Paris, 13 April 2016
Publication of the summary scorecard for the 2nd half of 2015
Today ARCEP is publishing its fourth quality of service (QoS) scorecard for fixed internet access services in Metropolitan France, pertaining to the second half of 2015.
As it is in the process of launching new initiatives whose aims include taking better account of the user experience (see below), ARCEP decided to trim down its report compared to previous quarters, and focus on comparing how the different access technologies perform.
ARCEP's purpose in monitoring these performances is to help users to make informed choices, and to encourage operators to invest in new generation access networks and so be able to improve their services in an ongoing fashion.
Fibre to the home: strongest performance
The results clearly reveal the contribution made by fibre to the home (FttH) access. This is particularly true when it comes to indicators for upstream throughput - which is crucial for applications that involve file sharing (videos, photos, etc.), data storage in the cloud and self-hosting websites or services - and for latency, which has a direct impact on quality of experience for applications such as web browsing and online gaming.
ARCEP's internet QoS information roadmap
In its strategic review, whose conclusions were made public on 19 January 2016, ARCEP established a roadmap for providing information on fixed and mobile network QoS and coverage, whose aim is to enhance its existing observatories and particularly the one devoted to measuring the quality of fixed internet access.
First, ARCEP will be introducing a partnership-based approach aimed at ensuring reliable indicators and promoting quality of service instruments produced by third parties. This approach, which is in line with European net neutrality regulations, will be the subject of a call for expression of interest in June 2016.
Second, ARCEP plans to launch a process of opening up access to data that are of general interest, which will result in data being held by operators being made publicly available.
Third, an in-depth opportunity study on introducing a crowdsourced measurement tool will be conducted over the course of 2016.
Lastly, a review will be performed in 2016 of Decision No. 2013-0004, which governs the observatory that is the subject of this publication. Among other things, this review will provide an opportunity to incorporate some of the proposed improvements that were made during the call for input held in November 2015.
Together, these initiatives constitute the pillars of the new approach that ARCEP is working to construct, namely one of data-centric regulation.
