As announced by Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil at MWC 2024, Malaysia ranks first in the world in 5G consistency. He shared that his 5G network in Malaysia, deployed by Digital Nasional Berhad, earned him an Ookla 5G consistency score of 97.27%, outperforming other countries that have previously deployed 5G.
To find out what it means to be ranked #1 for 5G consistency, we spoke to several Ookla representatives to learn more about how they test.
What is Ookla Consistency Score?
According to Ookla, a popular speed testing platform, consistency score is a metric that measures the consistency of a network. This measurement is based on a speed test by a Malaysian app user on his 5G network (across multiple carriers). The latest consistency claim is based on: Speed tests conducted last quarter (October to December) 4th quarter of 2023.
Ookla added that each test must achieve the following conditions: Minimum 25Mbps download and 3Mbps upload. The more consistent your test results, the higher your score. As a result, Malaysia’s score was 97.27%, followed by North Macedonia with 94.06% and United Arab Emirates with 93.88%.
Why aren’t other developed countries on the consistency list?
We also asked Ookla why other 5G developed countries that record higher 5G speeds are not on the consistency list. As highlighted in the Q3 2023 report, Speedtest Global Index ranks Malaysia below the UAE, Qatar, South Korea, Australia, Singapore and Taiwan. In terms of 5G performance, Malaysia outperforms Southeast Asian countries with a median 5G download speed of 485.25 Mbps, but falls behind South Korea (507.59 Mbps) and UAE (592.01 Mbps).
There are also other factors such as pricing plans. Ookla explained that some carriers want to let consumers participate in 5G, but actual 5G speeds are being throttled. Ookla added that device capabilities and other factors also need to be considered, as different carriers will launch 5G differently. Malaysia says it is delivering all of this for consumers, including pricing, devices and platforms.
What is not included in the integrity score?
It’s worth pointing out that integrity score is not about the fastest download and upload speeds. Ookla reiterates that consistency is key. The rep said that it doesn’t make sense for him to get over 100Mbps today, but the next day he doesn’t get the same consistent results. What they found from recent claims is that Malaysia was the most stable of all providers around the world in the last quarter.
We asked Ookla whether its consistency claims cover user experiences such as video streaming, gaming, and video calling. They answered no because the claim is purely about consistent speed.
Why 25Mbps? Isn’t it too low for 5G standards?
Since 5G networks around the world can achieve download speeds in the hundreds of Mbps, we asked Ookla why they use a lower threshold of at least 25 Mbps. They said Ookla is based in the United States and follows the FCC’s minimum threshold determinations. Currently, the FCC defines broadband as having the ability to deliver at least 25 Mbps downloads and 3 Mbps uploads. Obviously, this is very low by today’s standards, and Ookla says it may change in the future.
Best Global 5G Consistency Score is a Claim, Not a Prize
For those wondering why you can’t find a report on Ookla’s website about Malaysia winning Best 5G Consistency, Ookla says this is just a claim and not an award. It is made clear that there is no. They added that comparing the two quarters, claims are based on three months of data, while incentives are based on six months of data.
Specifically when it comes to insurance claims, Ookla said it only offers a three-month period and is based on that specific point in time. They added that 5G is constantly evolving as more traffic passes through the network, so it won’t have the same consistency as the network grows. It’s just a claim and they will continue to evaluate it.
Ookla says the claim will be valid for six months and the next time it will investigate the same claim will be in the third quarter of 2024.
