OpenSignal Raises $4M to Revolutionize Mobile Network Mapping
UK-based OpenSignal, the pioneer in crowdsourced mobile signal analytics, has successfully closed a \(4 million Series A funding round. The investment was led by Qualcomm Ventures, with continued support from existing investors O’Reilly AlphaTech Ventures and Passion Capital. This follows the company's \)1.3 million seed round in 2012.
The Power of Crowdsourced Network Data
OpenSignal’s innovative approach leverages smartphone users worldwide to collect unbiased, real-world network performance data. By encouraging users to download their signal-monitoring app, the company has amassed:
- 9+ million global downloads
- 35+ billion data points on wireless network performance
- 250+ million mapped WiFi hotspots
- Coverage data for every mobile operator across all countries
“Our maps now identify the best carriers in nearly every metropolitan area worldwide,” says CEO Brendan Gill. “In major cities like New York and London, we can analyze coverage down to neighborhood levels.”
Commercial Applications and Growth Strategy
OpenSignal’s data intelligence serves diverse clients, including:
- Mobile carriers
- Web companies
- Consulting firms
- Hedge funds
- Telecom regulators
Since launching commercial operations, the company has secured over 20 paying customers across five continents, including industry giants like Telefonica and China Mobile.
Funding Allocation and Future Vision
The new capital will primarily fuel team expansion, with a focus on:
- Data mining specialists
- Data visualization experts
- Engineers for scalable data pipelines
OpenSignal is also exploring new frontiers in sensor data collection, building on its successful WeatherSignal meteorology app. The company sees particular potential in:
- Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons: For hyper-local context mapping
- Air quality sensors: For smart city planning applications
“We’re just beginning to tap the potential of wireless sensors,” Gill notes. “From network performance to urban environmental monitoring, our crowdsourced approach will play a key role in building smarter cities.”
With mobile devices incorporating ever more sensors, OpenSignal is positioned to become the global standard for real-world, crowd-powered network and environmental intelligence.
