Mobile Broadband Performance

1. Mobile Broadband Performance Measuring Broadband America

2. Measuring Broadband America • Focused on Wireline ISP performance in 2011 • Established Measurement Infrastructure consisting of • Software to administer testing • Scheduling, Software updates, measurement collection • Test nodes distributed across nation for performance testing

3. Collaboration • Measuring Broadband America (Wired) demonstrates advantages of collaboration • Increased expertise • Identification of carrier issues • Balanced perspective • Higher integrity in final product • FCC would prefer collaborative model for MBA Wireless

4. SamKnows • Ofcom funded client software and platform enhancements for mobile testing • Two Variants for testing • White box capability supporting multiple data dongles • Stationary or fleet placement • Multiple carriers measured simultaneously • Android software to support crowd source application • Work has been completed and is available for application in 2012 • Work based on SamKnows platform structure previously developed for wireline testing

5. Potential Performance Information

6. Potential Infrastructure Data • Location of test • Active cell tower ID and signal strength • Visible neighboring cell towers (IDs/RSSI) • Active network operator ID • SIM network operator/ID • Bearer Channel (CDMA, GPRS, EDGE, etc) • Roaming state (True/False) • Other usage data of potential interest

7. Measurement Controls • Volunteers required for test • 90,000 solicitations received for terrestrial trials • Carrier participation provides more efficient means for solicitation • Platform allows control over • Nature of tests • Scheduling of tests • Measurement points included in testing infrastructure • We can control impact of tests • Carrier participation could • Lessen impact on consumer (no data billing) • Allow more use of white boxes (data port contribution)

8. Assessment • Through a combination of work implemented in MBA program and interest in other regulatory jurisdictions opportunity exists to undertake mobile measurement study • We have opportunity to evaluate this approach against more traditional metrics • Infrastructure data describing tower/service coverage is available • Potential benefit to other efforts • This type of data is increasingly collected but eclectically • E.g. OOKLA, but tests contain consumer bias • By Content providers: e.g. Google, but kept confidential • In short “it’s out there” but we can obtain in a more public and statistically valid method • Two regulatory jurisdictions pursuing similar paths • England/Brazil • Others likely to follow

9. Benefits • Short Term • First statistically valid study of cellular performance of major and other service providers • Independent view of cellular coverage • Long term • Move towards common standard for measuring performance

10. Preferred Structure • Potential exists to go forward without active cooperation of carriers • Preference to extend MBA model to wireless carriers • Industry input into approach and greater acceptance of results

11. Immediate Steps • Contract issues force quick start • Need to announce start of program July/August • Need determination on how to proceed • Collaborative/Independent model • If Collaborative model • Engage service providers on testing of software • Establish planning structure