“What we found was quite surprising,” Hochgraf said. “The download speeds for two carriers can be very different at one location. And the download speed for the same carrier can vary greatly when you move as little as a few hundred feet away.”
Cellular coverage and cellular internet download speeds vary by carrier services and from location to location. The app collects background measurements of the cellular network’s speed twice a day. Collection frequency can be altered by the user and can also be done on demand. One of the key features of the app is it protects an individual’s privacy and identity.
“Our app doesn’t collect any personal information such as SIM card identity or numbers dialed, unlike other apps on the market,” Hochgraf added. “We wanted people to be able to make their own measurements and see the coverage maps without having to worry about their privacy.”
As more people download and use the app, the map will show more detail about coverage and connection speeds, including predicting how connection speeds could change throughout the day. This type of data could benefit carrier network operations to be more effective and provide better service to customers.
The team is also developing a version of the app for emergency response teams to access network coverage information before going into areas affected by natural disasters or other dangerous situations.
Hochgraf is one of five faculty from CAST’s Department of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering Technology involved in the app development. Others are: Professor William Johnson, associate professors Yossi Nygate and Mark Indelicato and Assistant Professor Miguel Bazdresch.
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