Checking network quality speedtest to check if those 4G speeds that carriers like Airtel, Africell or MTN advertise is becoming very common as customers try to get value for their hard-earned money. In most cases, the speeds measured always turn out to be disappointing but this can be caused by many reasons. The network could be congested at the time the test is carried out, may be obstacles like tress or walls have degraded your signal quality and also the speed, or your telco my down right just be doing false advertising.
Several network quality speedtest apps can been used in this regard, including the much popular Ookla speedtest, OpenSignal and the list is endless. The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) in fulfilling its mandate under the Uganda Communication’s Act of 2013, Section 5(1)(k), is seeking to promote and safeguard the interest of consumers and operators as regards the quality of communications services and equipment. The Research and Development Division at the Commission in collaboration with Netradar the makers of the Netradar android app are carrying out a pilot project but this will involve the input of the masses.
The aim is to empower consumers of telecommunication services to monitor the quality of voice and data broadband services they receive. This can also lead to improving the availability of information to the Commission on the Quality of Service (QoS) received and Quality of Experience (QoE) experienced by consumers around the country.
The pilot project also wants to provide supplementary information to the Commission’s QoS and QoE monitoring activities, and other regulatory functions. In the past UCC has been doing this work by physically driving around major towns in Uganda and collecting several data including; network quality speed test, call quality, dropped and blocked call information. If this project becomes successful and the results obtained are reliable, there will be less need for UCC to do such drive tests as they will be getting a snapshot of real-time data from consumers of the internet who have subscribed to this pilot project use this app for network quality speedtest and in-turn provide data of their findings.
How to download the app
As such, the Commission wants to ask Ugandans to volunteer and take part in this pilot project. Every volunteering member of the public is requested to download the Netradar Android App from the Google Play Store. iPhone users will have to be left out of the party for now.
Network quality speedtest vs data privacy
UCC says that this study will take a period of period of 2 months, and during that time, Netradar will collect data on your telecom network and App performance as experienced by you the customer. This data will be processed by Netradar algorithms and tools and eventually visualized by Netradar Market Analyzer – dashboard.
The measurements will then be analysed and shared with the Commission, and the information will then be used in setting network improvement parameters for operators.
For those concerned about the safety of their personal information and how it may be used, UCC has assured Techjaja that Netradar does not collect any personal data (mobile phone number, SIM-card details or the unique mobile device identifier). The Network quality speedtest company is committed to enhancing privacy and complies with data protection laws applicable in Finland and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). These are some of the strongest data protection laws in the world so far that most websites have to adhere to even here at Techjaja.
