Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
ZDNET’s key takeaways
Connectivity intelligence brand Ookla just announced the Speedtest Pulse, a diagnostic troubleshooting device for ISPs and enterprises that fits on the back of a MagSafe-compatible smartphone.
It has two modes: one for on-the-spot troubleshooting, and a second for autonomous network monitoring.
The Pulse is designed for ISP/enterprise users but is intuitive enough for non-experts.
Connectivity brand Ookla just announced a new product designed to demystify Wi-Fi issues, and it’s small enough to attach to the back of a smartphone’s MagSafe port.
Designed for technicians but also potentially useful for consumers, the new Speedtest Pulse is a dual-mode network diagnostic tool aiming to offer “one tap” troubleshooting at a competitive price point.
Also: 5 must-have cloud tools for small businesses in 2025 (and my top 10 money-saving secrets)
Its objective is precise: to determine where the network connection bottleneck lies and whether the issue resides with the ISP, the local Wi-Fi, or a specific device. After identifying the problem, the device suggests a fix in natural language.
I recently spoke with Luke Kehoe, a telecoms analyst at Ookla, about the Pulse, and the one thing he stressed most is the device’s ability to turn data into actionable solutions.
“Most network diagnostic tools are data-rich but insight-poor,” he told ZDNET in a Zoom interview. “The Pulse not only tells you what’s wrong, it gives you steps to fix it.” Instead of flooding the technician with metrics, the Pulse will suggest something like, “You need to reduce Wi-Fi congestion by doing x, y, z.”
<!–>
–>
Ookla
The device uses machine learning to generate natural-language instructions for troubleshooting issues and delivering more insightful metrics. The model, dubbed “SpeedTest IQ,” was developed internally for the Pulse and so far exists only in this one product.
According to Ookla’s statistics, 68% of households reported Wi-Fi issues in the last 12 months, and of those who called their ISPs to have technicians sent out, 20% failed to find a solution.
Also: Slow internet at home? 3 things I always inspect first to get faster Wi-Fi speeds
Bad Wi-Fi is unfortunately all too commonplace, and the issue is often part of a “blame game,” with ISPs blaming device settings or user configurations, or users pointing at networks. The Pulse is designed to make technicians the first line of defense, identifying where the problem actually lies and hopefully retaining customers in the process.
<!–>
The device itself looks a lot like a MagSafe portable charger, designed to stick to the back of a smartphone. It has a physical 2.1-inch AMOLED display that shows the familiar Ookla speedtest meter, a USB-C port for connecting to the phone, and, of course, an Ethernet port for hooking directly into the modem or router being tested.
Via the wired connection, the Pulse verifies inbound network performance, wireless throughput, and RF performance with the integrated Ookla Speedtest functionality. It can then identify underperforming networks and allow IT teams to deploy resources where they are needed.
This straightforward design is meant to allow a team’s high-skill engineers to focus on frontline network issues rather than being mired in routine troubleshooting.
Regarding the two modes, the first is “Active Pulse,” which is the main mode designed for technicians or IT support staff with on-demand network diagnostics.
The other mode, “Continuous Pulse,” is designed to provide a long-term picture of network health over days, weeks, or longer. This mode aims to stay ahead of performance issues before network problems occur.
The Pulse is a brand-new device launching at the end of 2025, with support for its continuous mode launching afterwards, in 2026. In terms of pricing, there is a one-time hardware purchase fee for the device itself, and a recurring monthly service fee, but neither has been specified yet. Ookla is expected to release exact pricing in the coming weeks.
