Blog: PTA to Monitor Mobile Operators’ QoS

PTA to Set Standards for Cellular QoS

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has devised strategy to monitor the Quality of Services (QoS) of mobile operators’ telephony services all over Pakistan.

PTA has taken this decision to ensure the best cellular mobile phone services in Pakistan. A draft of “Cellular Mobile Network Quality of Service (QoS) Regulations 2010” has been designed which is aimed at taking on board all the relevant stakeholders particularly cellular operators, infrastructure support vendors and consumer right associations with constructive feedback.

PTA Proposed Regulations for Quality of Services: The proposed regulations shall apply to all cellular mobile communication service providers for the purpose of identifying the minimum quality of service standards and associated measurement, reporting and record keeping tasks except packet switched or GPRS/EDGE services. The regulations in addition to directives have described different formulae and mandatory requirement to ensure the services quality of voice call and text messages under different Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as Call Connection Time; Call Completion Ratio; Mobile Originated SMS Success Ratio; End-to-End SMS Delivery Time and Network Downtime. Every mobile communications service licensee shall meet the minimum requirements mentioned in this document or exceed the Quality of Service KPIs and benchmarks for mobile communications service.

PTA to Monitor Mobile Operators’ Performance: PTA shall measure the performance of the cellular operators using modes for collection of data or documents, including data submitted by them etc. All operators shall ensure the provision of complete information to the authority regarding any aspect of any provision under these regulations as and when required by PTA. To monitor the quality of telecommunication service being provided by the operators as per criteria laid down in the license and regulations, each operator shall conduct periodic tests and surveys at intervals as required, or as directed by the PTA. The mobile phone operators shall procure the test instruments and equipment as and when required for the purpose, PTA draft regulations reported. The cellular operators’ tests and surveys shall be designed as to give the overall as well as the detailed picture of various network elements and the QoS provided to subscribers. Each mobile operator shall furnish the results of the quality tests and surveys to the PTA every month or different intervals as per direction of PTA. Amendment can be made in the QoS KPIs and benchmarks from time to time, after due consultation, following the introduction of new telecommunication technologies, consumer complaints or other events that the authority may consider appropriate.