Network optimisation for 3G is still stuck in legacy processes long since outdated in 2G networks, according to Gur Lavie, director of product marketing at Schema.
While 2G operators have moved on from drive and walk tests of their network coverage and capacity, 3G network operators, because of the complexity of UMTS networks, have yet to take advantage of more advanced mobile measurements-based technology.
That is set to change, however, as Schema makes its Mentor product available to UMTS operators. Mentor, which was launched in March 2006 for CDMA and EVDO operators, will be fully launched to the GSM/ UMTS market at February’s 3GSM show in Barcelona.
Lavie said that the technology, which operates by analysing information delivered from live handsets to the RNCs and switches, gives operators much better information to optimise and evaluate their networks.
“In GSM networks, legacy methods have long been abandoned, in favour of mobile measurement technologies. But in 3G UMTS and CDMA operators are still using drive tests and signal predictions methods, and thinking they know what’s going on their network and what their customers are experiencing.”
Lavie said that such methods have proved to be a very inaccurate way to do network planning. Worse, operators tend to overlay their 3G networks depending on their plans for 2G —leading to disappointed customers.
“Mentor changes this by using actual measurements from millions of terminals around the network. Mass adoption of 3G is happening, there are millions of users now, and there are now all those terminals reporting back the signal quality and coverage they are experiencing. But operators are not using this information because it is not easy to collect.”
But by using a mobile measurement system like Mentor, operators can potentially save millions in network rollout, as well as make millions in terms of additional revenues, Lavie said.
One example is that of a sports stadium, that every two weeks needs greater capacity as thousands of fans flock in for the match. One particular operator, because it was not responding to this increased demand, was missing out on the additional revenues by being unable to support the time specific and localised flood of calls. But by using measurement technology to reschedule the network, the operator was able to pick up thousands of extra calls a week, throughout the season.
Another advantage of the system is that by slicing information from the Radio Access Bearer, Mentor can also analyse service type, to see if there is particular demand for certain services at certain locations and times, meaning operators can respond to actual usage.
The system can also analyse device type. Lavie said when one operator introduced a new handset to its range, with thousands of these terminals suddenly on the network, the operator found they were configured with the wrong power consumption, creating service degradation across the network.
Schema has developed its algorithm to be able to interrogate data from infrastructure from all the major equipment vendors, Lavie said, without operators having to change anything else in the network.
“Most companies have multiple vendor strategies, and currently need different tools for each set of interfaces. But Mentor can give them one total data optimisation,” Lavie claimed.
Schema currently has three Beta customers for Mentor in UMTS. Lavie said early results showed that the companies have been able to reduce their dropped call rate by as much as 30%, saving up to $0.5 million over the year in one case.
The company is launching the product for full commercial availability in February 2007. At present it is aimed at the network operations team in operators, performance and RF engineers, but in time Lavie thinks the information generated will be as useful to marketing and sales teams.
“In time, we can see the technology being made available to target key corporate accounts, and even individual users, enabling operators to support class of service and SLAs,” he said. That said, he stressed that the initial target is still to support the network ops teams.