Ookla Speedtest
Ookla Speedtest is a network benchmarking service operated by Ookla (a subsidiary of Ziff Davis) that measures the download throughput, upload throughput, and round-trip latency between a user's device and a selected test server; The Ookla client first queries a server list and selects the test server with the lowest latency (or the user can manually select one); Running a Speedtest immediately after activating a new eSIM is the fastest way to verify the plan is working correctly and delivering reasonable speeds
Ookla Speedtest is a network benchmarking service operated by Ookla (a subsidiary of Ziff Davis) that measures the download throughput, upload throughput, and round-trip latency between a user’s device and a selected test server. It is available as a web app at speedtest.net, native iOS and Android apps, and a command-line interface (speedtest-cli). The service is the de facto standard for quickly characterizing mobile and broadband connection quality when evaluating a new network.
How it works
The Ookla client first queries a server list and selects the test server with the lowest latency (or the user can manually select one). It then performs a latency measurement, followed by a multi-threaded download test that opens several parallel TCP connections to saturate the available bandwidth, and finally a multi-threaded upload test. Results are uploaded to Ookla’s database, where they contribute to their crowdsourced global network performance map (used by carriers for coverage verification).
Key facts
- Throttling detection: Some ISPs and carriers have been documented treating Speedtest traffic preferentially; a VPN test can reveal if speeds are being inflated
- CLI tool: The official speedtest-cli package lets builders run tests from a remote server or script to automate connectivity checks
- Alternatives: Fast.com (Netflix-backed), nperf, and Cloudflare Speed offer alternative measurements that are harder for carriers to game
For builders
Running a Speedtest immediately after activating a new eSIM is the fastest way to verify the plan is working correctly and delivering reasonable speeds. Comparing results against the provider’s advertised speeds confirms whether the plan is performing as marketed or has already been throttled. For a more complete picture, running tests at different times of day reveals congestion patterns, since many shared networks degrade significantly during peak hours.
Sources
- Ookla. Speedtest methodology and reference network reports. ookla.com
- ITU. Recommendation Y.1541: Network performance objectives for IP-based services. itu.int
- IETF. RFC 2330: Framework for IP Performance Metrics. datatracker.ietf.org
- GSMA. State of the eSIM Market whitepaper. gsma.com
- Opensignal. Mobile network experience reports. opensignal.com
