The NMHH Can Now Measure Mobile Network Coverage along Cycle Paths

The National Media and Infocommunications Authority has developed a new measurement capability that makes it possible to obtain objective measurement data on the availability and quality of mobile broadband services along cycle paths and other routes that are difficult or impossible to access by motor vehicle. As the first practical step in the development project, the authority held a bicycle measurement day to allow experts from the three mobile service providers in Hungary to become familiar with the new measurement methodology, measurement devices and the measurement process.

Where it was previously impossible to take measurements by car, it is now possible by bicycle

Hungary has a network of approximately 4,000 kilometres of cycle paths. A significant portion of them pass through areas, such as forests, river valleys, or sparsely populated rural areas, that were only partially accessible using earlier measurement methods which relied primarily on motor vehicles. The new mobile measurement devices will also make it possible to analyse these routes. Measurement by bicycle can thus provide quality-of-service data even for areas for which no regular measurement information was previously available.

The authority analyses more than one provider

Mobile network coverage and service quality may vary by provider and route. The purpose of official measurement is therefore not to evaluate the performance of a single provider, but to produce objective and comparable measurement results.
Measurement is technology-neutral: the focus is on the availability and quality of broadband mobile services without focusing exclusively on a specific technology, such as 5G. The bicycle measurement day also provided an opportunity for experts from the three mobile service providers to gain hands-on experience with the measurement methodology and equipment used. Professional cooperation and a transparent measurement process help ensure that the resulting data can be interpreted and compared by professionals.

The goal is to gain a better understanding of actual user experience

A reliable mobile phone signal can also be important on cycle paths: cyclists can use their mobile phones, for example, for navigation, accessing trekking information, calling for help, finding local services or staying in touch.
The authority’s new measurement capabilities make it possible to obtain information on quality of service based not only on estimates or theoretical coverage data, but also on measurements taken along actual routes.

The measurement programme is just starting

The bicycle measurement day is an important professional milestone in a regular measurement process. As the measurement exercises progress, they are expected to reveal an increasingly accurate picture of mobile network coverage along Hungary’s cycle path network.
At present, there is no systematic measurement database in place to allow us to determine precisely what percentage of the approximately 4,000-kilometre cycle path network has adequate mobile coverage. This is exactly why the authority does not disclose preliminary coverage percentages or estimates.

The goal of this development project is to make available real measurement data on the quality of mobile services even where this was only possible to a limited extent using previous measurement methods.

The authority will publish the results of regular measurements on an ongoing basis, so the data will subsequently be available to cyclists, professional stakeholders and anyone who is interested.