Case Study

Validating Network Excellence in Hybrid Hospitality

The Social Hub Rome’s Speedtest Certified™ Success Story

Customer

The Social Hub

Challenge

Providing seamless, high-performance connectivity for a diverse community of short-stay guests, long-term students, and co-working professionals in a complex, 9-floor hybrid environment.

Solution

A comprehensive Speedtest Certified™ assessment using professional-grade tools to validate the property’s wireless infrastructure.

Results

The Social Hub Rome earned the prestigious Speedtest Certified designation, proving its network can handle high-demand activities like streaming and gaming for guests and students, and professional video conferencing for co-working areas.

In the modern hospitality landscape, Wi-Fi is no longer a luxury; it is a core utility as essential as water or electricity. For The Social Hub Rome, a 24,000-square-meter facility, the stakes are even higher. The Social Hub Rome is a landmark urban regeneration project located in the bohemian San Lorenzo district. Built on the site of the Eternal City’s former railway customs house, the complex faces a unique set of architectural and operational challenges.

The Social Hub serves three distinct user groups with conflicting needs:

  • Hotel Guests: Require stable connections for remote work and high-quality video calls.
  • Long-term Students: Demand high-bandwidth for gaming and 4K streaming.
  • Co-working Professionals: Need mission-critical reliability for daily business operations.

The Social Hub Rome successfully navigated the challenge of converting a historic 1920s railway customs house into a hyper-connected destination by using data-driven audits to ensure that the site’s original high-attenuation concrete and industrial steel didn’t stand in the way of a world-class digital experience.

“Wi-Fi is getting more and more important. We see a big transition from wired to wireless... we have pervasive Wi-Fi in our buildings, not only in the rooms, but in the restaurants and common areas. The Speedtest Certified designation means our wireless network is built to handle the demands of our property, and it provides us with data-driven proof to show our community that we prioritize their digital experience.”
Henk Jan Boer, Director of IT Infrastructure & Support, The Social Hub

By earning the Speedtest Certified seal, The Social Hub demonstrates its commitment to network excellence and guest satisfaction. This program turns invisible network infrastructure into a visible, marketable asset that proves the property can support the most demanding digital experiences.

The success of this deployment was made possible through a strategic collaboration with leading technology partners:

  • HPE Aruba: Provided the high-performance Wi-Fi 6 access points (including 505H and 535 models) designed for high-density hospitality and campus environments. 
  • Wentzo: Acted as the Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) partner, managing the precision design, deployment, and continuous optimization of the network using Ekahau professional-grade Wi-Fi tools.

Leveraging Ekahau AI Pro Online, Ekahau Sidekick 2, Survey App, and Speedtest integration, Wentzo conducted a precision-led design and deployment process to ensure total coverage across the complex 8-floor environment. By utilizing Ekahau’s professional-grade Wi-Fi tools, the team was able to capture a high-resolution view of the wireless landscape, identifying and mitigating RF challenges from the building’s historic 1920s concrete and steel infrastructure.

"By integrating professional-grade measurement tools with real-world performance data, Speedtest Certified proves that the network infrastructure and design at The Social Hub is delivering a superior digital experience."
Dobias van Ingen, HPE Aruba Networking EMEA CTO & Vice President Systems Engineering

Validated Performance and Actionable Intelligence

The assessment confirmed that The Social Hub Rome’s network possesses a resilient, high-performance foundation capable of supporting the diverse needs of a hybrid hospitality environment—from student residents to corporate professionals. This certification, based on Ookla’s rigorous Speedtest Certified methodology, analyzes technical performance indicators measuring speeds, latency, security, coverage, capacity, and Quality of Experience (QoE). The network’s strength was demonstrated across all critical user-facing metrics:

  • Real-Time Performance: The network is highly optimized for demanding, low-latency applications, earning top scores for median latency and jitter to ensure seamless video conferencing and gaming experiences.
  • Throughput: The network demonstrated excellent scores for both median download and median upload speeds, consistently able to handle high-bandwidth use cases like 4K streaming and large-scale digital engagement.
  • Infrastructure: The network foundation leverages HPE Aruba Wi-Fi 6 technology across the 9-floor property and is built with a resilient, high-capacity backhaul.

The Social Hub Rome has converted its complex engineering achievement into a visible, trusted symbol of quality. While the HPE Aruba infrastructure and Wentzo precision design provided the foundation, the Speedtest Certified™ program provided the objective, third-party validation to prove it. This certification serves as a definitive benchmark, confirming that the network is optimized to meet the high-bandwidth, low-latency demands of every guest, resident, and professional on-site today.

Learn more about Speedtest Certified

Case Study

The Benchmark Network: How Umniah by Beyon Built Jordan’s Best Mobile Network with Ookla Data

“Network leadership today is driven by real-time visibility and decisive action. By operating the network proactively using live customer experience data and precise coverage gap resolution, issues are identified early, addressed accurately, and validated with confidence. Ookla data plays a critical role in informing strategic network decisions and has directly contributed to the awards Umniah has earned, reinforcing its position as the benchmark for network quality in Jordan.” 

Yusuf Sater
Chief Technology Officer, Umniah by Beyon

Benefits

  • Adopted a data-driven and agile network measurement strategy with crowdsourced data for smarter decision-making
  • Identified coverage gaps, detected network anomalies, and deployed targeted solutions to improve performance and customer experience
  • Informed 5G sunrise strategy, including migration from legacy technologies to 5G based on user equipment capabilities and network availability

Delivering a consistently higher-quality mobile experience is central to Umniah by Beyons strategy as one of Jordan’s leading telecom operators, providing both mobile and fixed services to customers across the country. As customers increasingly rely on connectivity for everything from streaming and gaming to navigation, mobile payments, online learning, and remote work, expectations for speed, stability, and reliability continue to rise wherever they go, whether in dense urban districts or rural communities. The transition to 5G has further raised the bar, introducing new performance demands and a greater need for precision in how networks are planned, monitored, and optimized, raising the stakes for operators to deliver consistent performance in real-world environments.

In this environment, network leadership can no longer be sustained through traditional monitoring or periodic testing alone. Instead, leadership must be achieved through the continuous management of real-world customer experience measured at scale.

The Best Mobile Network award is determined using Ookla’s independent and statistically rigorous methodology, based on millions of real-world network performance measurements collected nationwide from everyday consumer devices used by real customers. These measurements include consumer-initiated Speedtest® data alongside other independently collected mobile usage signals, providing a comprehensive view of actual customer experience across apps, locations, and usage scenarios. The award reflects real-world performance through a composite score derived from median download and upload speeds, latency, and consistency metrics, rather than laboratory simulations or drive-test-only data.

To respond effectively to rising customer expectations and strengthen its competitive position, Umniah partnered with Ookla® to incorporate real-time, independently collected, crowdsourced intelligence into its network operations, providing continuous visibility into how customers experience the network in everyday conditions across Jordan. 

Insights from Ookla solutions, including  Speedtest Insights™, Speedtest Intelligence®, Cell Analytics™ and Consumer QoE™, provide Umniah with a continuously updated view of real-world user experience across Jordan. 

This real-time intelligence enables faster detection and troubleshooting of issues, sharper prioritization of network investments, and ongoing validation of improvements, while strengthening the overall 5G experience, helping ensure that enhancements translate into tangible benefits for customers. 

These insights are derived from a statistically significant volume of measurements collected during Q3–Q4 2025. Ookla applies robust statistical validation techniques, including outlier removal and confidence checks, to ensure accuracy, fairness, and comparability across operators.

As a result of this data-driven approach, Umniah won the Speedtest Award™ for Best Mobile Network for Q3–Q4 2025.

Situation

Mobile customers rely on connectivity across many different locations and usage settings every day, at home, work, and across public areas where performance can vary. Traditional measurement methods, such as periodic drive tests or one-time data collections, provide only limited snapshots of these day-to-day conditions and do not provide the continuous visibility Umniah needed to make faster, more informed decisions about the network that ultimately enhance the customer experience.

Umniah wanted a more agile, data-driven model that supported real-time verification of performance, faster operational adjustments, and ongoing optimization. The company saw clear limitations in legacy collection practices and aimed to build a dynamic process that would strengthen decision-making across both network engineering and broader business operations.

Solution

Umniah modernized its network operations by incorporating Ookla’s crowdsourced datasets into engineering and planning workflows. This dataset integration provides Umniah with a continuous update view of real-world performance, enabling Umniah to identify issues earlier, act with greater precision, and validate outcomes using independent data. To guide this transformation, Umniah focused on three core use cases aligned with its network strategy:

  • Coverage analysis to identify where users experienced weak signal conditions.
  • Network anomaly detection to identify localized issues such as elevated 5G packet loss.
  • 5G rollout validation to confirm successful deployments and support user migration to higher-performing technologies.

These operational improvements directly influenced the core performance indicators used by Ookla to determine the Best Mobile Network award, including speed, latency, and consistency. Performance gains were measured, validated, and sustained using the same independent datasets applied in award evaluation, establishing a clear and auditable link between network actions and award outcomes.

Coverage Analysis

Real-time Speedtest data enabled Umniah to identify specific locations where coverage improvements would deliver the greatest impact on customer experience. Crowdsourced insights highlighted areas such as the Aqaba 9th District and Moghayyer Village Center, where users were experiencing weaker signal conditions that did not meet Umniah’s quality standards.

Accordingly, targeted enhancements were deployed in these locations, and the same datasets were used to verify stronger signal levels and improved performance after implementation. This closed-loop approach ensures that network investments are precise, measurable, and directly linked to real-world customer experience.

Network Anomaly Detection

Network anomalies can be difficult to detect through traditional monitoring because they often occur in specific areas or during certain usage patterns. Ookla’s crowdsourced insights enabled Umniah to detect localized 5G anomalies, including elevated packet loss, which would otherwise be difficult to identify.

After identifying these anomalies, Umniah deployed solutions to address the elevated packet loss and then used the same crowdsourced data to verify that the fixes were effective. This end-to-end process ensured that the anomaly had been resolved and that customers experienced improved 5G performance in the affected areas.

5G Rollout and Sunrise Strategy

As Umniah continues to expand its 5G network, real-world performance validation plays a critical role in ensuring that deployments deliver meaningful benefits. Ookla insights allow Umniah to verify the performance of new 5G deployments and ensure that users were connecting to the most suitable technology based on device capabilities and network availability. The data helped Umniah identify areas where 5G would deliver meaningful improvements and confirm that deployments were operating as intended.

One example is the area surrounding Amman International Stadium, where Speedtest results confirmed stronger 5G signal levels after upgrades were deployed. These before-and-after measurements supported Umniah’s broader 5G sunrise efforts, enabling intelligent migration from legacy technologies to 5G where coverage, capacity, and device readiness align, ensuring a smooth transition and a consistently strong customer experience.

Outcome

 

Operating the network with real-time intelligence has strengthened Umniah’s ability to deliver consistent, high-quality performance at scale. Faster issue detection, sharper investment decisions, and continuous validation have elevated customer experience across the mobile network as usage and expectations continue to rise.

These capabilities were independently validated through the Speedtest Award™ for Best Mobile Network Q3-Q4 2025. Umniah has maintained the leading mobile network position in Jordan for several consecutive years, supported by sustained gains in speed, reliability, and customer satisfaction.

Umniah’s improvements have played a direct role in elevating Jordan’s overall download speeds. This impact is evident when comparing Umniah’s median download performance to Jordan’s national median download speed on the Speedtest Global Index™, where Umniah consistently exceeds the countrywide average delivering results above the countrywide average, setting a higher performance standard for the market.

 

Through proactive performance management and continued 5G expansion, Umniah continues to lead the evolution of mobile connectivity in Jordan, supporting stronger digital inclusion, greater economic participation, digitally enabled economy. Throughout the award period, Umniah consistently outperformed Jordan’s national median performance across key indicators measured by Speedtest Intelligence, reinforcing its market-leading position through sustained real-world performance rather than isolated gains.

About Umniah by Beyon

Umniah by Beyon is a leading telecom company in Jordan offering mobile, internet, and digital solutions with a focus on innovation and customer experience. Since entering the market in 2005, Umniah has played the role of a game-changer, breaking monopolies, opening the door to competition, and delivering value for money and innovative digital services to Jordanians.

Case Study

How Globe Uses Ookla Data to Deliver the Most Consistent Mobile Experience in the Philippines

“The Speedtest Verified™ claim from Ookla® is a testament to our relentless effort to ensure that Filipinos have access to stable and high-quality internet services. This drives us to continuously invest in our network and push for innovations that enhance digital access.”

Joel Agustin
Head of Service Planning and Engineering at Globe

Benefits 

  • Faster, More Targeted Performance Gains measurable every quarter – Consistency KPIs baked into Globe’s scorecards let teams prove a +16.85 percentage-point jump in Consistency Score, plus +176% download and +101% upload speed gains since 2021
  • Site-level Precision & Targeted CAPEX – Region-level heat-maps exposed 200+ hidden congestion spots, redirecting high-value investments to projects with the biggest user-experience lift
  • Award-backed brand trust – Independent validation from Ookla secured Globe three consecutive Speedtest Awards™ for Most Consistent Mobile Network (2023-2025), reinforcing leadership in the Philippine telco industry

In a highly competitive and mobile-first Philippine market, Globe Telecom, the leading mobile network operator in the country, is committed to delivering superior customer experience everyday. Recognizing the need to champion consistent user experience as key to customer satisfaction, Globe sets an ambitious goal: to establish itself as the Most Consistent Mobile Network in the Philippines.

Knowing that marketing claims must rest on neutral evidence, Globe turned to Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence®—specifically the Consistency Score, which tracks the share of user tests that meet a minimum threshold of 5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload.

Globe boosted speeds and focused on consistent downlink and uplink performance, because as Ookla’s own research confirms, sustained throughput along with typical app requirements is a stronger predictor of user experience than occasional speed peaks. Leveraging Speedtest Intelligence® insights, Globe pinpointed where to upgrade capacity, align cross-functional teams, and guide strategic network investments.

Situation

Globe Telecom set out to differentiate its brand and elevate user experience by becoming the country’s Most Consistent Mobile Network. Ookla confirms that a company’s Consistency Score is a stronger predictor of everyday app performance than peak speed alone, because it shows how often users actually receive ‘good-enough’ speeds for streaming, browsing, and video calls. Guided by these insights, Globe pinpointed upgrade priorities and invested where consistent performance would matter most to customers.

Solution

Globe’s approach of leveraging third-party data to enhance its network highlights how data-driven decision-making can transform network performance and customer experiences. By integrating Ookla data across its organization, Globe was able to align its network performance directly with its strategic goals.

To align network KPIs with corporate goals, Globe didn’t just import Ookla data—it co-developed an end-to-end insight pipeline with Ookla’s Data Science team. Every quarter, Globe engineers and Ookla analysts jointly review a “verification pack” that cross-checks sample counts, data distributions, and threshold adherence before any figure is used internally.

Together, Globe and Ookla validated raw test samples, sliced by region and other various areas. These in-depth insights exposed hidden congestion pockets and coverage gaps, letting Globe channel CAPEX to the sites with the highest user-experience pay-off. The result: investments landed exactly where customers would feel the biggest boost in consistency and satisfaction.

Outcome

Globe’s commitment to providing a dependable experience has been repeatedly recognized, earning Globe the Speedtest Award for “Most Consistent Mobile Network” for the third consecutive year as of Q1 2025.

On top of this, Globe’s commitment to providing a stellar user experience extends far beyond leading in consistency. Their proactive efforts, guided by Ookla data, have also resulted in market-leading percentage improvements across crucial network performance metrics. Since 2021, Globe has demonstrated superior growth compared to competitors in both download and upload speeds, as well as overall network consistency:

The improvements Globe achieved in download speed, upload speed, and consistency are a testament not only to its network strategy but also to Globe’s close collaboration with Ookla. Ookla’s analysts worked alongside Globe’s engineers to surface hidden performance gaps, validate raw test data, and translate consistency insights into targeted investments. This partnership has been instrumental in cementing Globe’s leadership in delivering dependable, high-quality user experiences across the nation.

 

Disclaimer: Consistency Score is based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® Mobile Consistency Score in the Philippines for 2022-2024.

About Globe Telecom

Globe is a major Filipino telecommunications provider driven by a mission to make lives better through technology. Through continuous innovation, Globe enables Filipinos to thrive, overcome challenges, and unlock new opportunities. Globe is committed to providing seamless and memorable experiences, empowering every Filipino to confidently take charge of their everyday and enrich the lives of their loved ones.

Case Study

How MEO Arena Transforms Venue Connectivity into a Competitive Advantage with Speedtest Certified

Challenge

As leaders in the hyper-competitive live event market, MEO sought to proactively showcase the world-class capabilities of the 20,000-person capacity MEO Arena. Their goal was to leverage independent, third-party validation to powerfully demonstrate their network’s quality to fans, sponsors, and premier global event organizers.

Solution

MEO engaged Ookla® to perform a comprehensive Speedtest Certified™ assessment of the arena’s permanent Wi-Fi network.

Results

MEO Arena’s permanent network surpassed the rigorous requirements, earning the prestigious Speedtest Certified designation. The certification transforms the venue’s technical excellence into a powerful, marketable asset, providing indisputable proof of its superior digital infrastructure and delivering actionable intelligence for ongoing optimization.

In today’s live event industry, connectivity is no longer a simple fan amenity; it is a critical revenue driver that underpins the entire fan experience. From digital ticketing and cashless concessions to in-app merchandise sales and social media engagement, a venue’s bottom line is directly tied to the performance of its network.

For premier technology partners like MEO and world-class venue operators like MEO Arena, delivering a flawless connected experience is a core part of their strategy, backed by massive network investments. The primary challenge for the entire industry has been how to visibly and credibly communicate this complex technical excellence. A high-performance network is an invisible asset, making it difficult to prove its quality and demonstrate the return on that investment to a non-technical audience of fans and event organizers.

Speedtest Certified Quote text

Speedtest Certified bridges the gap between technical performance and tangible business value. It leverages the one brand in network testing that millions of consumers and professionals around the world already know and trust: Speedtest. For MEO Arena, the certification is not just a badge; it is a powerful strategic tool.

By certifying this complex environment, MEO establishes a powerful, public proof point for their network portfolio. It demonstrates to their current and potential clients—from a hotel or hospital to a corporate headquarters—that MEO can design, manage, and validate a network to a world-class standard.

For MEO Arena, the Speedtest Certified designation is a key competitive differentiator. When bidding to attract the world’s biggest tours, artists, and corporate events, the ability to provide verifiable, third-party proof of network excellence is a powerful advantage. It moves the conversation beyond a simple “we have good Wi-Fi” claim to a validated, trusted benchmark, giving event organizers the confidence that the venue’s infrastructure can support their most demanding digital and broadcast needs.

Speedtest Certified quote text

For MEO, the certification is an independent, data-driven validation of their engineering expertise and network investment. The program proved that MEO’s infrastructure is a resilient, high-performance foundation. The resulting actionable intelligence also equips MEO’s network team with precise, data-backed recommendations for continuous improvement and future optimization.

Validated Performance and Actionable Intelligence

The assessment confirmed the network has a resilient, high-performance foundation, with the technical capability to support both the consistent needs of the arena and adapt as needed to event-specific criteria. This certification, based on Ookla’s Speedtest Certified methodology, analyzes technical performance indicators measuring speeds, latency, stability, security, capacity and quality of experience. The network’s strength was demonstrated across all critical user-facing metrics:

  • Real-Time Performance: The network is highly optimized for demanding applications, earning top scores for its median latency and jitter.
  • Throughput: The network demonstrated excellent scores for both median download and median upload speeds, capable of handling key use cases like massive-scale social media sharing, digital payments, and powering digital sponsorship activations.
  • Infrastructure: The network’s foundation is built for capacity, earning excellent ratings for its 10 Gbps ISP Backhaul Speed and Smart Roaming capabilities.

By transforming its superior network infrastructure from an invisible operational cost into a visible, trusted symbol of quality, MEO Arena has created a new standard for venue excellence and a powerful asset to drive future business.

For any enterprise striving to justify network investments, differentiate its brand, and ensure an exemplary user experience, Speedtest Certified provides the definitive, data-driven verification needed to succeed. Contact us to learn more about the Speedtest Certified process.

MEO Arena

MEO Arena stands as one of Europe’s largest indoor arenas, combining state-of-the-art infrastructure with unparalleled versatility to host world-class concerts, major sporting events, and large-scale corporate gatherings. With a steadfast commitment to innovation and sustainability, the venue remains a catalyst for exceptional experiences, connecting global talent and audiences in the heart of Lisbon.

Case Study

How ICTA Uses Ookla Data for National ISP Performance Monitoring

“We use Ookla data as the cornerstone of our National ISP Performance Monitoring and Strategic Optimization program. This isn’t just about oversight; it’s about independent, real-world data that allows us to objectively track performance, validate ISP claims, and drive meaningful improvements across the sector. This strategic framework has already delivered enhanced transparency and smarter resource allocation, fundamentally strengthening Azerbaijan’s digital future.” 

Islam Baghirzade
Director of Information Technologies, ICTA

Benefits

  • Monitored ISP performance over time
  • Compared provider-reported coverage against actual regional presence
  • Simulated the national impact of improving the performance of key ISPs

Ensuring reliable and competitive broadband performance across Azerbaijan is critical for the country’s digital transformation. Fast, accessible internet plays a central role in education, economic growth, public services, and everyday life. As the national regulatory authority, the Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) is tasked with overseeing the performance, fairness, and transparency of the telecommunications market — particularly internet service providers (ISPs). 

To effectively monitor this ecosystem, ICTA relies not only on official declarations from providers — such as subscriber counts and regional coverage areas submitted through the Data Collection System (DCS) — but also on independent, real-world testing data from Ookla. 

Situation 

While ISP-reported figures are foundational for regulatory oversight, there is always a risk of overstated or understated service availability, especially in remote or underserved regions. Such discrepancies can lead to distorted planning, inefficient infrastructure development, and regulatory blind spots.

Moreover, with dozens of ISPs operating at different performance levels, it’s not feasible to demand equal improvements across the board. Regulatory capacity and resources are limited, and not all providers have the same impact on national service quality. A targeted, data-driven strategy is needed to identify which providers can most significantly influence nationwide internet performance.

Under the framework of National ISP Performance Monitoring, ICTA faced four challenges in ensuring fair, efficient, and data-driven oversight of internet service providers:

  1. Monitoring Provider Performance Objectively: ISP-reported data on service quality lacks independent verification. ICTA needed a consistent method to track monthly performance trends across providers, highlight underperformers, and drive QoS improvements across the sector.
  2. Validating Regional Coverage Declarations: ISPs declare their regional subscriber presence via the Data Collection System (DCS). However, without real-world validation, these declarations could misrepresent actual service distribution — especially in rural or underserved areas — distorting planning and policy decisions.
  3. Prioritizing Impactful Improvements: With limited regulatory resources, ICTA needed a tool to identify which ISPs provide poor services, thus, hindering achieving the country’s internet speed objectives. A scalable, simulation-based approach was essential to target high-impact providers rather than applying blanket requirements.
  4. Road-Level Signal Monitoring: Mobile service quality often fluctuates along roads and transport corridors, disrupting calls and data connectivity. Manual drive tests to detect such issues are costly and limited in scope. Using Ookla Cell Analytics, ICTA now monitors signal strength continuously across major roads in Baku, with GPS-tagged results from real users highlighting weak spots and guiding more effective infrastructure planning.

Solution

To address the core challenges of performance tracking, declaration validation, and strategic targeting, ICTA developed a unified approach using Ookla Speedtest data and internally built Power BI dashboards. Rather than relying on off-the-shelf solutions, the agency designed custom tools tailored to Azerbaijan’s regulatory needs.

Monitoring ISP Performance Over Time

Using Ookla Speedtest results, ICTA tracks:

  • Monthly average download speeds by provider
  • Trends in provider performance
  • National averages and sector-wide development

Data is processed in-house and visualized with interactive dashboards that include filters by provider, server, and date range, giving regulators clear, real-time visibility into how ISPs are performing. 

Validating Regional Declarations with Real-World Tests

To verify provider submissions through the Data Collection System (DCS), ICTA compares:

  • Declared subscriber counts by region
  • Actual test/device counts from Ookla data

This allows regulators to detect mismatches between reported and observed presence — ensuring more accurate infrastructure planning and holding providers accountable for their claimed coverage.

Simulating Targeted Improvement Scenarios

To maximize regulatory impact, ICTA built a simulation dashboard that models the national performance effect of increasing speeds for specific ISPs. The process includes:

  • Identifying providers with significant test presence (Top 5 – 10)
  • Monitoring and regulating poor performers among these providers to achieve national-level goals

This enables a focused strategy that prioritizes a small set of high-impact providers, optimizing resource use while driving measurable improvements in overall internet quality.

Road-Level Signal Monitoring in Practice

The Road Signals dashboard aggregates thousands of geo-tagged test results monthly, each acting as a virtual drive test under real-world conditions. Regulators can:

  • Filter results by date, road, or region
  • View average signal strength values and detect coverage gaps
  • Compare provider performance at street and highway level
  • Track recurring problem zones and improvements over time

This granular visibility ensures that regulatory efforts address not only national averages but also the real connectivity experience citizens face every day.

Outcome 

The National ISP Performance Monitoring framework — powered by Ookla data and customized analytics — has significantly strengthened Azerbaijan’s ability to regulate and guide the development of its internet ecosystem.

Key Outcomes: 

  • Enhanced Transparency and Accountability: By comparing provider-reported data with real-world test results, ICTA now flags discrepancies in regional coverage declarations, supporting more accurate audits and promoting fair competition.
  • Improved Regulatory Oversight: With month-by-month tracking of ISP download speeds, regulators can monitor trends, evaluate the impact of policy or market shifts, and spotlight top and underperforming ISPs. This visibility incentivizes providers to improve performance in alignment with public expectations.
  • Smarter Resource Allocation through Data-Backed Decision:  The simulation dashboard enables ICTA to concentrate oversight on providers with the greatest influence on service quality countrywide. By identifying high-impact ISPs and holding under performers accountable, ICTA ensures that regulatory resources are used effectively to raise connectivity standards across the sector.
  • Stronger Geographic Coverage Assurance: Road-level monitoring strengthens ICTA’s ability to assess service continuity along critical transport corridors, ensuring that regulatory strategies address not just averages, but also the geographic reliability of connectivity essential for economic activity, mobility, and safety.

Ookla webinar - A Regulator's Playbook for Driving Broadband Improvement

About ICTA

The Information and Communication Technologies Agency (ICTA) is a public legal entity under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, established by a decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on October 11, 2021. The agency’s responsibilities include certification, registration, regulation, and control within the fields of information communication technologies and communications, including telecommunications and postal services. It also regulates the interconnection between telecommunication operators and manages the radio spectrum.

Case Study

Rated #1: How DITO Grew its Brand with Speedtest Awards™

“We’re excited to launch this campaign with two dynamic ambassadors who truly embody the DITO spirit — bold, modern, and connected. Backed by our #1 Rated network, this initiative brings us even closer to our customers in ways that are fun, engaging, and uniquely DITO.” 

Atty. Adel Tamano
Chief Revenue Officer, DITO Telecommunity

Benefits

  • Strengthened consumer credibility through third-party recognition
  • Increased brand awareness and customer engagement
  • Boosted conversion rates  and customer retention

Entering a market long dominated by two established mobile providers, DITO faced an uphill climb in building brand recognition and growing its subscriber base. With a commercial launch in 2021, the company set an ambitious goal: to connect every Filipino to the people, places, and things that matter most—through reliable, high-speed mobile service and a fresh, customer-first approach.

That mission quickly gained traction. DITO’s dedication to service and innovation earned the company more than 13 million subscribers in just three years. But building trust in such a competitive market takes more than scale. It takes proof. 

In 2023 and 2024, DITO received a major endorsement of its network quality and customer satisfaction when it was named the #1 Rated Mobile Network in the Philippines by Ookla® three consecutive times. The Speedtest Award™, based on real user feedback from Speedtest® Intelligence data, became a cornerstone of DITO’s marketing strategy, offering trusted, third-party validation of its brand promise.

Situation

Launching in 2021, DITO entered a saturated and highly competitive mobile market in the Philippines. With entrenched competitors and decades of consumer loyalty behind them, the legacy operators had a clear advantage. DITO, in contrast, needed to prove itself from the ground up: it had to build brand awareness, earn trust, and deliver on the promise of a better mobile experience.

DITO expanded rapidly, reaching over 13 million subscribers by 2024. That growth was fueled by aggressive network investments, expanded 4G and 5G availability, and a strong focus on customer-centric service.

As DITO gained momentum, established competitors also ramped up their efforts, making it even more important for DITO to find fresh ways to differentiate its brand. It needed a campaign that blended credibility with emotional resonance—one that would validate its achievements while deepening brand affinity. That’s where the Speedtest Award came into the picture.

Solution

In April 2024, DITO launched its “DITO Sa Puso Ko” campaign to celebrate its Speedtest Award as the #1 Rated Mobile Network in the Philippines. Designed to resonate with Filipinos nationwide, the campaign paired real-world network performance data with cultural relevance and celebrity appeal.

At the center of the campaign was a heartfelt rendition of the beloved Filipino song “DITO Sa Puso Ko” (“Here in My Heart”), performed by real-life couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera—stars of the highest-grossing Filipino film, Rewind. Their presence added familiarity and warmth, helping DITO position itself not just as a capable network provider, but as a brand that truly understands its audience.

The Speedtest Top Rated Award served as more than just a badge of honor; it grounded the campaign in third-party data and gave DITO’s message the credibility it needed to stand out in a crowded market, ultimately helping position the company as a reliable and recognized telecom provider in the Philippines.

Outcome

Building meaningful connections with users at scale in a competitive market is no small feat, especially for a new entrant like DITO. With its “DITO Sa Puso Ko” campaign, DITO showed how the right mix of credibility and creativity can deliver powerful results. The Speedtest Award became the campaign’s foundation, reinforcing the company’s message with impartial validation and helping deepen user engagement through emotionally resonant storytelling.

The campaign quickly resonated with users, becoming DITO’s best-performing marketing initiative to date, achieving:

  • 1+ billion impressions
  • 350+ million users reached
  • 7+ million outbound clicks

DITO also saw measurable improvements in brand health. The company conducted internal surveys comparing Q1 to Q2 2024 and found increases in brand awareness, conversion rates, and customer retention. The Speedtest Award served not only as a mark of technical excellence, but also as trusted validation of DITO’s core promise to deliver reliable, high-quality connectivity to every Filipino, proving the value of third-party recognition in driving long-term brand growth.

By blending real-world performance data with culturally relevant storytelling, DITO created a campaign that truly connected with its users, building trust, driving engagement, and delivering measurable results at a large scale.

About DITO Telecommunity

DITO Telecommunity Corporation is the new major telecommunications provider in the Philippines launching in March 2021. DITO aims to reinvent the Philippine telecommunications industry by improving the way Filipinos experience connectivity with secure, fast and high value 4G and 5G technologies. With China Telecom as partner, DITO has accelerated its network rollout to provide 84% coverage in 5 years with speeds of 27 Mbps and higher on Year 1 backed by superior customer service that strengthen “telecommunities”, making the Philippines much more prominent in the global telecommunications stage.

Case Study

Intel plus Speedtest Custom: Optimizing Internet Bandwidth for Peak Gaming Performance

“The integration of Ookla’s Speedtest Custom is a significant strategic advantage for Intel and a powerful benefit for our customers. By providing gamers with real-time network performance data, we empower them to proactively manage and optimize their connectivity, addressing a critical pain point in the gaming experience. Our relationship with Ookla enhances the value of our hardware, helping ensure we deliver a superior user experience.”

Jeff Bake
SW Product Manager, Intel

Benefits

  • Tap into Ookla’s global Speedtest Server Network of 15,000+ active servers for real-world performance testing
  • Establish consumer trust with network performance data from Ookla, a reliable third-party source
  • Improve gaming experience by reducing lag and intelligently managing bandwidth for optimal performance

Introduction: The Gaming Landscape and Intel’s Role

For serious gamers, a stable, high-speed internet connection is essential for competitive gameplay, seamless live streaming, and real-time server communication. Intel provides many of the building blocks for gamers, making reliable connectivity a core part of the gaming experience.

To give gamers deeper insight into the quality of their internet connection and help them avoid lag, connection drops, or poor streaming quality, Intel integrates Speedtest Custom™ from Ookla into its Intel® Killer™ Performance Suite , providing gamers with a reliable way to measure, validate, and troubleshoot their connectivity in real time during gameplay, when every millisecond matters.

Situation: The Challenges of Modern Gaming Connectivity

Gaming today isn’t just about graphics or processing power; it’s about the overall performance of your connection. While download and upload speeds remain critical for gaming—especially for game updates, patches, and streaming—latency and jitter are also key metrics that directly impact both casual and competitive gaming experiences. High levels of either often result in delayed reactions, missed targets, and frustrated gamers.

Live streaming adds another layer of complexity, with platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming requiring substantial upload bandwidth to maintain high bitrates and smooth frame rates. Meanwhile, the typical gaming household rarely does just one thing at a time. Users increasingly multitask across bandwidth-intensive activities—gaming while streaming video, using voice chat, or sharing files—creating network congestion that can impact performance.

Without immediate visibility into what’s happening on their network, gamers are often left guessing when performance issues arise during critical moments.

Solution: Speedtest Custom for Network Diagnostics & Traffic Management

To help gamers troubleshoot network issues and improve performance, Speedtest Custom integrates seamlessly into the Intel Killer Performance Suite, a software application built to optimize PC networking for gaming and streaming.

By delivering real-time insights into download and upload speeds, latency, and jitter, Speedtest Custom gives users the tools they need to understand network conditions, identify issues, and make adjustments on the fly. These measurements enable three key capabilities:

Outcome: Empowering Gamers Across the Globe

Through its integration with the Intel Killer Performance Suite, Speedtest Custom helps gamers and streamers around the world monitor performance, troubleshoot issues, and optimize their experience. With real-time insights at their fingertips, users gain a clearer understanding of their network conditions and can adjust settings to keep gameplay smooth and uninterrupted.

This global collaboration delivers top-tier gamer experiences, touching virtually every major game worldwide. It also underscores how far-reaching—and impactful—the partnership between Intel and Speedtest Custom has become:

Together, Intel and Ookla are equipping gamers with the insights and tools they need to take full control of their connectivity. Whether identifying jitter, confirming bandwidth before a livestream, or prioritizing traffic across apps, Speedtest Custom delivers the competitive edge today’s gamers expect.

About Intel

Intel® Killer™ Wi-Fi and Ethernet products combine industry-leading connectivity with powerful gaming network technology to minimize lag, latency, and packet loss. These intelligent, optimized solutions enable immersive online experiences with minimal user effort. Intel Killer products can be found at Intel.com.

Case Study

How stc Bahrain Is Transforming Indoor 5G Connectivity with Ookla Data

“At stc Bahrain, we’ve developed a comprehensive and forward-looking strategy for delivering seamless 5G indoor connectivity. Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence and Cell Analytics tools have been instrumental across every stage of our deployment lifecycle — from initial planning and implementation to validation of post-deployment improvements.”

Ahmed Alsharif
CTDO, stc Bahrain

Benefits

  • Identified high-traffic indoor areas with limited 5G coverage using real-world data
  • Delivered enhanced connectivity and customer satisfaction in key venues through strategic indoor deployments
  • Validated post-deployment performance improvements using real-world network insights

Seamless connectivity has become essential in indoor environments like hotels and shopping malls where people gather, and network congestion can significantly affect the user experience. In Bahrain, telecommunications operator stc Bahrain has adopted a proactive approach to enhancing the indoor 5G customer experience by deploying innovative solutions at premium locations such as The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain and City Centre Bahrain.

stc Bahrain’s initiative leverages Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence® and Cell Analytics™ platforms, enabling data-driven decisions throughout the entire indoor 5G deployment lifecycle — from network planning and technology implementation to validation of coverage and performance improvements.

Situation

In today’s highly competitive telecommunications market, premium indoor locations represent both a significant challenge and opportunity for network operators. These environments — luxury hospitality venues, commercial centers, and other high-density public spaces — are where customers with 5G-capable devices and premium service plans expect flawless connectivity, yet they’re also the same areas where traditional outdoor network infrastructure often struggles to deliver consistent coverage.

For stc Bahrain, addressing indoor connectivity wasn’t just a technical issue but a critical strategic priority. Premium venues like The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain host international business travelers who demand seamless connectivity for video calls, while retail destinations like City Centre Bahrain require reliable 5G for mobile payments and augmented shopping experiences. Failure to deliver would mean not just dissatisfied customers but potentially losing valuable high-tier clients to competitors who could meet these growing expectations.

To maximize the impact of its investments, stc Bahrain required a precise, data-driven approach to identify indoor areas with poor 5G coverage, strategically deploy solutions where they would drive the most value and validate network improvements. Enter Ookla.

Solution

Indoor connectivity presents unique challenges that traditional network planning methods struggle to address, such as limited signal penetration, complex building layouts, and high user density. These factors demand specialized solutions, with data playing a crucial role in optimizing deployments and validating improvements. stc Bahrain leveraged Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence and Cell Analytics platforms to overcome these challenges through a comprehensive three-stage process: planning based on real-world data, strategic deployment of indoor solutions, and validation of performance improvements.

Ookla’s platforms delivered transformative benefits by providing a complete view of the actual customer experience in high-priority locations like The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain and City Centre Bahrain, where coverage issues were impacting premium customers. Utilizing a data-driven approach ensured that investments were targeted precisely where they would deliver the greatest impact for users and for the business.

Step 1: Planning

Traditional network planning often relies on theoretical models or limited walk tests, which alone can’t always capture the full user experience. As a result, stc Bahrain needed a more comprehensive approach to understand real-world performance issues.

Speedtest data provided stc Bahrain with proactive network planning capabilities based on actual usage patterns. By continuously monitoring crowdsourced metrics, the team could identify areas with suboptimal indoor performance trends and address potential issues before customers even reported problems.

In addition to allowing for reactive troubleshooting, Ookla’s crowdsourced data eliminated the need for time-consuming and often restricted-access area walk tests. This continuous stream of real-world measurements provided stc with a comprehensive view of 4G and 5G signal conditions within buildings, overcoming the limitations of manual inspections. With readily available connectivity intelligence, stc could efficiently identify coverage gaps and gain valuable insights into actual user experiences, enabling faster and more targeted indoor network improvements.

The company used Cell Analytics to monitor indoor 5G coverage and identify gaps, while Speedtest Intelligence provided real-world insights into download and upload speeds, latency, and jitter — offering a holistic picture of the customer experience.

This combined data analysis revealed a critical insight: certain high-traffic hotspots, including The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain and other premium venues, showed almost no 5G usage despite high overall traffic. Further investigation identified a significant population of users with 5G-capable devices who were connecting only to 4G networks due to limited indoor 5G coverage — representing an immediate opportunity to enhance service for existing premium customers.

Step 2: Deployment

With clear insights into coverage gaps and performance issues, stc Bahrain needed an efficient solution that could deliver robust 5G connectivity in challenging indoor environments without extensive infrastructure changes.

stc Bahrain implemented Huawei’s Digital Indoor System (DIS) solution at the key locations it identified. With its compact design and efficient deployment model, the DIS system delivers high performance, supports both 4G and 5G, and enhances the user experience.

Step 3: Validation

Network improvements require rigorous validation to ensure they deliver the promised benefits. Without objective measurement, it’s impossible to quantify the return on investment or identify areas needing further optimization.

After deployment, stc Bahrain validated the improved speeds and coverage at both The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain and City Centre Bahrain using the same Ookla tools, confirming significant performance gains, including achieving gigabit-level 5G download speeds.

 

Outcome

Leveraging insights from Ookla’s analytics platforms, stc Bahrain implemented a targeted 5G solution that has dramatically transformed the indoor connectivity landscape at key premium venues. The before-and-after contrast at locations like The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain and City Centre Bahrain tells a compelling story of network evolution and a better overall user experience.

Where visitors previously experienced spotty connections and inconsistent service, they now enjoy seamless, high-speed connectivity throughout these same places. Ookla’s performance metrics reflect this transformation, with 5G speeds reaching the gigabit threshold that enables truly next-generation experiences.

For guests at The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, the improved network means seamless video conferencing for business travelers, uninterrupted high-definition streaming for leisure guests, and reliable connectivity for the growing array of IoT services that luxury hotels now offer. Similarly, at City Centre Bahrain, shoppers and retailers alike benefit from fast, dependable connections that support mobile payment systems, interactive shopping experiences, and social media sharing.

Perhaps more importantly, this project has established a repeatable, data-driven process that stc Bahrain is already applying to other high-profile locations. The company plans to roll out similar indoor improvements at several major venues across Bahrain including Marassi Mall, the Exhibition Center, The Avenues Mall, and other prominent hotels and retail destinations.

These indoor 5G deployments will allow stc to provide consistent and robust coverage throughout The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, City Centre Bahrain, and future expansion sites, reinforcing stc Bahrain’s position as a leader in delivering exceptional network performance and customer experience across the Kingdom.

To learn how your organization can utilize Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence and Cell Analytics platforms, just reach out to our team

About stc Bahrain

stc Bahrain, a subsidiary of stc Group, is a telecommunication operator in Bahrain. Since its inception in 2010, stc Bahrain revolutionized the telecommunications industry in the Kingdom of Bahrain and quickly became a market leader, a position that it kept to this day through investing in next-generation technologies and introducing innovative solutions to the people of Bahrain.

Case Study

Revolutionizing Airport Connectivity: How Boingo Leverages Ookla's Comprehensive Network Intelligence

“We’re a converged network provider, and we believe you need a combination of Wi-Fi, private networks, and 5G to serve all the different connectivity needs inside a venue. Each technology has its purpose. But here’s the thing: data is key. Without solid data, you can’t make informed decisions or come up with informed solutions to problems. It’s that simple. Data drives our ability to understand and solve connectivity challenges effectively.

Derek Peterson
Chief Technology Officer at Boingo

Challenge

Delivering seamless, high-performance connectivity in high-density airport environments where both passengers and critical operations require reliable networks.

Requirements

Converged network solutions that combine airport distributed antenna systems (DAS), Wi-Fi, and private 5G networks to serve diverse connectivity needs across 130+ airports and transportation hubs worldwide.

Solution

Implementation of Ookla’s comprehensive tools, including Cell Analytics for cellular planning and Ekahau for Wi-Fi design and optimization, enabling data-driven network decisions and enhanced performance.

Airport network connectivity has evolved from a luxury service to critical infrastructure, powering essential operations throughout airport terminals across the world. Boingo Wireless, a global leader in airport distributed antenna systems (DAS), Wi-Fi, and private 5G networks, understands this better than anyone. With a customer portfolio spanning over 130 airports and transportation hubs worldwide, Boingo is transforming the travel experience for both passengers and operations through cutting-edge wireless technologies.

As airports have evolved into smart, hyper-connected hubs, the demand for reliable, high-speed connectivity has skyrocketed. Passengers expect to stream, work, and stay connected during their entire time at an airport, from check-in to takeoff. Additionally, airport operations teams rely on wireless networks to power critical security infrastructure, check-in kiosks, and logistics systems. 

Derek Peterson, chief technology officer at Boingo, explains: “Seamless, high-performance connectivity is now critical infrastructure. By leveraging cutting-edge wireless technologies and comprehensive insights, we empower airports to deliver exceptional passenger experiences and enhanced operational performance.”

wireless connectivity in airports

Ookla provides comprehensive connectivity insights that help organizations optimize networks and enhance digital experiences. Our multi-source datasets and advanced analytics offer unique, actionable insights for improving network performance and user satisfaction. Boingo harnesses Ookla’s powerful tools for their network deployments, specifically Cell Analytics®  for cellular planning and Ekahau® for Wi-Fi design and optimization. These products work together to enable Boingo to make data-driven decisions, efficiently allocate resources, and deliver fast, reliable wireless solutions in complex, high-density airport environments.

Mike Finley, CEO of Boingo Wireless, explains: “Ookla has been a great partner. We are using Cell Analytics for usage patterns around cellular networks, and we’re also using Ekahau which helps us design, manage and optimize our Wi-Fi networks.”

Unlocking New Possibilities with 6 GHz Wi-Fi

The introduction of 6 GHz Wi-Fi gives high-density network environments like airports additional channels to support network capacity and efficiency, and Boingo is leading the charge in harnessing the potential of the latest Wi-Fi technology. 

Boingo is able to design, deploy, and optimize 6 GHz networks in complex airport settings through Ekahau’s Wi-Fi measurement and RF modeling capabilities. According to Peterson, “Ekahau tools support the design and management of Boingo networks, helping us ensure optimal performance and reliability.” 

Ekahau’s tools allow Boingo to develop strategic channel plans that avoid interference and maximize throughput, while providing heatmap visualizations of key performance indicators like signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio, and channel interference.

Wi-Fi survey at Phoenix Airport

By walking airports with the Ekahau Sidekick 2, a state-of-the-art Wi-Fi diagnostic and measurement device, Boingo engineers can accurately measure wireless networks in challenging, high-density airport environments. The Sidekick 2 provides Boingo engineers with accuracy and reliability in network validation and troubleshooting, with its advanced features including enterprise-grade tri-band Wi-Fi radios, custom-built 3D antennas, and a built-in  spectrum analyzer. This powerful tool allows Boingo to proactively identify and address potential sources of interference, ensuring optimal performance and a seamless user experience for the millions of passengers who rely on Boingo’s airport wireless networks.

“The Sidekick 2 helps us measure signal strength, helps us identify interference, and helps us validate the network design. When you have all of those working together, you know you’re going to have a great connected experience,” says Boingo CEO Mike Finley. 

In recent Wi-Fi deployments, Boingo has observed improvements in network performance, with increased throughput and reduced congestion in high-traffic areas. This translates to smoother experiences for passengers and more reliable connectivity for critical airport systems. With high-performing 6 GHz-capable networks, Boingo is future-proofing airports for next-generation applications.

5G Takes Off in Airports

Increasingly, delivering an optimal user experience is not about choosing between Wi-Fi or 5G, but rather ensuring that both technologies are available and can complement each other to deliver a seamless experience for users. Boingo recognizes this need and is at the forefront of providing a unified, high-performance, converged network solution for airports. 

To help ensure optimal 5G network performance and user experiences, Boingo utilizes Ookla’s Cell Analytics, a powerful platform that provides comprehensive insights into wireless service quality, RF measurements, data usage, user density, and cell site locations.

Cell Analytics leverages crowdsourced data on network performance, coverage, and signal measurements from Speedtest®. The platform offers comprehensive network performance visualization, covering both outdoor areas and indoor spaces. It captures performance variations across multiple levels in complex structures such as airports, from ground floors to upper levels. This information empowers Boingo to make data-driven decisions for their 5G network deployments.

As Derek Peterson explains, “Ookla’s Cell Analytics data supports our 5G deployments. By identifying areas with poor coverage, we can ensure gaps are filled so that our networks deliver strong, reliable and seamless coverage, and can support even the most demanding use cases.”

The platform enables Boingo to rapidly assess networks inside individual terminals, allowing for targeted engineering efforts. This granular insight helps evaluate existing network performance, quality, and availability. Cell Analytics also offers historical performance views, validating the impact of infrastructure investments.

With Cell Analytics, Boingo is transforming the airport experience for cellular connectivity, working toward providing seamless service for passengers and enabling advanced applications for network operation teams. Boingo’s 5G networks, informed by Ookla’s comprehensive network intelligence, are raising the bar for cellular networks in high-density airport environments.

Excelling in Ookla’s Airport Performance Analysis

Boingo’s work with Ookla has been instrumental in transforming airport connectivity, enabling them to design, deploy, and optimize world-class wireless networks that are among the top performing wireless networks in the U.S. and globally, according to Ookla’s airport Wi-Fi- performance metrics. By leveraging Ookla’s comprehensive network intelligence, including Ekahau’s Wi-Fi tools and Cell Analytics, Boingo has been able to unlock the full potential of cutting-edge technologies like 6 GHz Wi-Fi and 5G, delivering exceptional experiences for passengers and enhanced operational efficiency for airports.

The results speak for themselves. Airports like Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), and Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) have all benefited from Boingo’s expertise, achieving outstanding connectivity performance that sets them apart. At PHX, for example, mobile speeds have reached an impressive median download speed of 295.94 Mbps, while Wi-Fi download speeds clocked in at 151.28 Mbps.

Conclusion

With Ookla’s industry-leading network intelligence tools providing valuable insights, Boingo is well-equipped to meet the challenges of the future head-on. 

As the world of air travel continues to evolve, Boingo, aided by Ookla’s comprehensive network intelligence, contributes to the innovations that enhance airport connectivity worldwide.

About Boingo Wireless

Boingo Wireless, Inc. simplifies complex wireless challenges to connect people, business and things. Boingo designs, builds and manages converged, neutral host public and private networks at major venues around the world. Boingo’s vast footprint of distributed antenna systems (DAS), Wi-Fi, small cells and macro towers securely powers innovation and connectivity in airports, transit stations, stadiums, military bases, hospitals, commercial properties and enterprises worldwide. Learn more at boingo.com.

Case Study

How Batelco Makes Strategic Network Improvements in Bahrain with Ookla Data

“At Batelco, we are revolutionizing the way traditional telcos operate by placing customer service at the heart of our operations. By leveraging crowdsourced data, we enhance our understanding and responsiveness to customer needs. Ookla’s data and solutions have empowered us to make informed decisions, transforming our network capabilities to improve coverage and optimize performance. This ensures our customers always enjoy the best connectivity experience.” 

Mr. Rashid Mohamed
Chief Technology Officer, Batelco

Benefits

  • Enhanced both indoor and outdoor network coverage across the Kingdom to address growing demands
  • Identified areas where spectrum bands could be repurposed from 3G to 4G to increase network capacity
  • Improved customer network quality of experience metrics with enhanced content delivery methods

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

Situation

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

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

Solution

Batelco’s approach to network enhancement showcases how data-driven decision-making can transform network performance and customer experiences. By utilizing Ookla’s solutions, several strategic initiatives were developed and implemented to enhance Batelco’s network infrastructure. These upgrades ensured efficient use of resources while delivering meaningful improvements to customers. Let’s take a closer look at some of these initiatives:

Coverage Enhancements for Optimized Coverage

Batelco continues to expand and improve its network coverage across the Kingdom to address growing demands and a constantly evolving connectivity landscape that needs innovative coverage solutions. 

As part of these coverage enhancements, Batelco has extended its coverage in 30+ residential and landmark areas including Diyar Al Muharraq, Dilmunia, and Juffair. Batelco has expanded its mobile coverage in industrial, commercial, and educational areas. 

In Riffa and Hamad Town, Bahrain’s second and third largest cities, targeted efforts throughout 2023 and 2024 led to a significant +90% improvement in coverage and quality in key areas, helping Batelco deliver enhanced connectivity experiences across the Kingdom.

Similarly At Marassi Galleria Mall, targeted efforts during 2023 and 2024 led to +90% coverage improvements as shown below.

Using Cell Analytics indoor coverage 3D maps, Batelco identified areas and buildings with low coverage and developed solutions to improve the customer experience in those areas while maintaining efficient expenditure. This approach led to improvements in 10+ buildings across Bahrain including the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF), and Swiss Bell Hotel as shown below. 

Strategic 3G Spectrum Refarming

To meet growing demands for advanced technologies such as 4G and 5G, Batelco also utilized Cell Analytics to identify areas where spectrum bands could be repurposed from 3G to 4G (LTE 900) to increase network capacity and the availability of 4G service. As a result of this spectrum refarming, Batelco delivered a 17% increase in 4G download speed from Q3 2023 to Q3 2024 in Capital Governorate, Bahrain as an example, demonstrated on the chart below.

Enhanced Content Delivery Methods and User Experience 

Improving network KPIs like download speed and signal strength are of course critical, but Batelco also leveraged Ookla’s Consumer QoE dataset to ensure these improvements translated into a better experience for the daily activities that matter most to users.

Using Consumer QoE, Batelco evaluated multiple key metrics to better understand the end-user experience, including latency, web page load times, gaming, social media, video rebuffering, and video resolution. Based on this data, Batelco implemented strategic improvements to enhance its content delivery by designing data paths to reduce hops and optimize network efficiency, address high-latency routes to improve performance, and expand content caching and improve routes for top-tier content providers.

Making customer voices heard through crowdsourced data

Additionally, Batelco gathers customer feedback through surveys, questionnaires, social media, and customer comments to ensure customer voices are being heard. For those who don’t report network issues directly, crowdsourced data provides a clear picture of real-world network performance. This approach allows Batelco to identify and address underlying issues, such as packet loss and retransmissions, that often go unnoticed by users. By using real-world metrics to assess network quality, availability, and performance, Batelco proactively enhances coverage in areas with lower connectivity or throughput—resolving potential challenges before they impact customers.

Outcome

Batelco’s strategic use of Ookla data has delivered impressive results, improving both traditional speed metrics and essential quality-of-experience indicators. 

While speed remains important, the telecommunications industry is increasingly focused on quality of experience metrics that directly impact user experiences – from gaming to web browsing to video streaming. Batelco’s comprehensive approach led to significant gains in both QoE and speed, positioning them among the top networks globally. Batelco consistently delivers faster median download speeds than the median download speed for All Providers Combined in Bahrain as shown below. 

This achievement has been a key factor in Bahrain’s consistent ranking among the top 15 countries for mobile speed throughout 2024, as reported by the Speedtest Global Index™. In the graph below, you can see where Bahrain lands on the index, as well as where Batelco’s median download speeds compare to the top-performing country speeds. 

Batelco has significantly enhanced internet browsing, video experience, and more — ensuring seamless connectivity and user satisfaction.

Batelco has improved overall download speeds, 4G download speeds, and 5G download speeds significantly over the past year.  

These efforts have been recognized by the TRA, as Batelco achieved “Excellence” in the recently concluded TRA Mobile Quality of Service (QoS) and Experience (QoE) benchmark. Batelco has consistently upheld its leadership in delivering 100% 5G network coverage for 4 consecutive years and reaching 5G network speeds surpassing 3.3 Gbps for the first time in the Kingdom’s mobile industry in the latest TRA benchmark, setting a new benchmark for exceptional performance.

Batelco is dedicated to continuously enhancing the customer experience across multiple touchpoints. This commitment involves improving network performance, investing in robust infrastructure, and adopting cutting-edge technologies. Batelco’s continuous improvement of their customer experience has cemented their position in this competitive market and has played a leading role in contributing to the Kingdom of Bahrain’s position in the global landscape for network speed and quality of experience.

About Batelco

Batelco is Bahrain’s leading provider of innovative digital services and connectivity. Batelco’s mission is to serve and inspire customers by building, operating and investing in digital services, forefront technology and connectivity.