EVALUATION OF CELLULAR NETWORK PERFORMANCE FOR A SELECTED MOBILE OPERATOR IN IBADAN METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

Abstract

This research investigates the evaluation of Cellular Network Performance for A Selected Mobile Operator in Ibadan Metropolis, Nigeria. In recent times, there has been problem of poor quality of service on the part of mobile operators in Nigeria. This has resulted into lack of satisfaction on the part of the end users. Hence, it is desirable to evaluate the performance of a cellular network in term of key performance indicators based on the statistics generated from drive test and network management system. The drive test gives the picture of the network as it is experienced by the user. In this research, two different drive tests were carried out at different times using Transmission Environmental Monitoring Mobile (TEMS) investigation tools. The drive test tool used is the TEMS Pocket Professional Phones, (w995). This capture the signal strength and the signal quality of the investigated area. Two different measurement method were used to collect the log file, the short call and the log call. The quality of the network was evaluated by examining the Key performance indicators (KPIs) such as Call setup success rate (CSSR), Call drop rate (CDR), Handover success rate (HOSR), Received signal code power (RSCP) and Ec/No. The result obtained from NMS for CSSR, CDR and HOSR are 98.47% 0.88% and 99.89% respectively while the result obtain through drive test are 69.92%,38.37% and 99.04% respectively. The decrease in the values of CSSR and CDR except for HOSR shows that there is degradation in the quality of service offered by the mobile operator. Moreover, for the coverage analysis, the result of RSCP with the range of -65 to 0 dB cover just 2.82% while for Ec/No with range of -10dB cover 33.99% of the total coverage area. Both result falls below 75% stipulated by NCC of the total coverage area. The result of this research also shows the comparative analyses of the quality of service offered by each of the operator in Ibadan metropolis. The research then suggested some recommendation in order to proffer solution to the challenges observed in the network in the investigated area.