A comprehensive Quality of Mobile Services in Pakistan

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has recently carried out a comprehensive Quality of Service (QoS) Survey of 2G and Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Peshawar to check voice and NGMS QoS as per the required standards. QoS Survey is in progress in other cities of Pakistan.

During the survey, NGMS services of Mobilink, Telenor Ufone, and Zong were tested whereas voice and SMS services of all the mobile operators were checked. Results of the testing revealed that the data throughput of Zong 4G is the highest among all NGMS licensees.

Voice Services of all mobile operators were tested to check the availability of services, Congestion, Drop Call Rate, Call Connection Time and Voice Quality. Results of the survey revealed that service availability and voice quality for all the mobile operators is as per the required standards.

Short Message Service (SMS) of mobile operators was tested for SMS successful delivery and that the SMS is received within a specified time. All mobile operators are delivering SMS earlier than the standard delivery time.

In Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) Auction held on 23^rd April 2014, Mobilink and Zong acquired 10MHz frequency spectrum for 3G services whereas Ufone and Telenor acquired 5MHz. The results of the recent survey reveal that Internet data speed of NGMS/3G operators with 10MHz frequency spectrum is higher than that of the Internet data speed provided by 3G operators with 5MHz frequency spectrum. Zong has acquired 10MHz frequency spectrum for 4G services in the auction. Internet data speed of Zong 4G is highest among all NGMS operators.

Next Generation Mobile Services – Key Performance Indicators

1. User Data Throughput

This KPI defines user data rate (Internet speed) to be provided by NGMS operators to mobile users across the coverage areas. The data throughput for all NGMS licensees was checked using NEMO Invex-I tool at Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar the results of which are as under:

User data “throughput” of all NGMS operators is higher than the benchmark set in their respective licenses. Data throughput of Zong is the highest followed by Mobilink, whereas data throughput of Ufone is the lowest among all NGMS operators.

2. Signal Strength

This KPI defines minimum outdoor signal strength. The higher the signal strength, the better data and voice services available to the mobile users would be.

The signal strength of all the NGMS operators is above the benchmark revealing good coverage in the majority of the covered areas. The lower the value of signal strength on negative axis, the higher is the signal strength.

Note: While examining the above two parameters, it reveals that though the overall signal strength of Ufone and Telenor networks is comparatively better than those of Zong and Mobilink because of more frequency spectrum used by Zong and Mobilink for NGMS, their quality is superior.

Cellular Mobile Services – Key Performance Indicators

1. Voice Services

a. Network Accessibility

“Network Accessibility is the probability that mobile services are available to an end customer by display of network indicator on the mobile phone throughout the entire duration of usage”.

Network Accessibility of all the mobile operators is satisfactory.

b .Grade of Service (GoS)

“Grade of Service is the probability that the end customer cannot access the mobile services when requested if it is offered by the display of the network indicator on the mobile phone. In simple words, Grade of Service is Network Blocking”.

All mobile operators are meeting Grade of Service.

c. Call Connection Time

“Call Connection Time is the time between sending of complete call initiation information by the caller and in return receipt of call setup notification. In simple words, it is time between dialing a number and hearing ring-back tone”.

The call connection time of all the mobile operators is not satisfactory.

d. Call Completion Ratio

Call Completion Ratio is the probability that a service, once obtained, will continue to be provided under given conditions for a given time duration or until deliberately terminated by either caller (A-party) or receiver (B-party). In simple words, this KPI provides information about Call Drops.

Call Completion Ratio for Mobilink and Ufone is below the required standard, whereas other three mobile operators are meeting the standard.

e. End-to-End Speech Quality

End-to-End Speech Quality is the degree of speech quality that a listener perceives at the terminal/mobile with a talker at the other end. In simple words, it provides information about the clarity of voice.

End-to-End Speech Quality of all the mobile operators is above the standard.

2. SMS Services

a. SMS Success Rate

SMS Success Rate is the probability that the short message is delivered successfully, end-to-end when requested and display of the relevant information on the mobile phone. It provides information about successful delivery of SMS.

SMS success rate for Mobilink and Warid Telecom is below the standard, whereas other mobile operators are meeting the standard.

b. End-to-End SMS Delivery Time

End-to-End SMS Delivery Time is the time between sending a short message to a short message center and receiving the very same short message at intended mobile phone (receiver). It provides average time taken for delivery of short message from sender to recipient.