Ofcom commissions mobile broadband study

Ofcom has organised an in-depth study of mobile broadband which will run from now until the end of the year.

Analysis expert Epitiro is to undertake the job, which will examine the major networks in the UK: O2, T-Mobile, 3, Vodafone and Orange.

A range of so-called key performance indicators will be measured, which will include reliability as well major concern, along with speed. Factors such as the time of day, and geography of the various networks, will also be considered in determining how mobile broadband speeds vary.

Gavin Johns, CEO of Epitiro, commented: “Epitiro has developed consumer experience analysis technology specifically for the mobile industry. We’re excited to be undertaking this essential research for Ofcom.”

Ofcom is expected to publish a report containing the data and evaluation of the results at the start of 2011.

Epitiro previously researched mobile broadband performance in the first half of 2009. That study found, amongst other things, that the average real world speed mobile broadband users experienced was just 24% of the headline “up to” advertised connection speed. And that overall average was less than 1Mbps.

As more and more smartphones are bought by UK consumers, the strain will only increase, although Ofcom has recently made a move to boost the maximum 3G broadcast limit to help alleviate network strains.