Drive testing campaigns
Systematic vehicle-based measurement of voice, data, and application services across roads, urban areas, and defined geographic boundaries.
Network Operations
NETWORK BENCHMARKING & QUALITY OF SERVICE
CellQual delivers independent mobile network benchmarking and quality-of-service measurement campaigns for operators, regulators, and enterprise network owners — providing objective, data-driven insight into real-world network performance. Our measurement campaigns cover voice quality, data throughput, application performance, network availability, and end-user service experience across 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G — producing actionable data that operators and regulators can rely on.
Introduction
A mobile network's performance can look very different from an engineering dashboard compared to how a customer actually experiences it. Key Performance Indicators measured at the network element level capture infrastructure behavior but may not reflect end-user service quality across different device types, locations, and usage scenarios. Independent benchmarking measures what the customer actually experiences.
CellQual conducts mobile network benchmarking campaigns that measure voice quality, data throughput, application performance, network availability, and service experience across defined geographic areas and travel routes. Our measurement methodology covers the standard KPIs used by regulators, operators, and international benchmarking bodies, and is adapted to meet the specific objectives of each engagement.
Benchmarking serves multiple purposes. For operators, it provides an independent view of competitive positioning, identifies coverage and quality gaps, supports network planning decisions, and validates the impact of optimization programs. For regulators, it provides objective evidence for quality obligation monitoring, coverage dispute resolution, and spectrum licence management. For enterprises, it informs decisions about which operator offers the best service quality at a specific location or along a specific route.
What We Provide
Walk testing and indoor measurement
Pedestrian measurement and indoor testing for shopping centres, transport hubs, stadiums, and other indoor environments.
Competitive benchmarking
Side-by-side measurement and comparison of multiple operators within the same geographic area and under identical test conditions.
Regulatory benchmarking
Measurement campaigns designed to meet regulatory reporting and quality obligation monitoring standards.
Application performance testing
Measurement of specific application services — web browsing, video streaming, voice over LTE, and mobile data applications — alongside raw network KPIs.
Coverage and availability mapping
Geographic mapping of signal strength, network availability, and service coverage across the measurement area.
Post-measurement analysis and reporting
Structured analysis of collected data, production of measurement reports, and delivery of prioritised improvement recommendations.
How We Work
- 01
Scope and methodology definition
Agree measurement routes, KPIs, test equipment, operator conditions, and reporting format with the customer.
- 02
Test plan preparation
Prepare detailed drive routes, walk routes, indoor test locations, and test configuration.
- 03
Field measurement campaign
Deploy measurement teams with calibrated equipment to conduct the field measurement program.
- 04
Data processing and analysis
Process collected measurement data, calculate KPIs, and identify areas of underperformance.
- 05
Root cause correlation
Correlate measurement results with network configuration data where available to identify likely root causes of performance gaps.
- 06
Reporting and recommendations
Deliver a structured report with measurement results, comparative analysis, coverage maps, and prioritised recommendations.
Use Cases
A regulator needs comparable benchmarking data across all licensed operators.
An operator needs to understand how its performance compares to competitors in key areas.
A ministry needs evidence that a licensed operator meets coverage and quality obligations.
An operator needs a baseline measurement before a major optimization project.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Talk to a CellQual engineer — we answer technical questions directly.
CellQual conducts benchmarking across 2G (GSM), 3G (UMTS/HSPA), 4G (LTE), and 5G (NR) networks. Multi-technology campaigns are common where operators are transitioning between generations or where different services use different network generations.
CellQual uses professional drive-test and benchmarking equipment suitable for the measurement objectives of each campaign. Equipment is calibrated before use and configured to ensure consistent, reproducible measurements. Specific equipment details are provided as part of the measurement methodology documentation.
CellQual's measurement methodology is designed to meet the standards required for regulatory reporting. For campaigns intended specifically for regulatory use, we align the methodology with the relevant national regulatory framework and measurement requirements. We can discuss the specific requirements of your regulatory jurisdiction.
Drive testing typically refers to the measurement of a single operator's network performance for internal planning and optimization purposes. Benchmarking usually involves the comparative measurement of multiple operators under identical conditions to assess competitive quality positioning. CellQual provides both services.
Campaign duration depends on the geographic scope, the number of operators being compared, the range of KPIs being measured, and the testing methodology. A city-level benchmark may be completed in a few days. A national campaign covering major roads and cities typically takes several weeks of field work. CellQual will advise on realistic timelines for your specific scope.
CellQual has experience delivering benchmarking campaigns in different market environments. For multi-country programs, we assess the specific operational requirements and measurement standards for each jurisdiction and can coordinate campaigns accordingly.
Next step
Commission a Network Benchmark
CellQual provides independent network benchmarking and quality-of-service measurement for operators, regulators, and enterprise clients. Contact us to discuss your measurement objectives.