Roam Data Crowdsourcing

Broadband Map partners with Roam Network to crowdsource data on the performance of cell networks.

The conventional approach for crowdsourcing performance information involves harvesting data with processes running in the background of various apps. Often, these apps don't appear to have anything to do with cell network evaluation—they may be games, note-taking apps, or almost anything else. App users generally aren't even aware of the data collection taking place.

Roam Network breaks from the conventional model. Users of the purpose-built Roam App contribute data and get rewarded for doing so.

With the help of its users, Roam Network collects a rich dataset detailing the performance of networks as users experience them. A diverse range of cell phone models contribute data about a wide range of carriers. Performance information covers indoor, outdoor, and in-motion/in-vehicle contexts.

Explore The Data

You can explore the data yourself with the Roam Coverage Map. Roam data is aggregated into hexagons about a quarter square mile in area.

After selecting a hexagon, you can visualize information about the signal quality across different networks.

Roam Fills A Gap

Roam's data nicely complements Broadband Map's other data sources:

• FCC Data: US networks report their expected coverage to the FCC based on radio-frequency modeling. While the data is comprehensive in its geographic coverage, this modeling often fails to capture the actual, on-the-ground performance of networks.
• DIMO Data: DIMO provides a trove of data about the performance of cell networks via DIMO devices in thousands of vehicles. On-the-ground performance of networks is assessed over millions and millions of miles of driving. The dataset is giant, but the scope is limited to roadways and a narrow set of devices.

Roam fills a gap by providing data that captures actual users' everyday experience across all the contexts they encounter.