Do Son 
The creator of one of the world’s most widely used internet speed testing services, Speedtest.net, has unveiled a new application called Orb, designed not only to measure connection speed but also to assess its overall stability. According to Ookla founder Doug Suttles, raw speed is no longer sufficient—in today’s digital landscape, users care more about the reliability of their connection.
Orb is a utility that gauges not only traditional metrics like download and upload speeds, but also evaluates latency, packet loss, and jitter. Based on these parameters, it computes a comprehensive “stability score.” The higher the score, the better: ratings above 80 are considered strong, 70–80 acceptable, and anything lower suggests likely connectivity issues. When a low score is detected, the app provides actionable suggestions for improvement. These recommendations are powered by large language models, which diagnose the problem and guide users toward a solution.
The application is available across all major platforms—Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. In addition, Orb can be installed on Raspberry Pi devices, older smartphones, OpenWrt-enabled routers, Docker containers, and even the Steam Deck. This versatility enables continuous, real-time network monitoring. One intriguing future feature is the ability to share your Orb setup with others, allowing them to monitor your connection quality and receive alerts in case of outages.
Orb focuses on three core metrics: responsiveness (derived from latency, loss, and jitter), reliability (tracking variations in these parameters over time), and speed. Measurements can be scheduled at varying intervals—from every minute to once per day—making the tool suitable for diagnosing isolated issues or maintaining long-term oversight.
Currently, the service is entirely free, and the team plans to keep it that way. The monetization strategy centers on licensing the technology to internet service providers and enterprises that require deeper insight into their network infrastructure. The project has already secured $3.8 million in funding, with investors including senior executives from Fastly, Netflix, Oculus, and even the co-founder of game studio Naughty Dog.
Looking ahead, the team behind Orb also envisions the creation of “recipes”—tailored configurations for popular services such as Zoom, Netflix, and Google Drive, which will help users verify whether those platforms are accessible through their specific network.
In essence, Orb is not just another speed test—it’s a full-fledged control panel for your internet connection, designed to help you anticipate and prevent disruptions before they occur.
Donate