Category: Uncategorized

Ookla Research™ Articles
| June 3, 2025

Urban Exodus During Mudik Triggered Shifts In Indonesia’s Mobile Experience

Eid al-Fitr, or Lebaran, which fell on March 31, 2025, is one of the most significant national holidays in Indonesia, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Beyond its religious importance, it is also the largest annual mass movement in the country, with tens of millions of people traveling from cities and towns to their hometowns in a practice known as “mudik”. Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation estimated over 146.48 million people took part in mudik in 2025.

The mass movement from urban to rural areas during Eid creates temporary but rapid shifts in mobile network demand, challenging operator performance. This report analyzes changes in mobile experience across Indonesian regions and cities during the Eid period.

Key Takeaways

  • Mobile user activity shifted sharply during Eid, where Jakarta experienced a 30% drop in Speedtest® samples by the week of March 31, reflecting the urban outflow during mudik. In contrast, Central Java experienced nearly double the typical Speedtest volume, and East Java saw an increase of over one-third, as mobile users returned to hometowns for the festive period. 
  • Median download speeds rose in cities as congestion lowers but dropped in areas experiencing user surges. Jakarta recorded a median download speed of 57.94 Mbps during the week of March 31, a 20% increase from the previous week. In contrast, Central Java’s speed fell to 15.99 Mbps (down 38%), and East Java dropped to 25.91 Mbps, reflecting network strain.
  • Jakarta saw improvements with a page load time of 1.42 seconds and a video start success rate of 62.25%, following the outflow of residents during the festive period. Conversely, Central Java experienced increased traffic, leading to a slower page load time of 1.94 seconds and a lower video start success rate of 50.87%. These patterns highlight how changes in user distribution during the festive period influenced mobile experience across regions.

Eid travel pressure met with stronger network readiness from regulator and operators

To support mobile performance during mudik, Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kominfo) and major mobile operators undertook coordinated efforts ahead of Eid. Kominfo deployed a monitoring force of 1,500 personnel and 29 vehicles across 386 key locations, including transportation hubs. Mobile operators also boosted capacity. XL Axiata, for example, doubled its network capacity and deployed hundreds of mobile base transceiver stations (BTS) to areas expected to see spikes in demand. Telkomsel, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, and Smartfren took similar steps, reinforcing coverage along highways, terminals, and popular travel routes.

Based on weekly aggregated Speedtest Intelligence® data of all technologies combined, from the week of March 17 to April 7 2025, reveals population shifts during the 2025 Eid al-Fitr period in Indonesia. This is indicated by a decrease in mobile Speedtest sample density in Jakarta and other major urban centers, coupled with an increase in provinces like Central Java and East Java. This reflects not just physical movement, but also shifts in network load and demand.

Animation of maps showing showing Weekly Speedtest Sample Size During Eid in All Regions of Indonesia | Weeks of March 17 – April 7, 2025

At the regional level, Jakarta experienced the most notable drop in sample density during the Eid week of March 31. Compared to the week of March 17, Jakarta’s sample density fell by about 30%, indicating a substantial outflow of users. By the week of April 7, sample numbers in the capital had rebounded by over 40%, suggesting that many users had returned shortly after the festive period. In contrast, Central Java and East Java recorded significant increases during the same period. Central Java saw its sample density nearly double between mid-March and the week of Eid, reflecting a large influx of people returning to their hometowns in the region. East Java followed a similar trajectory, with sample density rising by more than one-third. 

Outside Java, most provinces showed low and relatively stable sample density across the four weeks. Regions such as Maluku, West Papua, and North Kalimantan did not exhibit significant fluctuations, likely due to lower population density, limited mudik movement, or infrastructural factors. This contrast underscores the concentrated nature of mudik, where most of the population flow occurs within and around Java Island.

Chart of Weekly Speedtest Sample Size During Eid in Select Cities of Indonesia | Weeks of March 17 – April 7, 2025

At the city level, the trend in Jakarta was mirrored in other major urban centers. Surabaya, a major city in East Java, showed a similar pattern as Jakarta, with a 20% drop in samples during the Eid week of March 31, compared to the week of March 17. 

Mudik Migration Reshapes Mobile Network Loads, Boosting Urban Speeds and Straining Rural Connectivity

There was a clear relationship between sample density and mobile network performance data, which directly correlated with the population movements characteristic of the mudik period Major cities and urban areas with reduced user activity saw download speeds increase, while some regional areas with increased user concentration experienced performance degradations.

Animation of maps showing showing Weekly Download Performance During Eid in All Regions of Indonesia | Weeks of March 17 – April 7, 2025
Animation of maps showing showing Weekly Upload Performance During Eid in All Regions of Indonesia | Weeks of March 17 – April 7, 2025

Jakarta, which recorded the highest drop in Speedtest samples during Eid week, showed a temporary boost in median download speed. The city’s speed rose from 48.36 Mbps in the week of March 24 to 57.94 Mbps during the week of March 31, a 20% improvement. However, by April 7, when users returned, speeds fell by over 27% compared to Eid week, returning closer to pre-Eid levels. Median upload speed also saw a similar pattern, increasing slightly from 15.76 Mbps to 17.5 Mbps, and dropping down to 15.92 Mbps during the same period.

The opposite trend is seen in Central Java and East Java, two regions that received a large influx of users during the Eid period. In Central Java, sample density nearly doubled by March 31, while download speeds dropped to 15.99 Mbps during the same week—down by more than 38% from the week of March 17. East Java followed a similar pattern. As sample density increased during the week of March 31, performance dipped to 25.91 Mbps, a decline from its pre-Eid baseline of 29.26 Mbps.

Mobile Performance Trend For All Technologies Combined In Select Indonesia Cities
Speedtest Intelligence® | Week of March 17th – April 7th

City-level performance during the Eid period mirrored the broader regional trends, with download and upload speeds rising in cities that saw lower user concentration and falling in those experiencing increased demand. Jakarta recorded the highest median download speed during Eid week at 57.94 Mbps, aligning with the drop in sample density size as residents traveled out of the capital. Surabaya and Denpasar also saw performance peaks during the festive period, reaching 47.57 Mbps and 51.8 Mbps, respectively, suggesting lower local congestion during Eid. Upload speeds followed a similar pattern. Cities with lower user load during Eid, such as Pekanbaru, Denpasar, and Yogyakarta, recorded the highest upload speeds, with Pekanbaru reaching 21.83 Mbps. Jakarta’s upload speed increased slightly to 17.5 Mbps during Eid, then dropped as users returned. 

Regional Performance Comparison Between Week of Eid 2024 vs. Eid 2025
Speedtest Intelligence® | Week of Apr 08, 2024 and Week of March 31, 2025

A comparison of Speedtest data during the Eid week in 2024 and 2025 shows a clear improvement in median download speeds across most provinces in Indonesia. Out of 34 regions, over 64% recorded faster speeds in 2025. Notable year-on-year gains were observed in Papua, which improved by 28.37 Mbps, Jakarta by 9.91 Mbps, and East Nusa Tenggara by 8.68 Mbps. These improvements reflect a stronger network response during the peak holiday period in 2025 compared to the previous year.

Users’ mobile web browsing and video experience tracked closely with regions’ download speed and network demand

Fast page load times and acceptable video start times are critical to the user experience, especially during festive periods like Eid, when users engage heavily with social media, share greetings, and stream video content. Speedtest regional data during the week of Eid (March 31) showed regions with sufficient network capacity and aren’t strained by user surges, experienced faster page load and smoother video streaming.

Users’ Mobile Web Browsing And Video Experience By Region
Speedtest Intelligence® | Week of March 31

Jakarta stood out with the fastest page load time at 1.42 seconds and the highest acceptable video start time rate at 62.25%, backed by the highest download speed of 57.94 Mbps. Other areas like Banten and West Java also performed well, with page load times below 1.6 seconds and video start rates above 57%. 

By contrast, provinces that saw increased sample density—such as Central Java and East Java—faced higher page load times at 1.94 and 1.65 seconds, and lower video start success at 50.87% and 56.1%. Remote and low-speed regions such as North Maluku, Papua, and Maluku consistently performed at the bottom. Page load times exceeded 2.1 seconds, and video start time success fell below 51%. These areas also had low sample volumes and limited network capacity, pointing to infrastructure constraints rather than temporary congestion.

Proactive measures and collaborative efforts ensured largely stable mobile network operations during the Eid period, effectively mitigating increased demand and minimizing disruptions to user experience during peak travel. We will continue to track mobile performance across Southeast Asian markets during significant festive periods. To find out more about Speedtest Intelligence® data and insights, please contact us 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

Affandy Johan

Ookla Research™ Articles
| June 15, 2022

Malaysian 5G is Still Up in the Air as 4G Becomes Ubiquitous

Global Speeds

The fact that Malaysian consumers are still waiting for nationwide 5G hasn’t stopped mobile providers from implementing other network improvements to provide better performance in the interim. This article explores how Malaysia compares to other major markets in Southeast Asia for mobile network performance and availability. We also analyze the current state of Malaysia’s mobile market. This includes 4G speeds and 4G Availability, insights into regional coverage, and what 5G looks like across the regions during the initial roll out phase in Malaysia.

Key takeaways 

  • When comparing 4G performance across select South Eastern Asian markets, in terms of median 4G download speeds, Singapore comes first at 44.11 Mbps, ahead of Vietnam (34.89 Mbps) in Q1 2022. For upload speeds, the ranking is reversed for the top two: Vietnam is top with 17.49 Mbps, followed by Singapore at 11.62 Mbps.
  • 4G Availability across the seven Southeast Asian countries is above 80%. Singapore leads, achieving 94.5% 4G Availability in Q1 2022, followed by Malaysia (92.3%).
  • Across Malaysia, 4G Availability increased from 86.7% in Q1 2021 to 92.3% in Q1 2022. This is predominantly driven by two factors: increased availability of networks and devices.
  • In Malaysia, Digi had the fastest 4G download speeds; Maxis won on upload.
  • Putrajaya had the highest 4G Availability across the regions with 96.4% of tested locations showing access to 4G during Q1 2022.
  • The 5G rollout in Malaysia is still facing challenges. The 5G wholesale network is not yet fully commercialized and there are ongoing discussions around operators joining in. 

Fastest 4G speeds were in Singapore, while the fastest LTE upload speeds were in Vietnam

Using Speedtest Intelligence® data, we compared Malaysia’s 4G performance against that of its regional peers in Q1 2022. Singapore came first with 44.11 Mbps median 4G download speed ahead of Vietnam (34.89 Mbps), followed by Thailand (24.86 Mbps) and Malaysia (22.41 Mbps). Across Indonesia, the Philippines, and Cambodia, the 4G median speeds were well under 20 Mbps. 

Vietnam performed well in the 4G download speeds ranking and it also had the highest median upload speed across the seven Southeast Asian countries surveyed – 17.49 Mbps, ahead of Singapore, which trailed at 11.62 Mbps.

It is also worth noting that the Vietnamese government promotes smartphone use. In July 2021, a telecom law, Circular 43, came into effect, which states that devices either imported to or made in Vietnam must support 4G technology. This stimulated customer migration to 4G technology. Furthermore, in December 2021, the Ministry of Information and Communication proposed that Vietnam stop using 2G and 3G technologies from 2022 in a bid to propel digital transformation. The government has made provisions in a draft public utility telecommunication program in 2021–2025 to support  “poor and near-poor households” and give them access to 2.1 million smartphones. 

Other countries in the region, e.g. Malaysia and Indonesia, look to migrate users away from 3G too, and put in place initiatives to support that. For example, Malaysian government and operators introduced initiatives to help Malaysians, especially those in the B40 category (lower-income group, with a monthly household gross income of RM 1/$0.23–RM 4,850/ $1107 representing 40% of Malaysians) to get internet access and portable and affordable 4G-capable smart devices. These include Pakej Remaja Keluarga Malaysia and Pakej Peranti Keluarga Malaysia launched in October 2021, and the Pakej Perantisiswa Keluarga Malaysia, which is part of Budget 2022.

4G Availability above 80% across Southeast Asia

When it comes to 4G Availability — the proportion of users who spend the majority of their time on 4G technology — all countries surveyed were above the 80% mark in Q1 2022. Singapore lead, achieving 94.5% 4G Availability in Q1 2022. This isn’t surprising since as a condition of the 4G spectrum allocation, mobile operators were required to provide nationwide 4G outdoor service coverage by end of June 2016, and within road and Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) tunnels by June 30, 2018. 

Malaysia ranked well too, propelled by government initiatives. As part of the12th Malaysia Plan (2021–2025), the government is implementing the Jalinan Digital Negara (Jendela) initiative, which aims to address the need and demand for better quality fixed and mobile broadband coverage. The objectives of the first phase are to increase 4G coverage from 91.8% to 96.9% by the end of 2022, mobile broadband speeds from a mean download speed of 25 Mbps to 35 Mbps, and switch-off 3G networks by the end of 2021. The next Phase, Phase 2 (initially planned for 2023–2025 but already kicked off with a roll out of 5G in Q4 2021) focuses on deploying 5G network services to boost digital connectivity nationwide. 

4G Availability in Malaysia heading toward 100%

When comparing 4G Availability across operators in Malaysia, the differences are minor. At a country level, the average 4G Availability increased from 86.7% in Q1 2021 to 92.3% in Q1 2022. This was predominantly driven by two factors: increased availability of networks and devices.

Operators across Malaysia continue to roll out 4G to adhere to Jendela roll out targets. According to Jendela’s Q1 2022 report, the four main mobile broadband service providers have collectively achieved their Q1 2022 target by building 60 new 4G towers. Celcom beat targets by 25%, while Digi met 94% of its target as it encountered permit approval issues with the Sabah Local Council. 4G population coverage was also on track, increasing to 95.5% in Q1 2022, and is on a good path to achieve its 96.9% populated area coverage target by the end 2022.

In addition to setting up targets related to 4G network deployments to free up more spectrum for 4G, the Malaysian government expected to retire 3G spectrum at the end of 2021 but is yet to be completed. According to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), 20% of 3G sites still remained operational at the deadline. Flooding and the monsoon season are cited as the reasons for the delay in retiring 3G sites. Almost all 3G carriers will have completed shutdown by Q2 2022, except a few sites located in remote areas, which are set to be shut down in December 2022. 

In terms of end user migration, 86.6% of 3G customers in Malaysia have already moved to 4G while the rest do “not see the need for the switch over.” The remaining users will be able to use their existing devices even after the network shutdown, but they will be connected to 2G, which will only serve their basic connectivity needs (SMS and voice calls). The operators’ support for customer migration away from 3G devices includes promotional offers on 4G-enabled devices and subscription plans. For instance, Maxis launched campaigns like “Zerolution” device plan and “Balas Budi dengan 4G” campaign to encourage 4G users to help their families and friends upgrade. Digi, on the other hand, initiated a nationwide campaign (#BuatLebihL4Gi) to drive awareness for customers to adopt 4G, coupled with affordable device plans to drive greater adoption. U Mobile encourages its customers to upgrade by offering an upgrade for as little as 99sen ($0.23). 

Digi has the fastest 4G download speeds; Maxis wins on upload

We compared 4G performance in Q1 2022 across Malaysian operators using Speedtest Intelligence. Digi came first with a 28.08 Mbps median download speed. The operator reported that most of its MYR 815 million (US$185.42 million) capital expenditure in 2021 was spent to improve its 4G network to respond to increased data consumption (more than 20GB per user, up 8.9% versus 2020) and deliver on the Jendela commitments. U Mobile and Celcom were head to head in terms of median 4G download speeds at 20.09 Mbps and 20.02 Mbps, respectively. 

The largest operator by number of subscribers — Maxis — came first when it comes to upload speeds, with a median upload speed of 10.59 Mbps, a 12% year-over-year increase. The operator invested MYR 1.2 billion ($273 million) in capex in 2021, with MYR 597 million ($136 million) in Q4 2021 alone, the highest in a single quarter. 

Putrajaya leads 4G Availability performance for Malaysia’s regions

We explored 4G Availability in Malaysia’s 13 states and 3 federal territories using Speedtest data from Q1 2022. It is important to note that 4G Availability is not a direct reflection of 4G coverage. Instead, this is a reflection of the network technology, e.g. 4G users spend the majority of their time connected to. Putrajaya had the highest 4G Availability with 96.4% of tested locations showing access to 4G during Q1 2022, while the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur had the lowest 4G Availability at 87.2%. Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang witnessed over 10% increases in 4G Availability between Q1 2021 and Q1 2022. Looking at the operators’ 4G Availability during Q1 2022 across different geographic areas, 4G Availability didn’t statistically differ in most cases. However, there were a few exceptions: Maxis won in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Pahang and Selangor, while U Mobile had the highest availability in Johor. Maxis has also committed to expanding its coverage in Sabah and Sarawak as stated by the Chief Network Officer.   

4G performs well across all of Malaysia’s regions

Not only did availability improve across these regions, but speeds also increased. However there was no statistical winner in Q1 2022 for the fastest median 4G download and upload speeds across the provinces. 

According to the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (K-KOMM), Selangor has been a priority market in terms of funding; it received a high allocation of MYR 5.34 billion to upgrade telecommunications infrastructure. So far 313 new towers have been built and 7,197 transmitter stations upgraded to 4G already with 652 in progress. 

Singapore led Southeast Asia on 5G speeds

While median 5G download speed was 246.01 Mbps in Q1 2022, this differed by operator with Singtel being the clear winner as it recorded 360.31 Mbps median download speed in Q1 2022. Singapore’s 5G story began in 2020 when two wholesale networks launched — Singtel and Antina (Starhub-M1 consortium). IMDA, Singapore’s telecom regulator, aims for 50% 5G coverage of Singapore by 2022 and nationwide 5G coverage by 2025. Singtel recently announced the first rollout for an MRT line, while its 5G indoor coverage is spread over 300 locations across the island, including all malls along the NEL, bringing indoor/outdoor coverage to 75% of Singapore. Singtel is also busy rolling out 5G Standalone (SA) in partnership with Ericsson running on 3.5 GHz spectrum. The other operators — StarHub and M1 — are also “on track” to roll out 5G services to MRT tunnels in the next few months and reach “nationwide outdoor 5G coverage” in 2022. In March 2022, StarHub reported its 5G network had more than 75% of outdoor coverage, with M1 claiming the same. In November 2021, Singaporean operators also received additional spectrum in the 2100 MHz band, in addition to the first tranche of 3.5 GHz spectrum issued in June 2020 for the deployment of 5G nationwide networks. 

Cambodia’s 5G is expected in 2023; currently, there is no spectrum availability. In Vietnam, 5G was launched in 2020 but using spectrum assigned on a trial basis, and is not commercially available as of yet. With long-term spectrum availability still unclear, Vietnam is missing from the 5G ranking. Malaysia’s wholesale network is not yet fully commercialized, 5G is available in selected areas of Malaysia, so we excluded it from the ranking. Only two operators — Yes and Unifi Mobile — signed up for the free trial on the network when it was launched in December 2021. The network is expected to be fully commercialized in July 2022 by all Malaysian operators. 

Thailand came first for 5G Availability in Southeast Asia

Speedtest Intelligence data put Thailand first in terms of 5G Availability (the proportion of users on 5G-capable devices who spend a majority of their time on 5G networks) among its regional peers. Thailand was one of the first markets to launch 5G in the Asia Pacific region, with AIS and TrueMove H both launching commercial 5G services inQ1 2020, shortly after the conclusion of the country’s 5G auction. AIS performed well when it comes to median 5G download speeds (261.19 Mbps download speed/40.57 Mbps upload speed) and it was the fastest operator in Thailand in Q1 2022. In our recent article, we concluded that the country’s regulator, The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), has been instrumental in establishing Thailand as a leading 5G market in the region. In February 2020, NBTC assigned spectrum for 5G use across low- (700 MHz), mid- (2,600 MHz), and high- (26 GHz) frequency bands. It also plans a further auction of mid-band spectrum in 2022 in the 3.5 GHz band, which was vacated in September 2021 by Thaicom, a satellite provider.

In Indonesia, operators launched 5G in select cities in June 2021, which explains the very low 5G Availability in Q1 2022 at 0.37%. 

Greater 5G Availability on the Malaysian horizon

The 5G situation in Malaysia is rather unique and requires a bit of an explanation. In February 2021, the Malaysian Ministry of Finance announced during the launch of the Prime Minister’s Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint (MyDIGITAL) that a government-owned Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) would be responsible for rolling out a nationwide single wholesale network (SWN) to deliver 5G. This led to the establishment of Digital National Berhad (DNB), responsible for the 5G network rollout and providing wholesale services to operators on an open, fair, and non-discriminatory basis over the next 10 years. 

The DNB has been assigned spectrum in the 700 MHz, 3.5 GHz, and 26-28 GHz bands. Currently, the 5G network has been deployed utilizing 3.5 GHz spectrum across selected areas of Putrajaya, Cyberjaya, Johor and Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. However, the DNB has aggressive timelines to reach 80% of populated areas by 2024, while the goal is to cover 40% of the population by the end of 2022. 

There are still a few pieces of the puzzle that need to fall into place before 5G can be widely available in Malaysia. First, in March 2022, the government upheld its position that the SWN will in fact be the model for the 5G network deployment. Despite backing an alternative — the Dual Wholesale Network (DWN) rather than SWN — the four leading telcos (Celcom Axiata, Digi, Maxis and U Mobile) have announced that they are supporting the government’s decision. On its part, the government offered up to 70% of DNB equity to operators, while it will retain a 30% stake. The four operators, although open to the proposal, would prefer to go through a merger and acquisition process. Only two local operators, Telekom Malaysia (TM) and YTL Communications, signed agreements to acquire an equity stake. The discussions are currently in place with a target date to be completed by the end of June 2022. 

On March 31 2022, DNB Reference Access Offer (RAO) was released. Despite hopes that the concerns raised by the operators regarding the RAO could be sorted within weeks, there are still ongoing discussions around RAO. In a joint statement, the operators stated that RAO will not enable affordable and good quality 5G services. 

The big four telecom operators are eager to provide commercial 5G services and test different 5G use cases. For instance, Maxis partnered with Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad and Proton for 5G services and solutions, as well as the deployment of 5G use cases. The operator also launched a 5G and AI innovation lab. 

We will continue to follow the Malaysian market to see how the 5G situation will unravel and how it affects their ranking among Southeast Asian countries. Once we know the outcome of the conversations regarding DNB we will be sure to comment on that. If you’d like to learn more about internet speeds and performance in other markets around the world, visit the Speedtest Global Index™.

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

Sylwia Kechiche

Ookla Research™ Articles
| January 28, 2025

Powering the Passenger Experience: Insights into Mobile Network Performance of Top Hubs in the Gulf and Turkey

The Gulf region and Turkey have experienced a surge in air passenger traffic. The growth is expected to remain robust in key hubs such as Dubai, Doha, and Istanbul. As airports prepare to accommodate this influx of travelers, reliable and high-performance cellular networks have become increasingly important in shaping the overall passenger experience. This article benchmarks the network performance of the busiest airports in the Gulf region and Turkey, in terms of download and upload speeds, as well as latency, based on Speedtest Intelligence® data. It also provides recommendations on where travelers may get the best online experience.

Key Takeaways:

  • Zayed International Airport (AUH) achieves top-tier mobile download speeds of over ​​450 Mbps. Istanbul Airport (IST) excels in upload speed at 58.40 Mbps, making it particularly suitable for travelers who need to share content efficiently. On the other end, King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah consistently underperforms across all metrics, with the highest latency and lowest upload speed.
  • Istanbul Airport significantly leads in 5G performance thanks to a dedicated 5G indoor network: IST achieved the highest download and upload speeds at 861.98 Mbps and 101.96 Mbps, respectively. Gulf-based airports showed a high contrast in median 5G download speeds, with those in Qatar and the UAE offering the fastest speeds at over 500 Mbps.

Most airports provided a median download speed of at least 200 Mbps, enabling an excellent online experience for passengers

While Turkey has long been a magnet for tourists, the Gulf region has emerged as one of the world’s premier travel hubs, attracting hundreds of millions of passengers annually. As a result, airport operators in the region face a pressing need to deliver seamless web browsing, lag-free online gaming, and high-quality streaming experiences to enhance the overall passenger experience and set a new standard for airport facilities. We used Speedtest Intelligence to analyze cellular network performance in the busiest airports in the Gulf region and Turkey.

Total Passengers In Selected Busiest Airports In The Gulf Region And Turkey
Wikipedia | 2024
Total Passengers In Selected Busiest Airports In The Gulf Region And Turkey

Download speed is the most important metric for content consumption and online experience. Zayed International Airport (AUH) had a median download speed of 453.18 Mbps. It was closely followed by Hamad International Airport (DOH), with a speed of 426.43 Mbps. King Khalid International Airport (RUH) and Istanbul International Airport (IST) also delivered excellent download speed performances at  329.04 Mbps and 314.84 Mbps, respectively.

In contrast, Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) and Muscat International Airport (MCT) delivered sub-100Mbps speeds of 78.67 Mbps and 95.95 Mbps, respectively. Airports based in Dubai and Kuwait fall into the mid-range, with download speeds of around 250 Mbps. 

Upload speed is important as it determines how efficiently users can upload documents, photos, and videos. IST stands out with a median upload speed of 58.40 Mbps, surpassing all other airports. RUH in Riyadh, DOH in Doha, and SAW in Istanbul follow with upload speeds of 32.83 Mbps, 30.10 Mbps, and 29.10 Mbps, respectively. King Abdul Aziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah falls short, delivering the lowest upload speed of just 16.11 Mbps, while DXB pulls slightly ahead with 18.99 Mbps. 

Latency measures the delay in transferring data and affects real-time services such as video calls, online gaming, and media streaming. Most airports offer a sub-40 ms latency, which ensures acceptable responsiveness for users. IST and Kuwait International Airport (KWT) have somewhat better conditions, with a delay of under 32 ms. JED stood out again as a poor performer with a latency of 89.98 ms, suggesting a significant impact on real-time applications such as gaming and video conferencing.

All Technologies Network Performance, Select Airports in the Gulf and Turkey
Speedtest Intelligence® | 2024
All Technologies Network Performance, Select Airports in the Gulf and Turkey

Istanbul Airport significantly leads the region in 5G performance thanks to a dedicated 5G indoor network

As 5G adoption increases, consumers and businesses expect the same level of coverage and performance wherever they go. Yet, the characteristics of ‘outdoor’ 5G, which typically operates in mid-band frequencies of 1.8 GHz to 3.5 GHz, pose a challenge for indoor coverage, as these frequencies struggle to penetrate walls and windows, particularly those built of glass and steel. Furthermore, telecom operators have prioritized outdoor coverage because it requires less CAPEX and OPEX per subscriber than indoor coverage and has a better return on investment. In addition, the traffic patterns in the airport are highly variable, which means that the network must be capable of accommodating different connectivity levels.

The introduction of 5G in Turkey lags significantly behind as 700 MHz, 3.5 GHz, and 26 GHz frequencies will be auctioned in 2025, with commercial launch expected in 2026. However, Istanbul International Airport (IST) deployed a dedicated indoor 5G network that serves only users within the airport’s premises. This deployment gives it performance advantages compared to public 5G networks. Speedtest Intelligence data shows that IST secured the top spot for 5G median download and upload speeds at 861.98 Mbps and 101.96 Mbps, respectively.

Airports in Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Doha (DOH) also have high 5G download speeds, at 678.11 Mbps and 657.56 Mbps, respectively. All other Gulf-based airports provided a median download speed of at least 107 Mbps, enabling users to stream multiple 4K videos over 5G. 

Gulf airports lagged significantly behind IST in upload speeds, with four locations’ speeds ranging from around 30 Mbps to 45 Mbps. The other four Gulf-based airports underperformed, with MCT and JED at the bottom of the list with a median upload speed of 15.09 Mbps and 17.84 Mbps, respectively, despite deploying solutions to improve indoor network coverage and capacity.

Most airports offer a relatively low 5G latency, around 30 ms to 36 ms, suggesting good service responsiveness. The only exception is JED, with a median latency of 86.59 ms, likely degrading the customer experience of real-time services such as video streaming.

5G Network Performance, Select Airports in the Gulf and Turkey
Speedtest Intelligence® | 2024
5G Network Performance, Select Airports in the Gulf and Turkey

As the results show, airports in the Gulf region and Turkey generally have excellent mobile network performance inside and around these facilities. These achievements were realized thanks to the deployment of 5G and investment in solutions to improve indoor coverage and capacity.

The tourism boom in Turkey and the Gulf region is set to continue and will drive infrastructure investment and economic growth

According to GlobalData, the number of international arrivals into the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) reached 73.64 million travelers in 2023. The U.A.E. leads the GCC in terms of tourist numbers with 28.2 million visitors in the city during H1 2024,  while Saudi Arabia received 27.4 million visitors (including pilgrims) with the ambition to grow to 150 million by 2030. The tourism sector in Qatar is also a promising destination, with 3 million visitors in 2023, benefiting from the successful hosting of the World Cup in 2022. Oman welcomed 3.4 million tourists in 2023 and plans to attract 11.7 million by 2040.

These countries have invested heavily in infrastructure, including transport, to address the growing influx of tourists and translate into economic growth. They have also built new airports and upgraded existing ones to cater to the rise in air passenger traffic, which is expected to surge to 449 million in 2024, more than double its 2019 level. 

The new Istanbul airport was inaugurated in 2018 to make Turkey’s capital one of the world’s largest financial and economic centers. It had an initial capacity of 90 million passengers annually, making it a major gateway for international visitors and contributing to the country’s economy.  According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the number of tourist arrivals in the country increased by 7% to 47.3 million during the first 10 months of 2024 compared to the same period the previous year. It plans to expand its capacity to 120 million passengers in 2025. 

As the Gulf region and Turkey continue to experience a surge in air passenger traffic, it is essential to meet their expectations for fast and reliable connectivity to enhance their overall experience and gain a competitive edge over other airports. By doing so, they can unlock new growth opportunities, improve customer loyalty, and strengthen their position as major global travel hubs.We will continue to monitor network performance in key locations where people spend their time and how it impacts their online experience. If you are interested in Speedtest Intelligence, 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

Karim Yaici

Ookla Research™ Articles
| January 30, 2022

5G in Thailand: AIS Leads the Market

Global Speeds

AIS and TrueMove H drive early 5G adoption

Thailand was one of the first markets to launch 5G in the Asia Pacific region, with AIS and TrueMove H both launching commercial 5G services during Q1 2020, shortly after the conclusion of the country’s 5G auction. Driving 5G adoption in the market is one of the primary objectives for AIS and TrueMove H — both have begun reporting the number of 5G connections on their networks — and had each targeted 2 million by the end of 2021.

The regulator, The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), has been instrumental in establishing Thailand as a leading 5G market in the region. In February 2020, NBTC assigned spectrum for 5G use across low (700 MHz), mid (2,600 MHz) and high (26 GHz) frequency bands, and plans a further auction of mid-band spectrum in 2022 in the 3.5 GHz band, which was vacated in September 2021 by a Thaicom, a satellite provider. In terms of operator allocations:

  • AIS was first to launch 5G services in the market in February 2020, having acquired licenses across low, mid and high-frequency bands, giving it a strong mix of coverage and capacity spectrum.
  • TrueMove H followed, launching 5G in March 2020, having acquired spectrum in both the mid and high-frequency bands.
  • dtac launched 5G services in Q1 2021, only utilizing low-frequency spectrum in the 700 MHz band.
  • State-owned operator National Telecom (NT), formed from the merger of CAT and TOT, is yet to launch 5G services in the market. NT brings together spectrum across both low and high frequency bands and was expected to reveal a 5G investment plan, which could include handing the spectrum back to the regulator, by the end of 2021. However NT is still to indicate its plans at this date.

5G performance varies by operator in Thailand

These significant differences in spectrum holdings between the Thai operators have helped to drive very different 5G performance profiles, particularly when comparing AIS and TrueMove H with dtac. AIS led the market on both median 5G download and upload speeds, recording 289.12 Mbps and 41.20 Mbps, respectively, in Q4 2021 according to [Speedtest Intelligence](https://www.ookla.com/speedtest-intelligence)® data. TrueMove H followed, with a median 5G download speed of 217.84 Mbps and upload of 27.49 Mbps. The lack of mid-band spectrum appears to be limiting dtac which showed a median 5G download speed of 35.73 Mbps and 18.78 Mbps upload.

Both AIS and TrueMove H maintained strong 5G Consistency Scores in Q4 2021, with well over 90% of Speedtest Intelligence samples on their 5G networks exceeding the threshold of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, indicating widespread coverage of mid-band spectrum. dtac, on the other hand, recorded a much lower 5G Consistency Score, again driven by its lack of mid-band spectrum, with just under two-thirds of samples on its 5G network meeting the criteria.

5G Availability differentiates operators in Thailand

While AIS led on 5G performance and consistency, TrueMove H led the market for 5G Availability, the percentage of users on 5G-capable devices that spend a majority of time with access to 5G networks, with 34.9%, well above AIS with only 15.9%, and with dtac in the low single digits. Availability is normally a good proxy for coverage, however the disparity we see between TrueMove H and AIS is largely down to the fact that AIS requires users to subscribe to a 5G tariff, as opposed to TrueMove H which allows greater access to 5G-enabled devices on its network.

Regional 5G performance in Thailand

Every operator takes a unique approach to regional strategy, so we have looked closely at 5G performance in select regions during Q4 2021 to see what’s working. We included regions with a minimum threshold of 300 samples where both sample size and network speeds remained stable over the time period. Given the large disparity in 5G performance between dtac and the rest of the market, we have removed dtac from our regional analysis.

AIS led median 5G download speeds in eight of the ten provinces sampled and AIS led on 5G upload speeds across all provinces. AIS also led TrueMove H on 5G Consistency in eight of the provinces sampled, with the difference between the two in both Khon Kaen and Nakhon Ratchasima marginal.

The most significant performance gap between AIS and TrueMove H is in Chiang Mai, where AIS recorded a median 5G download speed of 340.45 Mbps, compared to TrueMove H (175.86 Mbps), and an upload speed of 45.72 Mbps, compared to TrueMove H with 20.72 Mbps. The performance gap between the two operators in some of Thailand’s other most populous provinces, including Bangkok, Chon Buri and Songkhla was also significant in favor of AIS. In northeastern Thailand, the two operators in the two most populous regions of Nakhon Ratchasima and Khon Kaen showed similar 5G download speeds to one another, although AIS was faster in terms of median 5G upload speeds and narrowly ahead on 5G Consistency.

5G Availability paints a different picture, with TrueMove H ahead in many of the provinces we sampled, but by a margin that varied significantly between provinces. TrueMove H established a lead of 20 percentage points or more in the provinces of Chon Buri, Rayong, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Nakhon Pathom, Chiang Mai and Bangkok. There was no winner in 5G Availability between the two operators in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Rayong and Khon Kaen.

Thailand 5G Signal Strength

With 5G Availability between AIS and TrueMove H skewed, we examined 5G signal strength, using the SS-RSRP metric, as a more accurate reflection of 5G coverage across Thailand. Ookla® Cell Analytics™ showed strong 5G signal for both operators with wide coverage in the heavily populated regions of the country during Q4 2021. However, it’s also clear that AIS had more samples along arterial routes between Thailand’s various provinces. Based on overall 5G signal strength AIS edged out TrueMove H, with 5% more samples achieving -83 dBm or better, indicating that on average AIS customers are able to maintain a stronger 5G connection across the country.

Changes on the horizon for 5G in Thailand

While AIS leads the market in terms of 5G performance in Q4 2021, the release of further spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band, due to be auctioned by the regulator this year, could drive changes in the market. Other changes are already underway, with TrueMove H and dtac announcing in November 2021 plans to merge their businesses, a move which would create a new market leader with an overall market share in excess of 50% as of Q4 2021, according to GSMA Intelligence. The proposed merger will draw regulatory attention, as it will establish a virtual duopoly in the market. In light of National Telecom’s delay in building out its 5G business plan, this raises concerns that the market for 5G in Thailand will become less competitive.

Ookla’s suite of products can help you benchmark and monitor your network. Learn more about how we can help you 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.

Global Speeds

About the Author

Mark Giles

Ookla Research™ Articles
| December 13, 2023

Ookla’s Take on Telco Trends in 2024

Global Speeds

The year 2024 is anticipated to be another challenging year as the world continues to struggle with economic downturns, political unrest, and military conflicts. Despite this, digital transformation is making strides in various sectors, leading to greater efficiency, innovation, and the emergence of new business models. There is also a continued focus on sustainability and addressing climate change, as well as enhancing the adaptability and resilience of supply chains. Given this context, we have compiled some predictions for what we can expect in 2024 across a number of themes:

Future Ready Connectivity

5G rollout continues but user satisfaction and profitability miss the mark

The pace of 5G rollout remains robust, reaching 1.4 billion subscriptions globally, according to Ericsson’s latest Mobility Report. However, most of 5G today isn’t ‘true 5G’ as the majority of 5G networks have been deployed in non-standalone (NSA) mode, meaning they rely on a 4G LTE network core. Although 5G performance has shown improvement in 2023, not all consumers are satisfied with it. According to Speedtest Intelligence® Q3 2023 data, the global median 5G download speeds were 7.37 times faster than 4G (203.04 Mbps compared to 27.51 Mbps), and uplink was 2.3 times faster (18.93 Mbps compared to 8.21 Mbps). 

However, 5G latency failed to impress, with global median 5G multi-server latency at 44 ms compared to 52 ms for 4G, showing a mere 1% year-on-year improvement. Telecom operators have invested heavily in 5G infrastructure, but they find it challenging to recover these investments. Without new value-added services that use 5G bandwidth, consumer sentiment looks bleak, with the Net Promoter Score (NPS) for 5G falling in mature markets. The challenge for the 5G industry in the year ahead will be to find ways to monetize 5G beyond Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) use cases and to support investment into standalone (SA) 5G as the industry readies for 5G Advanced ahead of the 6G era. 

Phasing out legacy networks for spectrum efficiency 

As 5G takes center stage, legacy networks such as 2G and 3G will gradually fade away. Similarly, the copper switch-off will continue. As 4G LTE and 5G technologies are much more efficient in terms of spectrum, network operators are phasing out their legacy networks. This move is motivated by freeing up spectrum and refarming it to deliver faster, more advanced, and more efficient networks. In our recent webinar, we shared how operators can use Ookla Cell Analytics™ to identify areas with high dependency on 3G networks, where consumers use older devices, and locations in need of improved 4G coverage. In 2024, operators in Europe and APAC, in particular, will continue to migrate customers away from 3G as they witness a decline in network traffic over 3G and seek to achieve efficiency gains and Capex reduction. 

Private networks steadily carry on

Private mobile networks have become increasingly important for organizations with growing data and security needs as they cater to their specific Industry 4.0 goals. As enterprises of all shapes and sizes increasingly rely on data-intensive applications and IoT devices, legacy networks may struggle to keep up with the growing demand. WiFi and 5G technologies complement each other in modern enterprise networks, with 5G adding a new dynamic to replace legacy network functions where greater flexibility is required. GSA has recognised 1,279 customers deploying private mobile networks in Q3 2023, of which 45% using 5G. .3GPP Release 16 of 5G New Radio (NR) supports a wider set of industrial IoT use cases which should come to the fore in 2024 as more industrial 5G-ready devices that use chipsets based on the Release 16 standards enter the market. Moreover, the industry is already discussing NR Reduced Capability (RedCap), which is specifically designed for devices that do not require the full capabilities of 5G to further enhance cost efficiency and offer precise positioning. Those enterprises that base their networking strategy on problem-solving are well-positioned to meet their objectives no matter the technology they choose. 

Telco Evolution

5G SA is still at the Proof of Technology stage

Although 5G Standalone represents the true potential of 5G, its rollout has been slow due to the extensive investments required and a challenging macroeconomic environment. As of October 2023, only 7% of global mobile network operators (43 operators) in 29 counties have launched 5G SA networks. On the public network side, early network performance data from RootMetrics® indicates that 5G SA outperforms its NSA 5G counterpart across various metrics, including latency and time to start playing video and start the file download. However, speeds remain similar due to identical NR bandwidth. In 2023, the focus was on demonstrating the power of 5G SA, including network slicing, through demos and proof-of-concepts. The crucial task for operators now is to translate these promising developments from controlled environments like laboratories and testing into real-world commercialization. 

Open RAN faces a challenging year ahead

Beyond continued questions on its performance and limited traction beyond greenfield networks, there is growing concern over how open Open RAN will really become. Industry skeptics point to solving interoperability challenges across hardware and software stacks, slowing down its progress and adding to implementation timelines. AT&T has recently outlined a plan where 70% of its wireless network traffic will flow across open-capable platforms by 2026. The company plans to start fully integrated Open RAN sites in collaboration with Ericsson and Fujitsu starting in 2024. AT&T also plans to ramp up its Open RAN deployments from 2025 using technology from multiple suppliers, signifying a move away from closed proprietary systems. This move highlights the fact that, indeed, the industry’s direction of travel continues to be virtualizing network functions as they allow for greater flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency in network operations.  

GenAI capturing attention

GenAI, short for Generative AI, like ChatGPT, has seen recently increased acceptance, particularly during 2023. Telecom operators can benefit from using GenAI in various ways, such as optimizing and managing their network without human intervention (zero-touch network management). When implementing GenAI, telecom operators usually follow a phased approach. They start by experimenting with GenAI for internal processes, such as marketing tasks like creating promotional content or analyzing market trends. After successfully implementing and experimenting with internal processes, telecom operators can gradually introduce GenAI into customer-facing functions. For instance, GenAI could automate customer support, offer personalized service recommendations, or manage network aspects based on customer usage patterns. 2024, however, will bring a degree of scrutiny. As the capabilities of Generative AI continue to expand, there will likely be an increase in calls for tighter regulation due to concerns about accuracy and potential harm. Industries, including telecom, must navigate these regulatory challenges and use GenAI responsibly. 

Customer Impact

Cloud gaming market bounces back after a brief hitch

Mobile cloud gaming provides an accessible alternative for casual gamers who cannot afford or do not have access to a dedicated game console. By eliminating the cost barrier, it considerably expands the addressable market for gaming services. It allows for direct monetization and presents opportunities to generate revenue through advertising. Recognizing this potential, Samsung could launch its cloud gaming service in Q1 2024 to reach over 1 billion handset and tablet users worldwide. Netflix also started testing its cloud gaming service in 2023, targeting casual gamers on larger screens with nearly 250 million paying subscribers to its video streaming services in Q3 2023. The adoption of cloud gaming services will stimulate the demand for high-speed and low-latency connectivity at home and on the go. Operators can also leverage their edge computing capabilities and connectivity infrastructure to deliver an immersive and lag-free gaming experience.

Connectivity for All

Satellite technology coming of age

Globally, satellite already plays an important role in providing network backhaul for 2G, 3G, and 4G technologies in rural and remote areas while also connecting a range of enterprise verticals such as logistics. Starlink, which uses Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, has proven that it performs better than GEO satellites and offers a viable alternative in locations where terrestrial networks aren’t present. Despite Qualcomm and Iridium terminating their partnership, the excitement around satellite will continue in 2024 and we anticipate greater terrestrial and non-terrestrial network (NTN) integration. We also expect more partnerships between satellite providers and telecom operators to build a seamless and robust communication infrastructure that can address connectivity challenges in underserved regions. 

Monetizing 5G through FWA

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) continues to be a poster child for 5G, as it is one of the only ways carriers have found to monetize 5G separately, leading many operators to pursue FWA actively as part of their 5G strategies. According to Ericsson, there are 121 service providers offering FWA services over 5G, representing 50% of all FWA service providers. FWA provides an opportunity for telecom operators to serve rural locations better and offer an alternative for customers dissatisfied with cable or other incumbent broadband providers. Operators leverage FWA as a part of their 5G monetization strategy, and as Verizon put it “It’s simple. It’s plug-in and go. And that resonates with customers”.

Navigating fair share and regulatory horizons 

With the threat landscape and communication networks evolving, governments and regulatory bodies need to keep up with the rapid advancements in telecommunications. The ongoing “fair share” debate centers around how networks are funded and the contributions of different entities toward telecom network costs. The European Union is discussing the contributions of Big Tech companies to the costs of the telecom networks they benefit from, while in the United States, a similar debate centers around net neutrality, financial contributions for network infrastructure, and how to ensure a level playing field for various stakeholders in the telecom space. In 2023, Ookla was actively involved in discussing best practices for ensuring digital transformation and connectivity for all in the APAC region, Central Asia, and Europe. Our data and analysis have shown that regulatory support has been fundamental in promoting the growth of 4G in Africa and informing policy decisions across the Middle East and North Africa. Looking ahead, we will continue to lend a hand in shaping the digital future, offering insights and expertise to foster connectivity, navigate policy decisions, and propel global telecommunications into new and exciting territories. 

Ookla will be at MWC Barcelona 2024 – visit us at our Stand 2I28 in Hall 2 to talk with us about telco trends. In the meantime, if you’re interested to find out more about Ookla Speedtest Intelligence and its wealth of fixed and mobile consumer-initiated data and insights, please get in touch.

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
5G
Tech Insights

About the Author

Sylwia Kechiche

Ookla Research™ Articles
| June 2, 2022

Fixed Broadband Network Performance in Indonesia Falling Further Behind Regional Peers

Network Performance

Bahasa Indonesia

Key messages:

  • Fixed performance in Indonesia continues to lag behind regional peers. While Indonesian fixed broadband network performance continues to improve quarter over quarter, Ookla® Speedtest Intelligence® shows that Indonesia lags behind many of its regional peers on key metrics such as median download speed and the penetration of more advanced routers supporting 5 GHz Wi-Fi, and this disparity is growing.
  • East and Central Java among the slowest performing Indonesian regions. Most regions of Indonesia achieve similar median download speeds. However there remain outliers: Bali was the top-performing region, and the more populous regions of East and Central Java continued to record some of the slowest performance in the market.
  • Faster speeds equal happier customers. Consumer sentiment towards fixed broadband providers in Indonesia, as measured by Ookla’s 5-Star Rating, tracks closely with network performance over the past year.
  • Competition ramps up in the Indonesian fixed broadband market. Speedtest Intelligence® sample data for Q3-Q4 2021 shows 306 ISPs active in the market. Of these, four major national network operators meet our threshold to be considered top providers (with a minimum of 3% of samples) — Telkom, First Media, MyRepublic, and Biznet. At a regional level, this list of top providers expands to ten, including CBN, MNC Play, StarNet, PT Global Media Data Prima, MTM Bali, and GlobalXtreme.
  • Biznet leads the market in fixed broadband network performance according to Speedtest Intelligence. Biznet is the leading operator both nationally and in many of Indonesia’s regions, achieving almost symmetrical download and upload speeds.

Singapore leads in fixed broadband network speeds in Southeast Asia

Indonesia ranks 114th on the Speedtest® Global IndexTM for median fixed download speeds, based on data for May 2022. According to Speedtest Intelligence, fixed broadband speeds in the country have increased over the past year, from a median download speed of 17.37 Mbps in March 2021 to 21.23 Mbps in March 2022. Fixed broadband upload speeds in the market have improved by a greater margin, from 4.95 Mbps in March 2021, to 9.73 Mbps in March 2022. However, as with its mobile market, and despite its improving trajectory, Indonesia’s fixed broadband performance continues to lag behind many of its regional peers. 

Looking at performance across 2021 in Southeast Asian markets, Singapore and Thailand continue to maintain a sizable performance gap compared to their regional peers, with both achieving median fixed broadband download speeds in excess of 150 Mbps during Q4 2021. There was also clear separation in performance between Malaysia (75.91 Mbps), Vietnam (67.91 Mbps), and the Philippines (47.50 Mbps). Of the remaining four markets, Brunei and Laos achieved speeds of close to 30 Mbps, while Indonesia and Cambodia were the slowest fixed-line markets, recording median download speeds of 20.08 Mbps and 18.89 Mbps respectively.

median fixed broadband download speeds in ASEAN markets

We used data from Speedtest Intelligence to evaluate fixed broadband performance in Indonesia during Q3-Q4 2021. Our analysis examines fixed broadband speeds at the country and provider-level. We also examine Wi-Fi performance as a subset of total fixed broadband samples in order to assess the speed delivered to end-user devices and look at the share of samples that utilize routers that support 5 GHz over Wi-Fi.

Operators worldwide are increasingly offering home networking solutions in order to help improve Wi-Fi speeds and coverage within the home. In Indonesia, First Media, Biznet, and MyRepublic offer mesh networking solutions, while some ISPs also offer the option to upgrade to routers that support the 5 GHz band. This offers greater channel bandwidth and typically lower interference than Wi-Fi over the 2.4 GHz band, allowing for improved performance for high bandwidth activities such as gaming and streaming high definition video content.

Looking at the distribution of fixed Wi-Fi Speedtest samples run over 2.4 GHz versus 5 GHz Wi-Fi connections, regional leaders Singapore and Thailand are joined by Malaysia as the only markets on this list with a majority of samples recorded using 5 GHz. Indonesia again came last with 5 GHz connections accounting for only 22% of samples.

wi-fi band distribution in ASEAN markets

Biznet leading in Indonesia nationwide fixed broadband download speed

Our statistical methodology sets a minimum threshold of 3% of samples for an operator to be considered a top provider and part of our analysis. Using this methodology, Biznet was the fastest fixed broadband operator for both median download and upload speeds in Q3-Q4 2021, followed by My Republic. Biznet attained almost symmetrical results of 40.85 Mbps download and 39.29 Mbps upload, with My Republic achieving 34.27 Mbps download 21.93 Mbps upload. As of May 2022, Biznet’s fiber optic network extends to a total of more than 64,000 km, with its access network currently passing over 1.46 million households. In a bid to compete more aggressively with Telkom’s IndiHome service, Biznet launched an IPTV service in February 2020. The remaining two national ISPs, Telkom and First Media, lagged behind, achieving median download speeds of 18.91 Mbps and 16.54 Mbps respectively.

indonesian median fixed broadband speeds

Looking at the split of samples from 2.4 GHz versus 5 GHz Wi-Fi connections shows some divergence between the market leaders, Biznet and MyRepublic and First Media and Telkom. However, all four fixed broadband operators recorded in excess of 70% of tests using 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connections. If we look at Wi-Fi performance in Indonesia as a subset of total fixed broadband samples, then a similar picture emerges, with Biznet and My Republic outperforming both Telkom and First Media.

indonesian median wi-fi broadband speeds

wi-fi band distribution in indonesia

Consumer sentiment tracks network performance

There is a clear positive correlation between fixed network performance and consumer sentiment within the Indonesian fixed broadband market. Based on the mean of Speedtest 5-Star Ratings in the market, Biznet was the top-rated fixed operator in Q3-Q4 2021 with a score of 3.9, while First Media placed last with a score of 2.8.

consumer sentiment (ranking) for top isps in indonesia

Regional disparities in fixed broadband download speeds over Wi-Fi persist

Despite the Indonesian Broadband Plan’s goal to improve speeds across Indonesia, some regional disparities in median download and upload speeds persist. For a broad section of Indonesia’s regions, download speeds show little variation, ranging between 16 Mbps and 20 Mbps. There are however outliers. Tourist hotspot Bali, which has also emerged as a popular destination for digital nomad workers,  and the Indonesian capital Jakarta occupied the top two positions nationally during Q3-Q4 2021, with download speeds of 22.77 Mbps and 21.92 Mbps respectively. 

At the other end of the scale, two of the country’s most populous regions, East and Central Java, scored some of the lowest median download speeds at 15.34 Mbps and 15.17 Mbps, respectively. Upload speeds across the market show much more variation, ranging from a high of 17.47 Mbps in Bali, to a low of 3.97 Mbps in Bengkulu.

median wi-fi broadband speeds by region in indonesia

Biznet leading in Jakarta Region for Wi-Fi download speeds

Biznet was the fastest fixed provider in the Indonesian capital Jakarta during Q3-Q4 2021, recording near symmetrical speeds for median download (42.59 Mbps) and upload (41.22 Mbps). It was followed by MyRepublic, with a download speed of 32.47 Mbps and upload of 25.46 Mbps, and CBN which also achieved symmetrical speeds at about 28 Mbps. Wi-Fi performance for the remaining three providers, First Media, Telkom, and MNC Play lagged behind, with First Media and Telkom recording upload speeds well below the competition, both below 10 Mbps.

median wi-fi broadband speeds in jakarta

One in three Speedtest samples for provider CBN utilized 5 GHz Wi-Fi, the largest share of any operator in Jakarta. Biznet, MyRepublic and First Media followed, while Telkom and MNC Play showed the lowest share of samples using 5 GHz Wi-Fi.

wi-fi band distribution in jakarta

MyRepublic leading in Banten Region fixed broadband download speed over Wi-Fi

In Banten, the westernmost province of the island of Java, Biznet was the fastest provider over Wi-Fi. Biznet has extended its reach in this region, and obtained sufficient samples (in excess of 3% of the market) to be included as a top provider in our analysis of Banten. Biznet recorded a median download speed of 42.73 Mbps and upload of 41.32 Mbps.

median wi-fi broadband speeds in banten

Biznet also led the region for use of 5 GHz Wi-Fi, at 29% of samples. MyRepublic followed with a download speed of 37.60 Mbps and upload of 23.84 Mbps, setting it apart from both Telkom and First Media.

wi-fi band distribution in banten

Biznet leading in West Java Region fixed broadband download speed over Wi-Fi

As the most populous region in Indonesia, West Java saw more providers meet the minimum statistical threshold to be included in our analysis. Biznet was once again the fastest provider over Wi-Fi, albeit with slower speeds than in its other coverage regions, at 36.18 Mbps for median download and 35.76 Mbps for upload speed. MyRepublic was the second placed operator for download speeds, recording 29.57 Mbps, followed by Telkom, StarNet, and First Media.

median wi-fi broadband speeds in west java

Providers in West Java generally recorded slower speeds than in other regions, and the distribution of Wi-Fi samples between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz also skewed further towards 2.4 GHz than elsewhere, with First Media, Telkom, and StarNet all recording approximately 85% of samples over 2.4 GHz.

wi-fi band distribution in west java

MyRepublic leading in Central Java Region Wi-Fi fixed broadband download speed

In Central Java, in contrast to most other Indonesian regions, MyRepublic outperformed Biznet on median Wi-Fi download speeds, recording 29.11 Mbps during Q3-Q4 2021. Biznet followed with 25.85 Mbps, but also recorded the fastest upload speed of 18.95 Mbps. Telkom followed with a download speed of 16.39 Mbps, while PT Global Media Data Prima lagged behind the rest of the region with a median download speed of 3.81 Mbps. It also recorded the lowest proportion of Wi-Fi samples using 5 GHz, at only 5%.

median wi-fi broadband speeds in central java

median wi-fi broadband speeds in central java

Biznet leading in East Java Region for Wi-Fi fixed broadband download speed

East Java saw a return to form for Biznet as the fastest performing provider over Wi-Fi, with a median download speed of 33.11 Mbps and upload speed 29.34 Mbps. It was closely followed in terms of download speeds by MyRepublic with 27.75 Mbps. Telkom and First Media came next with download speeds of 15.68 Mbps and 14.39 Mbps respectively, while their upload speeds lagged far behind their rivals.

median wi-fi broadband speeds in east java

Wi-Fi distribution showed a similar story, with Telkom and First Media scoring the lowest share of samples over 5 GHz, at 16% and 14%, respectively.

MTM Bali leading in Bali Region fixed broadband download speed over Wi-Fi

Bali was the most competitive region in this analysis in terms of top speeds among providers, with three providers all recording similar median download and upload speeds of close to 40 Mbps. We could not declare a statistical winner based on median Wi-Fi download speeds, with both MTM Bali and GlobalXtreme’s download speeds in the same range, although GlobalXtreme’s upload speeds were demonstrably faster.

median wi-fi broadband speeds in bali

GlobalXtreme also recorded the highest share of 5 GHz Wi-Fi samples, at 35% of total, far outpacing the competition, with the remaining operators achieving 20% or less.

wi-fi band distribution in Bali

Indonesian fixed broadband outlook

Fixed broadband penetration among Indonesian households remains low, at below 20% according to most estimates. Mobile internet remains the dominant access technology in the market, but the move to working and studying at home as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has driven more households to subscribe to fixed broadband services. Competition is ramping up in the market, with smaller players such as Biznet and MyRepublic actively rolling out networks and targeting gains from Telkom, which still maintains a majority market share of broadband connections. The recent news that Axiata Group and its Indonesian subsidiary XL Axiata have signed a non-binding agreement to acquire a majority share of Indonesian broadband provider LinkNet is further evidence that providers see strong opportunity for growth. We expect this will help accelerate network rollout and the provision of more sophisticated bundled broadband services in the market, which in turn will help drive up Indonesian fixed broadband speeds, particularly in the densely populated regions covered in this report.

Performa Jaringan Fixed Broadband di Indonesia Semakin Tertinggal dari Rekan-rekannya di Satu Kawasan

Pesan utama:

  • Performa jaringan fixed di Indonesia terus tertinggal dari rekan-rekannya di satu kawasan. Meskipun performa jaringan fixed broadband di Indonesia terus meningkat dari kuartal ke kuartal, Ookla® Speedtest Intelligence® menunjukkan bahwa Indonesia tertinggal dari banyak rekannya di satu kawasan pada metrik utama seperti median kecepatan unduh dan penetrasi router yang lebih canggih yang mendukung Wi-Fi 5 GHz, dan perbedaan ini semakin besar.
  • Jawa Timur dan Jawa Tengah termasuk wilayah di Indonesia yang paling lambat performanya. Sebagian besar wilayah di Indonesia mencapai median kecepatan unduh yang sama. Namun masih ada beberapa pencilan (outlier): Bali adalah wilayah dengan performa terbaik, dan wilayah-wilayah di Jawa Timur dan Jawa Tengah yang penduduknya lebih padat terus mengalami performa yang paling lambat di pasar.
  • Dengan kecepatan yang lebih tinggi, pelanggan pun lebih bahagia. Sentimen konsumen terhadap penyedia jaringan fixed broadband di Indonesia, yang diukur dengan Peringkat Bintang 5 Ookla, berkaitan erat dengan performa jaringan selama setahun terakhir.
  • Persaingan kian sengit di pasar jaringan fixed broadband Indonesia. Data sampel Speedtest Intelligence® untuk K3-K4 2021 menunjukkan 306 ISP aktif di pasar. Dari jumlah tersebut, empat operator jaringan nasional utama memenuhi ambang batas kami untuk dianggap sebagai penyedia teratas (dengan minimal 3% sampel) – Telkom, First Media, MyRepublic, dan Biznet. Di tingkat regional, daftar penyedia teratas ini berkembang menjadi sepuluh, termasuk CBN, MNC Play, StarNet, PT Global Media Data Prima, MTM Bali, dan GlobalXtreme.
  • Biznet memimpin pasar dalam performa jaringan fixed broadband menurut Speedtest Intelligence. Biznet merupakan operator terkemuka, baik secara nasional maupun di banyak wilayah di Indonesia, dengan kecepatan unduh dan unggahnya yang hampir simetris.

Singapura memimpin dalam kecepatan jaringan fixed broadband di Asia Tenggara

Indonesia menempati peringkat ke-114 pada Speedtest® Global IndexTM untuk median kecepatan unduh tetap (fixed download), berdasarkan data Mei 2022. Menurut Speedtest Intelligence, kecepatan fixed broadband di negara ini telah meningkat selama setahun terakhir, dari median kecepatan unduh 17,37 Mbps pada Maret 2021 menjadi 21,23 Mbps pada Maret 2022. Kecepatan unggah fixed broadband di pasar telah meningkat dengan margin yang lebih besar, dari 4,95 Mbps pada Maret 2021, menjadi 9,73 Mbps pada Maret 2022. Namun, sebagaimana pasar selulernya, dan meskipun lintasannya membaik, performa fixed broadband Indonesia terus tertinggal dari banyak rekannya di satu kawasan  

Mengamati performa selama tahun 2021 di pasar Asia Tenggara, kesenjangan performa yang cukup besar terus terjadi antara Singapura dan Thailand dibandingkan dengan rekan-rekan keduanya di satu kawasan, di mana keduanya mencapai median kecepatan unduh tetap (fixed download) lebih dari 150 Mbps selama K4 2021. Juga terjadi perbedaan performa antara Malaysia (75,91 Mbps), Vietnam (67,91 Mbps), dan Filipina (47,50 Mbps). Dari keempat pasar yang tersisa, Brunei dan Laos kecepatannya nyaris 30 Mbps, sementara Indonesia dan Kamboja menjadi pasar fixed-line yang paling lambat, dengan median kecepatan unduh masing-masing 20,08 Mbps dan 18,89 Mbps.

Kami menggunakan data dari Speedtest Intelligence untuk mengevaluasi performa fixed broadband di Indonesia selama K3-K4 2021. Analisis kami memeriksa kecepatan fixed broadband di tingkat negara dan penyedia. Kami juga memeriksa performa Wi-Fi sebagai subset dari total sampel fixed broadband untuk menilai kecepatan yang dikirimkan ke perangkat pengguna akhir dan melihat pangsa sampel yang menggunakan router yang mendukung 5 GHz melalui Wi-Fi.

Semakin banyak operator di seluruh dunia yang menawarkan solusi jaringan rumah untuk membantu meningkatkan kecepatan dan jangkauan Wi-Fi di dalam rumah. Di Indonesia, First Media, Biznet, dan MyRepublic menawarkan solusi jaringan mesh, sedangkan beberapa ISP juga menawarkan opsi untuk melakukan upgrade ke router yang mendukung jalur (band) 5 GHz. Dengan jalur ini, bandwidth saluran yang dihasilkan menjadi lebih besar dan gangguan yang ditimbulkan pun biasanya lebih rendah daripada Wi-Fi di jalur (band) 2,4 GHz, yang memungkinkan peningkatan performa untuk aktivitas bandwidth tinggi seperti bermain game dan streaming konten video definisi tinggi.

Mencermati distribusi sampel Speedtest untuk fixed Wi-Fi yang berjalan pada koneksi Wi-Fi 2,4 GHz versus koneksi Wi-Fi 5 GHz, pemimpin di kawasan ini, Singapura dan Thailand, berikut Malaysia, menjadi satu-satunya pasar di daftar ini yang mayoritas sampelnya tercatat menggunakan 5 GHz. Indonesia kembali berada di urutan terakhir dengan koneksi 5 GHz yang hanya menyumbang 22% sampel.

Biznet memimpin di Indonesia secara nasional pada kecepatan unduh fixed broadband

Metodologi statistik kami menetapkan ambang batas minimal 3% sampel bagi operator agar dapat dipertimbangkan sebagai penyedia teratas dan bagian dari analisis kami. Dengan menggunakan metodologi ini, Biznet menjadi operator fixed broadband tercepat untuk median kecepatan unduh dan unggah selama K3-K4 2021, disusul oleh My Republic. Biznet meraih hasil yang hampir simetris dari kecepatan unduh 40,85 Mbps dan kecepatan unggah 39,29 Mbps, sedangkan My Republic mencapai kecepatan unduh 34,27 Mbps dan kecepatan unggah 21,93 Mbps. Hingga Mei 2022, jaringan fiber optik Biznet meluas hingga mencapai total lebih dari 64.000 km, dengan jaringan aksesnya saat ini yang mencakup lebih dari 1,46 juta rumah tangga. Untuk bersaing lebih agresif dengan layanan IndiHome Telkom, Biznet meluncurkan layanan IPTV pada Februari 2020. Dua ISP nasional lainnya, Telkom dan First Media, tertinggal, yang masing-masing mencapai median kecepatan unduh 18,91 Mbps dan 16,54 Mbps.

Mencermati pemisahan sampel dari koneksi Wi-Fi 2,4 GHz versus koneksi Wi-Fi 5 GHz, terlihat adanya perbedaan antarpemimpin pasar, antara Biznet dan MyRepublic serta First Media dan Telkom. Namun, keempat operator fixed broadband tersebut mencatat lebih dari 70% tes menggunakan koneksi Wi-Fi 2,4 GHz. Jika kita mengamati performa Wi-Fi di Indonesia sebagai bagian dari total sampel fixed broadband, maka muncul gambar serupa, di mana Biznet dan My Republic mengungguli Telkom dan First Media.

Sentimen konsumen mengikuti jejak performa jaringan

Ada korelasi positif yang jelas antara performa jaringan tetap (fixed) dan sentimen konsumen di pasar fixed broadband Indonesia. Berdasarkan rata-rata (mean) Peringkat Bintang 5 Speedtest di pasar, Biznet menjadi operator tetap (fixed) dengan peringkat teratas di K3-K4 2021 dan skor 3,9, sedangkan First Media menempati posisi terakhir dengan skor 2,8.

Kesenjangan di tingkat regional dalam hal kecepatan unduh fixed broadband melalui Wi-Fi tetap terjadi

Terlepas dari tujuan Rencana Broadband Indonesia untuk meningkatkan kecepatan di seluruh Indonesia, tetap terjadi sejumlah kesenjangan di tingkat regional dalam hal median kecepatan unduh dan unggah. Bagi sebagian besar wilayah di Indonesia, kecepatan unduh menunjukkan adanya sedikit variasi, berkisar antara 16 Mbps dan 20 Mbps. Namun terdapat beberapa pencilan (outlier). Bali, sebagai hotspot wisata dan berkembang menjadi tujuan populer bagi pekerja nomaden digital, dan Jakarta, sebagai ibukota Indonesia, menempati dua posisi teratas secara nasional selama K3-K4 2021, dengan kecepatan unduh masing-masing 22,77 Mbps dan 21,92 Mbps.

Sementara itu, dua wilayah terpadat di negeri ini, Jawa Timur dan Tengah, menghasilkan median kecepatan unduh terendah, masing-masing 15,34 Mbps dan 15,17 Mbps. Kecepatan unggah di seluruh pasar menunjukkan variasi yang lebih banyak, mulai dari tertinggi 17,47 Mbps di Bali, hingga terendah 3,97 Mbps di Bengkulu.

Biznet memimpin di wilayah Jakarta dalam kecepatan unduh Wi-Fi

Biznet adalah penyedia broadband fixed tercepat di Jakarta, ibukota Indonesia, selama K3-K4 2021, dengan kecepatan yang hampir simetris untuk median unduh (42,59 Mbps) dan unggah (41,22 Mbps). Disusul oleh MyRepublic, dengan kecepatan unduh 32,47 Mbps dan unggah 25,46 Mbps, serta CBN yang juga mencapai kecepatan simetris sekitar 28 Mbps. Performa Wi-Fi untuk tiga provider lainnya, First Media, Telkom, dan MNC Play justru tertinggal, di mana First Media dan Telkom mencapai kecepatan unggah jauh di bawah pesaing, keduanya kurang dari 10 Mbps.

Satu dari tiga sampel Speedtest untuk penyedia CBN menggunakan Wi-Fi 5 GHz, yang terbesar di antara seluruh operator di Jakarta. Biznet, MyRepublic, dan First Media menyusul, sementara Telkom dan MNC Play menunjukkan sampel terendah dengan menggunakan Wi-Fi 5 GHz.

MyRepublic memimpin di wilayah Banten dalam kecepatan unduh fixed broadband melalui Wi-Fi

Di Banten, provinsi paling barat di Pulau Jawa, Biznet menjadi penyedia tercepat melalui Wi-Fi. Biznet telah memperluas jangkauannya di wilayah ini, dan memperoleh sampel yang cukup (lebih dari 3% dari pasar) untuk dimasukkan sebagai penyedia teratas dalam analisis kami di Banten. Biznet mencatat median kecepatan unduh 42,73 Mbps dan unggah 41,32 Mbps.

Biznet juga memimpin di wilayah tersebut dalam penggunaan Wi-Fi 5 GHz, pada 29% sampel. MyRepublic mengekor dengan kecepatan unduh 37,60 Mbps dan unggah 23,84 Mbps, sehingga tampak berbeda dari Telkom dan First Media.

Biznet memimpin di wilayah Jawa Barat dalam kecepatan unduh fixed broadband melalui Wi-Fi

Sebagai wilayah terpadat di Indonesia, Jawa Barat memiliki lebih banyak penyedia yang memenuhi ambang batas statistik minimal untuk dimasukkan dalam analisis kami. Biznet sekali lagi menjadi penyedia tercepat yang menggunakan Wi-Fi, meskipun dengan kecepatan yang lebih lambat daripada di wilayah cakupan lainnya, pada 36,18 Mbps untuk median unduh dan 35,76 Mbps untuk kecepatan unggah. MyRepublic menjadi operator di urutan kedua untuk kecepatan unduh, mencatat 29,57 Mbps, diikuti oleh Telkom, StarNet, dan First Media.

Para penyedia jaringan di Jawa Barat umumnya meraih kecepatan yang lebih lambat daripada di daerah lain, dan distribusi sampel Wi-Fi antara 2,4 GHz dan 5 GHz juga condong lebih jauh ke arah 2,4 GHz daripada di tempat lain, di mana First Media, Telkom, dan StarNet semuanya merekam sekitar 85% sampel pada 2,4 GHz.

MyRepublic memimpin di wilayah Jawa Tengah dalam kecepatan unduh fixed broadband melalui Wi-Fi

Di Jawa Tengah, berbedar dari sebagian besar wilayah Indonesia lainnya, MyRepublic mengungguli Biznet pada median kecepatan unduh Wi-Fi, mencapai 29,11 Mbps selama K3-K4 2021. Biznet menyusul dengan kecepatan unggah 25,85 Mbps, namun sekaligus mencatat kecepatan unggah tercepat 18,95 Mbps. Telkom menyusul dengan kecepatan unduh 16,39 Mbps, sedangkan PT Global Media Data Prima jauh tertinggal dari wilayah lainnya dengan median kecepatan unduh 3,81 Mbps. Penyedia ini juga mencatat proporsi terendah sampel Wi-Fi menggunakan 5 GHz, hanya 5%.

Biznet memimpin di wilayah Jawa Timur dalam kecepatan unduh fixed broadband melalui Wi-Fi

Jawa Timur kembali hadir untuk Biznet sebagai penyedia dengan performa tercepat melalui Wi-Fi, dengan median kecepatan unduh 33,11 Mbps dan kecepatan unggah 29,34 Mbps. Selanjutnya diikuti oleh MyRepublic dalam hal kecepatan unduh dengan 27,75 Mbps. Telkom dan First Media berada di urutan berikutnya dengan kecepatan unduh masing-masing 15,68 Mbps dan 14,39 Mbps, sementara kecepatan unggah mereka tertinggal jauh di belakang saingan-saingan mereka.

Distribusi Wi-Fi menunjukkan hal yang senada, di mana Telkom dan First Media mencetak persentase sampel terendah pada 5 GHz, masing-masing sebesar 16% dan 14%.

MTM Bali memimpin di wilayah Bali dalam kecepatan unduh fixed broadband melalui Wi-Fi

Bali merupakan wilayah yang paling kompetitif pada analisis ini dalam hal kecepatan tertinggi di antara para penyedia, dengan tiga penyedia semuanya merekam median kecepatan unduh dan unggah serupa yang mendekati 40 Mbps. Kami tidak dapat menyatakan pemenang statistik berdasarkan median kecepatan unduh Wi-Fi, dengan kecepatan unduh MTM Bali dan GlobalXtreme dalam kisaran yang sama, meskipun kecepatan unggah GlobalXtreme terbukti lebih cepat.

GlobalXtreme juga mencatat persentase tertinggi dari sampel Wi-Fi 5 GHz, pada 35% dari total, jauh melampaui persaingan, dengan para operator yang lain mencapai 20% atau kurang.

Prospek fixed broadband di Indonesia

Penetrasi fixed broadband dalam lingkup rumah tangga di Indonesia tetap rendah, di bawah 20% menurut sebagian besar perkiraan. Internet seluler tetap menjadi teknologi akses yang dominan di pasar, tetapi peralihan ke opsi bekerja dan belajar di rumah sebagai akibat dari pandemi COVID-19 telah mendorong lebih banyak rumah tangga untuk berlangganan layanan fixed broadband. Persaingan semakin meningkat di pasar, di mana para pemain yang lebih kecil seperti Biznet dan MyRepublic aktif meluncurkan jaringan dan menargetkan keuntungan dari Telkom, yang masih mempertahankan pangsa pasar mayoritas koneksi broadband. Berita yang muncul baru-baru ini yang menyatakan bahwa Axiata Group dan anak perusahaannya di Indonesia, XL Axiata, telah menandatangani perjanjian yang tidak mengikat untuk mengakuisisi mayoritas saham penyedia broadband Indonesia, LinkNet, menjadi bukti lebih lanjut bahwa para penyedia melihat adanya peluang besar untuk pertumbuhan. Kami berharap hal ini akan membantu mempercepat peluncuran jaringan dan penyediaan layanan broadband bundel yang lebih canggih di pasar, yang pada gilirannya akan membantu meningkatkan kecepatan fixed broadband Indonesia, terutama di wilayah-wilayah padat penduduk yang diulas pada laporan ini.

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.

Network Performance

About the Author

Mark Giles

Ookla Research™ Articles
| November 9, 2022

Speedtest + Downdetector = One Stop Troubleshooting for Your Connectivity

Downdetector

When you want to check your internet performance, you take a Speedtest®. If you can’t connect to a site, you check Downdetector®. Now, we’ve added a new Downdetector tab in the Speedtest app so you can do both in one location. This combines the internet’s most trusted app for testing connectivity with Downdetector’s real-time status information for over 12,000 apps, websites, and services across in 47 countries — with one tap. Using these free utilities, you can now diagnose whether your connection is in trouble or if there’s a larger service issue all in one place.

animated gif showing new feature location in speedtest app

This is the same methodology we use for the Downdetector site you’ve come to trust. It’s simply in a more convenient location.

Check for online outages

Tap the “Status” tab at the bottom center of the Speedtest app to see a snapshot of the current status of the apps, websites, and services Downdetector monitors, tailored to show what’s most relevant in your country. Sites and services that are experiencing problems will appear at the top, giving you a quick view of whether the problem you’re experiencing is more widespread. Read more about how a few critical services can take down chunks of the internet here.

Check for details on a specific incident

animated gif showing new feature location in speedtest app

Tap any site or service on the status page for a more detailed view of what’s going on. You’ll see a graph of incident reports over the last 24 hours as well as a chart of what types of issues users have reported. You can also tap on the blue button at the bottom of the page to submit your own report to Downdetector including information about your experience. This helps other users understand what they might also be experiencing.

Coming soon

This update is currently rolling out to Android and iOS devices worldwide. Update your Speedtest app if you don’t see the Downdetector tab. Soon we’ll also be adding in the ability to search for a specific site or service. Keep an eye out for this and other improvements as you troubleshoot your internet connectivity in the Speedtest app.

Download the Speedtest app for Android or iOS today to check out this new feature and let us know what you think on Twitter or Facebook.

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.

Downdetector

About the Author

Ookla

Ookla Research™ Articles
| November 20, 2023

The State of Taiwan’s 5G Network With Telecom Mergers On the Horizon

Network Performance

Taiwan’s mobile market is fiercely competitive, driven by three major operators – Chunghwa Telecom, FarEasTone, and Taiwan Mobile, and two smaller ones, Asia Pacific Telecom (GT) and Taiwan Star (T Star). Earlier this year, two major mergers of telecom operators were approved, which is expected to alter the telecommunication competitive landscape of the country. In this article, we will examine the current state of 5G in Taiwan before the mergers take place and evaluate the potential impact these mergers will have on Taiwan’s telecommunications market.

Key Takeaways

  • Recent mergers are set to alter Taiwan’s mobile market dynamics. The number of operators will be reduced from five to three major players, each with a comparable market share. Far EasTone and Taiwan Mobile will inherit additional spectrum bandwidth as a result of the mergers, enabling both operators to enhance customer experience, introduce new services, and compete more effectively with Chunghwa Telecom, the largest operator.
  • Taiwan’s 5G network performs well compared to other countries in the region. In Q3 2023, Taiwan’s 5G network had a median download speed of 263.35 Mbps, outperforming other countries in the region, such as Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Japan.
  • Chunghwa Telecom leads the way in terms of 5G download speeds. Based on Speedtest Intelligence® data for Q2-Q3 2023, Chunghwa Telecom had the fastest median download speed with a reported speed of 361.83 Mbps. Far EasTone and Taiwan Mobile came in second and third place, respectively. GT and T Star ranked fourth and fifth, with median download speeds of 190.48 Mbps and 113.85 Mbps.
  • Chunghwa Telecom’s 5G network extends to 97.6% of locations in Taiwan with 5G coverage. Chunghwa’s 5G network reached more locations across the island than its competitors, with next-placed Far EasTone following with 88.9%, and Taiwan Mobile with 85.6%.

Change in Taiwan’s Telecom Landscape

The Asia Pacific telecommunications markets have witnessed several notable mergers and acquisitions in recent years. This trend is primarily attributed to heavy investments in 5G technology, as companies strive to stay competitive in the market and sustain their growth in the face of economic challenges. Taiwan’s market is one such example, where the National Communications Commission (NCC) approved two mobile operator mergers earlier this year, which will significantly transform Taiwan’s telecommunications market landscape.

Mergers will increase market competition with three major players

The two mergers involve the consolidation of two major operators with minor operators. The first merger involves the integration of Taiwan Mobile and Taiwan Star Telecom (T Star), while the second merger sees Far EasTone partnering with GT’s parent company Asia Pacific Telecom (APT). As a result of the mergers, the number of operators will be reduced from five to three players with comparable market share. More importantly, this will give the new entities additional scale, allowing them to directly compete with Chunghwa Telecom, the current largest operator.

Chart of Mobile Subscriptions/Connections Market Share in Taiwan

The merged operators could provide more competition to Chunghwa Telecom across all market segments, not only mobile. For instance, the newly merged entities could look at convergent offerings to compete with Chunghwa Telecom, which currently leads the fixed broadband market share and differentiates its services with value-added and bundling packages.

Additional spectrum for 5G use for merged entities

The merging of these operators will bring about significant benefits through synergies. Far EasTone and Taiwan Mobile will inherit the spectrum bandwidth previously held by the two dissolved entities, increasing their competitive edge in the market. The availability of increased resources will enable more efficient use of 5G spectrum, optimize network infrastructure, and reduce energy usage by decommissioning redundant base stations, resulting in a more cost-effective network.

Chart of Awarded 5G Spectrum ?Holding Pre- and Post-merger

After the consolidation, Far EasTone will see an increase of its 28 GHz spectrum holding from 400 MHz to 800 MHz, in addition to the 80 MHz of the 3.5 GHz band it initially acquired. Taiwan Mobile will now have a block of 100 MHz of the 3.5 GHz band, making it the operator with the most medium frequency bandwidth capacity in the market. When it comes to the high band of 28 GHz, Taiwan Mobile only holds 200 MHz, much less than Far EasTone’s 800 MHz, and Chunghwa Telecom, which holds 600 MHz. The additional spectrum bandwidths will come in very handy to enhance customer experience and introduce new enterprise offerings post-merger.

While the additional spectrum is welcome, in compliance with regulations, operators may only own up to one-third of the available spectrum. After merging with Taiwan Star, Taiwan Mobile will have 60MHz of sub-1GHz spectrum, exceeding one-third of the total available. They will need to divest 10MHz of their frequencies. Similarly, following its merger with GT, FET will be required to surrender any excess spectrum in bands below 3GHz, bands between 3GHz and 6GHz, and bands above 24GHz. How these operators will divest the excess spectrum remains to be seen.

Close scrutiny by the NCC on coverage and service enhancements

As the Taiwanese market undergoes a significant shift, it will naturally require thorough regulatory scrutiny to ensure a smooth transition. Apart from the disposal of excess bandwidth as mentioned earlier, the NCC also imposed additional conditions, including coverage targets, and ensuring uninterrupted subscriber services during the transition period.

 Both Taiwan Mobile and Far EasTone will be required to increase 4G coverage across the island to 99% of the population, while 5G coverage must be at least 98% by 2027. The operators will also need to explore ways to reduce carbon emissions and implement effective energy-saving systems to achieve an annual energy saving of approximately 160 million kWh.

Taiwan’s 5G performs well compared to its regional counterparts

Taiwan rolled out its 5G network in 2020, with Chunghwa Telecom being the first operator to introduce 5G services in July of that year. Since then, Taiwan has experienced significant growth in mobile performance, particularly in 5G performance, compared to other countries across the globe.

Chart of Taiwan's 5G Performance and Its Regional Peers

In Q3 2023, Speedtest Intelligence® data revealed that Taiwan’s 5G network had achieved a median download speed of 263.35 Mbps, outperforming its regional counterparts, including Vietnam (257.95 Mbps) and China (245.94 Mbps). Furthermore, Taiwan’s 5G network was notably faster than those of Hong Kong (136.51 Mbps), the Philippines (124.58 Mbps), and Japan (102.72 Mbps).

Chunghwa Telecom tops 5G performance in Taiwan

Chart of 5G Performance Among Operators in Taiwan

Based on Speedtest Intelligence data, Chunghwa Telecom reported Taiwan’s fastest median 5G download speed during Q2-Q3 of 2023. It recorded a median download speed of 361.83 Mbps and a median upload speed of 34.22 Mbps. Far EasTone and Taiwan Mobile came second and third, respectively. The smaller operators, GT, and T Star, had median download speeds of 190.48 Mbps and 113.85 Mbps, placing them fourth and fifth in the rankings.

5G Coverage in Taiwan

Taiwan’s terrain consists of rugged mountains dominating the length of the island, while the western part where most of the population lives is relatively flat. This contrast poses significant challenges in providing nationwide 5G coverage. In order to assess the reach of operator 5G networks, we examined Speedtest Intelligence data to plot locations with access to 5G across the island, with the results shown in the following maps.

Map of Chunghwa Telecom 5G Network in Taiwan, Q2-Q3 2023
Map of Far EasTone 5G Network in Taiwan, Q2-Q3 2023
Map of Taiwan Mobile 5G Network in Taiwan, Q2-Q3 2023
Map of GT 5G Network in Taiwan, Q2-Q3 2023
Map of T Star 5G Network in Taiwan, Q2-Q3 2023

Chunghwa Telecom’s 5G network extended furthest across Taiwan, at 97.6% of locations with 5G coverage during Q2-Q3 2023. Far EasTone followed with 88.9%, and Taiwan Mobile with 85.6%. GT and T Star have an almost equal 5G footprint, reporting 49.7% and 49.0% respectively.

Chart of 5G Network Reach as a Share of Total 5G Coverage Locations in Taiwan

The full impact of the mergers will become apparent over time

It may take a while before we witness the effects of the two mergers. In fact, it may take years before consumers can benefit from the newly combined entities. However, one thing is sure – the market’s competitive landscape will change due to the reduction of major operators from five to three in Taiwan. We will continue to keep a close eye on the progress of these mergers and how they affect mobile performance in Taiwan. If you are interested in benchmarking your performance or want to learn more about internet speeds and performance in other markets around the world, visit the Speedtest Global Index™.

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.

Network Performance
5G

About the Author

Affandy Johan

Ookla Research™ Articles
| December 9, 2024

UK Telecoms at a Crossroads: Consolidation, Convergence, and Looking Ahead to 2025

Global Speeds

After years of decline in international rankings, can the UK’s largest telecoms merger in decades revive competition in network quality?

In this special year-end article, we examine the past year in UK telecoms, assessing the country’s global competitiveness, evaluating 5G SA rollouts and monetisation strategies, highlighting the growing trend of convergence and looking ahead to what the market may bring in 2025.

The State of the UK’s Mobile Networks

The UK continued to trail its developed peers in mobile performance in 2024

Reports of mobile not-spots, outages and peak-time congestion dominated discussions around the UK’s mobile networks this year, with high-profile publications highlighting their underperformance compared to developed peers elsewhere in Europe and North America. Particular attention has been drawn to indoor coverage deficits—where over 80% of mobile traffic originates today—and lingering blackspots along key rail corridors nationwide.

Consumer research published by Ookla earlier this year, based on a survey of over 2,000 smartphone users in the UK and US, revealed significantly higher dissatisfaction among UK mobile users. Quality of experience (QoE) issues, such as slow-loading web pages (37%) and interrupted video streams (19%), were prominent, with over a quarter of UK respondents also reporting service interruptions or outages at least once a month. These experiences are likely driving a higher propensity to churn, with 27% of users planning to switch operators within the next twelve months citing coverage as their primary reason. 

Analysis of Speedtest Intelligence® data underscores UK consumers’ concerns, revealing the country’s stark international underperformance. Over the past eight years, the UK has shifted from being a G7 leader to a laggard in mobile download speeds at the 10th percentile—a key measure of baseline network performance, as it reflects the experience of users with the slowest connections. These speeds are now lower in the UK than in all but one other G7 country (Japan), with the gap to the leader (France) now widening rapidly on a year-on-year basis.

Outside the G7, the UK recorded the lowest Consistency score in Europe (82.56%) during Q2-Q3 2024, ahead of only Ireland. This metric reflects the percentage of consumer-initiated Speedtest samples meeting minimum speed thresholds: 5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload on 4G, and 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload on 5G. Market-wide Consistency in the UK saw only slight increases over the year, primarily driven by improvements in the performance of 4G networks. 

Investments in RAN upgrades and site expansion are driving progress in coverage and QoE moving into 2025

Notwithstanding the challenges, there is evidence that the performance of the UK’s mobile networks improved notably during the year, as reflected in other key indicators. Speedtest Intelligence data revealed a reduction in market-wide latency to 51.83 ms, reflecting progress across three of the four operators. Moreover, the observed quality of experience for bread-and-butter activities such as gaming and video streaming moved in the right direction again after a decline last year.

Significant investments in RAN upgrades and site expansions, bolstered in part by the government’s 4G-focused Shared Rural Network (SRN) initiative, contributed to substantial improvements in network coverage across all operators over the year. Overall 5G Availability in the UK rose by nearly 10 percentage points to 36.25% between 2023 and 2024, while 4G Availability increased from 93.8% to 95.7% during the same period. 

Ofcom noted, however, that there remains a substantial rural-urban divide in terms of 5G deployment progress in the UK, with 5G deployed on 42% of sites in urban areas, compared with just 16% of sites in rural areas, at the end of 2024.

Progress in the 3G sunset underlines the importance of supporting new measures to improve indoor connectivity outcomes

The shutdown of 3G networks, which reportedly accounted for less than 1% of traffic but over a quarter of operators’ RAN electricity consumption in some cases, has played an important role in freeing up spectrum for 4G and 5G. EE, for instance, has expanded its refarmed 2100 MHz spectrum deployments (n1) for 5G, increasing channel bandwidth from 15 MHz to 20 MHz during the year.

Speedtest Intelligence data reveals a decrease in overall 3G General Availability in the UK from 3.43% last year to 1.60% in 2024, indicating the percentage of users falling back to and mainly using 3G networks more than halved in the period. A potential consequence of the 3G sunset, however, is an increased reliance on 2G networks, particularly in deep indoor environments—the percentage of overall users that spend the majority of their time on 2G increased from 0.37% in 2023 to 0.76% this year.

By the end of 2025, all four of the UK’s mobile operators are expected to have completed their 3G sunsets. Reducing the propensity to fall back to 2G and enhancing the handover experience to 4G and 5G networks are likely to remain key priorities for operators’ RAN strategies. Progress in enhancing the indoor mobile network experience in the UK, enabled by deployment models such as Boldyn Networks’ small cell rollout on the London Underground and new in-building neutral host solutions from companies like Freshwave and Proptivity, will be key and may benefit from policy support.

Merger approval transforms spectrum landscape and provides certainty moving into 2025

The successful approval of the merger between Three and Vodafone by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) brings much-needed certainty to the market heading into 2025. This decision is expected to encourage long-term commitments to capital spending on network upgrades across all operators in the UK market, not just required by the merged entity for integrating its networks and complying with the CMA’s behavioural remedies. With the consolidation and redistribution of spectrum benefiting both the merged entity and Virgin Media O2 (VMO2), two of the three in-market operators will have more headroom to expand network capacity where needed.

Research published by Ookla earlier this year examined the impact of operator consolidation on network quality outcomes across Europe and a sample of other high-income countries. It found that a three-player market structure—now set to define the UK market following the merger—tends to be associated with higher median download speeds, improved network consistency and more positive consumer sentiment in the markets where it is present over time. 

The UK leads Europe in the commercialisation of 5G SA

While the UK lags behind its developed peers in mobile network performance, it has emerged as a global leader in the commercial rollout of the standalone (SA) 5G architecture. It remains the only European country with three commercially available 5G SA networks at the end of 2024, as VMO2 and EE joined Vodafone this year in launching the technology, primarily targeting dense urban areas in cities and towns. Ofcom reported that there were 3,300 5G SA-capable sites by the end of 2024, representing 15% of all reported 5G sites and carrying 3% of the UK’s overall monthly mobile traffic.

Controlled network testing by RootMetrics®, an Ookla company, on EE’s 5G network in Birmingham in October confirmed the significant latency improvements unlocked by the SA architecture. With 115 MHz of channel bandwidth observed across much of EE’s SA deployments along the test route, the operator stands out as the closest European equivalent to T-Mobile in the US which, like EE, has distinguished itself through extensive SA spectrum allocation spanning multiple carriers from low-band to mid- and high-bands.

In addition to upgrading traditional rooftop and monopole sites for 5G SA, operators like VMO2 are deploying street-level 5G SA small cells in increasing numbers to boost network capacity in high-footfall areas. This approach to network densification is expected to accelerate next year as macro site grid upgrades mature and operators collaborate with local authorities to streamline deployment processes for street-level mobile infrastructure. 

Stimulating consumer demand for 5G SA proves a challenge, with bundling emerging as a key sales strategy

On a business level, each operator has adopted a distinct strategy to market 5G SA in the UK, highlighting the persistent challenges of monetising 5G investments as far as mid-way through the technology cycle. Vodafone led the charge with a consumer-focused launch in 2023, branding its SA service as ‘5G Ultra’. In an effort to upsell its base, the offering was limited to postpay subscribers, with ‘improved phone battery life’ promoted as a key selling point.

In contrast, VMO2 launched its 5G SA network this year, following the playbook of operators like Iliad’s Free in the French market, by offering access to its existing subscribers at no additional cost. While the operator touted improvements in latency and uplink performance unlocked by the new 5G SA core and enhanced carrier aggregation, the aggressive pricing strategy reinforces the increasing industry consensus in Europe that consumers are unwilling to pay a premium for 5G SA alone.

Recognising this challenge in marketing the technology as a worthy consumer upgrade from the NSA architecture, and aligning with its strategy to transition from a traditional telecoms operator to a dynamic, service-led household brand, EE has taken a more ambitious approach. The operator has bundled its 5G SA offerings, restricted to its most expensive tariffs, with content packages, securing a partnership with Google to provide access to its premium Gemini Advanced AI model as part of the deal.

Bundling has proven effective for upselling in other advanced markets, particularly in Asia, where operators have successfully boosted ARPU by introducing differentiated services early in the 5G cycle. In addition to bundling Google’s AI services, EE introduced a ‘Network Boost’ subscription add-on with its 5G SA launch, offering premium subscribers the option to pay for prioritised network access during times of congestion.

This bundling strategy is expected to expand further in the UK next year, aligning with converged fixed and mobile offerings from operators like BT and VMO2. As the rollout of 5G SA matures and is afforded greater strategic priority under the government’s Wireless Infrastructure Strategy (WIS), and the device and solution ecosystem continues to mature, operators are likely to shift their focus to the enterprise segment—arguably the only market where SA-specific features, such as network slicing, hold any substantive monetisation potential.

The State of the UK’s Fixed Broadband Networks

Fibre land grab boosts the UK’s international ranking in fixed broadband performance

The recent groundswell of investment in fibre infrastructure across the UK is paying off, with median download speeds on fixed networks increasing by nearly 40% between 2023 and 2024 to 107.07 Mbps, according to Speedtest Intelligence data. This improvement trend also extended to other key metrics, including a 6% reduction in latency to 20.47 ms and enhanced QoE for gaming and video streaming across major ISPs. Ofcom reported that FTTH reached nearly 7 in 10 homes at the end of 2024, putting the UK on track to reach the government’s target of 85% full-fibre coverage by the end of 2025.

UK leads Germany and Italy in Fixed Download Speeds, but Trails G7 Leaders
Source: Speedtest Intelligence® | 2018 – 2024
Spline plot comparison of median fixed download speeds among the G7 countries between 2018 and 2024 based on Speedtest Intelligence® data.

Notably, in the context of Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index™, the UK continues to rank relatively higher in fixed network performance compared to mobile performance. The significant gains in median fixed download, upload and latency performance over the last year have propelled the UK up twelve places in the index, positioning it ahead of other G7 countries like Germany and Italy. However, it remains in the lower half of Western European countries. 

Wi-Fi 7 poised to become the default standard for ISPs targeting premium experiences in 2025

The growing adoption of advanced Wi-Fi solutions, including mesh routers for enhanced whole-home coverage and Wi-Fi 6E-capable access points for higher throughput on multi-gigabit FTTH connections, continues to play an important role in enhancing fixed performance outcomes in the UK. In the year gone by, fixed ISPs have increasingly relied on ‘Wi-Fi guarantees’ as a cornerstone of their marketing strategies, offering promises of minimum download speeds in every room—backed by money-back assurances.

Building on this momentum, Wi-Fi 7 is expected to become the default standard for CPE provided by UK ISPs on premium FTTH tariffs from next year. BT was among the first ISPs globally to launch a next-generation Wi-Fi 7 router earlier this year, partnering with Qualcomm to introduce its new ‘Smart Hub Pro’ and ‘Smart Wi-Fi Pro’ CPE solutions to EE Home Broadband customers. 

Merger approval ups the ante on convergence moving into 2025

The merger between Three and Vodafone paves the way for the UK to have three converged operators for the first time. The merged entity, following in the footsteps of previous tie-ups between BT and EE in 2016 and Virgin Media and O2 in 2021, will aim to fully integrate its fixed and combined mobile networks to deliver a differentiated experience that is better than the sum of its individual parts.

This trend is expected to drive operators to move beyond basic cross-selling of mobile and fixed services, instead positioning converged solutions as premium tariff bundles that deliver seamless, best-in-class experiences across fixed, mobile and Wi-Fi—on any device, anywhere. BT’s ‘EE One’ converged solution, unveiled alongside its 5G SA and Wi-Fi 7 launches earlier this year, offers a preview of the kinds of solutions likely to emerge from all converged operators in 2025.

Operator investments in bringing their fixed and mobile networks closer together will play a key role in ensuring subscribers enjoy an improved experience across all access paths. VMO2, for example, recently announced the activation of its ‘Converged Interconnected Network’ architecture, which it touted as improving the operator’s ability to manage traffic flows across its fixed and mobile services by aggregating data closer to the end user before routing it back to the core network. 

Key Trends to Watch in 2025

Mobile Data Traffic Growth Plateau

The UK, like other advanced mobile markets in Europe and North America, is entering a phase of declining mobile data traffic growth, following an S-curve trajectory. Ofcom reported an 18% increase in total monthly traffic in 2024, marking a slowdown from the 25% growth observed in both 2022 and 2023.  This trend of moderated growth is expected to continue next year and warrants close attention, as it could significantly impact mobile operators’ capital cycles, spectrum demand and equipment vendors’ business models over the long term in the UK and further afield. 

Private Network Proliferation

The removal of the requirement to individually register end-user devices for low-power use in shared bands, increased availability of medium-power licenses and the launch of a comprehensive spectrum mapping tool for the 3.8-4.2 GHz band were key milestones in Ofcom’s support for private networks in 2024. These measures contributed to the provision of 113 new shared access licenses between July and November, including 45 in the 1800 MHz band and 68 in the 3.8-4.2 GHz band. Further growth in the UK’s private network ecosystem is expected in 2025, with Ofcom set to enable low-power indoor access in the 2.3 GHz band.

Direct-to-Device (D2D) Arrival

Ofcom is developing a framework to authorise and facilitate D2D services in the UK, with a consultation scheduled for the first half of 2025. It will also review its approach to the mobile satellite service (MSS) licences in the 2 GHz band, as the current EU-wide licences are set to expire in 2027, allowing the UK to independently determine their future use. EE and O2 are the most likely potential candidates for a Direct-to-Cell (D2C) partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink, while Vodafone has been flirting with AST SpaceMobile.

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
5G
Europe
Convergence
FTTH

About the Author

Luke Kehoe

Ookla Research™ Articles
| May 2, 2022

Introducing Speedtest Maps™ for iOS

Consumer

You asked and we listened. Speedtest® fans who use Apple devices have long been requesting access to our Maps feature, and we are happy to report that this feature is now available for Android and iOS. So if you’ve been looking for a map of coverage that highlights which mobile providers have what level of service in the areas that matter most to you, open your Speedtest app today and check out the tab marked “Maps.”

How Speedtest Maps help you

Two Maps Side by Side

Speedtest Maps give you access to information about where you will and will likely not have access to different levels of service in a particular area. For example:

  • If you’re looking to use your brand new 5G phone on an upcoming vacation, you can check the map to see if your operator had 5G service in that location.
  • If you consistently find yourself dropping calls in the same spot on your daily walk, you can check our map to see if others who use the same provider are experiencing the same thing in the same area. Then you can take that information to your operator to ask them to improve service in that area.
  • If you’re looking to change operators, you can check to see who has the kind of service you need in the locations you visit most often.

Find and use your Speedtest Map today

If you already have Speedtest on your mobile device, you now have access to Speedtest Maps for both Android and iOS for free within our existing app. If you don’t see the Maps tab in the bottom right of your screen with the map open, simply update the app. And if you don’t have the Speedtest app, download it today for Android or iOS.

Explore maps for a variety of providers

Carrier Selection

Slide the bar up to select which provider you want to see detailed information for using the slider within the Map. You can use this to compare the service you’re subscribed to with that of other operators.

Access details on the best tech type available and the most common

Tech Type Selection

Use the bar at the top of the slider to choose whether you want to see the best available technology in an area or the most common. For example, there may be some 5G available in a certain area (Best) but LTE might be the “most common” tech type you’ll find there. The most common technology type layer in Speedtest Maps shows the technology type we saw at that location most frequently across all device types. This includes devices that are incapable of connecting to a 5G network (devices that support only 2G, 3G, and 4G LTE). If you are measuring whether 5G is available, use the “Best” layer.

Speedtest Maps are built using data from consumers who have opted in to location sharing in the Speedtest app. If you’d like to add valuable data to the maps and help to improve the feature, turn on location sharing in the settings of your device.

Our mission at Ookla is to empower consumers across the globe to understand and optimize their internet experience. Access to Speedtest Maps helps you find detailed information on coverage in the locations that matter most to you. Open the Speedtest app on your mobile device to check your map today or download Speedtest for Android or iOS.

Editor’s note: This article was updated on May 20 to clarify the uses of the “Best” and “Most Common” layers.

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
Ookla News

About the Author

Ookla