ANALYSIS OF GSM NETWORK QUALITY OF SERVICE USING CALL SETUP FAILURE RATE AND HANDOVER FAILURE RATE INDICES

摘要

Over the decades, the Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications technology has become one of the fastest growing and most challenging telecommunications technologies. The Call Setup Failure Rate (CSFR) and Hand-Over Failure Rate (HOFR) were the most important Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used in ascertaining the efficiency of GSM network in terms of the quality of services rendered. For customers, it is expected that maximum satisfaction is derived from any service rendered, which was not the case over the years. The increase of HOFR and poor network availabilities due to increased CSFR became a great concern to all parties (providers, users, and researchers). Hence, this paper assessed the Quality of Service (QoS) of MTN GSM network in four geographical areas (Kaduna South, Kaduna North, Zaria, and Kafanchan) using two Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of HOFR and CSFR. The data used in the assessment was collated from MTN Network Management Center (NMC) with the aid of the FACTS tool. These KPI results were evaluated against those specified by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in order to make some important recommendations from the findings (contributions) to improve the QoS of MTN network.