to the Speedtest app to give you real-time alerts about the services that are most important to you. 

Downdetector push notifications you might want to set up today:

  • Major retailers — discover whether all the Black Friday traffic overwhelmed their servers before you try to load up your cart 
  • Social media sites — did your latest video fail to get likes or is the site just not responding since you uploaded it?
  • Your internet provider — whether a big storm is coming or you have a big call, you want to know early if your internet is out so you can plan for alternatives
  • Streaming services — did the series finale crash the site? Find out before you pop the popcorn
  • Gaming sites and services — launch days are notoriously hard on these. Avoid the frustration of refreshing over and over to get that big game by knowing what’s not working in advance
  • Your bank — get alerted when the site is down before you go to pay your bills

How to set up Downdetector push notifications 

You should see a new “Introducing Downdetector Notifications” pop-up next time you open the free Speedtest app. If you have an account already, you can sign in and visit the Downdetector tab to start selecting favorites. 

If you don’t already have an account or are looking for more detailed instructions, see below.

First create a free account

create account screen

Downdetector push notifications are available to anyone with a free Speedtest account. There are two ways create an account:

  1. In the app — open the Speedtest app on either Android or iOS. Click the hamburger menu in the upper right corner. Click the blue button near the top of the app labeled “Create Account” and fill in the fields on the next screen. We’ll send you a verification email to confirm your account. Click the link in that email and you are ready to go.
  2. On Speedtest.net — click “Sign In” in the upper right corner. This will take you to a page where you can either create an account or sign in to an existing account. To create an account, click “Register” on the left side of the screen. Simply fill in the fields on the “Create an account” screen, check the Captcha box if you see one, and click “Register” again. We’ll send you a verification email to confirm your account. Click the link in that email and you are ready to go.

Pick your favorite services

screen to select favorite services

Tap the Downdetector tab at the bottom of your screen inside the Speedtest app. You’ll see a “Get Outage Alerts” pop-up where you’ll then want to click “Sign In” to sign into your free Speedtest account (if you aren’t already). 

Once you have signed in, you will see the Downdetector page you are used to seeing but with stars to the left of all the services. You can favorite up to three services to monitor by pressing the star the the left of the service name. The stars next to the services you have chosen will then turn blue. 

Next, you will be given a new pop-up where you can select “Allow Notifications.” This is the permission that allows us to notify you when your favorite services are experiencing reports of service disruptions. If you have already enabled push notifications from the Speedtest app, you will not have to do so again.

phone lock screen with Downdetector push notification

You’re all set! We’ll send you a notification the next time one of your favorite services is having issues. 

Prepare for the next major internet outage by setting up push notifications for your favorite services today. Easy access to outage details will help you decide if you need to work on something else for a while. Download the free Speedtest app for Android and iOS to set yourself up for success today.

Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.

Consumer

About the Author

Ookla

Ookla Research™ Articles
| November 14, 2024

e& UAE Consolidates its Position as the Fastest 5G Operator in the World

During the first half of 2024, e& United Arab Emirates (U.A.E) set a new benchmark for 5G speeds, outperforming all other operators worldwide. This achievement directly results from e&’s continued investment in its mobile infrastructure and the deployment of 5G Standalone (SA), ensuring it stays ahead of international competitors. In this article, we examine the network performance of the world’s leading 5G operators, analyze the factors contributing to their speeds, and discuss the importance of 5G speed competition as the industry prepares for 6G.

Key Takeaways:

  • The U.A.E. is the fastest 5G market. According to Ookla® Speedtest Intelligence® data, The U.A.E. led the world in 5G speeds during Q1-Q2 2024, with a median download speed of 660.08 Mbps.
  • e& UAE is the top-performing 5G operator in the UAE and globally: e& UAE recorded the highest median 5G  download speed globally at 749.63 Mbps and an upload speed of 43.52 Mbps in Q1-Q2 2024. This performance has earned e& UAE the highest Speed Score®, showcasing continuous and steady improvements since 2022.
  • Competing on high-performing, robust networks can help operators better prepare for 6G. Mobile operators that focus on delivering fast and reliable service now not only gain a competitive edge but also position themselves as leaders in industry innovations like 6G, helping them capitalize on the growth in next-generation digital services.

The U.A.E. leads in 5G performance globally

According to Ookla Speedtest Intelligence data, the U.A.E. was the fastest 5G market globally in Q1-Q2 2024, with a median download speed of 660.08 Mbps. Building on recent improvements in 5G performance and continued fiber deployments, the U.A.E. secured a leading position in July and August 2024 on the Speedtest Global Index™ for both mobile and fixed broadband services across all technologies — a first since the index’s launch in 2017.

Government support and operators’ investments were vital to achieving this result. For example, the U.A.E’s telecom regulator TDRA waived the fee for 5G frequencies of 3GHz and above for five years, and operators had access to large amounts of spectrum in the 2500-2600 MHz and 3300 MHz-3800 MHz ranges. Furthermore, as of March 2024, local operators e& UAE and du have invested more than $816 million (AED3 billion) in their mobile infrastructure and collectively rolled out more than 11,000 sites.

The neighboring country, Qatar, was in second position with a median 5G download speed of 613.08 Mbps. Operators have been deploying additional sites and activating new 5G carriers in the lead-up to and during the AFC Asian Cup at the beginning of 2024. This helped to achieve significant advancements in 5G network speed in the country from September 2023.

South Korea is considered a pioneer in 5G deployment and adoption of 5G technology, launching the world’s first commercial 5G network in April 2019. The nation’s telecommunication providers have undertaken substantial investments in expanding their 5G infrastructure, supported by governmental initiatives to achieve nationwide coverage exceeding 90% by 2026. According to Speedtest Intelligence data, the median download speed in the first half of 2024 was 524.99 Mbps.

Brazil showcased impressive download speeds at 443.23 Mbps considering its size compared to all other countries featured in the leaderboard. The activation of 5G in July 2022 and access to large amounts of dedicated spectrum, combined with the continuous expansion of 5G services since 2023, propelled the country into the top 4 fastest 5G markets.

5G Performance, Fastest 5G Countries in the World
Source: Speedtest Intelligence® | Q1-Q2 2024
5G Performance, Top Fastest Countries

e& UAE tops the global 5G performance leaderboard

We examined the 5G performance of the top operators globally during Q1-Q2 2024 using Ookla’s Speed Score metric. We considered operators that lead in Speed Score in their domestic markets. The score combines upload and download speed metrics, with download speed contributing 80% and upload speed 20% to the final score. Both upload and download speed components are measured using a modified trimean, which combines speeds from the 10th percentile, 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile in a weighted average using a 1:8:1 ratio.

e& UAE consistently led in 5G Speed Score, showing a strong upward trend over time, indicating solid and sustained improvement in 5G performance. 5G median download speed steadily increased to 749.63 Mbps during H1 2024, with a peak speed of 1380.54 Mbps. e& UAE’s upload speed performed well, with a median of 43.52 Mbps and a peak performance of 134.78 Mbps.

Since Q1-Q2 2023, Ooredoo (Qatar) has gradually improved its 5G Speed Score, moving to second position in Q1-Q2 2024 with a download speed of 666.14 Mbps. Ooredoo’s upload speed also improved slightly, though less significantly than the download speed. 

LG U+ (South Korea) displayed a relatively stable Speed Score with modest improvements over time. Its download speed reached 546.83 Mbps in H1 2024, and its upload speed followed a similar pattern, with a slight jump during the first half of 2024 to 44.28 Mbps, securing the second position.

Claro (Brazil) experienced a significant rise in Speed Score since H1 2023, following the launch of 5G SA, reflecting the sharp rise in download and upload speeds during that period, before stabilizing at 501.29 Mbps and 38.45 Mbps, respectively, in H1 2024.

Claro‘s Speed Score in Guatemala declined in the second half of 2022 before recovering in the first half of 2024. However, upload speed exhibited a sharp decline throughout 2022 and 2023 before recovering by the end of the period.

The Speed Score of A1 (Bulgaria) declined consistently, along with reduced download and upload speeds, indicating network capacity constraints. However, it achieved the sixth-highest Speed Score in the world, with a median download speed of 439.37 Mbps and a median upload speed of 34.08 Mbps.

5G Performance, Fastest 5G Operators in the World
Source: Speedtest Intelligence® | Q2 2024
5G Performance, Fastest 5G Operators in the World

E& UAE’s leadership in 5G speeds translated into a higher customer satisfaction score

e& UAE emerged as the fastest 5G operator in the U.A.E. during the first half of 2024, achieving a median download speed of 861.52 Mbps, significantly ahead of du’s 651.30 Mbps in Q3 2024. e& UAE’s steady improvement in 5G performance since 2022 boosted the U.A.E’s 5G download speed.

Since 1H 2022, e& UAE has outperformed du in terms of 5G download speeds. From mid-2022 to mid-2023, the performance gap between e& UAE and du widened significantly as e& UAE demonstrated consistent growth in download speeds, reaching 861.52 Mbps in Q3 2024. This growth highlights e& UAE’s substantial investment in infrastructure and success in delivering faster 5G services. 

e& UAE achieved near-nationwide coverage of 5G and deployed 5G SA technology in 2023, first as a fixed wireless access (FWA) solution and subsequently as a mobile service. The deployment of 5G SA enables higher throughput, enhances basic services such as voice, and improves advanced consumer and enterprise applications such as AR/VR and IoT.

5G Performance in the U.A.E.
Source: Speedtest Intelligence® | Q1-Q2 2022 — Q3 2024
5G Performance in the U.A.E.

Net Promoter Score (NPS), a key performance indicator of customer experience, generally positively correlates with improved network performance. Speedtest Intelligence data shows that mobile subscribers who use 5G universally rate their network operators a higher NPS than those on 4G LTE.

The U.A.E. has a similar trend, with 5G users more likely to recommend their operators than those on 4G. e& UAE, recognized as the fastest 5G operator in the market, leads with an NPS of 53.8 in Q1-Q2 2024, outperforming du with an average NPS of 36.7.

5G Net Promoter Scores in the U.A.E.
Source: Speedtest Intelligence® | Q2 2024
5G Net Promoter Scores in the U.A.E.

Competing on 5G speed can help operators be better prepared for 6G

Speed competition remains critical for mobile telecom operators, even though current network capabilities allow users to accomplish virtually any task. The pursuit of higher speeds is not merely a technical ambition; it reflects a commitment to excellence that appeals to both consumers and investors and positions the country as economically competitive on the global stage. 

Speed is also a highly relatable concept for consumers, driving their choice of service providers and stimulating spending. This makes speed an essential marketing tool for operators, who should leverage their network’s performance to maintain customer loyalty and protect their market share.

Beyond its immediate consumer appeal, speed competition plays a crucial role in supporting the development of the broader ICT industry. Speed helps companies stay competitive by leveraging technologies such as AI, cloud, and edge computing to enable real-time decision-making, operational efficiency, and rapid innovation.

In essence, competing in 5G speed is not just about delivering exceptional service today; it’s about laying the groundwork for tomorrow’s innovations, as illustrated by the U.A.E’s recent announcement of its 6G strategy. By investing in scalable and adaptable infrastructure now, operators ensure that they remain at the forefront of technology innovation. This proactive approach to network development also helps operators cultivate the expertise and skills necessary to anticipate market demand better and inform service enhancements and new offerings. Ultimately, telecom operators are building a foundation for long-term success to support next-generation digital services.

Ookla will continue to monitor 5G performance and deployments globally and benchmark countries and operators. For more information about Speedtest Intelligence data and insights, please contact us.

Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.

About the Author

Ookla

Ookla Research™ Articles
| November 4, 2024

Smartphone User Survey Reveals Habits and Frustrations

In a recent study conducted by Omdia and commissioned by Ookla, over 2,000 smartphone users across the U.S. and U.K. were surveyed to learn about consumer usage patterns, satisfaction levels, and pain points. The findings highlight user expectations in each country, from cost concerns to reliable connectivity to fast browsing speeds and more.

Read on for a look at some of the key findings from our study, or you can download our full white paper for a deeper dive into its findings, with in-depth analysis and the complete survey results.

Wi-Fi remains crucial alongside widespread cellular data usage

In a survey focused primarily on smartphone users, the results showed that Wi-Fi continues to play a vital role for all users. This underscores the enduring importance of Wi-Fi in users’ connectivity strategies, even as 5G technology continues to gain traction.

Network outages: a critical issue for user satisfaction

While not the most frequently cited frustration, network outages emerge as a critical issue with far-reaching implications for user satisfaction and loyalty. The survey reveals that outages have a disproportionate impact on customer perceptions and behavior. Respondents strongly considered switching carriers as a result of network outages and emphasized the importance of timely communication from their providers to alleviate frustration and maintain trust.

In such a dynamic and complex connectivity ecosystem, tools like Speedtest® and Downdetector® play vital roles. By providing objective data on network performance and real-time information on service outages, these tools help address many of the key issues highlighted in our survey. For instance, Speedtest data can help providers pinpoint areas for improvement to enhance customer satisfaction and reduce churn, while Downdetector’s outage reporting can help service providers address user concerns about prompt updates during network issues.

Want to explore all of the findings from our latest smartphone survey? Download the white paper to see all of the survey questions, results, and in-depth analysis.

Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.

About the Author

Ookla

Ookla Research™ Articles
| October 1, 2024

How Google Fiber has Elevated Connectivity using Speedtest® Data [Case Study]

Fiber internet has transformed connectivity in the U.S. — enabling faster, more reliable internet access for users in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Google Fiber is a U.S. internet provider that uses fiber optic technology to deliver superior speeds to its expanding list of markets.

GFiber is dedicated to delivering the best internet service nationwide, aiming to provide all of its fiber customers – regardless of location – with ultra-fast speeds of up to 8 Gbps over state-of-the-art infrastructure that ensures consistent, high-performance connectivity across all markets. This applies to established markets as well as new areas where GFiber is expanding. GFiber utilizes Speedtest data to validate actual speeds its customers experience given their individual real world environments, which helps with the delivery of exceptional services.

Situation

GFiber is rapidly expanding its fiber network into new markets, with a strong focus on ensuring they offer market-leading speeds from day one. Upon entering a new market, a critical goal for GFiber is to drive meaningful advancements in speed and service quality for users in the area.

GFiber needed a reliable way to confirm whether their efforts were delivering significantly faster download and upload speeds, better latency, and an enhanced quality of service—not just to exceed customer expectations, but to elevate the overall market standard.

Read the full case study here.

Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.

About the Author

Ookla

Ookla Research™ Articles
| September 26, 2024

How Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú used Ookla for Good™ to Enhance their Data Analytics Diploma Program [Case Study]

AI PUCP (Artificial Intelligence Group from Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú) is dedicated to advancing education and practical skill development in data analysis. As part of their Data Analytics diploma program, the “Programming for Exploratory Data Analysis” course utilizes Ookla for Good’s open datasets to teach students about network performance. By integrating this data into their curriculum, PUCP provides students with invaluable hands-on experience in analyzing mobile network connectivity. This collaboration not only enhances students’ technical skills but also supports efforts to address connectivity challenges, such as the digital divide, in Peru.

Situation

The “Programming for Exploratory Data Analysis” course at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú is designed to equip students with the skills to analyze and interpret complex datasets. It starts by learning Python from scratch and then moves on to different types of data, including building Recommendation Systems, analyzing Text data, manipulating Network datasets, solving Optimization Problems and one week is specifically focused on Geographical Data. On that topic, Lecturer Cristhian Castro Chávez wanted to give his students relevant and insightful data they could explore, allowing them to apply the skills they had gained throughout the course.

Given the telecommunications and engineering backgrounds of many of the students, using real-world data is crucial for developing their future skills. Providing students with complex and applicable datasets is essential for their learning experience; however, sourcing and integrating such data into the course curriculum can be challenging. Educational institutions and professors often struggle to find datasets that are both insightful and representative of real-world situations.

Read the full case study here (available in English and Spanish).

Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.

About the Author

Ookla

Ookla Research™ Articles
| September 16, 2024

How RTMC used Ookla’s Data Services to Empower Uzbekistan’s Digital Transformation [Case Study]

The telecommunications landscape in Central Asia is evolving rapidly, and Uzbekistan has risen to the challenge with its ambitious Digital Uzbekistan 2030 plan. This comprehensive national strategy aims to improve the country’s digital infrastructure, increase the efficiency of government services, and foster innovation and economic growth through the integration of modern technologies.

The Republican Telecommunications Management Center of Uzbekistan (RTMC), responsible for implementing this strategy, recognized that data-driven decision making and real-time connectivity performance data were crucial for success. RTMC turned to Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence® data, which has played a key role in Uzbekistan’s journey, particularly in the implementation of 5G technology and the overall improvement of connectivity in the country.

Situation

As RTMC began implementing Digital Uzbekistan 2030, they encountered a significant challenge: a lack of objective, real-time network performance data to show progress and evaluate user experiences.

A key objective of the strategy was ensuring a widespread penetration of 5G technology throughout the country, but RTMC needed a way to evaluate 5G deployments and performance. Traditional methods of on-site measurements proved to be sporadic and often not comprehensive enough to provide a clear picture of the evolving telecommunications landscape.

Read the full case study here (available in English and Russian).

Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.

About the Author

Ookla

Ookla Research™ Articles
| April 2, 2024

Introducing Speedtest Insights™ for smarter, faster connectivity decisions

Global Speeds

As the importance of connectivity has grown, understanding network performance and coverage has become essential for a broad group of stakeholders beyond just network engineers. Governments, regulators, infrastructure companies, and other enterprises outside of the traditional telecommunications space are now actively addressing connectivity challenges to pave the way for a more connected future.

While many tools exist for understanding network performance, most are built with network engineers in mind. The deep technical views that engineers require can be overly complex for users who just want straightforward connectivity insights. 

To that end, we are excited to announce the launch of our new product designed especially for this audience. Speedtest Insights™ helps you visualize connectivity on an intuitive map with user-friendly data — so that you can make connectivity decisions with clarity and confidence. 

See connectivity trends in the areas that matter most, no GIS skills required

With Speedtest Insights, no GIS skills are required to make informed decisions. View and compare network performance, mobile signal, and cell location data on an intuitive map-based platform.

Governments, regulators, infrastructure companies, and enterprises can leverage Ookla’s easy-to-use mapping interface to quickly understand connectivity at a high level or pinpoint precise areas of need. Speedtest Insights helps you: 

  • Visualize connectivity on an intuitive map with user-friendly data names and a simple “excellent, good, fair, poor” rating system
  • Eliminate guesswork about whether or not a network provides adequate service in an area and avoid costly in-person testing
  • Identify unserved and underserved areas to support grant proposals, win funding, and prioritize investment opportunities 

Measure real-world network performance and coverage

Every day, millions of consumer-initiated tests are taken with Speedtest by users around the world who want to understand their own connected experiences. Powered by the same crowdsourced Speedtest data, Speedtest Insights demonstrates real-world fixed and mobile network performance with metrics like Download Speed, Upload Speed, and Latency. 

You can also analyze Signal Strength and Signal Quality with signal data drawn from billions of crowdsourced daily network samples. Combined with Estimated Cell Locations, you can gain meaningful insight into the coverage of mobile networks. View 4G Signal Strength layered with 4G Cell Locations in the image below for a detailed view of mobile coverage in the U.K.

Real-world consumer-initiated data often differs from coverage data reported by carriers and provides a better look into how consumers are actually experiencing networks for more informed grant proposals and connectivity investment strategies.

Add administrative boundaries or other geographic areas to your map views such as counties, states/provinces, nations, and U.S. census tracts to get a better understanding of connectivity trends in the areas that matter most to you. View Fixed Download Speed layered with U.S. Census Tracts in the image below to identify census tracts that can be prioritized for broadband improvements.

Comprehensive performance and signal information within key geographic areas helps you monitor connectivity over time and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. With a wide range of customizable views, helpful features, and an easy-to-use interface, Speedtest Insights can help solve all of your connectivity challenges. 

Do you need to make smarter, faster connectivity decisions? Inquire here to get started with Speedtest Insights. 

Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.

Global Speeds

About the Author

Ookla

Ookla Research™ Articles
| March 6, 2024

Introducing Speedtest® Network Status

Consumer

You know Ookla® Speedtest as a powerful tool to diagnose and troubleshoot your internet connection, and we know sometimes you simply need a quick look at whether or not you’re connected. We’ve improved the Speedtest app to give you just that. With our new Network Status feature, you can open the Speedtest app and quickly see whether your device is online or not. This immediately tells you if you need to focus your troubleshooting on getting connected – or if you can dig deeper to fine-tune your network connection.

How Network Status works

Animated gif of blue status "checking your internet connection" screen within mobile Speedtest appFirst, a blue circle

You’ll see a blue circle around the Go button when you open the Speedtest app, along with a “Checking your internet connection” message. During this time we are sending multiple requests to multiple services to check your online status. The Speedtest app determines your device connectivity strength based on the success rate of these requests. You’ll see the circle change to green, yellow, or red, depending on the state of your connection.

Animated gif of green status "you are connected to the internet" screen within mobile Speedtest appA green circle confirms you’re connected

If the initial check is successful, the circle around the Go button will change to green and you’ll see a “You are connected to the internet” message. Hooray! This means you’re ready to run a Speedtest to get the full picture of your internet performance or a video test to see if your connection is streaming ready. You can also check out the Downdetector tab to see if the services and sites you want to connect to are experiencing difficulties or click on the map tab for a look at coverage in your area.

Animated gif of yellow status "Your internet connection may be unstable" screen within mobile Speedtest appA yellow circle means something isn’t quite right

You’ll see a yellow circle and a “Your internet connection may be unstable” message if the response rate to the initial check is lower than expected. You can still proceed with using the Speedtest app or the internet at large, but you may not get the performance you are hoping for.

Animated gif of red status "Check your connection, taking a Speedtest may fail" screen within mobile Speedtest appA red circle indicates you’re probably disconnected

The circle around the Go button will turn red if there is a really poor response rate (or no response) to the initial check. You’ll also get a “Check your connection, taking a Speedtest may fail” message. This is a good time to see if your device is in airplane mode or if you might need a restart. It could also indicate that you have no coverage if you’re on a mobile network or that your Wi-Fi is experiencing difficulties if you’re trying to use Wi-Fi.

Network Status offers a quick check for users who need it

We know you don’t always need the full performance evaluation Speedtest provides, and we know that data is sometimes limited and usage can be expensive in some parts of the world. Network Status gives you a lightweight peek at what’s happening with your network just by opening the Speedtest app. You’ll have real-time information about whether you’re connected to a network and then you can take a Speedtest to get the full view of your network’s performance if you need it.

Network Status is already available in the Speedtest app for Android and iOS. Open the Speedtest app on your device to try it today or download the app using Google Play or the Apple App Store. If you don’t see the new Network Status feature, update your app to the latest version.

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