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ZDNET's key takeaways
- Ookla, a top internet speed test service, now offers venue Wi-Fi certifications.
- The certification service is still rolling out.
- Once in place, you should look for hotels and business locations with Speedtest Certified ratings.
You might pick your hotel for its location or price, but one of the things I consider is whether its Wi-Fi is fast and reliable. I make my living working online. If I can't count on a speedy connection, I'm in trouble. So I was intrigued when I heard network performance specialist Ookla announce the launch of Speedtest Certified, a new connectivity verification program designed to help property owners and businesses prove the quality of their network infrastructure.
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This initiative leverages Ookla's well-regarded Speedtest methodology to provide an independent, objective seal of approval for hotels, airports, event venues, office buildings, and multifamily residences. Reliable internet is essential these days for tenants, guests, and employees. Unpredictable or subpar network performance in public venues is miserable for customers and businesses. Speedtest Certified aims to address these challenges by providing properties with a visible badge of excellence.
(Disclosure: Ookla is owned by Ziff Davis, ZDNET's parent company.)
Some of you may think reliable internet isn't crucial. Doesn't everyone have decent Wi-Fi now? No, actually, they don't.
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I was already on good terms with the Linux kernel developers a few years ago, when, at a Linux Plumbers conference, they discovered the hotel's internet was inadequate. I helped get the connection up to speed -- before I became a writer, I was a network engineer -- and that's one reason why I'm always welcome at these core Linux kernel programmers' meetups.
So, Ookla believes, with good reason, that this certification program will help internet service providers, system integrators, and managed service providers seeking to validate their offerings and support businesses hoping to attract customers and tenants who demand excellent connectivity.
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Certified properties will be able to display the Speedtest Certified badge both on-site and online, making it easy for consumers to identify venues that have met rigorous, standardized network performance benchmarks.
The path to Speedtest Certification consists of four stages:
- Discovery: Collection of key property data, including size and type.
- On-Site Audit: Comprehensive analysis of the digital experience, leveraging Ekahau by Ookla's Wi-Fi diagnostic tools.
- Findings & Improvements: Delivery of detailed network performance insights, with recommendations for enhancements if needed.
- Certification: Awarding of the Speedtest Certified badge to properties meeting all predefined technical criteria, valid for two years.
The assessment measures several performance metrics. These include:
- Wi-Fi Radio Frequency (RF) Quality
- Network Configuration
- Network Security Assessment
- Network Performance Metrics
- ISP Backhaul
Looking ahead, future program phases will expand to include cellular performance evaluation, offering even broader network insight.
Ookla stresses that certification is strictly based on technical standards, not payment. The data-driven methodology is standardized and objective. The data collected is strictly related to network configuration and performance, with no collection of personal or business-sensitive information.
If a venue does not meet the necessary standards, it does not appear on a public "failure" list. Instead, it receives confidential recommendations for improvements and can reapply in the future.
Luke Kehoe, an Ookla industry analyst, added that if a venue needed help to get its Wi-Fi offerings up to speed, Ekahau by Ookla, which provides Wi-Fi tools and equipment for optimizing, designing, and troubleshooting wireless networks, can aid them in optimizing their network.
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For Ookla, the business plan for Speedtest Certified relies on property owners paying assessment and renewal fees, as well as fees from accreditation program partners. Prices vary by property size. Current customer identities remain confidential. Several properties are undergoing assessment now.
"Speedtest Certified is a direct extension of our mission to improve connected experiences," said Stephen Bye, president and CEO of Ookla.
"A strong internet connection is no longer a perk; it's a fundamental expectation. Our new certification gives property owners a way to prove they're meeting that demand, and gives consumers confidence to choose venues with proven, superior connectivity."
He's right. In the future, when I'm on a business trip, I'll be adding Speedtest Certified to my hotel and venue checklist. You should, too.
