The French regulator aims to improve broadband QoS measurement.
Background: In early 2018, ARCEP launched a comprehensive initiative, involving all stakeholders in the market, to help solve what the regulator defines as a ‘major problem’: for an internet speed test, it is currently ‘virtually impossible’ to determine with absolute certainty the access technology (copper, cable, fibre, etc.) of the tested line. This missing detail in the testing process makes it difficult to utilise the resulting data and, ARCEP believes, can mislead consumers.
The proposal: ARCEP’s initiative involved circa 20 players, including crowdsourcing measurement sites, operators, and academics. Together, they agreed on the implementation of an Application Programming Interface (API) to be installed directly on operators’ boxes, and could be accessed by tools that comply with the Code of Conduct on Quality of Service that Arcep published in 2018. The API would enable the transmission of information such as the access technology being used but also, for instance, the consumer’s headline speed, the quality of the Wi-Fi connection, etc. without sharing any identifying information of the consumer.
Next steps: ARCEP has now published a draft decision for public consultation on implementing the API, noting it is a ‘global first’ for an initiative of this kind. The regulator seeks input on the scope of the operators affected; the parameters to be transmitted; any access restriction; and the timetable for implementation. The consultation closes on 27 May 2019.
