A Practical Optimisation Method to Improve QOS and GOS-Based Key Performance Indicators in GSM Network Cell Cluster Environment

Abstract

The delivering of both good quality of service (QoS) and Grade of Service (GoS) in any competitive mobile communication environment is a major factor to reducing subscribers’ churn rate. Therefore, it is important for wireless mobile network operators to ensure stability and efficiency by delivering a consistent, reliable and high-quality end user (subscriber) satisfaction. This can only be achieve by conducting a regular network performance monitoring and optimisation as it directly impacts the quality of the offered services and hence user satisfaction. In this paper, we present the results of network performance evaluation and optimisation of a GSM network on cell cluster-basis, in Asaba region, South East Nigeria. We employ a combination of essential key performance indicators such as dropped call rate, call setup success rate and outage call rate to examine overall QoS and GoS performance of the GSM network. Our results after network optimisation showed significant performance improvement in terms of call drop rate, call set up success rate, and call block rate across. Specifically, the end user satisfaction rate has increased from 94.45%, 87.74%, and 92.85% to 99.05%, 95.38% and 99.03% respectively across the three GSM cell clusters. The GoS is reduced from 3.33%, 6.60% and 2.38% to 0.00%, 3.70% and 0.00% respectively. Furthermore, ESA, which correspond end points service availability, has improved from 94.44%, 93.40% and 97.62% to 100%, 96.30% and 100% respectively. In addition, the average throughput has improved from 73.74kbits/s, 85.06kbits/s and 87.54kbits/s to 77.07kbits/s, 92.38kbits/s and 102kbits/s respectively across the three GSM cell clusters.