Broadband Mapping Using Smartphones (Broadband MAP US)

Obtaining accurate wireless broadband maps is important for a multitude of commercial and scientific reasons, including determining the actual broadband coverage provided by wireless carriers, monitoring the health of broadband networks, and informing future network design.

Currently, wireless carriers self-report coverage data to the FCC, and some of this reporting has been found to be inaccurate. 

The Broadband Mapping Using Smartphones (Broadband MAP US) project works to address this need by capturing meaningful data measurements that are consequential and impactful to the nation and agencies that regulate and monitor broadband service for the public good. To collect data for the project, faculty, staff, and students at partner universities test phones from each major wireless carrier in the same geographic areas. To capture the necessary measurements, participants run three apps on each phone:

• SigCap captures WIFI and LTE information passively every 10 seconds and requires a SIM card from each wireless carrier
• Speedtest apps (including the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) speedtest app) collect data speeds and allow data export
• Network Signal Guru (NSG) provides detailed cellular network data, including throughput

This collected data allows the mapping of infrastructure deployments and signal strength, in addition to determining relative propagation. Furthermore, this work can help address the digital divide by recording accurate data in a wide range of geographic areas and ensuring the reliability of providers’ coverage, throughput, and latency claims. This data will also help support efficient spectrum sharing in the future, which will be dependent on accurate measurements.

This project serves as a pathway and on-ramp to the electromagnetic radio spectrum career field for participating students and will provide training opportunities and access to students and faculty from institutions that may not otherwise be involved in STEM research. While participating institutions need not possess all four selection criteria, each criterion is taken into consideration. Institutions should:

• Have faculty interested in serving as lead Principal Investigator (PI) and contributing to the Center’s research and educational missions.
• Provide the greatest opportunity to select talented undergraduates who may not have the same opportunities or exposure to spectrum-related research and training without this program.
• Allow for the expansion of the geographic region for data collection.
• Benefit from NSF SpectrumX research resources that would not have been otherwise available to the partner school, PI, or students. 

If you or your institution are interested in taking part in this program, please reach out to Meara Hibashi, Director of the Broadening Participation Working Group, at mhabashi@virginia.edu.