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Facebook, Skype, WhatsApp & Other Chat Apps Consume Significant RAN Resources in Idle Mode

Facebook, Skype, WhatsApp & Other Chat Apps Consume Significant RAN Resources in Idle Mode Image Credit: Flash Networks

Communications apps such as Facebook, Skype, or WhatsApp are unnecessarily communicating with their network server when in idle state, wasting RAN resources (radio access network), according to results of a new lab test conducted by mobile Internet optimization and monetization solutions company, Flash Networks.

Flash Networks says that, while idle, these apps communicated with their server six times per hour (basically every ten minutes). By minimizing unnecessary communications, apps can establish 22.7 per cent fewer radio connections. For a carrier with 10 million subscribers, that could mean the reduction of 600 million unnecessary messages daily, Flash Networks estimates. That would allow the company to support 20 per cent more users without adding extra resources, said Flash Networks.

According to Flash Networks this discovery is important, as the IoT devices heading into the mainstream will force network operators to optimize their hardware to support new devices coming to the network.

Ofer Gottfried, CTO at Flash Networks.
The need to beef up capacity to keep up with the insatiable demand for mobile data combined with falling revenues is putting the squeeze on operators to make the most of existing radio resources.

Author

Ray is a news editor at The Fast Mode, bringing with him more than 10 years of experience in the wireless industry.

For tips and feedback, email Ray at ray.sharma(at)thefastmode.com, or reach him on LinkedIn @raysharma10, Facebook @1RaySharma

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