">'); How Fast? How Good is your broadband? » FEP

How Fast? How Good is your broadband?

Whilst there are a number of drivers and projects in the UK and Gloucestershire that focus on improving performance of broadband and mobile communications, the actual benefit and real-world delivery are difficult to judge; and evidence shows that consumers are not necessarily fully informed.

Officially available data suggests that for broadband the situation has improved immensely through projects such as Fastershire for much of the District with the amount of fibre laid. Discussion with business and domestic users suggests a low level of awareness of the infrastructure now in place and high level of distrust over speeds stated. The key issues are:

  1. Lack of awareness of the infrastructure already in place.
  2. Lack of understanding of individual expectations of what ‘fast’ means.
  3. Lack of ability to connect expectations to local infrastructure.

By measuring speed and overall performance we can identify limitations that can maintain barriers that harm the Forest of Dean area. This data can then be used to engage with providers, or work with communities to identify the best possible outcomes.

So What is Good?

For electronic communications, technically good balances Speed vs Latency vs Contention

  • Speed is the maximum download and upload speed, the connection’s capability to move data. Useful for file download or upload
  • Latency is about response. A low latency figure is what makes a connection feel fast and responsive. It’s useful for video calling, online gaming, remote working, and cloud computing.
  • Contention relates to how much a connection is shared. In simple terms the larger the contention ratio, the greater the slowdown of a connection at peak periods.

How Fast? How Good Projects

How Fast? How Good? addresses issues of:

  1. Need for an accurate picture of speed and coverage for data
  2. Enable the efficient planning of projects to resolve the issues and provide practical solutions.
  3. Understand users’ expectations to avoid the one person’s slow being another’s superfast

The three sub-projects are focused around developing knowledge and identifying needs within the District. This information can then be used to advise service providers, installers and consumers in a vertically integrated approach.

Project A: Data Collection and Community On-boarding (April- September 2019)

Its focus was on fixed connection for broadband and used Which to check connection performance at an address which was then entered into a simple on-line questionnaire. Data was gathered on:

  • Connection Performance:
    • Provider
    • Download Speed
    • Upload Speed
    • Latency
  • User Information:
    • post code,
    • house number/name,
    • connection type
    • age bracket
    • Domestic or business or both.
  • Date and time of test
  • Happiness with current speed on a scale
  • Option to be involved in future studies and/or receive a summary of the report

Project B: Enhanced Data Collection (Spring 2020)

Project B undertakes enhanced data collection once a snapshot has been created for the District. It engages with a smaller group of users in two parts to:

  1. understand variations in data over time so performance drop off, peak time limits
    1. Day of week
    2. Time of day/night
    3. Monthly cycle
    4. Effect of weather
    5. Type of user- social, business, gamer, student, age
  2. test “service improvements” where improvements or changes made eg siting of router and discrepancy between possible speed officially measured and actual speed


Project C: Mobile Data Collection (Summer 2020.)

Project C looks to create a data set around mobile data. This may require the creation of a true mobile app as opposed to a web app/questionnaire. The focus is on mobile data as an alternative to a fibre-based infrastructure for some harder to reach places that may have strong 4G. It is not envisaged at this stage to include voice.

  • Connection Performance:
    • Provider
    • Download Speed
    • Upload Speed
    • Latency
    • Stability
    • Slowdown (Contention)
  • User Information:
    • post code,
    • house number/name,
    • Or other location name
    • connection type
    • age bracket
    • Domestic or business or both.
  • Date and time of test
  • Happiness with current speed on a scale

SMART Aims:

Project A to:

  1. Engage a minimum of 400 responses. There is no cap to the maximum response.
  2. Gain a wide geographic coverage within the district through the various promotional means
  3. Correlate survey results with published data and to share summary with interested parties through publication from September.
  4. Determine what business cases the data supports

Project B to:

  1. Define subsets of 20 users as representative samples willing to participate in ongoing research from respondents to Project A. If necessary to identify further users.
  2. Launch Project B in Spring 2020
  3. Share results with interested parties
  4. Determine what business cases the data supports

Project C to:

  1. Engage 500 mobile data users. There is no cap to the maximum response.
  2. Attempt to gain a wide geographic coverage within the district through the various promotional means
  3. Correlate survey results with published data and to share summary with interested parties such as network providers/Ofcom and government departments through publication in 2020.
  4. Determine what business cases the data supports and impact on 5G

 

Subscribe to the FEP newsletter