FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why are we conducting the NationalSchoolSpeedTest?
There is currently no comprehensive set of national data that can identify schools struggling with inadequate bandwidth. By measuring the Internet speeds available in every K-12 public school in America using the National SchoolSpeedTest, we are building the first-ever database of Internet access in schools across the country
This information will help local policy makers and school administrators prepare for digital learning and the Next Generation Assessments to be launched in 2014 and help federal policymakers maximize the impact of the existing $2.5 billion of annual FCC funding to help schools upgrade their Internet access and infrastructure.
There is currently no comprehensive set of national data that can identify schools struggling with inadequate bandwidth. By measuring the Internet speeds available in every K-12 public school in America using the National SchoolSpeedTest, we are building the first-ever database of Internet access in schools across the country
This information will help local policy makers and school administrators prepare for digital learning and the Next Generation Assessments to be launched in 2014 and help federal policymakers maximize the impact of the existing $2.5 billion of annual FCC funding to help schools upgrade their Internet access and infrastructure.
Aren't all of our schools already connected to the Internet?
Yes. Thanks to the Federal Communication Commission (FCC)’s E-Rate program, over 99% of schools in America have been connected to the Internet since 2003. E-rate provides $2-3 billion per year to schools to ensure basic Internet access, infrastructure and telecommunications services. However, it is capacity – not access alone – that prevents our schools from experiencing robust, reliable Internet performance.
Yes. Thanks to the Federal Communication Commission (FCC)’s E-Rate program, over 99% of schools in America have been connected to the Internet since 2003. E-rate provides $2-3 billion per year to schools to ensure basic Internet access, infrastructure and telecommunications services. However, it is capacity – not access alone – that prevents our schools from experiencing robust, reliable Internet performance.
How much Internet access does a school need?
Every school and district has unique Internet capacity needs based on their size and goals, but several organizations have set good recommendations to estimate bandwidth needs.
The State Education Technology Directors Association recommends 100 Mbps per 1,000 users growing to 1 Gbps in by 2017 (2012, The Broadband Imperative). Similarly, the Next Generation Assessment consortia have also set bandwidth recommendations for their online tools (PARCC=100 kbps/student, SBAC=20 kbps/student for basic assessment, 50kbps/student for media rich assessment).
That said, it is important for each school and district to take their specific capacity needs and expected goals for digital learning into account when upgrading their connections and networks.
Every school and district has unique Internet capacity needs based on their size and goals, but several organizations have set good recommendations to estimate bandwidth needs.
The State Education Technology Directors Association recommends 100 Mbps per 1,000 users growing to 1 Gbps in by 2017 (2012, The Broadband Imperative). Similarly, the Next Generation Assessment consortia have also set bandwidth recommendations for their online tools (PARCC=100 kbps/student, SBAC=20 kbps/student for basic assessment, 50kbps/student for media rich assessment).
That said, it is important for each school and district to take their specific capacity needs and expected goals for digital learning into account when upgrading their connections and networks.
How do I run a SchoolSpeedTest at my school?
The SchoolSpeedTest tool allows anyone on a school’s network to test their school’s Internet speed in one minute. After finding your school and answering some simple basic questions, you can hit “Start Test” and let our tool do the rest. The results of the test are then automatically recorded into our database. For more details on how our test is built, click here.
The SchoolSpeedTest tool allows anyone on a school’s network to test their school’s Internet speed in one minute. After finding your school and answering some simple basic questions, you can hit “Start Test” and let our tool do the rest. The results of the test are then automatically recorded into our database. For more details on how our test is built, click here.
Who can run the SchoolSpeedTest?
Teachers, technology coordinators, librarians, principals, students, parents or anyone who is connected to a school’s network are welcome to take the SchoolSpeedTest.
Teachers, technology coordinators, librarians, principals, students, parents or anyone who is connected to a school’s network are welcome to take the SchoolSpeedTest.
From what computer or device should I run the SchoolSpeedTest?
Any browser-capable device can run the SchoolSpeedTest, as long as you are connected to the school’s network. However, we recommend that you run the test from the computer or device you typically use to access the Internet.
Any browser-capable device can run the SchoolSpeedTest, as long as you are connected to the school’s network. However, we recommend that you run the test from the computer or device you typically use to access the Internet.
Why do my results vary each time I run the SchoolSpeedTest?
The same things that affect your Internet speed can impact your SchoolSpeedTest results. Factors impacting the bandwidth available to your device include: the speed of your school's Internet access, the school’s firewall or content filter, the speed of your wired and wireless network, the strength of your Wi-Fi connection, and other traffic on the school's network. But don’t worry, these variations are expected and are part of what we are trying to measure.
The same things that affect your Internet speed can impact your SchoolSpeedTest results. Factors impacting the bandwidth available to your device include: the speed of your school's Internet access, the school’s firewall or content filter, the speed of your wired and wireless network, the strength of your Wi-Fi connection, and other traffic on the school's network. But don’t worry, these variations are expected and are part of what we are trying to measure.
Why do I need to be connected to my school's network to run the SchoolSpeedTest?
The only way we can measure your school’s Internet speed is when you are connected to your school’s network. You can be on a wireless or wired connection when running the test – as long as you’re connected to your school network with your browser-capable device.
The only way we can measure your school’s Internet speed is when you are connected to your school’s network. You can be on a wireless or wired connection when running the test – as long as you’re connected to your school network with your browser-capable device.
Why do we need to run the SchoolSpeedTest more than once?
The SchoolSpeedTest measures the available bandwidth at the time the test is run, but Internet usage throughout the day will vary, and we want to be able to measure that. When your school takes the SchoolSpeedTest at different times of the day, we can capture how fast the Internet is during different situations. Ten SchoolSpeedTests from a school gives us a good picture of what the status of the Internet infrastructure is like.
The SchoolSpeedTest measures the available bandwidth at the time the test is run, but Internet usage throughout the day will vary, and we want to be able to measure that. When your school takes the SchoolSpeedTest at different times of the day, we can capture how fast the Internet is during different situations. Ten SchoolSpeedTests from a school gives us a good picture of what the status of the Internet infrastructure is like.
What time should I run my SchoolSpeedTest?
The Internet usage is at your school is going to differ by time or day. There are many people at a school who use the Internet each day — both in the classroom and in the school’s offices. Each day is different and there are often patterns at your school as to how the Internet gets used, what it is being used for and how many people are using the Internet at any given time. We want to measure these patterns with the SchoolSpeedTest, so it is important to run the test at different times in order to get the most accurate reflection of the typical speed of your school’s Internet access.
The Internet usage is at your school is going to differ by time or day. There are many people at a school who use the Internet each day — both in the classroom and in the school’s offices. Each day is different and there are often patterns at your school as to how the Internet gets used, what it is being used for and how many people are using the Internet at any given time. We want to measure these patterns with the SchoolSpeedTest, so it is important to run the test at different times in order to get the most accurate reflection of the typical speed of your school’s Internet access.
Where in my school should I run the SchoolSpeedTest?
Everywhere – but especially in classrooms and other learning areas. Internet performance can vary in different locations throughout the school, and we want to measure the speeds that are available to students and teachers wherever they access the Internet.
Computers or devices that are using a wireless or Wi-Fi network to connect to the Internet are also important for us to measure. Your distance from the wireless access point and the number of other devices using the same Wi-Fi access point can impact the speed of your connection.
Everywhere – but especially in classrooms and other learning areas. Internet performance can vary in different locations throughout the school, and we want to measure the speeds that are available to students and teachers wherever they access the Internet.
Computers or devices that are using a wireless or Wi-Fi network to connect to the Internet are also important for us to measure. Your distance from the wireless access point and the number of other devices using the same Wi-Fi access point can impact the speed of your connection.
I'm connected to my school's network but I can't get to www.SchoolSpeedTest.org. What do I do?
If you are having trouble getting to www.SchoolSpeedTest.org using your school’s Internet access, it may be blocked on your district’s content filter. Please contact the person in charge of your school’s network or Internet access and ask them to whitelist or unblock our web address. If this doesn’t solve the problem please email us at info@educationsuperhighway.org.
If you are having trouble getting to www.SchoolSpeedTest.org using your school’s Internet access, it may be blocked on your district’s content filter. Please contact the person in charge of your school’s network or Internet access and ask them to whitelist or unblock our web address. If this doesn’t solve the problem please email us at info@educationsuperhighway.org.
What results does the SchoolSpeedTest provide?
The SchoolSpeedTest measures the download and upload speed of the Internet connection available to your device at the time you run the test. Download speed is a measure of how fast your device can retrieve information from the Internet. Upload speed is a measure of how fast your device can send information to the Internet. For most people, download speed is what matters the most as it determines how long it takes you to stream a video, load a web page or download a file. Upload speed is only relevant if you are attempting to transfer a file or if you are hosting a web site for external users.
The SchoolSpeedTest measures the download and upload speed of the Internet connection available to your device at the time you run the test. Download speed is a measure of how fast your device can retrieve information from the Internet. Upload speed is a measure of how fast your device can send information to the Internet. For most people, download speed is what matters the most as it determines how long it takes you to stream a video, load a web page or download a file. Upload speed is only relevant if you are attempting to transfer a file or if you are hosting a web site for external users.
Why do I get different results when I use another speed test tool?
All speed test tools use slightly different methods to gather their measurements. They also have different goals. Some speed test tools may be attempting to measure the speed of the “last mile”, that is, the speed of the link from your school to your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Our SchoolSpeedTest tool is attempting to measure the amount of bandwidth that is available at the time the test is taken. We believe that this is a better measurement of what the end user will experience when attempting to use the Internet in schools.
All speed test tools use slightly different methods to gather their measurements. They also have different goals. Some speed test tools may be attempting to measure the speed of the “last mile”, that is, the speed of the link from your school to your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Our SchoolSpeedTest tool is attempting to measure the amount of bandwidth that is available at the time the test is taken. We believe that this is a better measurement of what the end user will experience when attempting to use the Internet in schools.
Who will have access to the data from the SchoolSpeedTest?
Anyone who runs the SchoolSpeedTest will be provided with their results when they run the Test. We provide school leaders with access to all of the data collected for their school, districts with all of the data collected for schools in their districts and State Departments of Education with all of the data collected for schools in their state. Lastly, we will release aggregate statistics to the general public in order to raise awareness of the need to upgrade our school’s Internet access as a prerequisite for digital learning.
Anyone who runs the SchoolSpeedTest will be provided with their results when they run the Test. We provide school leaders with access to all of the data collected for their school, districts with all of the data collected for schools in their districts and State Departments of Education with all of the data collected for schools in their state. Lastly, we will release aggregate statistics to the general public in order to raise awareness of the need to upgrade our school’s Internet access as a prerequisite for digital learning.
Broadband explained - What is broadband?
Broadband is a term used to describe high speed Internet access. It generally refers to the connection from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to your home or school. It does not refer to the network used within your home or school to allow devices to connect to each other (this is called the LAN or local area network). The three key features of broadband are that it is fast, it is always on and it allows both sides of a connection to transmit data simultaneously. This contrasts with dial-up Internet access which was the typical way that people accessed the Internet until the early 2000s.
Broadband is a term used to describe high speed Internet access. It generally refers to the connection from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to your home or school. It does not refer to the network used within your home or school to allow devices to connect to each other (this is called the LAN or local area network). The three key features of broadband are that it is fast, it is always on and it allows both sides of a connection to transmit data simultaneously. This contrasts with dial-up Internet access which was the typical way that people accessed the Internet until the early 2000s.
Broadband explained - What is a LAN?
A LAN is your local area network. Most schools have both wired LANs that allow you to plug a computer into the network using an Ethernet cable and wireless LANs (commonly referred to as Wi-Fi). Wireless networks use radios to communicate between a device and a wireless access point using the 802.11 wireless Ethernet standard. There have been four commercial versions of the 802.11 standard (802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n). Each standard differs in terms of the number of devices that can connect to a single access point and the speed at which it can transfer information.
A LAN is your local area network. Most schools have both wired LANs that allow you to plug a computer into the network using an Ethernet cable and wireless LANs (commonly referred to as Wi-Fi). Wireless networks use radios to communicate between a device and a wireless access point using the 802.11 wireless Ethernet standard. There have been four commercial versions of the 802.11 standard (802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n). Each standard differs in terms of the number of devices that can connect to a single access point and the speed at which it can transfer information.
Broadband explained - What is a WAN?
A WAN is a wide area network. This is a connection outside of your local area network, such as your connection to the Internet. Schools usually have two types of WANs — a connection to the Internet and a connection to the school district office. The connection to the district office is typically used for the transfer of data between schools and for accessing central systems such as e-mail, student information systems and learning management systems.
A WAN is a wide area network. This is a connection outside of your local area network, such as your connection to the Internet. Schools usually have two types of WANs — a connection to the Internet and a connection to the school district office. The connection to the district office is typically used for the transfer of data between schools and for accessing central systems such as e-mail, student information systems and learning management systems.
Broadband explained - What determines the speed of my school's Internet access?
The speed of your school's Internet access is determined by a number of factors. The most important factor is the speed of the school's WAN connection to the Internet. This is the maximum possible speed at which you will be able to connect to the Internet. There are also a number of other factors that can slow down your Internet access before it gets to the school's WAN connection to the Internet. These include the speed of your LAN, the speed of your WAN connection to the district office (if your Internet access goes through a central location in the district), firewalls, content filters, traffic shapers and proxy servers. Your speed can also be affected if something is mis-configured in the network or the routing path is sub-optimal. Congestion at any one of these points can negatively impact the end-user experience and slow down the speed of your device’s Internet access.
The speed of your school's Internet access is determined by a number of factors. The most important factor is the speed of the school's WAN connection to the Internet. This is the maximum possible speed at which you will be able to connect to the Internet. There are also a number of other factors that can slow down your Internet access before it gets to the school's WAN connection to the Internet. These include the speed of your LAN, the speed of your WAN connection to the district office (if your Internet access goes through a central location in the district), firewalls, content filters, traffic shapers and proxy servers. Your speed can also be affected if something is mis-configured in the network or the routing path is sub-optimal. Congestion at any one of these points can negatively impact the end-user experience and slow down the speed of your device’s Internet access.
Broadband explained - What does Mbps stand for?
Internet access speeds are typically measured in Mbps. Mbps stands for Megabits per second (1,000,000 bits per second). You may also hear Internet speeds described in kilobits per second (Kbps - 1000 bits per second) or gigabits per second (Gbps - 1,000,000,000 bits per second). Kbps is 1/1,000 of a Mbps and a Gbps is 1,000 times a Mbps. It is important to note that computer storage is measured using different numbers. A Kilobyte of storage is 1024 bits and a Megabyte of storage is 1,048,576 bytes. Why the difference? One is a measure of data transmission rates that was created by the telecommunications industry and the other is a measure of capacity that was created by the computer industry.
Internet access speeds are typically measured in Mbps. Mbps stands for Megabits per second (1,000,000 bits per second). You may also hear Internet speeds described in kilobits per second (Kbps - 1000 bits per second) or gigabits per second (Gbps - 1,000,000,000 bits per second). Kbps is 1/1,000 of a Mbps and a Gbps is 1,000 times a Mbps. It is important to note that computer storage is measured using different numbers. A Kilobyte of storage is 1024 bits and a Megabyte of storage is 1,048,576 bytes. Why the difference? One is a measure of data transmission rates that was created by the telecommunications industry and the other is a measure of capacity that was created by the computer industry.
Broadband explained - What is the difference between a bit and a byte?
People often talk about bits and bytes as thought they were the same thing. They are not. A bit is a binary value of a single character one (1) or zero (0). A byte is an octet of bits (8 bits). When you see a small ‘b’ it means bits — the standard by which bandwidth is usually measured. An uppercase ‘B’ means bytes. Bytes and multiples of these are used to indicate files sizes generally — not transfer rates. Transfer rates are generally in bits per second.
People often talk about bits and bytes as thought they were the same thing. They are not. A bit is a binary value of a single character one (1) or zero (0). A byte is an octet of bits (8 bits). When you see a small ‘b’ it means bits — the standard by which bandwidth is usually measured. An uppercase ‘B’ means bytes. Bytes and multiples of these are used to indicate files sizes generally — not transfer rates. Transfer rates are generally in bits per second.
Who is EducationSuperHighway?
EducationSuperHighway is a non-profit organization with the mission of ensuring that every K-12 school in America has reliable, high capacity (100MB+) Internet access so they can take advantage of the promise of digital learning.
EducationSuperHighway is a non-profit organization with the mission of ensuring that every K-12 school in America has reliable, high capacity (100MB+) Internet access so they can take advantage of the promise of digital learning.
How will EducationSuperHighway use the data from the SchoolSpeedTest?
We will use the data collected by the SchoolSpeedTest in three ways.
We will use the data collected by the SchoolSpeedTest in three ways.
- First, we will provide the data to schools, school districts and policy makers to help them more effectively deploy their technology funding and resources and prepare for the introduction of digital learning in their classrooms.
- Second, we will use the information to identify schools that do not have sufficient Internet access so that we can provide them with the technical and procurement support they need to upgrade their Internet infrastructure for digital learning.
- Finally, we will release aggregate statistics to the general public in order to raise awareness of the need to upgrade our school’s Internet access as a prerequisite for digital learning.
TECHNICAL FAQ
How does the SchoolSpeedTest work?
The SchoolSpeedTest operates entirely over HTTP for maximum compatibility. It tests ping (latency), download speed, upload speed, whether specific web sites are blocked and whether the device used to run the test supports Java and Flash. It also collects the IP address from which the test was initiated and the operating system and browser of the device used to run the test.
The SchoolSpeedTest operates entirely over HTTP for maximum compatibility. It tests ping (latency), download speed, upload speed, whether specific web sites are blocked and whether the device used to run the test supports Java and Flash. It also collects the IP address from which the test was initiated and the operating system and browser of the device used to run the test.
What web sites does the SchoolSpeedTest check to see if they are blocked?
The SchoolSpeedTest checks a variety of web sites commonly used at schools to see if they are blocked. We currently check the following sites but may change these at any time:
The SchoolSpeedTest checks a variety of web sites commonly used at schools to see if they are blocked. We currently check the following sites but may change these at any time:
- TED
- YouTube
- YouTube for Education
- Wikipedia
- Facebook
- SchoolTube
- Khan Academy
- PBS Kids
- PBS Learning Media
- neoK12
- Hulu
- Edmodo
Does the SchoolSpeedTest do any user validation before it runs?
The SchoolSpeedTest checks two things prior to running:
First, it checks a database to see whether the IP address of the user originated from within the United States. If the IP address is from outside the United States the user receives an error message explaining that the SchoolSpeedTest is currently only for schools in the United States.
Second, it checks to see if JavaScript is enabled in the user's browser. If JavaScript is not enabled the user receives an error message asking them to enable JavaScript in order to run the SchoolSpeedTest.
The SchoolSpeedTest checks two things prior to running:
First, it checks a database to see whether the IP address of the user originated from within the United States. If the IP address is from outside the United States the user receives an error message explaining that the SchoolSpeedTest is currently only for schools in the United States.
Second, it checks to see if JavaScript is enabled in the user's browser. If JavaScript is not enabled the user receives an error message asking them to enable JavaScript in order to run the SchoolSpeedTest.
What happens once a user has been validated?
When a user that has JavaScript enabled and is within the United States connects to www.SchoolSpeedTest.org we initiate the following test procedure:
Once the user initiates the SchoolSpeedTest by pressing the START TEST button we execute the following procedure to test the download speed, the upload speed, which web sites are blocked, whether the browser supports java and flash and the operating system and browser being used by the test device:
When the download, upload, blocked web site and Java/Flash support tests are complete, the download and upload speeds are reported to the user and all of the information plus the operating system and browser of the test device are recorded in our database.
There are many ways to test the speed of an Internet connection. EducationSuperHighway believes that largest issue facing schools will be the use of web-based video content in the classroom. Videos represent a single data stream to the device and thus we believe that a single data stream is the most appropriate methodology for measuring speeds in a school setting. Other methodologies use multiple HTTP threads which may be a better measurement approach if the most common use case is for typical web browsing where multiple TCP sessions are used to retrieve data in parallel.
When a user that has JavaScript enabled and is within the United States connects to www.SchoolSpeedTest.org we initiate the following test procedure:
- We start a transfer test in the background that downloads some small binary files to estimate the user's connection speed.
- Based on this information we determine the size of the files to use in the actual test. Our goal is to pick a file size that can be downloaded in 15 seconds so that we can get an accurate result without the test taking too long.
- The user is then asked to enter either a zip code or city / state combination. We use this information to look up all the schools in the corresponding geographic area in our database. The database is populated using the Common Core Data (CCD) from the U.S. Department of Education and information from several State Department's of Education. The last update of the CCD database occurred in 2011 so if a school opened since then it may not be in the database.
- The user is then asked to select their school from the list of schools in the geographic area. If the user cannot find their school we allow them to enter a new school. The data from all schools that are entered by users are flagged for post processing to determine the validity of the user's entry.
- The user is then asked to confirm that they are at the school they have selected and that they are connected to the school's network. We ask for this information in order to assist with our efforts to ensure that only tests run from a school network are included in our results.
- The user is then asked to select their role at the school.
- The user is then asked to enter their email address. This is an optional field. If the user indicated that they were a student under the age of 13 in the ROLE field this information is discarded.
- The user must then initiate the actual speed test by pressing the START TEST button.
Once the user initiates the SchoolSpeedTest by pressing the START TEST button we execute the following procedure to test the download speed, the upload speed, which web sites are blocked, whether the browser supports java and flash and the operating system and browser being used by the test device:
- SchoolSpeedTest uses multiple locations to store the files used to perform the download test. The first thing that is done is the test performs five small transfers to each of our storage providers. We then select the provider with the smallest average transfer time in order to keep latency to a minimum for the rest of the test.
- The JavaScript running in the browser then begins the process of downloading a series of files from the chosen server. The number of files downloaded is based on the estimate of the user's connection speed from the transfer test. The files downloaded are all randomized in order to prevent caches from impacting the results.
- The browser records the amount of time it takes to download these files and we then compute the download speed as follows: ((# of bytes in the files downloaded) x 8) / (# seconds it took to download the files). This gives us bits/second, which we then divide by 1,000,000 to get Mbps.
- The browser then initiates the upload speed test by generating a random set of data and uploading it to the server. The data is sent using an HTTP POST. Due to limitations of web security and technology, all upload tests go to a common server, which is currently located in Virginia. This may result in more variability in the upload speed measurements. The upload speed is then calculated in the same manner as the download speed.
- Concurrent with the download and upload tests, the browser attempts to ping the web sites in our blocking test list. This is a simple HTTP connectivity test; we do not actually request information from the tested site. These tests are not always reliable. If for example a content filter redirects our HTTP request to a site that informs the user that the site is not allowed due to policy, we may incorrectly believe the site is reachable when it really isn’t.
- The browser is then tested to see if it can support Java and Flash.
When the download, upload, blocked web site and Java/Flash support tests are complete, the download and upload speeds are reported to the user and all of the information plus the operating system and browser of the test device are recorded in our database.
There are many ways to test the speed of an Internet connection. EducationSuperHighway believes that largest issue facing schools will be the use of web-based video content in the classroom. Videos represent a single data stream to the device and thus we believe that a single data stream is the most appropriate methodology for measuring speeds in a school setting. Other methodologies use multiple HTTP threads which may be a better measurement approach if the most common use case is for typical web browsing where multiple TCP sessions are used to retrieve data in parallel.
What are the technical reasons why results differ from other speed tests?
The SchoolSpeedTest is a measure of available bandwidth to a user’s device over the network and over the Internet, to get a picture of the end-user experience of the Internet speed. This is different than many other speed tests that measure the maximum throughput of your connection, to get a picture of how much bandwidth is being provided by your ISP.
Your Internet experience depends on the bandwidth available to you when you attempt to retrieve content from the Internet. Available bandwidth is defined as your theoretical bandwidth minus unavailable bandwidth. Your theoretical bandwidth is determined by your network infrastructure - including your wiring, network interface, routers and the service provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Unavailable bandwidth is determined by what others are doing on the network at any given time. This is includes both Internet and non-Internet traffic on your network as well as variations in the bandwidth being supplied by your ISP and background congestion on the Internet itself. Figure 1 shows how your typical available bandwidth varies over a given time interval.
Your Internet experience depends on the bandwidth available to you when you attempt to retrieve content from the Internet. Available bandwidth is defined as your theoretical bandwidth minus unavailable bandwidth. Your theoretical bandwidth is determined by your network infrastructure - including your wiring, network interface, routers and the service provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Unavailable bandwidth is determined by what others are doing on the network at any given time. This is includes both Internet and non-Internet traffic on your network as well as variations in the bandwidth being supplied by your ISP and background congestion on the Internet itself. Figure 1 shows how your typical available bandwidth varies over a given time interval.
SchoolSpeedTest measures your available bandwidth at the time you take the test. We do this by transferring a file from our servers to your device and measuring the time it takes. This is illustrated in Figure 2 by the shaded area A. From this we calculate your average available bandwidth as expressed in megabits per second. This number represents how much data you can receive from the Internet in one second.
Other speed tests use a different method to calculate your bandwidth. They take multiple, much smaller samples over a given time period as shown in Figure 3 and represented by area B1 - B12. In order to minimize the impact of other network users on your results, many popular test sites discard the slowest 30% and fastest 10% of these samples in calculating their speed results. They then use the remaining samples to calculate an average speed.
In a digital learning environment, much of the bandwidth usage is based on video. Unlike other forms of Internet usage, video requires continuous streams of bandwidth for the user to have a good experience. As shown in Figure 4, for the given time interval T, the first video user will have a high quality, uninterrupted experience as they will be using the available bandwidth represented by area V1. The second simultaneous video user during this time interval can also have a good experience as there is sufficient continuous bandwidth as shown by area V2. The third simultaneous video user, represented by area V3, will have a few interruptions to their available bandwidth. This will degrade the video quality for user three. As you can see in this illustration, the video experience will continue to degrade when more simultaneous users are added during this time interval and may be unusable by the 8th simultaneous video user.