Measurement system ensures call and session quality are monitored throughout

QUALITA, a new measurement and analysis tool being launched by AIRCOM International addresses many of the quality issues faced by 3G, GPRS and GSM operators. With their emphases now on retaining existing subscribers, especially the high value ones, and preventing churn, the need is for end-to-end measurement of network quality and the analysis of any under-performance.

3G services are adding further impetus to the measurement of end-to-end quality as the complexity of measuring QoS is greater in IP networks. To offer the guaranteed high service levels demanded by applications such as ‘real-time’ video, quality parameters such as delay, packet loss and throughput have to be continuously monitored for each service type; relying on the ‘best effort’ QoS of the Internet is not an option.

QUALITA achieves this by measuring performance not just at the network and service levels, but also at the subscriber level where a new metric, Quality of Experience (QoE), allows operators to determine the exact experience of the user at the terminal level. The user judges performance in terms of  service availability and accessibility together with speed and excellence of communications.

Apart from QoE the system measures the Quality of Service at the service level and Key Quality Indicators at the network level providing end-to-end measurement of the quality of calls across the complete network for each service type, subscriber group, terminal model and network location; or a combination of them.

QUALITA works by analysing Call Detail Records( CDRs) for quality indicators such as reliability; delay; and peak and mean throughputs together with specific 3G indicators such as conversational and streaming. QoE indicators include location updates and roaming plus success with call, sessions, services, content and SMS, as well as networks and VAS availability.

An effective and unique method devised by AIRCOM for quantifying quality-based on subscriber groups, locations, services and terminal types ranging from Q1 (best) to Q6 (worst) offers a quick and comprehensive method of understanding the degree of degradation that customers experience for a certain service in a particular location for a particular terminal type.

Operators also benefit from the use of QUALITA’s CDR database to extract valuable marketing information about subscriber behaviour, usage patterns and service usage together with reports comparing quality offered to users by locations, services, terminals or subscriber groups. ‘Top 10’ reports highlight best performing terminals, areas and services with high call usage, services and locations with best quality; and subscriber groups with highest call usage.

External Links

Aircom International

During January 2004 the total number of WAP page impressions viewed in the UK reached 1.2 billion, according to figures announced today by the Mobile Data Association (MDA).

This shows an increase of almost 200 million on December and provides the highest monthly figure yet recorded. The total, from GSM Network operators O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone, takes the daily average to 38 million, more than doubling the 17 million pages viewed on an average day during January 2003.

MDA Chairman, Mike Short, commented: ‘The fact that ringtone and games downloads regularly contribute to the rising number of WAP PI’s viewed in the UK each month has been well documented by the MDA. Increasingly, mobile operators are partnering with companies in the news and sports arenas to provide more compelling content and improved ease of navigation around mobile internet sites. They are also focussing on a much wider audience, and users interested in services such as flight and train timetables can expect to see more content available to them on their mobile phones as these partnerships develop.”

The MDA continues to publish a monthly ‘Top 10 Chart’ of the most popular ringtones downloaded across the four UK Network Operators, with January’s chart as follows:
1. Shut Up – Black-Eyed Peas
2. Hey Ya! – Outkkast
3. Mad World – Gary Jules
4. Changes – Kelly and Ozzy Osborne
5. Milkshake – Kelis
6. Somebody to Love – Boogie Pimps
7. Where is the Love – Black-Eyed Peas feat. Justin Timberlake
8. I’m Still in Love – Sean Paul
9. Feeling Fine – Ultrabeat
10.Take Me to the Clouds Above – LMC

External Links

Mobile Data Association
MDA WAP initiative

ComArch closed 2003 fiscal year vaulting its sales to the record level reaching $65 million USD, marking 30% increase on the previous year and generated the net income $2.3 million – 110% higher than in 2002. The results prove the significant position of ComArch on the domestic market as well as stronger position of ComArch OSS&BSS technology on the global telecommunications scene.

“We are very excited about the 2003 results of our company. They indicate the strengthening of our position on the Polish market as the leading IT systems integrator in all the vertical markets. We also see the growing importance of revenues coming from the international markets resulting from our intense presence in OSS and BSS sector. Our three-year strategy of building our export sales is now starting to bring profits,” says Rafa∏ Chwast, ComArch CFO and Vice President”

Year 2003 was a very important period as far as the export sales are concerned. ComArch signed milestone contracts for the implementation of its OSS&BSS systems at O2 Germany, Department of Information Services, The State of Washington and with the leading Ukrainian mobile carrier UMC, all of which belong to Tier One operators. In 2003 ComArch also saw 20% rise in the number of people employed which means almost 1100 people working for ComArch in all of the offices all over the world, most of which are highly experienced IT specialists and business consultants.

ComArch strategic plans for 2004 are: consolidation of ComArch capital Group, reinforcement of the company’s position as systems’ integrator on the Polish market, business growth in main vertical markets in Poland: public administration, finance and banking, and trade and industry, heavy investments in the new software development centre, intensification of international activities in the telecommunications and OSS&BSS market and opening of new offices. ComArch is planning dynamic growth in 2004.

External Links

ComArch

First mobile contract win for Alcatel in Ireland

Alcatel today announced that it has supplied Meteor Mobile Communications, one of the main Irish mobile operators, with its Evolium industry-leading mobile network solution to support the operator’s General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network across Ireland. The contract foresees the complete provision and installation of the core network.
 
The deployment of the GPRS network will provide Meteor’s users with access to a wide range of enhanced mobile services and high-speed Internet capabilities over Meteor’s existing GSM network. Other advantages include an ‘always on’ connection to Internet and email services, high-speed of data transfer and increased value, as users will only have to pay for what they use. Customers will be able to see these benefits at the beginning of 2004.

Discussing the contract, Liam Hamilton, Technical Director at Meteor Mobile Communications, commented, “This project was implemented in our network in keeping within our initial timeframe and without any disruption to our normal services or traffic thanks to Alcatel’s highly efficient network solution and services. This new network will enable us to deliver enhanced mobile services to our customers.”

Marc Rouanne, Chief Operating Officer of Alcatel’s mobile communications activities added,  “This win highlights Alcatel’s ability in competing for new business against incumbent and niche players in the local market.  The key reason why Alcatel gained the contract was because of our capability and flexibility to offer a cost-effective solution to Meteor and to fully satisfy their specific requirements. We will continue the successful partnership that already is in place with this operator.”

Meteor already relies on the Alcatel 5070 Signaling Server as well as on the Alcatel 1300 Convergent Network Management Center (CMC) for its mobile number portability (MNP) functionality, enabling mobile subscribers to keep the same telephone number when changing telephone operators.

External Links

Alcatel
Meteor Mobile Communictations

Dilithium Networks, the leading supplier of 3G multimedia solutions and NetCentrex, the leading enabler of converged voice-video-data networks, announced today a partnership to support end-to-end solutions enabling new 3G video enhanced services including mobile to fixed-network conversational video services, and 3G video multi-conferencing applications. 

The Dilithium-NetCentrex partnership agreement brings together best-of-breed products and technologies including the Dilithium Networks’ DTG 2000 gateway and a range of core infrastructure solutions from NetCentrex including Softswitch and media servers, to the rapidly developing 3G market and offers universal access to a wide range of access terminals. It will enable service providers to build next-generation converged voice-video networks and create revenue-generating services, including video portal, video mail, and video telephony.

Lee Ellison, Sr. VP of Sales and Marketing of Dilithium Networks stated “We are excited to combine our solution with NetCentrex Residential and Enterprise solutions. Mobile Operators require a robust, feature rich platforms to enable the video services application that include both class 4 and class 5 functions.” 

“Dilithium Networks is recognized as a leader in 3G video-telephony solutions. Our expertise in deploying VoIP networks and voice/video next generation solutions, combined with Dilithium Networks’ unique technology will provide a proven high-end platform which offers the scalability needed by the mobile network and fixed network operators deploying services across converged networks”, comments Pierre-Yves Le Berre, Business Development Vice-President of NetCentrex.

Dilithium DTG 2000
The DTG 2000 is a carrier class, multimedia gateway supports a variety of voice and video protocols, and features smart end-points capability processing to provide transcoding tailored to end-points such as mobile phones, PDAs, IP terminals etc. The DTG 2000 incorporates Dilithium Networks’ Unicoding technology which enables fast, efficient transcoding while significantly reducing the time delay and compute resources required to transcode between any two media standards. Delay is an important and perceptible element of voice and video quality and low delays are essential for a pleasant user experience.

External Links

Dilithium Networks
NetCentrex

TeliaSonera and the Republic of Latvia have today agreed to withdraw their respective claims and thereby settle the dispute between them around Lattelekom. The dispute has been the subject of ICC arbitration proceedings since 2000.

Following the settlement, TeliaSonera and the Latvian government have agreed to jointly form a working group to explore various long-term ownership options for the future of the two Latvian telecommunications companies Lattelekom and Latvijas Mobilais Telefons (LMT).

TeliaSonera will, according to the settlement, pay the Republic of Latvia LVL 1 million (SEK 14 million) in recognition of the Republic of Latvia’s costs associated with the arbitration dispute. The parties will also examine the means by which an additional contribution will be made to the Republic of Latvia upon the successful conclusion of discussions with TeliaSonera regarding a transaction involving either or both of the companies Lattelekom and LMT.

“I am very pleased that we have now ended the dispute, which has been damaging not only for the operations of Lattelekom but also for LMT,” says Kenneth Karlberg, President of TeliaSonera Norway, Denmark and the Baltic countries. “The agreement sets the stage for a new spirit of cooperation between TeliaSonera and Latvia, and it is our ambition to resolve ownership issues in the working group that is established.”

The arbitration dispute arose following the Republic of Latvia’s decision to terminate Lattelekom’s exclusive rights to fixed line telecommunications 10 years earlier than agreed in the original privatisation agreement. Latvia, in turn, claimed among other things that Lattelekom’s network had not been digitalized as promised.

External Links

TeliaSonera

Radio Frequency Investigation Ltd (RFI) has launched its
‘over the air’ audio testing services for testing the latest mobile
handsets.

Based on its Rohde & Schwarz CMU 200 test platform this
addition further enhances the scope of RFI’s test capability.  The testing capability offered will help manufacturers meet the latest specifications laid down by the GCF and PTCRB, the European and US Standards bodies. For those manufacturers wanting total confidence in acoustical properties a number of additional test cases are also available providing the scope for audio testing above and beyond that laid down in the specifications.

Launched on a dedicated test site, testing has become simpler since manufacturers will no longer have to supply handsets that previously were modified specifically for this testing to be carried out.

This new testing capability is part of RFI’s ongoing investment plans for 2004 including new 3G test platforms, a new EMC test facility and the creation of a brand new laboratory.

External Links

Radio Frequency Investigation

Global consulting and systems integration firm becomes preferred partner

Cramer, the leader in telecoms inventory management software, today announced a strengthening of its relationship with LogicaCMG, a major international force in IT services and
wireless telecoms.  LogicaCMG has achieved certification as a Cramer Accredited Partner, a newly created elite category within Cramer’s partner program.

The accreditation means LogicaCMG becomes a preferred delivery channel for Cramer software.  In return, LogicaCMG is providing a strategic commitment to develop Cramer skills and jointly pursue new business opportunities, building on existing successes in Europe with BT, KPN Mobile, and Slovak
Telecom, and in the U.S. with Monet Mobile Networks.  LogicaCMG will also establish Cramer centers of expertise at sites in the UK, India, Netherlands and Eastern Europe.

“Our association with Cramer over the past two years has proven to be an effective partnership in addressing the increasingly complex needs of our customers,” said Wim Rimmelzwaan, Group Alliance Director, LogicaCMG. “We
have made the extra commitment to become a Cramer Accredited Partner because we see growing demand for Cramer software and skills in the Global telecoms
industry, which LogicaCMG and Cramer are together well placed to satisfy.”

“We are thrilled to welcome LogicaCMG as one of Cramer’s first elite partners,” said Cramer CEO Jerry Crook.  “Cramer is committed to building effective partnerships with the world’s leading systems integration and consulting firms.  The new Accredited Partner category reflects both the substantial, direct experience that our partners already have and fresh long
term commitment to working with Cramer.”

External Links

Cramer Systems
Logicacmg.