Network optimisation really improves mobile broadband experience, according to experts

The impact of inevitable network overcrowding as mobile broadband becomes more popular can be significantly offset by network optimisation practices, according to new research.

The number of mobile broadband subscribers worldwide was pegged at 186m at the end of 2008, and is expected to exceed 600m by the end of this year. And as the number of mobile broadband and mobile internet users continues to grow, network operators are having to find ways to manage traffic on their networks such that users aren't presented with a miserable mobile data experience.

According to research released by telecoms analyst Informa Telecoms and Media, it's all about file size and download speed. Which, as a mobile broadband user, is an obvious conclusion - large file plus slow download speed equals terrible user experience. Between June and August this year, Informa performed tests on a number of mobile broadband networks to assess how well each network handled data transfer, in particular at peak times in built-up areas, when the networks are under the heaviest strain. The tests used netbooks equipped with mobile broadband, and measured the file size and download time for a range of popular websites including Amazon and Facebook.

The results clearly show that those operators which employ network optimisation software - T-Mobile, O2, Vodafone and BT - performed better than their non-optimised counterparts when the going got tough. Researchers concluded that optimisation is an important factor in reducing traffic and therefore increasing capacity and avoiding bottlenecks; although it is not necessarily a long-term solution.