European Commission and SamKnows Launch First Pan-European Broadband Performance Study

European Commission and SamKnows Launch First Pan-European Broadband Performance Study

LONDON, September 27, 2011/PRNewswire/ --

    10,000 Volunteers Needed Across 30 Countries for Largest Study of its
Kind

   
    - Visit http://www.samknows.eu to register for free
      testing equipment

    The European Commission, in collaboration with broadband performance
testing specialist SamKnows [http://www.samknows.com/broadband/about ], has
launched a pan-European project to map the broadband performance of all EU
Member States and three other nations, as part of a drive to help ISPs,
regulators and consumers improve internet services across the continent[1].

    SamKnows has already conducted similar, successful projects with the
United Kingdom's Ofcom and the United States' Federal Communications
Commission[2], and is now seeking 10,000 volunteers from across Europe to
become involved in the largest broadband performance test of its kind.

    Volunteers[3] will be sent a small device (the 'Whitebox') to plug into
their home internet connection. When the broadband line is not in use, the
Whitebox will run a series of automated tests to measure the speed and
performance of the connection. This will build a pan-European picture of
broadband provision to enable planning for the future, and offer
transparency for consumers paying for broadband connectivity.

    In addition to helping the European Commission with this major study of
Europe-wide broadband provision, individual volunteers will benefit by
receiving detailed real-time data about the performance of their own
connection[4], including speed and reliability.

    To take part, consumers should visit http://www.samknows.eu, to
apply for a free Whitebox from SamKnows.

    Alex Salter, CEO, SamKnows, said: "We are working to provide ISPs,
regulators and, most importantly, consumers with the information they need
to push for improved broadband services.

    The people who volunteer to take part will not only get access to our
technology for free, but will be champions for better broadband across
Europe as they help us to develop a picture of connectivity across Europe."

    Founded in 2003 by software developer Sam Crawford, SamKnows was
established as a consumer information website to promote faster broadband.
In 2008 Sam developed an innovative broadband measurement technology, which
SamKnows has provided free of charge to consumers in the UK and USA ever
since. In the UK alone, SamKnows found that broadband performance was less
than 50% of advertised speeds.

    NOTES TO EDITORS:

    Technical information about the tests can be found at
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/methodology

    1. The Member States SamKnows is recruiting volunteers in are: Austria,
Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxemburg, Netherlands, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK, with additional volunteers sought in Croatia,
Iceland and Norway

    2. SamKnows has received over 250,000 volunteer applications across the
US and UK for its projects with the FCC and Ofcom. More details can be found
at: http://www.samknows.com/broadband/about

    3. Subject to terms and conditions

    4. The SamKnows device ("Whitebox") runs synthetic tests over the
volunteer's broadband connection, simulating common internet applications
and protocols. It does not monitor the volunteer's activity on the internet
or record any personally identifiable information.

Source: SamKnows

MEDIA CONTACTS: Joanna Vos or Will Sturgeon, GolinHarris, SamKnows@golinharris.com