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Performance Assessment of the Quality of Service of a GSM Network in

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Conference Paper · May 2022

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 1st International Conference on Engineering and
Applied Natural Sciences

https://www.icaens.org/ May 10-13, 2022, Konya, Turkey

Performance Assessment of the Quality of Service of a GSM Network in

Kaduna State Nigeria
Agburu Ogah Adikpe*, Ezekiel Ehime Agbon 1, Habeeb Bello 1, Ajayi Oreofe 2, Matthew Iyobhebhe 3 ,
James Gaina Bashayi 3 and Caleb Akezi Amlabu 3
1
Department of Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna , Nigeria
2
Department of Computer Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria
3
Department of Electrical/Electronics Engineering Technology, School of Engineering Technology, Federal Polytechnic
Nasarawa, Nasarawa, Nigeria
*
(agburuadikpe@gmail.com) Email of the corresponding author

Abstract – As the number of mobile subscribers exponentially increase, one of the key goals of Mobile
Network Operators (MNOs) nowadays is to keep its subscribers satisfied with good Quality of Service
(QoS) in order to increase the Quality of Experience (QoE) for the end user. In order to achieve the best
performance, MNOs need to be continuously monitored in order to for them to optimize their network
continuously. On this premise, this research work utilizes the statistical data of call traffic from the Base
Station Controller (BSC_KDBH14) in Kaduna State, which takes into account the KPI obtained from 48
BTSs. The evaluation of the KPI measurements taken from the MNO showed that 2% of the Call Setup
Success Rate (CSSR) failed to be within Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC’s) benchmark
(≥98%), and as a result, 2% of the dataset generated for the Call Setup Failure Rate (CSFR) failed to be
within NCC’s benchmark (≤2%). The Call Completion Rate (CCR) had all the datasets within NCCs
benchmark (≥96%), but unfortunately, the Call Drop Rate had 15% of its BTSs Key Performance Indicators
(KPIs) outside the NCC’s benchmark (≤2%). To this end, this work highlighted the BTSs that needed close
attention in order to optimize the network.

Keywords – Quality of Service, Key Performance Indicators, GSM, CSSR, CSFR, CCR, CDR

I. INTRODUCTION elation of been connected to this infrastructure that

Prior to the launch of the Global System for
Mobile Communications (GSM) in Nigeria in 2001
[1], the first generation of telecommunication
infrastructure, which was established in the colonial
times was overtime unreliable, expensive, and
congested. With these challenges, the limited
resource that was available at the time was what
served a populace in their hundreds of millions[2].
Now, post the launch of GSM, Nigeria has
experienced an exponential growth in the number of
subscribers using one or more of the available
network providers available in the country [3]. But
over the years, the rise of user devices and their need
for seamless cellular connection, has shifted the
connects the world, to complaints about the Quality
of Service (QoS) offered by network providers. This
declining rate in the subscribers satisfaction is as a
result of dropped calls, poor voice clarity, network
congestion, among others challenges. Although,
work has been done by the Nigerian
Communications Commission (NCC), which is a
regulatory agency that monitors mobile operators,
these challenges still persist [4]. Hence the need for
network providers to improve the QoS offered to
end users. For this not only benefits the users, but it
also gives the network providers a competitive edge
in a market where users are highly interested in
seamless connectivity [1].

252
 Adikpe et al., Performance Assessment of the Quality of Service of a GSM Network in Kaduna State Nigeria, ICAENS 2022, Konya, Turkey
The term Quality of Service (QoS) is defined not
only in academia but in other applications in largely
different ways, nonetheless, the definition by most
pundits tend towards end user satisfaction,
expectation or fulfilled requirements. In
telecommunications, the QoS is defined as the
degree to which a set of inherent characteristics
fulfill the end users requirements [5]. To meet the
end users requirements, it is relevant to
continuously monitor network providers in order to
maintain and improve the QoS offered to end users.
II.RELATED WORKS
Generally, there exists three methods of assessing
whether the QoS offered by a network provider
meets the required technical benchmark of the NCC
or not. These methods which are: network statistics,
the drive test, and the customer’s feedback are
employed by most researchers for the
aforementioned goal. Discussed in the following are
recent research work that have utilized one or more
of these methods to access the QoS from network
providers.
Preceding, during and after the election for the
presidential flag bearer for one of the largest
political party in Nigeria, the authors in [1]
investigated the QoS provided by a network
provider within a duration of six days. The work
considered five KPIs during this span of time. The
traffic data from three Base Transceiver Stations
(BTSs) that served the location of interest was
obtained for a span of six days from the network’s
provider Base Station Controller (BSC). The
authors investigated the traffic data by using
statistical methods to analyze the KPIs three days
before the election, then on the day of the election,
and then two days after the election. The values
were compared against the Nigerian
Communications Commissions (NCC) technical
benchmark for the KPIs considered. Simulation
results generally showed that the values of the KPIs
were not within the acceptable technical benchmark
of the NCC. This was especially worse on the day
of the election. However, the sample size taken to
assess days that generally represent the workings of
the network was small.
In the work of [6], [7] the authors solely
investigated the performance of GSM networks in
the latter and in addition analyzed the performance
of UMTS in the former. For both, the authors
considered four KPI values and obtained the traffic
253
data for these using the drive test method. This data,
which was gathered from four network providers
were analyzed using the Transmission Evaluation
and Monitoring System (TEMS) discovery software.
The values of the KPIs gotten for each network
provider was compared against the technical
benchmark set by the NCC. The results obtained
showed some fluctuations in the QoS provided.
Although, the authors did not specify the duration of
data collection.
The work of [2] monitored the QoS by service
providers in Bida polytechnic Campus, Minna. The
data for the KPIs of interest were obtained using the
drive test method and the data which was collated
over a period of four months was analyzed using
MyMobileCoverage Pro (MMC Pro) software. The
work identified that the QoS provided by network
providers did not meet the technical benchmark set
by the NCC.
The authors in [4], [8] utilized the drive test and
the questionnaire methods to investigate the QoS
provided by network providers in Nigeria. In the
work of [4], the authors focused on two network
providers within three locations in Ilorin, Nigeria. In
addition, they considered three KPIs when gathering
data from these locations. From the results obtained,
the QoS provided by the network did not meet the
regulatory agency’s benchmark. On the other hand,
[8] considered four network operators in Akure,
Nigeria in order to assess whether their QoS
complied with the agency’s benchmark and whether
the subscribers were satisfied with their Quality of
Experience (QoE). Based on this, the work
considered four KPIs. Results obtained showed that
the value for most KPIs measured from the network
providers did not meet the QoS benchmark by the
regulatory agency. In addition, the level of
satisfaction from the end users was moderate.
From the set of literature reviewed, most of the
works investigating the KPIs to check the QoS
against the technical benchmark set by the NCC did
not consider a sample size that analyzes the
workings of the network in a sizable time frame.
Although one of the works considered a protracted
period of time, the method used was the drive test.
The major drawback of the drive test is that data can
only be obtained within set a duration, which may
not provide sufficient information. On this premise,
this work obtains the network statistics from the
BSC of the network provider for the duration of a
month to investigate the availability and reliability
Adikpe et al., Performance Assessment of the Quality of Service of a GSM Network in Kaduna State Nigeria, ICAENS 2022, Konya, Turkey

of the network provider. Using statistical methods,

the mean of the needed variables over the duration (ii) Call Setup Failure Rate (CSFR)
of a month is utilized in the necessary equations in
order to adjudge with the larger sample size whether CSFR = 1 – Call Setup Success Rate (3)
the MNOs QoS is within the acceptable technical
benchmark set by the NCC. (iii) Call Drop Rate (CDR)
III. PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS No. of TCH drop rate after assignment
CDR = × 100%
In this work the network statistics was the method Total No of TCH assignment
adopted to obtain traffic data from the Base (4)
Switching Center (BSC). This information
contained the KPIs, which were used to assess (iv) Call Completion Ratio (CCR)
whether the QoS offered by the MNO meets the
technical specification laid out by NCC. For this CCR= 1 – Call Drop Rate (5)
research, the various datasets of the traffic data
which were relevant to this research work were Table 1. Technical Quality of Service (QoS) Benchmark for
careful selected for an entire month so as to analyze GSM [9]
the availability and reliability of the network. A total Target
of 8,369 observations were considered from the S/No. Parameter
Value(%)
traffic data collected. This information from this Call Setup Success
1 98
data set was used to evaluate the the following KPIs: Rate
Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Call Setup Failure Call Setup Failure
2 2
Rate (CSFR), Call Completion Ratio (CCR) and Rate
Call Drop Rate (CDR). The mathematical 3 Call Completion Ratio 96
4 Call Drop Rate 2
representation of these are delineated hereunder:
Table 1 shows the technical QoS benchmark for
GSM.
(i) Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR):
No. of successful seizure of SDCCH IV. RESULTS
CSSR = × 100%
Total No. of request seizures for seizure of SDCCH channel
The statistical data of call traffic from the Base
(1) Station Controller (BSC_KDBH14) in Kaduna State
Or takes into account 249 cells and 48 BTSs.
CSSR = 1 – Call Setup Failure Rate (2)

CSSR
100
99,5
99
98,5
98
97,5
97
96,5

Base Transceivers Station (BTS)

CSSR NCCs Target (≥98%)

Fig. 1 Mean CSSR with NCC Target

254
 95
96
97
98
99
100
101

94
0
0,5
1
1,5
2
2,5

0
1
2
3
4

1,5
2,5
3,5

0,5
KAD2223 KAD2223 KAD2223
KAD2248 KAD2248 KAD2248
KAD2326 KAD2326 KAD2326
KAD2330 KAD2330 KAD2330
KAD2333 KAD2333 KAD2333
KAD2433 KAD2433 KAD2433
KAD2440 KAD2440 KAD2440
KAD2466 KAD2466

CCR
KAD2466

CDR
CSFR

KAD2481 KAD2481 KAD2481

KAD5252 KAD5252 KAD5252

255
KAD6049 KAD6049 KAD6049

CDR
CCR
CSFR

KAD6051 KAD6051 KAD6051

KAD6053 KAD6053 KAD6053
KAD6084 KAD6084 KAD6084
KAD6097 KAD6097 KAD6097

Base Transceiver Station (BTS)

Base Transceiver Station (BTS)

NCCs Target (≤2%)

Base Transceiver Station (BTS)
NCCs Target (≤2%)

Fig. 3 Mean CCR with NCC Target

Fig. 4 Mean CDR with NCC Target

Fig. 2 Mean CSFR with NCC Target

KAD6099 KAD6099

NCCs Target (≥96%)

KAD6099
KAD6101 KAD6101 KAD6101
KAD6103 KAD6103 KAD6103
KAD6329 KAD6329
KAD6329
KAD6336 KAD6336
KAD6336
KAD6340 KAD6340
KAD6340
KAD6399 KAD6399
KAD6399
KAD6417 KAD6417
KAD6417
KAD6547 KAD6547
KAD6547
Adikpe et al., Performance Assessment of the Quality of Service of a GSM Network in Kaduna State Nigeria, ICAENS 2022, Konya, Turkey
Adikpe et al., Performance Assessment of the Quality of Service of a GSM Network in Kaduna State Nigeria, ICAENS 2022, Konya, Turkey
The relevant dataset necessary for this research
work were generated and compared against the
NCC benchmark. Fig. 1 to Fig.4 are used to
investigate the behavior of the network. These plots
are used to determine the resource availability and
reliability by reviewing them against the NCC
benchmark.
V. DISCUSSION
The CSSR measures the ease in which calls are
established or setup. It serves as a parameter for
evaluating the networks reliability and retainability.
From the traffic data obtained, the CSSR values for
all the BTSs under BSC (KDBH14) were compared
against NCC targets. As shown in Fig. 1, 98% of the
CSSR that were logged through the BTSs under
BSC KDBH14 were within NCCs benchmark with
BTS (KAD 6416) having the highest performance,
with a percentage of about 99.84%. From the same
illustration, it was also observed that the dataset
obtained from the BTS KAD6104 which made up
about 2% of the dataset generated, deviated from the
NCCs benchmark, having its KPI as low as 97.72%
which is below the expected threshold. Analysis
from the cells under this BTS shows that on an
average, retainablilty and reliability of the channels
were numerically low. However the lowest within
the expected threshold was from BTS KAD6330
with a QoS of 98.07%, which indicated that close
attention needed to be given to this BTS.
The CSFR on the other hand indicates the calls
that failed to go through generally due to the
unavailability of a channel. Logically, the dataset
generated for the CSFR should be opposite of the
results generated from the CSSR. Call Setup Failure
Rate (CSFR) values for all the BTSs under BSC
KDBH14 were computed against the NCC target,
which is illustrated in Fig. 2. It was observed from
the illustration that 98% of the CSFR under BSC
KDBH14 were within NCCs benchmark with BTS
(KAD 6140) having an impressive performance,
with a CSFR of 0.16%. From the same illustration,
it was also observed that the dataset obtained from
the BTS KAD6104 which made up about 2% of the
dataset generated deviated from NCCs benchmark,
having its KPI as high as 2.28% which was outside
the expected NCC threshold. However the dataset of
concern within the expected threshold was from
BTS KAD6330 with 1.93%, which indicates that
close attention needed to be given to this BTS.
256
This CCR takes into account the number of calls
completed to the number of call attempt, it serves as
a parameter for evaluating the networks
accessibility and retainability. From the dataset
generated from the BSC KDBH14 as represented in
Fig. 3, the CCR has all the results within the
expected threshold of NCC (≥96%). The highest
within the expected threshold is BTS KAD2325
with 99.9% call completion rate. However the
lowest within the expected threshold was from BTS
KAD2466 with 96.45%, this result show that close
attention needs to be given to the cells of this BTS.
The CDR is the fraction of the telephone calls
which, due to technical reasons, were cut off
before the speaking parties had finished their
conversation and before one of them had hung up.
The percentage of call drops is important to MNOs
as an increase in this KPI could lead to the loss of
frustrated subscribers. From the dataset generated
from BSC KDBH14, about 85.42% of the data were
within the expected threshold (≤2%). However, the
dataset not within the expected threshold were from
seven BTSs (KAD2223, KAD2248, KAD 2466,
KAD6049, KAD6053, KAD6084, and KAD 6547)
which constitute about 14.58% of the BTSs under
BSC KDBH14. However, the dataset KAD 2467
with a KPI of 1.8% indicated that close attention
needed to be given to this BTS.
VI. CONCLUSION
The research analyzed congestion in the network
in order to measure the network performance. The
performance indicators presented are Call Setup
Success Rate (CSSR), Call Setup Failure Rate
(CSFR), Call Completion Rate (CCR), and Call
Drop Rate (CDR), From the analysis, it was shown
that 2% of the CSSR failed to be within NCCs
benchmark (≥98%) as a result, 2% of the dataset
generated for the CSFR failed to be within NCCs
benchmark (≤2%).
The CCR had all the datasets within NCCs
benchmark (≥96%), unfortunately, the CDR had
about 15% of its BTSs KPIs outside the NCCs
benchmark (≤2%). The current analysis highlighted
in this work encapsulates the QoS of only a single
mobile network provider. Moving forward,
additional evaluations to capture and compare the
KPIs provided by other network providers would be
done.
Adikpe et al., Performance Assessment of the Quality of Service of a GSM Network in Kaduna State Nigeria, ICAENS 2022, Konya, Turkey

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