We’ve been conducting large-scale measurement studies for regulators for over 10 years internationally. Different regulators around the world have different requirements for their studies and/or programs, so for smaller ISPs that are looking to become certified by their country’s regulator or meet the standards of a national broadband program, we can help them achieve that – in record time. Additionally, meeting these standards is a major marketing boost for ISPs, giving them the credentials necessary to show true and tested results of their broadband performance.
Ofcom’s Voluntary Code of Practice (VCOP)
In the UK, VCOP is a regulation designed to provide consumers with a realistic idea of the broadband speed they will likely receive at the point of sale. In order for an ISP to comply with VCOP, they need to:
- Collect samples from at least 50 homes for each broadband product they advertise
- Create a test schedule that can automatically measure home broadband performance several times a day, collecting data during peak and off-peak hours
- Report this data to Ofcom in a specific format
In 4 months we got Zen compliant to VCOP standards
Until recently, Zen were one of the only large ISP’s in the UK that was not a signatory to the VCOP standard. Zen knew this would require significant internal effort and so asked SamKnows to help get them compliant to VCOP standards. With VCOP compliance in place, Zen could better demonstrate its commitment to delivering a transparent service package that aims to provide the best experience for all its customers – including to obtain ‘Which? Recommended Provider’ status as a result of their new VCOP signatory status.
Zen’s VCOP panel consisted of:
- 100x Whiteboxes
- 2x Packages monitored
- Contiguous UDP latency test
- Multi-threaded download test
- Multi-threaded upload test
All of us at Zen are very proud in achieving Which? Recommended Provider status. It’s a result of hard work across our teams and a badge of honour we can wear with pride to show our customers they can rely on Zen.
- Paul Sinclair (Marketing Director, Zen)
Outputting data that’s ready for regulatory submission
We helped Zen prove, and now we help them maintain evidence for the following requirements.
Minimum Speed:
- Normally available speed upper: 80th percentile of peak times
- Normally available speed lower: 20th percentile of peak times
- Minimum guaranteed: 50% of advertised
- Maximum speed: 80th percentile of quietest hour
Normally Available Range:
- Normally available speed upper: 80th percentile, reduced by peak coefficient
- Normally available speed lower: 20th percentile, reduced by peak coefficient
- Normally available speed upper: 80th percentile of peak times
- Normally available speed lower: 20th percentile of peak times
Maximum Speed:
- Minimum guaranteed: 10th percentile, reduced by peak coefficient.
- Maximum speed: 80th percentile, reduced by quiet hour coefficient.
In addition to the above, Zen ran the Contiguous UDP latency test to identify the mean amount and duration of disconnect events, to report internally on disconnection performance.
We’re very impressed with the speed at which SamKnows helped us become compliant with the Ofcom Voluntary Code of Practice within just 4 months.
- Paul Sinclair (Marketing Director, Zen)
Do you need help reporting regulatory compliance?
We’ve been conducting large-scale measurement studies for clients for over 10 years. We’ve developed our own proprietary agents, tests, analytical tools and data pipeline to get new studies up and running quickly, and streaming data back almost instantly. Your panel might include 100 Whiteboxes reporting data like Zen, or a million embedded Router Agents in your existing CPE. Our solution can be customized to each client's requirements. To customize a solution to your ISP's needs, get in touch and request a demo!