The Role of Mobile Apps in Measuring Mobile Network Performance

In November 2013, The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) convened a Mobile Network Performance Forum.

Market Clarity’s CEO, Shara Evans, was invited to present a paper on “Mobile apps as one possible solution” for measuring mobile network performance.

This talk explores the ways in which consumers gain information about mobile network performance and coverage, examines the factors that impact mobile performance, and the challenges affiliated with representing results, which are highly influenced by transient events.

Shara then discusses the role that mobile speed test apps and crowdsourcing initiatives can play in measuring mobile broadband performance, and provides an analysis of how the features and methodologies of eight major speed test applications compare and contrast.

Lastly, Shara provides a brief review of the US Government’s Broadband Mapping Program; and some closing thoughts on lessons for Australia.

This video was filmed by the ACMA as part of their live webcast of the Forum, and Shara is introduced by Rosemary Sinclair, ACMA Member and CEO of Immediate Solutions. The webcast did not show the slides being referenced, but they can be viewed here.

We’ll be exploring this topic in further detail in the March 2014 edition of the Australian Journal of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy.