What We Do
Our Mission
Measurement Lab (M-Lab) exists to make the Internet measurable openly, independently, and at a global scale. We build and maintain one of the world’s largest open datasets on Internet performance, alongside a distributed measurement platform that enables researchers, journalists, policymakers, and the public to understand how networks actually perform in practice.
Our Approach
M-Lab’s work is guided by a set of core principles.
- We operate with open data by default and build on open-source infrastructure.
- We prioritize scientific transparency and reproducibility, while maintaining privacy-conscious data practices.
- Our work is grounded in global collaboration and designed to support a broad and diverse community.
Operate a Global Measurement Platform
At the core of M-Lab is a global infrastructure of hundreds of measurement servers deployed across diverse regions. Through this network, we host open-source diagnostic tools and enable millions of performance tests every day. By ensuring consistency in how tests are run and maintaining scientific rigor in their design, the platform produces data that is reliable, comparable, and independent of commercial influence.
Our work is supported by partnerships with hosting providers and research institutions worldwide, enabling the platform to expand and evolve over time.
The result is a trusted foundation for understanding Internet performance at scale.
Learn more about the M-Lab Platform.
Provide Open Data for Research and Accountability
All data collected through M-Lab is made openly available for analysis and reuse.
This includes petabytes of historical network performance data that can be used to study long-term trends, understand connectivity patterns, and examine how the Internet behaves across different environments.
This open data supports academic research, peer-reviewed studies, investigative journalism, and public interest reporting. It also informs regulatory decisions and contributes to policy discussions around connectivity, resilience, and digital inequality.
This data and research have led to greater transparency and evidence for how the Internet works and where it does not.
Explore M-Lab’s Data.
Develop and Support Open Measurement Tools
M-Lab supports the development of open-source tools designed to measure key aspects of Internet performance, including download and upload speed, latency, packet loss, and signs of network interference or traffic shaping.
These tools are built with a strong emphasis on transparency, reproducibility, and scientific integrity. This ensures that measurements remain trustworthy and are not controlled by proprietary systems or Internet service providers.
We now have a set of tools that enable independent, verifiable measurement of network performance.
Use M-Lab’s Tools.
Collaborate with Researchers and Public Interest Organizations
M-Lab works in collaboration with a broad network of partners, including universities, research labs, civil society organizations, digital rights advocates, policymakers, and journalists.
Through these partnerships, we strengthen the global ecosystem of open Internet measurement and support the development of evidence-based insights into connectivity and access.
Such collaboration has led to a more informed and connected community working toward digital equity and accountability.
Join the M-Lab Community.
Advance Internet Transparency
M-Lab exists to ensure that understanding Internet performance does not depend on closed or proprietary systems.
By making performance data openly accessible, the platform supports work across network neutrality analysis, broadband mapping, infrastructure planning, and monitoring connectivity during disruptions. It also enables research into digital inclusion, helping to identify gaps in access and areas for improvement.
We continue to support a more accountable and measurable Internet.