Being recognized as the Number #1 Network for Mobile Data is a great achievement and requires a lot of work to provide the speed, coverage and consistency. It provides the assurance to customers and MVNOs that the network is efficient, reliable and fast. There are different measurements promoted by different external organizations to provide independent qualification. Measures include using real activity (e.g. crowd sourced testing) and repeatable testing of a variety of content for consistency checking. One key test is a Drive Test where the tester is in a mobile vehicle and performing tests on the move. This is a key test from Enea’s perspective as it provides both a mobility and data s peed test; after all it is mobile networks we are talking about.

Highlighting the recent Umlaut drive testing^[1] in New Zealand we can see an example of distance covered (4.6k Miles) and the coverage of population (60%).

Congratulations to One.Nz for being #1 in Data, #1 in Voice, #1 in Reliability – and overall certification of Best In Test!

In our previous insight we have highlighted approaches ^[2] to ensure that data access is optimal the capabilities to manage two core internet transport protocols (TCP and UDP) becomes critical. In drive tests it is also crucial to be able to react to mobility, shifts in radio access where available bandwidth may increase and decrease rapidly between 4G and 5G.

In the case of mixed coverage TCP Acceleration for download and web page tests can have a significant difference – ramping up to 5G coverage more quickly than unoptimized TCP and conversely being able to ramp down (and not suffer unnecessary packet loss) if coverage reduces to 4G speeds.  Enea’s TCP acceleration provides just such capabilities to shift between profiles of coverage, to ramp up and down as the coverage changes. As much as 15%-20% difference can be achieved here for these types of test.

When margins are tight, and you are aiming for the coveted #1 status it’s a team game providing radio coverage & speed, great infrastructure to process and backhaul – all we ask is ‘don’t forget about the data’ – the improvement you can achieve from advanced transport and traffic management.

Don’t settle for second place.

Find out more…

[1] Umlaut Certificate: https://www.accenture.com/content/dam/accenture/final/industry/communications-and-media/document/Accenture-NewZealand-Mobile-Benchmark-Certificate-202404.pdf

[2] TCP v UDP – Insight https://www.enea.com/insights/tcp-vs-udp-the-fight-for-space-on-a-shared-network/

[3] Enea TCP Acceleration

Enea has traffic management deployments in 25 countries, worldwide, in 2024.