Is your broadband connection down? Is it just you or is it everyone?

If you’ve ever stared blankly at your router, yelled at your broadband provider, or wondered whether “the internet” was the problem — now there’s one app that can help you get to the bottom of things.

The latest version of the Speedtest app from Ookla has a major new integration: Downdetector is now built into the app.

Here’s how it works, and more importantly: why it gives you far more power in dealing with your broadband provider (and keeping them honest).

What’s new?

• Inside the Speedtest app you’ll now find a “Status” or “Downdetector-tab” that shows real-time updates on outages for thousands of services — websites, streaming platforms, game servers, ISPs, you name it. Ookla+1

• You can mark favourite services (up to 20 in the recent update) and track if they’re having problems — e.g., Netflix, your ISP’s DNS, your particular game server. Ookla

• It’s no longer just “is my connection slow” — you can see “is everyone else also reporting this problem?” Which means you can distinguish between a local issue (your modem/cable/WiFi) vs. a bigger systemic outage.

• The traditional speed test (download/upload/ping) is still in place. But now the context is richer. You test your connection and then immediately check whether the service you’re trying to access is also malfunctioning.

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Why this is a game-changer for broadband users

1. Clarity in the moment of frustrationWhen your YouTube is buffering, your Netflix drops to standard definition, or your online game keeps disconnecting — it’s infuriating to wait for tech support or reboot your router repeatedly. With the new integration:

• You can run Speedtest → see your connection metrics → then switch to the outage status view and check whether the fault might lie beyond your home network.

• If the outage tracker shows dozens or hundreds of users reporting the same service down, you aren’t chasing a phantom fault in your own hardware when the problem is broader.

2. Leverage when dealing with your ISPWe all know the script: you call your internet service provider (ISP), or open a support ticket, and they ask you to “run a speed test” and “restart your modem”. Now you can bring hard evidence:

• Show your Speedtest results — how many Mbps upload/download, what latency, packet loss if applicable.

• Show whether other users in your area or for that service are also reporting issues. If the outage tracker shows “service X down – 500 reports” then you clearly have a basis to say: “It’s not just me.”

• If your provider says “your line is okay”, you can point to the real-time outage data and argue for escalation or credits.

3. Monitoring over time / accountabilityIf there’s an intermittent fault — maybe your line drops every evening, maybe your upload speed flops during certain hours — you can:

• Use the Speedtest app to test at regular intervals.

• Use the outage-tracker part to see if patterns correlate with broader service problems.

• Log data. If you decide to switch providers (because your current one is under-performing), you have documented results: “On 15 Nov at 19:00 I ran a Speedtest: 5 Mbps down, 0.4 Mbps up, good WiFi signal, but service Y outage reported.”

4. Smart alerts and favouritesBy marking the services you care most about (e.g., the ISP’s gateway, your streaming platform, your gaming server), you can set up favourites and get faster insights when trouble hits. This means you’re proactively informed rather than reactively surprised.

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How to get started (and some tips)

• Update your Speedtest app from the App Store / Google Play so you have the latest version with Downdetector built-in. Google Play

• Launch the app, after you test your speed take a moment to explore the “Status” tab (or equivalent).

• Add favourites: pick the services you rely on most (e.g., your ISP’s status page, streaming platform, corporate VPN, favourite game).

• When you see trouble:

  • Run the speed test.

  • Switch to status view: is the issue isolated to you or part of a broader outage?

  • If it’s broader: you understand the issue is upstream — maybe nothing you do will fix it. If it’s just you: you may need to focus on modem, wiring, router, WiFi.

• If you’re repeatedly seeing poor performance at certain times: record your findings. Present them to your ISP. This shifts the conversation from “maybe” to “here are the facts”.

• Use the outage tracker as part of your decision-making if you’re considering changing providers. If your current ISP keeps showing outage reports and you’re aware, it may be time to move.

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Final word

In the era of streaming, cloud-gaming, work-from-home, and always being “online”, your broadband connection is one of the most critical parts of your home tech stack. Yet often the “who is at fault” question — is it me or them? — is left unanswered and we end up spending hours on hold, rebooting devices, or just accepting slower speeds.

The combined power of Speedtest + Downdetector means that you now have:

• Quantifiable metrics (how fast is your connection?)

• Contextual awareness (Is the service you’re using also down for others?)

• A real-world lever in conversations with your ISP (showing you’re not just complaining).

  
  

If you’re serious about getting the performance you pay for — or making sure your provider keeps their promises — this is a toolset worth embracing.

(Note: As always, remember that home-network issues can still be caused by hardware, wiring, WiFi congestion, device limitations, etc. This app combo helps you understand what’s going on — but if the fault lies in your internal setup, you may still need to troubleshoot accordingly.)