Building an in-house mobile device lab for testing requires significant capital expenditure (CAPEX). For a company with a team of 30 developers and a fleet of 300 devices, the initial setup cost is estimated at 32 ₽ million. This figure covers hardware, infrastructure, and annual operating expenses (OPEX) of 4.5 ₽ million, excluding software development.
Developing custom management software for an in-house lab is a major undertaking, requiring an additional investment of several tens of millions of rubles and a timeline of 12 to 24 months. Furthermore, companies must account for ongoing maintenance, including hardware repairs, device updates every 1.5 to 2 years, and potential costs for specialized personnel.
Selectel offers an alternative cloud-based mobile lab model based on OPEX. A subscription for 30 concurrent streams, which provides access to over 300 devices, costs 20 000 ₽ per month per stream. Over a two-year period, this model for 30 concurrent sessions totals 14.4 ₽ million, compared to the 32 ₽ million required for an in-house infrastructure.
The cloud model allows teams to swap devices instantly without additional fees, providing access to both current flagships and legacy models. However, this approach may not be suitable for organizations with strict information security requirements that mandate physical control over hardware, or for companies whose internal financial policies favor CAPEX over OPEX.
