XL Enlists Bloggers To Stress Test Mobile Network On The Go

Some participants of XL Net Rally before the trip. Image courtesy of @XL123

How do you test the reliability of a mobile network? Indonesian telco XL invited local netizens to try out its Internet network on a trip event called the XL Net Rally. The event is a sort of preparatory traffic test for the upcoming fasting month of Ramadan and Eid next August.

As a country with a Muslim majority, Indonesia has a tradition of homecoming trips (or “mudik”) during Islamic holidays, especially on the Eid. To facilitate the need for a reliable network during the trip and the fasting month, XL made the initiative to have a network quality check by inviting more than 200 Indonesian bloggers to participate.

For the road trip, bloggers from various cities in Indonesia will travel back and forth along the north coast of Java island (the main route for homecoming trips), and a hot spot for heavy data usage. The bloggers will engage in various internet activities using the XL network on their mobile devices and share them over social media like Twitter with the hashtag #XLNetRally.

Last weekend bloggers traveled from their cities to Semarang. They moved on from there and are still on the road now, continuing the test until their return.

“We expect feedback from them since the bloggers become references for many people,” said Febriati Nadira, Head of Corporate Communication XL.

According to XL, the need for data services during the month of Ramadan and Eid jumps 30 to 35 percent every year. XL itself has tried to improve their 3G network and with any luck, the results of this test will satisfy its customers.

[Source: Tempo Interaktif]