Towards a User-Centric Broadband Equity: A Comparative Analysis of Mobile Broadband Network Performance Using Crowdsourcing and Drive-Through Tests

Achieving digital equity requires reliable insights into the distribution and quality of broadband access. While crowdsourced network testing (CNT) offers a vast dataset of user-generated insights into network performance, its reliability for policy and research is often questioned. This study contributes to the discourse by empirically comparing traditional drive-through test results from Egypt's telecom regulator (NTRA) with crowdsourced data (Ookla) for the 2020–2021 period. The findings reveal a strong correlation, suggesting that CNT is a viable tool for gaining a user-centric, granular understanding of mobile broadband performance in developing nations. This has implications for academics, policymakers, NGOs and entrepreneurs focused on addressing the digital divide.