Even though restrictions, for the most part, have been lifted, it seems that a hybrid mix of digital and in-person events is on the rise:

• More than 1 in 10 people plan to attend birthdays and funerals remotely in the coming year
• University graduations are most likely to be attended remotely in the coming year, with 54% of people planning to attend a graduation via streaming.
• Remote weddings also remain within the plans of many: 41% of those planning to attend a wedding plan to do so virtually.

Now that countrywide lock downs and restrictions have disappeared, how do you plan to celebrate life’s milestone moments?

To read the full report click here.

The post Milestone Moments – Livestreamed or In Person? appeared first on GWS.

GWS obtained data from our opt-in OneMeasure Consumer Panel (OMCP), which details the mobile app usage and content of roughly 50,000 consumers located across the U.S., to generate the ‘State of Mobile Gaming in 2021’ analysis. The OMCP is an opt-in panel that measures consumers’ mobile app usage and behavior, network performance and consumer perceptions. As such, the ‘State of Mobile Gaming in 2021’ is a unique study that blends together critical insights into gaming consumers’ smartphone behavior and consumer sentiment based on survey responses.

Key findings from our analysis include:

• The majority (55%) of respondents spent less than $1 on mobile games in the last three months.
  • Casual & Puzzle (69%) and Card & Casino (62%) game players were most averse to spending money on in-app purchases.
  • Fighting, Survival and Role-Playing Games (RPG) players were the industry’s biggest spenders, as 10% of those gaming consumers spent between $20-24.99 in the past three months.
• Only 7% of consumers cited “staying connected with family and friends” as a motivation for playing mobile games, a sign that consumers may need a break from their immediate family following the pandemic.
  • The most cited reason consumers play mobile games was to “pass the time/relieve boredom” (29%).
• When asked what smartphone-related aspects play a role in facilitating the best gaming experience, 31% of gaming consumers indicated uninterrupted gameplay was most important, followed by battery life (20%) and screen size/quality (16%).
  • The only players that responded that game load time was the most important factor to them were gaming consumers who played Strategy & Action-Adventure games.

The post Consumer’s Attitudes and Behaviors Towards Mobile Gaming appeared first on GWS.

The merger captures nearly 1/3 of all mobile users that stream videos, gaining a better position amongst other “big brand” competitors (check out the chart below). As a result, does intensifying competition among the big boys mean good things for consumers? Actually, that’s not up to us to determine, we just collect the key facts and stats, and can provide consumer opinion.

So let’s talk about the facts and stats: In addition, to an increased customer base, the combined WarnerMedia and Discovery content portfolio will have one of the largest unique app presence in the market with 30+ streaming apps available in 2021.

Before this merger WarnerMedia (owned by AT&T and to be spun off) was in a tight race with ViacomCBS in terms in of its share of mobile video streamers but the new company “Warner Bros. Discovery” will clearly place them ahead while ranking them fourth behind Netflix, Disney and Amazon. The merger provides an incredible lift in mobile video engagement for the new company by leveraging high performing assets to create a large, diverse content portfolio.

Want to know what consumers think? We’re happy to conduct a consumer opinion survey for you – we’ve got a large representative sample of U.S. streamers that we can poll. In the mean time, check out our merger impact analysis for more details on how the merger impacts app usage and consumer engagement.

Some background on our data source: GWS’s OneMeasure Consumer Panel (OMCP) is an opt-in mobile consumer panel that collects data anonymously from approximately 50,000 active mobile phone users across the U.S. OMCP offers key insight into how consumers are living their lives in terms of app usage, purchasing and streaming habits, and other engagement behavior. Actionable data that helps content providers, app developers and others understand their customers, make informed investment decisions, and provide products and services that have value and are in demand.

The post WarnerMedia-Discovery Merger – Improving the Entertainment Landscape? What’s your take? appeared first on GWS.

Our review included an in-depth look at a day in the life of a consumer as seen through interactions with their smartphones and provided key insights into how consumers spent their time accessing certain types of apps during the pandemic. And since not all consumers are the same – some may focus more on lifestyle apps (such as shopping, dining, and directions), games, or finance apps – GWS looked at “power users” for these categories as well (i.e., consumers who spent 20% more time than the national average in a given category).

Here are some headlines from our review:

• Investment app usage soars with Robinhood leading the way.
• Food stamp app usage reflects COVID financial hardship. Time spent on food stamp management app, Fresh EBT increased 152% during the pandemic.
• TikTok dances take over social media with time spent creating videos increasing nearly four times (380%).
• Nextdoor helped neighbors stay connected and informed, with time spent on the app increasing 53% during the pandemic year.
• Not surprisingly, people turned to food delivery apps and online shopping to avoid the crowds. DoorDash and Uber Eats lead the way among the food delivery apps, while Walmart, Target and Amazon Shopping experienced the most significant shopping surges during the pandemic.
• People stayed put. Power users of lifestyle apps spent less time moving around town: time spent on maps and navigation apps like Google Maps was down 17%.
• Escaping through entertainment – people watched 42 minutes of video per day on their mobile devices, with growth in time spent on video apps paced by Gen Z (up 44%) and Baby Boomers (up 10%).
• For many people that were stuck in the house, gaming helped friends and families connect. Time spent on multiplayer gaming apps like Among Us, ROBLOX and Pokemon GO – all up.
• Sports fans (high volume users of sports related apps) pivoted to trading (using finance apps). And time spent on sports fantasy and betting apps took a nosedive.

Want to know more about mobile phone usage patterns and consumer behavior during the pandemic? Check out our report “The Pandemic Year in Mobile Apps.”

The post Most Popular Apps During The First Year of the Pandemic appeared first on GWS.

What’s Project Vista’s objective? Test, trial and ultimately showcase new and exciting digital experiences at sports and music venues by taking full advantage of advanced 5G broadcast capabilities using FeMBMS (Further evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service).

More details about the tech: FeMBMS is capable of supporting a large number of fans in one location (such as a stadium) or across a wider area. Project VISTA is using it to deliver next generation viewing experiences for event spectators by providing live multi-angle HD video streams and interactive content from the event direct to their devices.

What’s GWS’s role? Our primary task is to assist in determining and demonstrating consumer interest and potential business opportunities to enable 5G-powered live-streaming at sporting and music events across the UK. In general, we will recruit from a range of demographics and ask consumers about their habits and interests (i.e., gather feedback on what they like, what they don’t like, how often they attend events and which one, how much they would pay for such a service, and more).

Want to know what the rest of the consortium is doing? A lot actually. This 5G project involves a significant effort to create new commercial opportunities for businesses and a new, more enriching broadcast experience for consumers. In other words, we’re busy — consortium members are working on a wide range of project activities from network architecture design, app development, and edge computing to software encoding, production and live camera management, end-to-end security, and more! Visit the consortium’s official site at: https://5gvista.co.uk/ for additional details.

Stay tuned: We’ll be reporting back with highlights from our consumer focus group and market research findings.

The post Project VISTA – Creating 5G Broadcast Opportunities in the UK appeared first on GWS.

OMCP in detail: As part of GWS’s consumer research services, the OMCP offers an incredible view into U.S. mobile phone usage patterns, app engagement, and consumer opinion. It’s an opt-in, nationwide panel of smartphone users that measures mobile app usage, mobile network performance, and consumer behavior on Android smartphones 24 hours a day, seven days a week, whenever and wherever consumers use their devices. In addition to anonymously collecting key consumer experience metrics, GWS’ OMCP has the ability to conduct targeted surveys with consumer panelists based on demographic and/or usage criteria.

So how is this helping our clients?

• It helps them take customer advocacy to a new level by understanding their customers’ preferences and unique needs.
• They’re also using the OMCP to improve their customer retention. In particular, our clients are learning what their customers really value by understanding how they interact with their app or service.
• And they’re able to enhance their customers’ experience while reaching out to new audiences.
• Plus, they’re gaining competitive knowledge through performance metrics – i.e., they’re able to “one up” the competition.

Want to see the OMCP in action – check out one of our OMCP reports or read about us in the news – our findings have been covered in Business Insider, PC Mag, CBS News, Yahoo! Money and more.

The post OMCP is here! appeared first on GWS.

So if you’re experiencing problems getting online, posting to your social media, or making calls, there are a number of things you can try to help fix – and each of them depend on the issue you’re experiencing. Click here to see our list of tips.

The post Problems connecting or making a call? We’ve got some quick tips to fix! appeared first on GWS.

GWS conducted consumer research that resulted in a thorough examination of U.S. consumer communication habits, including behavioral shifts during COVID-19, consumer satisfaction with their wireless carriers and mobile devices, and variances based on demographics such as location (urban, suburban, and rural) and age group. The data showed a dynamic story of the products and technologies that Americans are turning to during the pandemic, as well as rapidly evolving priorities and preferences shaped by more time living, working and communicating from home.

Click the following link to see the key takeaways from GWS’s survey of 5,000 U.S. smartphone users: Teleworking during the pandemic

The post GWS consumer research — teleworking during the pandemic appeared first on GWS.

Overall, the networks scored 72 out of 100 (a C- grade) on the Event-O-Meter (the Event-O-Meter takes into account voice, data, video, coverage, speed and reliability metrics); while this is an average score, what stood out was the network reliability at the event. This was the largest Pokémon GO Fest to date and the networks successfully completed nearly all of the data-related tasks at 99.9% (tasks like sending and receiving app-related data or uploading posts to social media). Not bad considering the influx of network data traffic concentrated in Grant Park every day for four days.

We also noticed that the mobile operators had bolstered their networks with advanced features such as 256QAM, 2×2 and 4×4 MIMO, 2, 3, 4 and even 5 channel carrier aggregation; in particular, AT&T and Verizon had 5 channel carrier aggregation active as well as LAA (license assisted access).  As we move around the country conducting our Event-O-Meters, we are noticing that these sorts of features are becoming more prevalent.

In addition to measuring network performance, our network testing specialists observed the following:

• Pokémon GO is a global game for all ages — GWS met an enthusiastic group of octogenarians (80 year olds) from the United Kingdom as well as an energetic family that traveled all the way from Tokyo, Japan to play.
• Some trainers just can’t get enough — GWS observed numerous trainers playing with more than one device, sometimes up to five on one person. In fact, one participant was observed with an iPad and four iPhones attached to each corner of the iPad.
• What’s a few raindrops — Rainy weather on Saturday did not deter trainers; they played on in their raincoats, used umbrellas and secured their devices in zip lock bags. They were not happy when local authorities asked them to leave the park because of an approaching storm; they would rather stay and continue their search for Pokémon.

To see the full report, click here.

The post GWS Event-O-Meter: Networks Keep It Together at Pokémon GO Fest appeared first on GWS.

So far in 2019, we’ve been to six major events and measured their mobile network performance using the Event-O-Meter.  Here are the results:

• Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival: 38 (F) yeah it was bad
• Boston Marathon: 76 (C)
• American League Opening Day at Yankee Stadium: 70 (C-)
• National League Opening Day at Nationals Park: 87 (B+) best performance so far this year
• Mardi Gras in New Orleans: 66 (D)
• New Year’s Eve at Times Square, NYC: 77 (C+)

Click below if you want more insight on a particular event – they’re interesting reads!  And be sure to check back to see where GWS network testing specialists will go next!

Mobile Network Performance Discourages Social Media Activity at Coachella

Mobile Networks Finish the Boston Marathon with a Reasonable Performance

In Terms of Mobile Connectivity, the National League ‘Hit It out of the Park’ on MLB Opening Day

Mardi Gras Beads Abound But Reliable Mobile Network Performance Nowhere To Be Found

Mixed Results For Mobile Network Performance in Times Square On New Years Eve

The post GWS Event-O-Meter Measures Mobile Network Performance at Major Events appeared first on GWS.

Talking on the phone is still very important.
Interestingly, making and receiving phone calls is still the most common activity and considered the most important by consumers.

Streaming and selfies – everyone’s doing it!
There was an increase (over past survey periods) in consumers using streaming video services like YouTube and Netflix as well as sending and receiving pics, using social media apps, and web browsing.

Consumers don’t feel the need for speed.
Consumers find network reliability far more important than network speed. In fact, in 2018, they consider it to be three times more important!

2019 is now underway – will consumers feel the same way this year? Will they use their devices in the same way? Will the operators continued deployment of advanced LTE network features (like 256QAM, 4X4 MIMO and 4CA) make a difference in consumer behavior and expectations? And let’s not forget about the advent of 5G. Lots to research, test, and evaluate – it’s going to be a busy year. Check our news site regularly to keep up on the latest.

The post Three key consumer facts involving wireless networks in the US appeared first on GWS.

Once we collected and analyzed the data, we ranked the results according to our OneScore ranking methodology. GWS’ OneScore ranking methodology is unique as it combines engineering test data with consumer research.  The idea is that it factors in both real-world wireless network performance as well as real consumer opinion (i.e., perspective from consumers on what they want from their network – what they consider important in terms of coverage, reliability, data speed, voice quality and video performance). If you want to know more about how OneScore works go to our OneScore services page.

So who had the “Best Network” OneScore? AT&T ranked at the top followed by Verizon then T-Mobile with Sprint coming in fourth.  A few highlights that pushed AT&T to the top – they scored top for voice retainability (i.e., lowest number of dropped calls) and had the best video streaming quality and quickest loading time.  Although edged out by a faster Verizon, AT&T also performed well on data upload tasks like posting photos and other social media content.  Overall, we observed that AT&T’s higher usage of advanced network features (such as LTE 4 channel aggregation) helped them outperform others in terms of reliability and throughputs. On a separate note, T-Mobile had the best voice quality on calls made.

Check out our full report on www.gwsolutions.com/bestnetwork-USA.

The post After months of testing we know who has the best network in the US appeared first on GWS.

What do the consumers want?

Today, consumers are looking for uncompromised network coverage everywhere. Operators respond to these demands by filling in the not-spots and expanding their networks as well as improving data throughputs and voice call quality. There is a lot of attention currently on providing ultrafast mobile network speeds, even though a majority of consumers are more interested in robust signal with as little downtime as possible. It’s no surprise then to see media stories frequently highlighting consumer frustrations with inconsistent coverage in rural areas, urban dark-spots, and on public transport.

Suffolk, for example, has regularly been reported as an area where locals are enraged by dismal network coverage, finding it nearly impossible to contact their loved ones. While the situation may be better in major urban areas, consumers are still frustrated by mobile not-spots found in heavily populated areas where they live, work, and play.  Londoners, for example, still have no connectivity in the Underground, while evidence suggests that high streets (shopping areas) in both Richmond and Peckham continue to suffer from spotty signal.

Technological challenges – it’s not as easy as it looks

GWS is working hard to bring these common frustrations to the forefront of the UK wireless industry; take, for example, our TV appearances on London Live and the BBC’s One Show where we demonstrated how to test network performance and coverage as experienced by customers.  Conducting controlled, scientific testing that captures key data is important because operators have several factors and choices to consider when making improvements to mobile coverage and the customer’s ability to access the network.  For example:

• Site reconfiguration: perhaps a particular cell site could better serve demand if more capacity was added, (i.e., add radios, antenna sectorization, reuse spectrum, etc.);
• Connectivity to the network (backhaul): Is there enough capacity from the site to the network to carry the traffic load?
• Deploying a new site: When adding a new site operators not only need to consider technology and network features to deploy – 3G, 4G, 4G LTE-A, but also need to factor in the logistics and regulatory requirements involved in building a new site.
• Network planning: Now is the time for most operators to consider “small cell” network architecture so they can be ready for 5G but can they in today’s regulatory environment (i.e., what’s their ability to efficiently secure approvals to use public street furniture and other sensible locations)?
• Optimum site location: Whether you are outside, inside a building, in a tunnel, in a shopping centre, etc., manmade objects (such as building materials) and natural obstructions (such hills, groves of trees, etc.) all negatively impact signal strength / coverage.
• Feasibility: All of the above require capital investment and have resource costs which further drive how an operator will address the need to expand or improve network coverage.

Public initiatives – keeping up the momentum

On December 31^st, 2017, all UK network operators self-certified that they had achieved 90% UK landmass coverage. That being said, consumers are still experiencing dropped or blocked calls as well as not-spots in some of the UK’s largest cities. As we’ve highlighted many times before, the real test of reliable network coverage and performance involves measuring consumer satisfaction (i.e., consumer experience testing). Public / private projects to address these issues are showing promise; for example, the trial on the Waterloo and City line, saw all four operators successfully carrying 4G signal in transit and now it’s all systems go for full coverage in the Underground by 2019. In addition, the Mayor has improved the opportunities for street furniture to boost signal, with a network of smart cells being deployed to overcome urban not-spots.

Public initiatives, partnerships with industry players, operator network planning, spectrum auctioning, deploying new technologies, simplifying the process and easing (where warranted) regulatory requirements – all of these activities can make a difference, can enhance coverage and network reliability, and can significantly improve customer experience.  But are they occurring – are they being implemented, funded, coordinated, etc. in a way that’s making a difference now?  That answer requires a whole new blog!

The post Random thoughts on the UK’s pursuit of total coverage appeared first on GWS.

What does it all mean?

Consumers in the UK are inundated with mobile network studies and reports from network operators themselves, regulators and third-party testers. The results of these tests do not always correlate, but more troublesome from our perspective is that the focus of all these tests doesn’t align with how people actually use their phones day-to-day.

The majority of these reports focus on mobile internet throughputs (speed) and this means that the quickest network is more often than not claimed to be the best. However, the issue is that when we asked consumers to consider their top 5 most important criteria when selecting an operator, they chose reliability twice as often as speed. From a technical point of view, Netflix’s own guidelines say 5 mb/s is recommended for streaming in HD, something that all operators on test can achieve. So having a 50 mb/s throughput doesn’t mean that Netflix will perform better; and streaming video is an activity on mobile devices which requires the quickest connection. Only 3% of people said streaming videos on their phone was in their top 5 most important things they use their phone for, compared to 69% who chose making phone calls, 53% who chose texting and 43% who chose general web browsing.

What is clear to us is that the average smartphone user is much more interested in which network provides a reliable connection for doing those straightforward things mentioned above. While it is important to keep pushing forward technologically, what consumers can do with today’s phones may be reaching a plateau. For example, the majority of new phones have an HD screen which is somewhere in the 5.5” to 5.9” inch range with a 16:9 ratio to 18:9 ratio. While it is possible to fit a 4K screen to a phone, the human eye can’t distinguish much of a difference on those current small screens and the increased power required by a 4K screen can be detrimental to battery life. Sony’s XZ2 flagship premium offers a 4K screen, but perhaps it’s the exception. This means that today’s consumers do not need drastically more bandwidth for their smartphone activities even though they are spending more and more time on their phones shopping, emailing and calling. 2017 saw UK consumers spend more time on their phones than either on desktops or laptops.

It’s all in the presentation

From our survey and focus groups, we found out that 25% reported issues on trains, 22% struggle at home, 18% struggle in shopping centres and 13% have issues at work. Clearly, people need reliable network performance most where they live, work and play. That is why we looked at the test data and provided a breakdown of which network is the most reliable in each of the 32 cities and towns.

Consumers need to know which network is going to be the most reliable in the locations where they are using their phones the most, we think this is more useful than either knowing which network is ‘the best across the UK’ or which provides the fastest network. To make sense of all the data we’ve collected we developed a ‘reliability’ OneScore which looked at the network performance figures and weighted them according to what consumers ranked as the most important parts of network performance. We also folded in customer satisfaction data into the OneScore for the first time to flesh out a fully-rounded consumer-eye level view of network performance.

You can find the results of our network test in our press release which was covered by The Independent. You can also find our interactive map of the results across the UK here.

The post The customer is always right – testing the UK mobile networks appeared first on GWS.

Given that roughly 500,000 people attended the Boston Marathon and watched the race – there was a lot of stress on the mobile networks to deliver those pics and videos. We tested the entire length of the marathon course to find out which network operator could keep up with the flood of mobile content that was exchanged between spectators and their social communities.

The objective when testing is to capture the consumer experience – to test in a way that best reflects how people use their phones. In particular, we evaluate network operator performance in terms of completing everyday voice and data tasks as well as the speed at which the data related tasks can be completed. At the Boston Marathon, this translated into specific tests involving video performance, voice quality and reliability, as well as data throughput and reliability.

The tests we conducted ranged from making voice calls to streaming YouTube videos to posting on Facebook; and we also varied the file size so we could simulate posting or sending Instagram selfies, Snaps and Facebook Messenger video messages. We tested along the entire route of the marathon; we also tested before the marathon and we hung out at the finish line during the pouring rain on the day of the race itself. Overall, we conducted over 9,000 voice and data tests.

To make sense of the data and present it in a way that is useful to consumers, we ranked the operators’ performance using our OneScore methodology. Our methodology factors in the network testing data combined with an understanding of how consumers use their mobile devices and what’s important to them (and that’s based on consumer research).

So, what did we find? We were impressed by AT&T’s performance. They finished at the top in every OneScore ranking. They finished first in video streaming performance; they tied with T-Mobile for data speed and overall data performance; and tied with T-Mobile and Verizon in our social media OneScore ranking. In addition, all operators scored equally in terms of OneScore network reliability.

It’s also worth noting that T-Mobile had the fastest upload speeds when sending selfies over the network and when posting content to Facebook. In addition, we noticed that network operators were using advanced LTE features to help manage the large volume of traffic. AT&T, for example, deployed four channel carrier aggregation (4CA) while the other carriers utilized 3CA. Operators also utilized 256 QAM and two and four-way MIMO.

To find out more you can read our press release and other media coverage here.

The post Boston Marathon – were the networks ready to race? appeared first on GWS.

A growing demand

The public’s appetite for faster, more reliable mobile connectivity is growing by the day. According to London Live, regulator Ofcom believes that by 2024 there will be 156 million connected smartphones, tablets and other devices across the UK. 30 million of these will be in London. In addition, the Mayor intends to make London a “Gigabit City” – to enable download speeds of 1,000 megabits per second.

As a result, operators will continue to face demands to improve speeds, improve coverage, and ensure reliability at all times. Building additional infrastructure in London including new sites, backhaul, equipment, and systems will require a significant amount of planning and investment from the mobile operator including coordination and cooperation with the City of London. The Mayor has been proactive in this regard such as easing requirements by allowing street furniture (for example, lampposts, signposts, and traffic signal poles) to be used for small cell deployment to improve network coverage, but this isn’t without its own challenges.

Testing will be crucial

Network testing companies like GWS play an important role in the development of the country’s current and future networks. With our industry-leading testing methods, we can efficiently yet thoroughly benchmark problematic areas and identify not-spots across all available wireless networks using a variety of mobile devices and test equipment. Our robust testing allows us to highlight areas where strengthening signal coverage or taking other actions to optimize performance would be beneficial. To put into context — we determine where in the network opportunities exist for operators to make changes and improve customer experience (such as installing small cells on street furniture).

GWS’ testing sets itself apart due to its comprehensiveness, quality, and rigour. Our benchmark testing focuses on customer experience and satisfaction as they relate to network performance. We perform drive, walk and in-venue performance tests using scientific methods in a controlled environment. We also access key device metrics which aren’t available in other forms of testing, like Layer 3 data. This helps us to get to the root of issues, to do a detailed assessment that is combined with key network performance data – and ultimately provide operators with the most optimal solution to improve their network.

A brighter, smarter future

The work we do to assess and benchmark major operators’ services is underpinning a very bright future for the UK’s wireless connectivity. EE recently became the first MNO to demonstrate a near Gigabit performance on their LTE network. During a football match at Wembley stadium, EE achieved download speeds of 765 Mbps and upload speeds of 110 Mbps. O2 has also provided an exciting glimpse of the advanced opportunities available. In Aberdeen, O2 and the Wireless Infrastructure Group (WIG) have installed the UK’s first fibre connected small cell network. While it enables the quickest download speeds currently available, it also provides the infrastructure required for 5G and a look into the near future. Stay tuned for updates on how we’re helping to usher in the new era of connectivity for the UK’s consumers and businesses alike.

The post GWS on the road with London Live appeared first on GWS.

It would appear so!  Consider the number of global firsts that the city plays host to each year. During January last year around CES, the first electric autonomous shuttle was launched while manufacturers like BMW introduced their own self-driving vehicles that took journalists and volunteers around the city. Audi also contributed to Las Vegas’s technological prowess by launching the first smart city technology to connect its traffic signal network to vehicles over LTE.

Connected vehicles are reliant on mobile networks to transfer data and the more autonomous the vehicle is – the greater the volume of data needed (i.e., needed for telemetry, live traffic information, and HD video). This is just so cars can move safely from point A to point B.  There are other data demands as well that drivers and passengers will add on top – from in-car entertainment like Netflix streaming to the kids in the passenger seat to an integrated Alexa voice assistant providing directions or music to Mom or Dad in the front. Further, in the future, fully autonomous cars will communicate with each other given no human input; real-time data along with other critical data that will be hosted and analyzed in the cloud.

Las Vegas has introduced some of these connected car features using existing 4G networks particularly in terms of “vehicle to infrastructure” applications. Ultimately, however, it will be the evolution to 5G that is most important for a completely autonomous deployment. 5G’s minimal latency and higher throughputs are also essential requirements for safely road testing and conducting driverless demonstrations on a much larger scale. In terms of timing, T-Mobile recently announced that Las Vegas will be one of the first cities that it connects to 5G (projected in early 2019) while Verizon is currently updating its infrastructure in Las Vegas to eventually accommodate 5G network equipment.

It appears that mobile networks across the U.S. are in a good position to transition to 5G.  We found in our own drive tests that operators provided 4G LTE coverage 86% to 97% of the time on most major highways.  We collected over 52,000 miles worth of data across the entire continental U.S. Not only is LTE available across a significant portion of our main thoroughfares but we also saw active use of advanced LTE features such as such as 256 QAM, 4-way MIMO, and carrier aggregation (features that get you one step closer to 5G).

Las Vegas isn’t the only city leading the way in connected car infrastructure development, San Jose, Ann Arbor, Boston and others are also heavily involved and actively working with mobile, automotive and transportation vendors, manufacturers and developers.  These cities are becoming important test beds for connected car applications, for new mobile network deployments, and for smart city integration. On a daily basis, one connected car may require several terabytes of data to be sent and received constantly and nearly instantaneously across many platforms and systems. When you multiply this by the number of vehicles currently on the roads, the vast amount of data required over mobile networks becomes extraordinary. But mobile network operators, city planners and other involved entities are taking this once futuristic idea and realistically assessing and testing the data processing required, the infrastructure needed, as well as the complexity of systems needed to ensure reliable connectivity. The net result is that connected cars may well be both literally and figuratively around the corner.

The post Leading Las Vegas – The connected car revolution in the Desert City appeared first on GWS.

The quiet death of the 2G feature phone

The biggest thing to come out of MWC last year was Nokia’s throwback 3310 feature phone. While many of the original iconic features had been updated (it included a camera and a color screen for starters), the 2G-only connectivity was decidedly retro, and it also meant that most of the major US networks could not support the device. This year Nokia has been stealing headlines again, however, the Nokia 8110 ‘banana phone’ as featured in the matrix, comes with LTE connectivity from the off. Indeed the 3310 is also back, this time with 4G.

It seems then that even the most basic phones available today must feature 3G or LTE technology to be a global success. Google has been pushing its ‘Android Go Edition’ phones at the show this year, aimed at emerging markets, and while the devices are generally slow, with only 1GB of RAM, the connectivity options are bang up to date. Perhaps MWC 2017 was truly the final hurrah for a 2G-only device.

Where is all the IoT?

The next generation of connectivity is top of the agenda at the show, however, the much vaunted ‘Internet of Things’ phrases have been much less prominent this year. This doesn’t mean that the various use cases from smart home devices through to connected cars have gone quiet. Indeed these use cases appear to be solidifying; so much so that IoT as an overarching concept is starting to become a more commonplace application, system or service available in various niche markets and industry sectors. It seems like WiFi and 4G/LTE connections are doing just fine when it comes to supporting the current generation of connected devices. The dock-less bike company MoBike had its instantly recognizable bikes on more than one stand, showcasing how it uses LTE connectivity and mobile chipsets to keep its bikes connected to its network. Smart home devices don’t need to be connected via a proprietary network as much as they need to have a consistent WiFi connection.

5G looms ever closer

Mobile World Congress just wouldn’t be the same without 5G banners hanging above every major operator and technology providers’ stands. The mood at the show last year was one of impatience. 5G still felt a long way off with a few scant proof-of-concept devices. What a difference a year makes! Real world 5G applications and reams of test data have been available at the show. AT&T expects to have 5G hotspots available for customers by the end of the year, and they hope to have 5G handsets in customers’ hands by mid-2019.

MWC 2018 feels like 5G is coming round the corner onto the home straight. It would be surprising if at next year’s show we didn’t see any prototype 5G ready smartphones.  This also means that 2018 is going to be the year when 5G network performance testing and benchmarking will start in earnest – a very critical period for testing, analyzing, and learning more about the nuances of the technology and how it works when it is deployed in the real world. It is certainly going to be an exciting year.

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The interest in 5G is no wonder. Not only will it make phone connections much faster, but it will allow emerging technologies such as self-driving cars and Virtual Reality to reach their full potential. 5G is transformational because it will connect everything around us to a network that is 100 times faster than current cellular connections, and 10 times faster than even the faster home broadband services available.

While all this extra speed is impressive, it is not just about being faster than 3G or 4G. It is that combined with improved responsiveness and reach it can power the development of those emerging technologies – internet of things, smart cities as well as connected cars, VR and AR.

 5G in practice: fuelling self-driving cars

As we found out, currently 68% of consumers have issues with in-car mobile signal. Although companies like Tesla and Uber are experimenting with self-driving cars, without the reliability and speed of a 5G network, their viability as a fleet of “everyday” vehicles may be commercially challenging, to say the least. With 5G, cars will be able to talk to each other, as well as with sensors built around them such as traffic lights, external traffic management systems, service stations, and so on.

This is just one of many examples of how 5G will impact our day-to-day lives. If the hype is to be believed, 5G is going to be so powerful that it could even, one day, replace our home broadband connections.

 But what will 5G actually look like?

As 5G develops, we can expect not only faster data speeds, but also significantly reduced latency. Latency associated with 4G clocks in around 50 ms, whereas 5G includes a specification of sub 1 ms for new critical applications such as vehicle-to-vehicle technology, where decisions need to be made and communicated instantly.

The future of 5G looks bright. However, for its potential to be unleashed, it will require mobile operators to commit to regular network testing to ensure consistent and regular coverage.

To make the best of 5G, speak to us!

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As independent network benchmarking specialists, we took to the streets (covering over 400,000 miles, all states including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and a population base totaling 304 million people, to be precise) to establish what sort of network performance consumers actually experience on their devices, compared to what operators state they are receiving.

We assessed the country’s four major operators: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint, and quantified their video streaming capabilities into four categories. We thought about which common occurrences most annoy people when attempting to watch their favorite show on their smartphone or tablet and came up with the following parameters: how quickly it loads, video quality, picture freezing, and the reliability of the stream.

So, how did they get on?

Based on all the data we collected, we found AT&T to be the best all-round network for video streaming performance, as determined by our OneScore ranking methodology. It aced three of the four categories, beating second-place Verizon to the pole position. T-Mobile came in third, despite clocking one category win and Sprint came in last.

The nitty gritty

 In testing, an impressive 98% of videos streamed over AT&T’s network were successfully completed, while videos only froze 0.8% of the time. AT&T also experienced higher quality video playback than its competitors. T-Mobile snatched first place from AT&T for the quickest video loading time at 3.2 seconds. At the other end of the scale, 8.5% of the videos streamed on Sprint’s network failed, while freezing 2% of the time, and loading at an average 3.9 seconds. Firmly in the middle of the pack, Verizon nearly completed 98% of the videos streamed on its network, alongside respectable loading times and video quality playback results.

What the results mean

Mobile video streaming is expected to represent three-quarters of all mobile traffic by 2023. This surge in demand will mean operators like Sprint really need to be upping their game to remain competitive with the likes of AT&T, as customers expect more and more data on the go. Mobile networks are underpinning a revolution in how people consume TV and video, but they are also set to play a fundamental role in other developing industries, too — take autonomous vehicles, for instance.

Intel anticipates that the average fully autonomous car will generate 4,000 GB of data for just one hour of driving a day. Laden with hundreds of on-board cameras and sensors to support V2X communication, self-driving vehicles will instigate a “flood of data” according to Intel’s CEO. To put this in the perspective of today’s data dependency, a typical person’s video, chat and other internet use amount to around 650 MB per day. This is set to reach 1.5 GB per day by 2020, which still pales in comparison to the demands of autonomous vehicles.

This is why our recent real-world testing of mobile video streaming is important not only for today’s consumers expecting to watch their favorite shows on their smartphone or tablet but because it also speaks to a much greater issue facing network operators in the not-so-distant future. Operators like AT&T are putting themselves in a good position to facilitate the demands of an even more data-hungry future, ensuring their network provides fast and reliable connectivity. If others are struggling to meet the needs of today’s consumers, they will have their work cut out when the great “flood of data” hits our shores.

To see further details of our nationwide mobile video streaming test, click here.

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With 5G, we will soon be connected to everything around us via a network that will be as much as 100 times faster than our current cellular connections, and, depending on which article you read, similar orders of magnitude faster than what home broadband services currently offer. These lightning-fast speeds are exactly what future technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and self-driving cars need to exist and continue to improve.

Best of all, now that the first official standards of 5G have been agreed, it seems the technology is finally well on its way to becoming a reality. Here are some reasons to be excited about the rise of 5G:

Autonomous and connected vehicles: Not only will connected vehicles generate enormous amounts of data, but crucially, they will also need to take in and process huge amounts of data to properly handle complex situations such as needing to move for emergency vehicles or sudden changes in road conditions due to accidents, weather, etc. Currently, our communications systems cannot support this as there is simply not enough bandwidth. 5G is expected to be able to handle up to 10GB per second, which as mentioned above, is much, much faster than the fastest average LTE speeds in the US.

Remote surgery: 5G also comes with low latency, which is the time it takes for the network to respond to a request. Most consumers may not be aware but there is roughly a 45ms latency with 4G LTE. 5G makes the lag virtually negligible at 1ms (that’s 400 times faster than the blink of an eye), making remote surgery a possibility. This means, for example, that a surgeon in Tokyo could wear a Virtual Reality (VR) headset and special glove to operate on a patient in Los Angeles. Thanks to the low latency inherent with 5G, the surgeon’s movements would be performed with precision and without delay on the patient. As a result, patients could have access to the best possible experts, without needing to leave their hometowns for treatment, opening up a world of possibility for medicine.

Virtual Reality (VR): Soon, virtual reality (as well as augmented reality, AR) will be in the hands of all consumers. Thanks to the impressive capacity and speeds that 5G brings, increasingly complex worlds can be rendered in real-time via VR headsets by manufacturers such as Samsung, Google, and Oculus. The possibilities are endless – from enhancing how people work by connecting employees from all over the world in virtual offices, to helping intrepid explorers go on realistic expeditions to Antarctica or even Mars, VR can change the way we experience the world around us, creating rich virtual experiences.

These are only some of the amazing applications of 5G that excite us in the years ahead. As with any network, however, routinely measuring and monitoring performance are key activities to ensuring reliable and robust services.  Benchmarking plays a very critical role as 4G networks morph into 5G, as new networks and systems come online, and as new wireless services that directly involve health and safety become a reality. Visit our website to find out more about the importance of benchmarking.  And if you want a quick snapshot of how your network is performing – download our Android or iOS app!

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While visually less exciting, these upgrades can significantly improve the experience consumers will get from their devices and mobile networks (provided their selected network is up to scratch – check out our announcements for the latest in network performance).

It’s all about VoLTE and LTE-A

VoLTE stands for Voice over LTE, which means that voice calls are made over a 4G LTE network instead of the more traditional 2G and 3G connections.  VoLTE is IP based rather than the older circuit-switched platform that 2G and 3G calls are based on. Most consumers think of 4G LTE as something that helps them use the internet better on their phones, with faster downloading, streaming and web browsing. While that’s certainly the case, the deployment of VoLTE on 4G networks is enabling operators to also improve voice calls. It’s important to note that this is different than calling over WhatsApp or Skype.  VoLTE calls are seamless as the technology is part of the mobile network (no app to tap – it’s just like making a regular call).  Also, calls connect more quickly and they’re typically HD which means better clarity and quality; and lastly, depending on the operator, calls can seamlessly roam to and from registered WiFi networks.

While mobile operators around the world are still deploying and expanding their 4G LTE coverage, LTE-A (“A” for advanced) has now hit the scene.  LTE-A is an enhanced, higher performing  version of 4G LTE. It uses new network features like carrier aggregation, 256 QAM, and MIMO to combine data channels, increase spectral efficiency, enable multiple antenna/signal arrays, and so on.  The net result is an improved user experience (an even faster, better data connection than the initial 4G LTE networks).

What devices work with these new network features?

Before upgrading your device, keep in mind that your mobile operator may or may not yet have VoLTE and LTE-A in your city. For example, in the US and UK (two of the largest markets where we test), US operators are much further along with commercial deployment of LTE networks including these new network features than their UK counterparts.

Perhaps another way of looking at this is to make sure that your new device supports these new network features as operators, if not already, will deploy them at some point. As a rule of thumb, most of the latest top-of-the-line phones from Apple, Samsung, Google, and HTC do support them. Recently, UK operator EE also launched its new Hawk phone, which can handle LTE-A.

If you’re about to upgrade your phone and want to future-proof your choice, keep these features in mind and when in doubt, ask your mobile operator.

Happy shopping!

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While having the ability to make phone calls is a necessity, depending on the situation it can also be viewed as inconvenient and invasive.  So also having the ability to send text messages has its appeal as it can be done at any time, from anywhere and at the sender’s leisure.

Take for example, Millennials, they tend to prefer texting over calling.  Our studies have shown that text messaging is the most important use of the phone for that particular group (with “voice calls” following close behind).

The death of text messaging was greatly exaggerated

While trends in mobile have changed dramatically over the years, text messages have remained important. So important, that according to Statistics Brain, in June of 2017 a whopping 781 billion text messages were sent and received in the US alone.

Still, not all is quiet on the texting front.

For example, back in 2015, people sent three times as many messages via WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger as they did by SMS. That year, WhatsApp claimed to handle 30 billion messages daily by its 700 million users. Many thought that would mean the death of text messaging.

There was a clear appeal to messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. Back when WhatsApp first entered the market, the costs to send text messages could add up quickly. Consumers had to count their words to make messages succinct and it would also cost more to send multimedia content such as pictures. WhatsApp lifted those limits, allowing people to text freely. As WhatsApp gained users, they would bring even more of their contacts into the app, creating an enormous network of people who could message each other without running out of their text allowance. Quickly, WhatsApp became relevant and ubiquitous in many markets.

Still, text messaging continues to matter. Why is that? 

Text messaging is quick, convenient and safe; and nowadays, mobile contracts have far larger text messaging allowances at a far lower cost than before. This is why it has been adopted by many technology giants such as Google and Facebook, as well as major banks and more as a key method of providing two-factor authentication, helping increase online safety for users.

In addition, texting has become a popular way of interacting with healthcare providers and brands, as they use the method for appointment confirmations and reminders. Brands are also using text messages to get consumer feedback on their services and keep customers updated. In fact, programmers are using coding language (such as PHP, JavaScript or C#) to build applications that send text messages for marketing and many other purposes.

Thanks to that, text messaging is still relevant, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.

Happy silver anniversary, SMS! May you continue to make our lives easier for many years to come.

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To better understand cell phone signal coverage in the US, we drove 52,000 miles, covering 49 contiguous states, as well as Alaska. While on the road, we conducted 703,000 voice and data tests. As a result, we were able to show which networks had the pedal to the metal and which offered consumers a bumpy ride.

AT&T customers live life in the fast lane

Overall, we found that data performance was really different between the four largest operators (AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon). Our tests which emulated customers watching a short video clip, found that AT&T customers have the quickest download speeds at 6.9 Mbps, which is an impressive 33% faster than its nearest competitor, Verizon.

AT&T and Verizon customers also had the most reliable data services, with over 99% of the tasks we tested completing successfully. And when it comes to telling all their friends, colleagues and family about their road trips (or complaining about traffic jams), AT&T and Verizon customers also had the fastest upload speeds for tasks emulating social media posts.

Which network gave customers a bumpy ride?

When it comes to reliability, the road had some potholes for T-Mobile customers, as our tests pointed to a call success rate of 89% (the least reliable); whereas Verizon and AT&T had the highest success rates at 97% and 96% respectively.

Feeling nostalgic for AM Radio?

Our tests also found that Sprint had the least reliable data connection on test, with only 85% of tasks completing successfully. This means that drivers and passengers won’t be able to stream their favorite online music, sports or news channels 15% of the time.

In addition, Sprint customers might want to keep to the far right lane while driving, as its download speeds were closer to that of AT&T’s 3G network than they were to any of its competitors’ LTE network capabilities. It doesn’t surprise us at all that Sprint also relies on its 3G network more than the other operators.

There you have it – AT&T and Verizon consistently overtake Sprint and T-Mobile when it comes to overall network performance.

Want to see our full test results? Check out our press release!

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But as the year comes to a close, it’s time to start looking ahead at what’s to come. Here’s what we think 2018 will bring to the mobile industry:

• 5G: This is the new hot trend in the mobile industry, with operators racing to see who will be the first to put this technology in the hands of consumers. While much of what 5G really means still needs to be defined, those involved are all making “next step” announcements regarding 5G – take for example Verizon in the US, EE in the UK, Samsung in Korea, and the Canadian government. 2018 will be a pivotal year for the technology, as both private and public sectors try to further leverage this new development. 5G allows our devices to connect even better and faster, ultimately leading to more innovative ways of using wireless technologies – so there’s a lot at stake and a lot of interest in progressing.

• Connected cars: Earlier this year, we wrote about the most sought after in-car connectivity solutions. Connected cars were a big deal this year, but they will really start taking off in 2018. At a minimum, (as we previously explained) European Union regulations stipulate that by April 2018 all new production vehicles must be equipped with an Emergency Call function to automatically alert authorities if a traffic accident happens.In the US, Avis Budget Group and Kansas City announced the launch of their Mobility Lab, featuring a fleet of 5,000 internet-connected vehicles at over 20 Avis car rental locations, including Kansas City International Airport. Clearly, there’s been a significant push to get cars online. This is perhaps why connected cars are also a key focus of investment. A Vancouver-based startup just received a whopping $30 million investment to further develop its connected car technology. We expect this to be only one of many such announcements about investment in connected car technology in the coming year. And this is about what is or soon will be coming off the production line, autonomous cars (i.e., driverless) are also making headlines as they continue to be tested including trials on public roads.

• Smart cities: A number of cities, from London to Moscow and beyond are making significant investments in making themselves smarter. In the US, 66% of the cities are investing in smart city technologies like smart meters, intelligent traffic signals, and RFID sensors in paved areas. And it is not just cities getting in on the smart city game, many vendors such as Amazon and Google are trying to be part of this exciting trend. From drones to delivery bots to the success of the on-demand economy, cities are becoming increasingly smarter and connected spaces. In 2018, these technologies will become increasingly prevalent, with more and more cities rolling out programs to help them modernize and get connected.It is little wonder governments are focusing on smart cities. Smart technologies can improve the quality of life in cities, help councils and city governments provide improved and sustainable services and safeguard their infrastructure. This will help states and local governments deliver both critical and non-critical services to citizens.

In order for all of these predictions to materialize and for the advances we mentioned to progress, collaboration between operators, manufacturers, vendors, local municipalities, government authorities and so on will need to continue particularly in terms of service delivery and performance.  Mobile networks, the engine that drives all of these developments, will need to be routinely monitored, measured, and tested. This is a necessity for those involved as they need to understand how well their technologies, systems, and services are performing across the networks – with the goal of identifying and addressing key areas of improvement.

Want to know how GWS can help your organization with our rigorous mobile network benchmarking? Get in touch today!

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In North America, Dual Band LTE is gradually giving way to LTE-A which is becoming available across Canada and the US. Users will theoretically have access to speeds of up to 750 Mbps, with average speeds ranging between 22 to 174 Mbps. Soon enough, the 2G spectrum will be shut down altogether and will be repurposed primarily for 4G, while 5G will be added on top as an even faster layer. Before we get ahead of ourselves, though, an important question for businesses and consumers to ask themselves is how much bandwidth they really need to carry out their day-to-day tasks, at the moment; and just how reliable is the connection – critical concerns that may not be so easy to work out.  Today, there is a morass of coverage checking, speed test, and problem reporting websites and apps available that one can get lost in while attempting to understand the strength of a network.  Ultimately, however, real-world network testing performed by specialists (using controlled assessment methods combined with specialized equipment and everyday mobile devices) is crucial if carriers and their customers want an in-depth understanding of what speeds, voice quality, coverage, and reliability are available in real life.

In terms of real-world testing, there are two main types that are widely used by carriers when network performance is measured. Collecting and reviewing crowdsource network data can provide a snapshot of network performance, offering visibility on surface level processes. This method, however, is somewhat uncontrolled and includes the pooling of data from a variety of devices in terms of type, age, firmware and operating systems; and it includes many other random variables involving time, location, etc. – all of which creates a wider spectrum of variables to analyze. This can impact the accuracy of the results and is not considered the most precise way to assess the strength and reliability of a network’s performance.

The other method is controlled benchmark testing (using scientific methods and processes combined with test equipment to perform drive, walk, and in-venue performance tests).  This form of testing also involves gaining access to key device metrics (such as Layer 3 data) not available in crowdsource testing. This is crucial for taking an in-depth view at how a network is actually performing, what factors are affecting positive and negative performance, and everything in between. Device types and test parameters are standardized throughout the testing process minimizing the amount of anomalous and erroneous data you might otherwise encounter in an uncontrolled testing environment.

The granular level of data that controlled benchmark testing provides becomes even more important when various metrics are loosely interpreted and promoted (for example, the results of capacity and speed tests). Some reports that make their way to the public confuse matters by presenting operator network data – crowdsourced or controlled testing – to consumers in a way which is not entirely representative of what they will experience. Promoting the highest theoretical network throughput speed available, for example, does little to suggest that the majority of users will ever receive that speed let alone coverage or reliability (all of which will vary across an operator’s network).

At GWS, our controlled benchmark testing focuses on customer experience – we compare data against the most common processes that users carry out on their phones, which enables greater insight into customer behavior and network performance. For example, we can tell which networks best support social media applications, and how these are functioning for users in any given area.

By assessing how different applications – like download and upload speeds, streaming, web browsing, and VoLTE calling – perform in different locations, we get a real-world picture of how networks are operating as consumers experience them. By using specialized test equipment installed in vans and backpacks, we can rigorously test mobile networks anywhere, and establish, for example, if a dropped call was caused by coverage, network interference, equipment or system failure, device side issue, or any variety of other factors. With the results of this diagnosis, operators can optimize their network – improving the quality and availability of their signal and ensuring better all-around user experience.

As the world’s wireless networks expand and improve, performance benchmarking is more important than ever. Real-world customer experience testing through controlled benchmark tests is the most comprehensive way to truly understand network performance at ground level, which is why we’ve been championing it for years.

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Despite the iPhone being the most popular single handset on the market in the Western world, we are the only company to have integrated it along with Android devices into our benchmark testing. Most testing is performed on an Android device because it’s easier to extract core data. In particular, Apple does not let you root and gain control of the iPhone; they restrict access to the Layer 3 data – network data that lets you look in great depth at voice and data task processes as well as other key results when testing. Google and its associated hardware manufacturers do not restrict access to this data, a case of apples and pears, you might say.

Without the intricate Layer 3 data which details the network and voice performance experienced by the handset while in 3G, LTE or LTE-A mode, operators could find it a challenge to properly remedy common network issues that users face. As is often the case with Apple’s licensing arrangements, they do not offer integration with external platforms unless absolutely necessary. While it is still possible to monitor performance at a higher level including call attempts, call drops and accessibility to different networks on iOS, this alone is not the full spectrum of results that carriers need to effectively optimize their networks. So if you’re having a problem making a call with the new and very expensive iPhone X, it may be a real challenge to figure out the issue since access to critical performance info is not permitted. This is why Layer 3 data with these additional parameters is so important to everyone in the industry (and their customers).

We currently solve the above issue by using an array of advanced test equipment combined with rigorous and controlled collection methods. We collect data with both iPhone and Android devices as it offers 99% visibility into how the two main operating systems interact with the networks they rely upon. While iOS Layer 3 network data is unavailable, we do collect other key data points from our controlled iPhone tests including metrics involving throughputs, time-related data and voice tasks, and RF signal. Put another way – our OneMeasure diagnostic app platform has controlled test methods that go beyond the collection of basic data associated with data task failures, call attempts, drops and blocks. Overall, we collect a much broader spectrum of information across both platforms, which enable us to review, through comparison, if an iOS device is likely to perform differently in a certain area. For example, when testing mobile network accessibility, reliability and speed of data tasks across different carriers, we also compare and contrast iPhone results with results from tests conducted using Android devices (such as the Samsung S8). Further, we use other network test equipment to assist us in our performance evaluations.

Through the collection of Layer 3 data, through full control of the device, and rooted access to Android’s OS, we can identify what has caused weak spots in the network; for example, whether a failed call is due to an issue with a particular site, a site handover, 4G to 3G hand down, available PRB resources, VoLTE IMS messaging, or some other network feature (or perhaps it’s device or RF related). Unlike the widely hailed crowdsourced method of pooling network usage data, which only looks at surface level information for both iOS and Android, we are able to take a much more detailed look at network performance.

Networks are going through a significant metamorphosis, a major step up in capabilities — enabling access to new or enhanced devices, features and services. With LTE-A, IoT, connected cars, and 5G either on our doorstep or already in our doorway, there are and will be many new network puzzle pieces to consider and evaluate. Gaining access to critical iPhone performance metrics (access to Layer 3 type data on one of the most significant and prolific mobile devices), will greatly help us understand and assess customer experience in this new era of networks.

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Although Mr Khan did not put a deadline on his ambitions to solve above ground connectivity issues, the government will be expected to demonstrate real progress in improving the city’s internet speeds and reliability over the next few years. Poor wireless connectivity has been hampering London’s businesses and consumers for some time, and this is not an issue that will fade away from public consciousness a year from now. In a survey we conducted with OnePoll, over one third of Londoners said they ‘regularly’ have issues making and receiving mobile phone calls in their home; and a similar percentage of respondents said they regularly have mobile internet connectivity problems in their home. In enterprise, it’s often the same story. Our research also found that 43% of London’s high street shoppers cannot browse the web on mobile when in-store. This is a big problem for retailers, considering that just over a quarter of people say they would leave a shop if they had poor connectivity.

The latter part of Mr Khan’s statement – on working with local authorities to raise London’s global tech credentials – raises interesting considerations. Integral to widespread, robust 4G and later 5G networks throughout the city will be a much heavier reliance on ‘small cells’, to boost connectivity in those hard to reach not-spots. This means that local authorities will need to work closely (and the sooner the better) with network operators to allow the installation of these units on lampposts and buildings, to provide connectivity wherever it may be needed. The government can also assist operators by allowing them, where practical, to deploy hardware such as phone masts on government-owned buildings and facilities. This will again help enhance coverage, but with minimal interference to the interests of private property.

Whether in homes and businesses, or while travelling on the Underground network, one thing remains certain for the future of London’s networks — user experience is everything. The City of London has its work cut out over the next two years in order to ensure 4G is provided in the Underground by 2019. And, of equal importance, is the level of service; passengers will not only expect 4G coverage, they will want to be able access all of the features associated with uninterrupted fast mobile internet connectivity. Whether making clear voice calls, transferring important files to a client before a meeting or even streaming video on their journey to work, inconsistent coverage or unreliable service will not suffice (and would place the government in a very awkward position).

As a director at London First, an independent organisation invested in promoting the city’s business and economic prospects, noted, “We should be making the most of existing infrastructure…to boost speeds and deliver coverage to areas that have been left behind. But we also need London’s planners to get behind this work, otherwise our digital ambitions risk being strangled by red tape.”

The Mayor has officially set the stage on behalf of the government to propel London to the dizzying heights of a ‘global tech hub;’ hopefully the government and operators can work harmoniously to deliver efficient and cost-effective measures and results to achieve this.

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Today’s consumer likely isn’t aware of the quiet technological revolution that is taking place in the networks their smartphones use. The introduction of VoLTE and WiFi calling have created a step change for smartphones users as they can increasingly move seamlessly between 4G and WiFi networks and experience high data speeds and superior voice quality on both technologies. Further, operators have been deploying LTE-A features such as carrier aggregation to improve network capacity and ultimately customer experience.

Although networks are improving, operators are under a constant pressure to provide consumers with fast and reliable mobile Internet connection. Unfortunately, whether in the UK or US, operators’ efforts to develop infrastructure and provide widespread, robust coverage are challenged by a common set of issues: protracted government approval processes and lengthy landowner negotiations as well as the simple economics of serving certain underpopulated or hard-to-reach areas. However, this is may be changing as operators are finding more creative ways to meet their end goal of eliminating signal ‘blackspots’ as well as preparing for an effective roll out of 5G; plus some government authorities are attempting to streamline their involvement while making it more effective.

For example, in the US, several states have passed legislation to improve and speed up the approval process for wireless infrastructure deployments; and in Florida, the state has introduced a bill to help operators place “small cells” on public facilities such as a utility poles.  Meanwhile, in the UK, O2 is taking a more unique approach to providing high speed mobile Internet access in the City of London. The operator is installing ‘smart cells’ which use a 4G backhaul to power a free-to-access WiFi network. This raises two interesting points for O2, as currently, it creates a device and operator agnostic way for consumers to access O2’s 4G network. The firm has also said that it will be able to upgrade this network to a 5G backhaul in the future, which could be an effective way to promote the benefits of 5G to consumers. Instead of waiting to purchase a 5G-ready device to experience the next generation of wireless networks, British users can bring a WiFi-enabled device to the City of London and try it out for themselves. Most modern smartphones are capable of handling much faster Internet speeds than those currently available on the UK’s mobile networks.

In order for the UK to be seen as a tech innovator, its ability to deliver superfast Internet, wherever the connection is needed, will be crucial. Private sector companies like O2 are already demonstrating intent to facilitate widespread urban 4G and 5G coverage, so the government needs to do its part by encouraging infrastructure investment through nonprescriptive legislation (similar to what is occurring in many states in the US). This would in turn make it easier for operators to install their own infrastructure to improve network access in urban areas.  Granted, it is an expensive task, but if the country is to compete as a global power in connectivity, operators and other parties need to work together to build networks to the necessary standards. Rigorous network benchmarking will also be crucial to ensure that users are getting fast and reliable connectivity at all times. GWS has been working with operators and government institutions for over 20 years to support these efforts and will continue to do so at such a pivotal time in the US and UK’s mobile Internet journey.

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Not only is it important for the UK to offer widespread connectivity for the personal and professional communications needs of the population, it is also vital that the country is seen as a leading innovator in the telecoms sector while it undergoes negotiations to leave the European Union. Britain needs to be an attractive proposition to tech investors, and with the current status of the ECC, it’s not so enticing. Only within the last year, for example, have regulations been amended that will allow UK operators to build taller masts without needing planning approval – simplifying a process that enables operators to build sites faster (similar to processes already well established in other EU countries)

The situation is getting better, albeit slowly. For many years, owners of land where operators need to build new cell sites or upgrade existing masts have had an advantage over UK operators. They have been able to charge many times more than the market value for operators to build new masts on their land, which has caused significant time delays and financial burdens. Legislation has recently been amended to instruct landowners to sell at market value, opening the door for mobile operators to build masts where they need to (within reason), at a more cost effective price. Strategic plotting of masts means better facilities management across a network, potentially less sites (in terms of coverage) and better usage of local resources – an added benefit to the community.

Another source of early optimism for UK operators is the shift in consumer attitudes. For many years, rural residents have shunned the efforts of mobile operators to develop across their landscapes – and not just for private financial reasons. However, as society collectively seeks out and expects super fast mobile internet, rural inhabitants are increasingly calling for uncompromised connectivity as those in urban areas have had for years, and so the wheels are beginning to turn and in the same direction.

In urban areas, local authorities must work proactively with operators when plans are being made to develop mobile networks. For example, government owned buildings could be used as sites for mobile network masts in order to increase coverage with zero disturbances to private landowners; an efficient and effective way to improve urban network coverage.

As 5G rolls out in earnest, small cells will play a much bigger role in urban networks than they have done so far for 4G coverage. With many more cell sites required across UK cities, planners and operators need to be looking at ways to install small cells in street furniture, along motorways and in other public areas. But this needs proactive legislation, updated regulations, and either less or far more efficient processes for approvals.

Ultimately, the most important change required by government in the UK’s race towards 5G will be allowing the ECC to be much more flexible. This in turn would enable private technology companies to have a say in setting the agenda, rather than having to work around preventative measures. Operators will require more freedom to take quicker yet prudent steps over the next five years in order to comprehensively roll out 5G and maintain 4G networks across the country. This means that legislative and regulatory action needs to be taken sooner rather than later to ensure that government is playing its part in this major transition.

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