Mobile Phone Network Operators Research Articles

Time Domain Analysis of NB-IoT Signals

The NB-IoT (NarrowBand-Internet of Things) radio technology is now widely implemented by mobile phone network operators to support the communication of IoT devices such as smart meters, insurance black boxes for cars, network connected waste bins, smart bicycles. In the present work, some LTE800 cells of different mobile phone network operators implementing the NB-IoT technology in the guard band mode have been investigated. The signals, consisting of a PRB (Physical Resource Block) 180 kHz wide, have been analyzed and characterized in the time domain by means of a narrow band instrumental chain equipped with a Rohde & Schwarz FSH8 spectrum analyzer. Time domain analysis allows us to identify, within the transmission frame, the position of the NB-IoT signaling channels such as the Narrowband Reference Signal (NRS), the primary (NPSS) and secondary (NSSS) synchronization signals and the broadcast channel (NPBCH), but, above all, to measure the power received during the transmission of the NRS. This value has been compared with that measured by the NB-IoT decoding module supplied on the same analyzer, in order to verify the equivalence of these measurement methods. This would allow use of a more diffuse and cheaper instrumentation rather than more expensive vector analyzers, currently required to assess electric fields due to the NB-IoT signals through the extrapolation techniques set by Italian CEI 211-7/E technical standard.

Building blocks of financial inclusion through customer experience value at financial touchpoints in Southern Africa

PurposeThis paper aims to examine customer experience value orchestrated by non-banks' financial touchpoints to understand how they enhance the financial inclusion of low-income consumers.Design/methodology/approachTwo independent but related studies were conducted using qualitative comparative analyses (QCA) research design with semi-structured interviews to compare and contrast customer experience value at two rural locations in Southern Africa. The interview transcripts were analysed using ATLAS.ti, which is a powerful operating system for analysing qualitative data.FindingsThe results indicate that non-banks in the two countries design financial services that include functional, economic, humanic, social and mechanic customer experience value dimensions.Research limitations/implicationsThe data for this study was collected from financial services customers of retailers and mobile phone network operators in only one research setting in each country. Further research could extend the comparative context for qualitative studies across similar markets. Other limitations are discussed in the paper.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the body of knowledge by highlighting the salient and germane dimensions and components found to be important in understanding financial inclusion using customer experience value. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that incorporates customer experience value dimensions in understanding the financial inclusion of low-income consumers at the base of the social and economic pyramid in emerging markets.

Predicting the Quality of Service Experienced By the Users Based on the Measurement History of the Network

Growing from one generation to the following, wireless networks have frequently been enhancing their efficiency in various methods and also for varied purposes. The increase in the usage of different mobile phone world broad web functions may result in degeneration in the mobile network performance. Such destruction often drops the efficiency of the mobile network solutions that can influence the mobile World broad web consumer's experience, which can create the world wide web individuals switch between different mobile network operators to get excellent customer experience. In this particular situation, the effectiveness of mobile phone network operators primarily relies on the capability to make a certain top quality of experience (QoE), which is a procedure of consumers' identified quality of mobile Internet company. The goal is actually to exploit the information made by and already accessible in the network to appropriately release, set up, and optimize network nodules.

Headache, tinnitus and hearing loss in the international Cohort Study of Mobile Phone Use and Health (COSMOS) in Sweden and Finland.

BackgroundMobile phone use and exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) from it have been associated with symptoms in some studies, but the studies have shortcomings and their findings are inconsistent. We conducted a prospective cohort study to assess the association between amount of mobile phone use at baseline and frequency of headache, tinnitus or hearing loss at 4-year follow-up.MethodsThe participants had mobile phone subscriptions with major mobile phone network operators in Sweden (n = 21 049) and Finland (n = 3120), gave consent for obtaining their mobile phone call data from operator records at baseline, and filled in both baseline and follow-up questionnaires on symptoms, potential confounders and further characteristics of their mobile phone use.ResultsThe participants with the highest decile of recorded call-time (average call-time >276 min per week) at baseline showed a weak, suggestive increased frequency of weekly headaches at 4-year follow-up (adjusted odds ratio 1.13, 95% confidence interval 0.95–1.34). There was no obvious gradient of weekly headache with increasing call-time (P trend 0.06). The association of headache with call-time was stronger for the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network than older Global System for Mobile Telecommunications (GSM) technology, despite the latter involving higher exposure to RF-EMF. Tinnitus and hearing loss showed no association with call-time.ConclusionsPeople using mobile phones most extensively for making or receiving calls at baseline reported weekly headaches slightly more frequently at follow-up than other users, but this finding largely disappeared after adjustment for confounders and was not related to call-time in GSM with higher RF-EMF exposure. Tinnitus and hearing loss were not associated with amount of call-time.

Dynamic population mapping using mobile phone data

During the past few decades, technologies such as remote sensing, geographical information systems, and global positioning systems have transformed the way the distribution of human population is studied and modeled in space and time. However, the mapping of populations remains constrained by the logistics of censuses and surveys. Consequently, spatially detailed changes across scales of days, weeks, or months, or even year to year, are difficult to assess and limit the application of human population maps in situations in which timely information is required, such as disasters, conflicts, or epidemics. Mobile phones (MPs) now have an extremely high penetration rate across the globe, and analyzing the spatiotemporal distribution of MP calls geolocated to the tower level may overcome many limitations of census-based approaches, provided that the use of MP data is properly assessed and calibrated. Using datasets of more than 1 billion MP call records from Portugal and France, we show how spatially and temporarily explicit estimations of population densities can be produced at national scales, and how these estimates compare with outputs produced using alternative human population mapping methods. We also demonstrate how maps of human population changes can be produced over multiple timescales while preserving the anonymity of MP users. With similar data being collected every day by MP network providers across the world, the prospect of being able to map contemporary and changing human population distributions over relatively short intervals exists, paving the way for new applications and a near real-time understanding of patterns and processes in human geography.

Use of Mobile Applications in Security and Safety Systems

This paper presents an analysis of the possibilities of using the mobile devices (especially smartphones) with specialized software as parts of distributed systems that perform security and/or safety functions. It provides an overview of mobile-based security and safety applications. Finally, it outlines a generalized model of security and safety systems based on Web-services or systems of mobile phone network operators.

Quality and Customer Satisfaction Spillovers in the Mobile Phone Industry

This study investigates the possible spillover effects of customer satisfaction from product manufacturer to service provider, and vice versa. The survey results provide empirical evidence for the presence of spillover effects of quality and customer satisfactions in the mobile phone industry. This finding suggests that research on the ways in which quality affects customer satisfaction and loyalty should consider the influence of partnering firms and suppliers, rather than only examine the relationship within the same organization. This is particularly relevant in settings where the simultaneous presence of physical product and the service are needed. In the mobile phone industry, handset manufacturers and network operators need to consider whom they partner, depending whether they are the likely receiving or giving party of the spillover effects. Moreover, these effects are moderated by product image gap between the handset and network operator. [Service Science, ISSN 2164-3962 (print), ISSN 2164-3970 (online), was published by Services Science Global (SSG) from 2009 to 2011 as issues under ISBN 978-1-4276-2090-3.]

Roaming in Beijing

The mass of people descending on Beijing for the 2008 Olympics provides a great opportunity for mobile phone network operators to provide a variety of roaming services. Event roamers are a segmented, captive market that all share a common interest, in this case the Olympics. All the roamers will have common needs, such as finding their way around and enjoying the event. This presents operators with the perfect opportunity to offer tailored services that will meet all the roamers' needs, increase their satisfaction and, therefore, generate more revenue. All it takes for operators to achieve this is a few unique SMS based solutions that will provide real value to Olympics roamers.

Just the basics [ultra low-cost handsets

While statistics show a growing demand for high end mobile phones such as smart phones and 3G-capable phones, ultra low-cost handsets show the highest potential for growth. It is a hugely promising business for electronic component makers, mobile phone network operators and manufacturers, but, perhaps most importantly, an opportunity for the millions of people in emerging countries who do not yet have, or cannot afford, the convenience of mobile technology. A driving force behind the emerging markets handset initiative is the GSM Association (GSMA), which makes it possible for developing countries to avail of phones based on the C114 platform and feature the basic voice and text messaging functions. In addition, GSMA also focuses on lobbying governments about reducing taxes on handsets and easing the burden on operators.

Mobile Phone Network Operators' Actions on RF Safety

The current and possible future global penetration of mobile phone usage is given. Health and safety aspects relate to both the statutory requirements for the operation of their networks and the public perception of risks in using services provided by the operators. The coordination of this work nationally through trade associations is mentioned. GSM is the predominant standard used for the provision of global mobile phone services. The GSM MoU Association is introduced as the operators' coordination body worldwide for dealing with radio frequency (RF) health and safety issues through its sub-group, EBRC. The scope of the EBRC group is presented with the considerations used to determine if external research should be supported by the GSM MoU Association. A personal view is provided on the present quality of worldwide research on RF health and safety and some consideration is given as to what constitutes 'good' research. The mobile phone network operators' involvement in the science and application of epidemiological research is considered. Consideration is given to introducing risk/benefit analysis into the debate on the health and safety of mobile phone usage. The media presentation of the results of scientific work on this topic often leads to a falsely negative public perception of the perceived risks. This is made worse when such perceptions are used for the purposes of objecting to the deployment of network infrastructure. The operators' approach to RF health and safety procedures is outlined, with a clarification of the distinctions between near-field and far-field methodologies for the calculation of physical exclusion zones. It is concluded that the mobile phone operators are part of an industry which is safe and who work to ensure that their operations are seen to be safe in the context of the best available worldwide scientific knowledge and safety guidelines.