CellWatch: Cellular Speed Test

Functionality & Mechanism

Developed by researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology, UC Santa Barbara, and Northern Arizona University, this system captures mobile network performance metrics, including download/upload throughput and latency. The interface facilitates single-session measurements, with results logged for user review. Data outputs are aggregated and visualized on a map utilizing the FCC's hexagonal grid system or presented in list format. The platform enables data export in JSON format and supports direct submission to the federal mobile broadband challenge process.

Evidence & Research Context

• The app's design is detailed in associated research as a tool to support community-led challenges to official broadband coverage data reported by service providers.
• Its development is explicitly grounded in "counter-data action" principles, which provide a framework for using crowdsourced data to question and correct authoritative reports.
• The system is specifically engineered to lower technical barriers for public participation in the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Broadband Data Collection process.

Intended Use & Scope

This application is designed for the general public, community advocates, and researchers as a citizen science tool for mobile network assessment. Its primary utility is to crowdsource performance data for large-scale coverage mapping and to facilitate submissions to the FCC's official challenge process. The app does not diagnose device-specific connectivity issues or guarantee specific regulatory outcomes.