Our experience evaluating Optimi’s products portfolio
By Hassaan Al Kootamy, Radio Planning & Optimization Manager at MTN Cyprus
Early this year, MTN Cyprus started a solutions selection process for automated network planning and optimization with the strategic objective to make use of mobile measurements and OSS statistics, and phase out planning and optimization systems purely based on predictions, drive tests or manual decisions. In addition, another objective was to link radio, core and transmission planning and optimization under a single platform in order to fully align all key processes within a unified and integrated information flow.
As a result of this process, we acquired a significant part of Optimi’s solutions portfolio, including: xWizard for propagation predictions and analyses; xDimension for automated dimensioning of network infrastructure; xACP for automated RF design and optimization; xAFP for automatic frequency planning; xParameters for automated optimization of key radio resource management parameters; and xGeoManager for automated geo-location of measurements and events.
During field evaluations of xACP, a drive test benchmark of the optimized area yielded a 55% reduction in the number of samples with bad Ec/Io, while the reduction in the number of samples with bad RSCP was 14%. The morphology of the benchmark area was that of a dense urban environment. Additionally, OSS statistics showed an increase in the HSPA call success ratio, a reduction in the number of iRAT handovers due to bad radio conditions and an overall improvement of the global RSCP distribution. Moreover, we clearly saw that xACP will be extremely helpful for us to identify those areas in which integration of new sites may be needed. Here it is worth noting that the absolute performance of the baseline configuration was already remarkably good.
A similar conclusion was reached when evaluating xAFP in the field with significant improvements in key quality metrics. Measured with OSS statistics, the outcome of this optimization produced a dropped call rate reduction of 15%, a DL RxQual improvement of 16% and a handover failure rate decrease of 33%. Again, the baseline configuration for this assessment was very good according to all standards.
In summary, we were extremely happy with the solutions performance and the quality of the engineering resources that have been assigned to support the integration of these innovative solutions. Therefore, we look forward to continuing this collaboration in order to keep the performance of our network at world-class levels, while at the same time outlining even more efficient network investment plans.
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