California Public Utilities Commission's (CPUC) CalSPEED

The California Public Utilities Commission's (CPUC) CalSPEED program was established to measure the reliability, quality, and availability of network services throughout the State of California.

As part of these efforts, this web-based tool has been developed using Ookla's Speedtest Custom software. The tool is freely accessible to the public and can be used on standard computers, laptops, and mobile devices through various web browsers. Please be aware that your firewall or other network settings could affect or block your connection to the test servers.

The tool measures key internet performance metrics and keeps the history of previous test results in one place.

Network Performance Metrics

When we use the internet, several factors influence how fast and reliable our experience is. We measure network performance using four key metrics: ping, download speed, upload speed, and jitter. Here's what each of these means:

• Ping: Ping or latency measures how quickly a small piece of data travels from your device to a server on the internet and back again. It’s like sending a quick signal to check if everything is working. A lower ping value means a faster response time, which is especially important for activities like online gaming or video conferencing. High ping can cause delays and make interactions feel sluggish. Ping is measured in milliseconds (ms).
• Download Speed: Download speed measures how quickly data is transferred from the internet to your device. This is the most familiar metric, as it affects how fast web pages load, how quickly videos stream, and how soon large files can be downloaded. Higher download speeds mean less waiting time and smoother performance. Download speed is measured in Megabits per second (Mbps).
• Upload Speed: Upload speed measures how fast data can be sent from your device to the internet. This is important for actions like sending emails, posting photos or videos, and making video calls. Although we often focus more on download speeds, fast upload speeds are essential for sharing information. Upload speed, like download speed, is measured in Megabits per second (Mbps).
• Jitter: Jitter measures the consistency of data flow over a network. It indicates how much the time it takes for data to travel varies. High jitter can cause problems with real-time applications, like video calls or online games, where smooth and consistent data delivery is crucial. For example, with high jitter, a video call might freeze or become distorted. Jitter is measured in milliseconds (ms).

For a complete list of data collected, please refer to our privacy policy at https://calspeed.org/privacy-policy.

History

The History section keeps a detailed record of your previous network performance tests, allowing you to track how your connection performs over time and across multiple devices. It provides a comprehensive list, charts, and statistics to help you compare results, identify patterns, and monitor changes in your internet speed and stability. This information provides valuable insights for troubleshooting, optimizing your network, or discussing issues with your internet service provider.