Speedtest.net, also known asSpeedtest by Ookla, is aweb service that provides free analysis of Internet accessperformance metrics, such as connectiondata rate andlatency. It is the flagship product of Ookla, aweb testing and network diagnostics company founded in 2006, and based inSeattle, Washington,United States.[5][6]
 | |
 Screenshot of the Speedtest.net app oniOS | |
| Original author(s) | Ookla |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Ookla |
| Initial release | April 1, 2006; 19 years ago (2006-04-01) |
| Stable release(s) | |
| Operating system | Windows 10,Windows Phone,Website,Android,iOS,Apple TV,Mac,Chrome Web Store |
| Available in | 11 languages |
List of languages English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Indonesian, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish, Dutch | |
| Type | Internet speed test |
| License | Freeware |
| Website | www |
The service measures the data throughput (speed) and latency (connection delay) of anInternet connection against one of over 16,000 geographically dispersedservers (as of December 2023).[7] Each test measures the data rate for thedownload direction, i.e. from the server to the user computer, and theupload data rate, i.e. from the user's computer to the server. The tests are performed within the user'sweb browser or withinmobile apps. As of 17 February 2024[update], over 52.3 billion Internet speed tests have been completed.[8]
Tests were previously performed overHTTP. To improve accuracy, Speedtest.net now performs tests via a custom protocol overTCP sockets.
The site also offers detailed statistics based on test results. This data has been used by numerous publications in the analysis of Internet access data rates around the world.[9][10][11]
History
editThe owner and operator of Speedtest.net, Ookla, was established in 2006 by partners Mike Apgar and Doug Suttles. Suttles suggested the name Ookla because he already owned the Ookla.comdomain name in honor of his pet cat, who was in turn named for a character on the TV seriesThundarr the Barbarian.[5] The domain speedtest.net has been used to host a speed test since 2000, and was acquired by Ookla in 2006.[12]
As of 2011, Ookla claimed 80% market share and was one of the top 1000 most popular websites. At the time, Ookla derived its revenue primarily from fees paid by companies to license custom speed test and proprietary testing software. Clients reportedly included media companies likeCNN andDisney, and telecommunications providers likeAT&T,Verizon, andCenturyLink.[5]
Ookla was acquired byZiff Davis in 2014.[13]
Acquisitions
edit| Acquisition date | Company | Country | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 June 2018 | Mosaik | United States | [14] |
| 9 August 2018 | Downdetector | Netherlands | [15] |
| 10 October 2018 | Ekahau | Finland | [16] |
Technology
editSpeedtest.net started as aFlash-basedbroadband speed test service. After Adobedeprecated Flash, and announced itsEnd-Of-Life (EOL), Ookla ported the speed test from Flash toHTML5. The new HTML5 based speed test went out of beta on January 9, 2018.[17][18]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Speedtest by Ookla APKs".APKMirror. RetrievedOctober 31, 2023.
- ^"Speedtest by Ookla".App Store. RetrievedSeptember 16, 2022.
- ^"Speedtest by Ookla".Mac App Store. RetrievedSeptember 16, 2022.
- ^"Speedtest by Ookla".Chrome.google.com. RetrievedSeptember 16, 2022.
- ^abcHintze, Lynnette (2011-03-22)."Mike Apgar, co-founder of Ookla, global leader in broadband speed testing".Daily Inter Lake / fosters.com. Retrieved2020-10-06.
- ^"About Ookla".Ookla.com. Retrieved2020-10-06.
- ^"About Speedtest".www.speedtest.net. Retrieved2023-12-29.
- ^"About Speedtest". RetrievedFebruary 15, 2024.
- ^"Broadband speeds around the world".BBC News. December 2, 2007. RetrievedNovember 13, 2011.
- ^Greenop, Matt (July 27, 2007)."The truth about Kiwi broadband".The New Zealand Herald. RetrievedNovember 13, 2011.
- ^Lane, Terry (June 24, 2007)."Hey Telstra, forget about broadband".The Age. RetrievedNovember 13, 2011.
- ^"Ookla's speedtest.net". 24 April 2023.
- ^"Ziff Davis Acquires Ookla... (NASDAQ:JCOM)". Archived fromthe original on 2014-12-27. RetrievedMay 28, 2016.
- ^"Mosaik is joining Ookla". RetrievedOctober 15, 2018.
- ^"Downdetector is now part of Ookla". RetrievedOctober 15, 2018.
- ^"Ekahau is now part of Ookla". RetrievedOctober 15, 2018.
- ^"Ookla's speedtest.net".zomdir.com. RetrievedOctober 17, 2022.
- ^"SpeedTest Ookla". 29 September 2023.
External links
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