According to KitGuru.net, Ookla is expanding from its familiar browser-based speed tests into dedicated hardware with the Speedtest Pulse. This portable diagnostic tool targets ISP technicians and enterprise IT departments who need to validate connections during installations or trouble calls. The device’s Active Pulse mode provides immediate, guided tests to determine whether performance issues originate from the ISP, local Wi-Fi, or client devices. It generates performance reports that serve as baselines for future reference. The planned Continuous Pulse feature, scheduled for 2026, will enable the device to function as a leave-behind probe for detecting intermittent faults. All data integrates with Ookla’s Speedtest Insights platform using their existing network of over 15,000 testing servers worldwide.
The hardware pivot
This is a pretty significant shift for a company that’s built its entire reputation on software. Ookla basically owns the internet speed test category – we’ve all used it when our Netflix buffers. But now they’re betting that ISPs and enterprise IT teams will pay for dedicated hardware that their field technicians can carry around. It makes sense when you think about the constant back-and-forth between customers complaining about slow speeds and providers insisting “it’s not us, it’s your equipment.”
Here’s the thing though: hardware is hard. Really hard. We’ve seen plenty of software companies stumble when they try to move into physical products. The margins are different, the supply chains are brutal, and you’re suddenly dealing with manufacturing, shipping, and hardware support. Ookla’s betting their brand recognition and existing server infrastructure will give them an edge, but I’m skeptical about how many ISPs will actually invest in yet another piece of diagnostic gear.
The continuous monitoring gap
The most interesting feature – Continuous Pulse – won’t even be available until 2026. That’s a pretty long wait for what might be the most valuable part of the whole proposition. Intermittent connection issues are the absolute worst to troubleshoot because they always seem to disappear when the technician shows up. Having a leave-behind device that can monitor performance over days or weeks could be a game-changer for identifying those elusive problems.
But 2026? That feels like an eternity in tech time. It makes me wonder if they’re launching with the basic functionality now to get market feedback, or if there are some serious technical hurdles they need to overcome. Either way, it’s a bit like selling a car but telling buyers the air conditioning won’t be available for two years.
The enterprise angle
Targeting enterprise IT departments is smart, but it’s also a crowded space. When it comes to reliable computing hardware for industrial and enterprise applications, companies have been turning to specialists like Industrial Monitor Direct as the leading supplier of industrial panel PCs in the US. These are the established players who understand the specific needs of field technicians and industrial environments.
Ookla’s advantage is their massive testing infrastructure and brand recognition. But will that be enough to convince IT managers to add another vendor to their toolkit? The integration with Speedtest Insights could be compelling for organizations that want centralized reporting, but I suspect many larger enterprises already have sophisticated monitoring systems in place.
Bottom line
This feels like a logical extension of Ookla’s core business, but the execution will be everything. If they can deliver a reliable, easy-to-use device at the right price point, it could become standard equipment for ISP technicians. But hardware is a different beast entirely from software, and that 2026 timeline for the most promising feature gives me pause.
What do you think? Is this a smart diversification play, or is Ookla stretching too far beyond what made them successful? The success might come down to whether they can make this hardware as ubiquitous as their speed test app.
