Finland's Radiolinja has selected the UMTS solution of Actix to accelerate the speed at which Radiolinja can launch a commercial UMTS network.
Radiolinja is currently using Actix' 3G solution to develop its test UMTS network. The software enables the operator to benchmark the test network, locate problems such as dropped calls, and quickly understand the reasons for any problems that arise. Performance engineering is becoming increasingly important in order for operators like Radiolinja to provide the appropriate levels of customer service, maximize return on existing investment, and make the most effective use of limited spectrum.
Actix wireless performance engineering solutions are entirely vendor independent and enable operators to analyze raw wireless network data from a mix of network technologies, systems and data collection solutions in fine detail. This gives an end-to-end picture of vital wireless functions and the quality of service delivery from the subscriber's perspective; it also enables engineers to drill down to the root cause of any deficiencies.
Radiolinja collects drive test scanner data and test mobile data and uses Actix software to form a united visual picture of the network. From this graphical representation, Radiolinja's engineers can immediately see where problems are occurring, including holes in RF coverage, missing neighbors, and pilot pollution. Any number of points on the drive test map can then be clicked on, and the exact data that was recorded at that point can be displayed, thus enabling engineers to make the best decisions about how to rectify any particular problem and how to enhance the quality of the network.
Eetu Prieur, Radio Networks Department Manager, Radiolinja said, "Actix' UMTS wireless performance engineering software enables us to form a unified visual representation of the network based on the enormous amount of logged data we collect using drive test scanner and test mobile equipment. The function-rich software provides a way for us to immediately identify a range of network problems and then to quickly find the source of these problems. The extended query functionality is very helpful in this process, allowing engineers to extract relevant information from the large amounts of UE equipment data. Without Actix' software, it would be extremely difficult to improve the network as quickly and as comprehensively as we are able to."
Eric Sinclair, UMTS Product Manager, Actix, said, "Using both scanner data and mobile test data is particularly important to performance engineering of 3G networks. Test mobiles record exactly what a customer's mobile phone will be able to see, but it does not give extended data (and hence enable a complete picture of the network to be formed) such as the strength of the RF signal provided by a base station not in its current neighbor list. Scanner data in comparison cannot simulate the experience a customer may have, but it does provide a depth of data also critical to enabling engineers to optimize the network."
Actix software solutions enable optimum mobile network performance and support the key business decisions which lead to profitable service delivery and accelerated new technology rollout.