IEEE Nigeria Section, Feb 13, 2010 1

MOBILE COMMUNICATION IN NIGERIA:

PROBLEMS & PROBABLE SOLUTIONS
By
Prof. Augustine C Odinma, Ph.D (London), CEng, FIET, FNSE, FBCS, MNIM
Prof. of Telecommunications & Computer Engineering
School of IT & Communications (SITC)
American University of Nigeria, Yola.
Formerly, Head, Mobility Network Solutions, Bell Labs, EMEA
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IEEE Nigeria Section, Feb 13, 2010 2
INTRODUCTION
Motivation for This Work
Performance Evaluat. of GSM Connectivity
Anti-Monopoly Issues
Quality of Service to Consumers
Tele-Density & Telecom Subscribers
Consumer Parliament and Call Centre Option
Operators Inappropriate Behaviours
Uniform Ring-back Tone
Displayed or Announced Error Messages
Telecom Towers & Masts
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IEEE Nigeria Section, Feb 13, 2010 3
MOTIVATION FOR THIS RESEARCH
To uncover the extent of Network Congestion
To examine anti-monopoly possibility
To Examine the quality of service problems
To review some of the inappropriate behaviours of
operators
Examine the Impact of the Consumer Parliament
To examine some other activities of the Regulator
Above all, to recommend Solutions
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IEEE Nigeria Section, Feb 13, 2010 4
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF GSM
MOBILE NETWORKS
All GSM phone calls in Nigeria are toll calls
Two Types of Tests conducted: Connectivity & Interconn.
Connectivity: Calls within the same network elements
InterConnectivity: Calls betwn two different Operators net
Scenario chosen so no fault
Two Cities Tested Abuja & Ikeja
6500 test calls made per city
Original Test Conducted in 2005
But, Sample tests in 2007 & 2009 are worse
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IEEE Nigeria Section, Feb 13, 2010 5
CONNECTIVITY CALL FAILURES TABLE
OPERATOR
Day1 Day2 Day3 Day4
FRID SAT MON TUES
OP1 OP1 4% 2% 15% 12%
OP2 OP2 0% 0% 0% 0%
OP3 OP3 98% 96% 86% 93%
OP4 OP4 0% 1% 18% 1%
APCF for Connectivity - Morning (Ikeja)
MORNING
From To
+OP3 reports network problem during the test period
OPERATOR
Day1 Day2 Day3 Day4 Day5
Thur FRID SAT MON TUE
OP1 OP1 94% 0% 0% 28%
17%
OP2 OP2 0% 2% 0% 0%
0%
OP3 OP3 86% 100% 100% 95%
70%
OP4 OP4 0% 0% 38% 0%
1%
AFTERNOON
+OP3 reports network problem during the test period
From To
APCF for Connectivity - Afternoon (Ikeja)
APCF =Average % Call Failures
Scenario chosen so no fault
Two Cities Tested Abuja & Ikeja
6500 test calls made per city
Original Test Conducted in 2005
But, Sample tests in 2006 & 2007 are worse
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IEEE Nigeria Section, Feb 13, 2010 6
INETRCONNECTIVITY CALL FAILURES TABLE
OPERATOR
Day1 Day2 Day3 Day4 Day1 Day2 Day3 Day4
FRID SAT MON TUES FRID SAT MON TUES
OP1 OP3 15% 10% 45% 50% 30% 5% 45% 75%
OP1 OP2 5% 0% 5% 15% 0% 0% 35% 15%
OP1 OP4 0% 0% 15% 30% 0% 5% 15% 15%
OP2 OP3 90% 80% 75% 80% 75% 50% 90% 70%
OP2 OP1 20% 15% 35% 30% 35% 10% 50% 65%
OP2 OP4 35% 15% 55% 55% 75% 75% 50% 5%
OP3 OP1 100% 100% 95% 90% 100% 100% 100% 15%
OP3 OP2 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 65%
OP3 OP4 100% 100% 100% 90% 100% 100% 100% 55%
OP4 OP1 55% 40% 80% 75% 10% 40% 80% 10%
OP4 OP2 65% 60% 75% 60% 50% 55% 55% 65%
OP4 OP3 55% 20% 90% 65% 80% 40% 80% 75%
MORNING AFTERNOON
From To
APCF For IKEJA Interconnectivity
APCF =Average % Call Failures
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IEEE Nigeria Section, Feb 13, 2010 7
CONNECTIVITY TEST RESULT
Abuja:
Individual OP 10% Failures
Collective OP 25% Failures
OP = Mobile Operator
Connectivity - Tests for
Internal Congestions
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IEEE Nigeria Section, Feb 13, 2010 8
INERTERCONNECTIVITY TEST RESULT
Interconnectivity - Tests for
Congestions between Operators
>10 Failures in 100 calls
Sometimes >50 Failures
Each OP Service Vary
from City to City
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IEEE Nigeria Section, Feb 13, 2010 9
ANTI-MONOPOLY ISSUES
Why the Second National Operator (SNO)?
Where is NITEL?
GLO in Telecom?
Prediction: GLO May become Private Monopoly
in the future It is becoming a dominant operator
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IEEE Nigeria Section, Feb 13, 2010 10
QUALITY OF SERVICE TO CONSUMERS
Cross talks
Quality Fluctuations of the GSM Networks
- Performance Test by NCC & by me Inconclusive
. Vmobile Feb 2005 Bumper Offer,
. Glo - J uly 2005 15% More credit
. MTN Ending 3Q, 2005 Promo
. How about the Glo free call Promo Dec. 2010
Cost of Calls in relation to Network QOS
- Drop Calls
- Refunds in UK/US
- Some profits due to drop calls
NCC would need to do more to curb the Fraudulent acts of Operat.
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IEEE Nigeria Section, Feb 13, 2010 11
TELE-DENSITY & SUBSCRIBERS
SIM Card Production
ARPU Concerns
Churn Effects
Need to define clearly what constitutes Tele-density
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IEEE Nigeria Section, Feb 13, 2010 12
CUSTOMER SERVICE/PARLIAMENT
How many consumers are served?
Could another option be more effective?
Would that option be cost effective?
CALL CENTRE OPTION: Alternative/complement to Parliament
Use part of the numbers reserved for Emergency Services
Would Lead to unprecedented Repertoire of Data
Respond to at least 50% of complaints
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IEEE Nigeria Section, Feb 13, 2010 13
OPERATORS INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOURS
Number prioritising
Congestion and Drop calls
SIM Cards
RING-BACK TONES
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IEEE Nigeria Section, Feb 13, 2010 14
ERROR MESSAGES
MTN:
GLO:
Zain:
NOTE:
1) Error in connection; 2) Network Busy;
3) The number you are calling is unavailable
1) Sorry Network Busy; 2) Sorry your call cannot be completed
at the moment; 3) Error in connection; 4) No Answer;
5) Number Busy; 6) Not Reachable at the Moment, please try later.
6) Call Rejected but call did not reach destinations
1) Error in connection; 2) Network Busy
GLO 4 & 5, MTN 3 erroneously sent,
Whereas phone is alive and registered
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IEEE Nigeria Section, Feb 13, 2010 15
PROLIFERATION OF TOWER & MASKS
Section 1.6.7 (Co-location) of the specifications deals with
how operators would share Towers.
Towers shall be designed and built to accommodate a
minimum of three service providers on the same structure, if
over 25 metres in height. The owner of the tower must certify
to the NCC that the tower is available for use by other
telecommunications service providers on a reasonable cost
and non-discriminatory basis. The NCC will have the final
authority of arbitration where any serious disagreement that
threatens collocation arises.
NCC SHOULD ENFORCE ITS RULES
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IEEE Nigeria Section, Feb 13, 2010 16
CONCLUSIONS/ RECOMMENDATIONS
We are making progress , but often mischievously hyped.
We must manage operators outputs properly and address the
issue of customer service
The 2020 Agenda with a mediocre & inadequate telecom
system is a mirage
Telecom Long term strategic plan for the nation is inevitable
We must plan our telecom proactively and not reactively
The way we communicate between our command and control
centres is very insecure and needs a review
Current Telecom Indicators for national planning are
incorrect and need to be redefined
There is need for a nation-wide emergency communication
system
Operators Ring Back Tone need to be unified
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IEEE Nigeria Section, Feb 13, 2010 17
THANK YOU !!!
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IEEE Nigeria Section, Feb 13, 2010 18
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