“Despite the latest communication technologies, consumers often rightly complain about its quality or lack thereof. Such problems could be solved by a system for monitoring the quality of mobile services, which should have been working since the first call – for more than 27 years “, – so recently announced its creation in the Ukrainian State Center of Radio Frequencies (UCRF).
When will this monitoring system work? How exactly can it reduce the number of complaints about network outages, low internet speed, etc.? From which “bedside table” will the state get money for its launch and administration? Mind was looking for answers to these and other questions .
What is the essence of the product? According to Mind in the UCRF, the monitoring system will include two components: measuring systems (portable and transport-based) and software.
“Test calls and data downloads / uploads to the Internet / from the Internet will take place with the help of measuring systems. They will help to measure all possible parameters that characterize the quality of communication. Measurements will be made at different points: cities, villages, roads, inside buildings, etc. Their results will be accumulated in the measurement database, analyzed by special software, and on their basis conclusions will be made about the quality of services provided by mobile operators, “- explains the executive director of the UCRF Vadym Gulko.
What parameters will be monitored? It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. “Quality indicators and their limit normalized indicators were approved by the order of the Ministry of Transport and Communications №147 of March 19, 2010 . In the near future, this order is planned to be updated and to include additional indicators that characterize the quality of communication services using modern 3G and 4G technologies, “says Gulko.
When does product creation start? “Together with the NCCIR, we are already working on the technical composition of the system. At the same time, we are improving the legal framework, taking into account the functioning of the system, “the UCRF notes.
When will it start working? Approximately – from May next year. “After the tender, the first delivery of equipment is planned no earlier than March-April 2021. Accordingly, in 2-3 weeks after that the system will be able to start functioning in a limited mode “, – Gulko tells.
How will the system solve the problems of voice and data communication quality? The answer to this question is currently unclear. The fact is that mobile operators periodically diagnose key indicators themselves or order monitoring from third-party contractors. Also, the “big three” quickly sees failures in their networks. And fierce competition in the market encourages players to quickly patch the identified “holes”.
“Our own quality monitoring systems inform immediately in the event of an accident. We are guided by the SLA – this is the time during which staff work should be resumed, one of the main tools for assessing and managing the quality of services, “the press service of Vodafone Ukraine explains.
The operator clarifies that the change in the level of service provision is not necessarily related to the accident: “It can be caused by a number of factors, such as a mass gathering of people. Of course, we provide additional capacity of the network in advance with the help of special equipment and point settings of the network at the time of the event. At the same time, they all work within the spectrum that the operator has. If the number of physically active users exceeds the capacity of such a spectrum, the operator will not be able to provide the maximum speed of absolutely all customers at this point. “
How will similar data of the state system help operators? Mind asked UCRF experts to explain this with the example of several situations. Suppose the system detects:
network failure;
lack (very low speed) of the Internet at a certain point of the international route;
a sharp drop in speed in the city center during mass celebrations or rallies.
The UCRF acknowledged that the system would not address the quality problem and would not respond immediately to deteriorating performance. “It will record the levels of quality indicators achieved by the results of measurements and their processing. Operators have their own diagnostic systems that monitor critical changes in the state of the network, “- says Gulko.
Why monitor then? Its materials will be used by the state supervision of the NCCIR during inspections, the UCRF says. The irony is that the telecom controller had access to periodically measured parameters even before the system was started.
Source: NCCIR