Test and Measurement Today Complexity: Convergence and Continuous Validation

Why It Matters

As networks fragment and become intent‑driven, operators face revenue and churn risk if testing remains aggregate‑focused; continuous, granular validation is essential to ensure service SLAs, protect subscriber retention and guide investment priorities.

Summary

OpenSignal VP Sylvia Kashish argued that telco networks have grown far more complex—spanning 3G/4G/5G (including 5G standalone), Wi‑Fi, fixed-mobile convergence, device-to-device and non‑terrestrial links—while AI, network slicing and transient infrastructure make operations dynamic. She emphasized that user experience is local, continuous and contextual, and that weak moments in high‑value contexts can erase strong national averages. OpenSignal’s measurements show mixed real‑world gains from 5G standalone: some markets see latency and speed improvements, while others (e.g., Brazil) show flat or worse performance, reflecting differing operator priorities and deployment tradeoffs. The talk called for continuous, context‑aware test and measurement across distributed vendor ecosystems to close the validation gap between specs and user experience.

Original Description

Recorded at Test & Measurement Forum 2026.

Sylwia Kechiche, VP Industry Analysis, Opensignal

Kelly Hill, Contributing Editor, RCRTech, Publisher of RCR Wireless News