Network planning in telecom service providers is garnering renewed interest. The network planning task is no longer confined to a single network. With the phenomenal increase in the use of data, Operators are deploying different networks - 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi and Micro Cells - to serve their data customers. A single SIM today connects to a few data networks as mobile users use their smart mobile devices in a multitude of locations, connecting to the next available connection option that is cheaper or more convenient. Network planning - from accessibility, quality of connection to capacity distribution - requires that various network owners within the telecom service provider to work together to produce the overall data network planning, incorporating existing usage, expected demand and expected services on each network, across locations and throughout the day for various customer segments and service plans.
The recent white paper by InfoVista, the global leader of IP and RF planning, assurance and optimization software solutions and the analyst firm, Analysys Mason explores how communications service providers (CSPs) can plan and ensure high-performing, cost-efficient networks by implementing a modern, automated planning and optimization software system. According to InfoVista, the whitepaper proposes that a strong optimization automation software solution can recover as much as 20 - 40 percent of stranded capacity and improve CAPEX and OPEX efficiency by utilizing real-time and predictive network intelligence. An end-to-end, automated modern network planning and optimization system that is integrated in the CSP's network performance management systems will ensure more efficient and capable networks, thus delivering high quality of experience (QoE) to end users without sacrificing their margins in the process.
“Network performance and quality of network coverage are the primary criteria’s by which subscribers choose their mobile provider” said Cyril Doussau, Senior Director, Global Product Marketing, InfoVista. “As the constant increase in subscriber data usage is making the planning process much more complex, RAN engineering departments need to streamline their planning process by leverage real-time network insights”
“As customers’ data consumption grows, and more connected devices flood their networks, mobile operators are doing everything they can to meet the ubiquitous demand for services and applications,” said Dr. Mark Mortensen, principal analyst, Analysys Mason. “To that end, they must strategically plan network extensions and streamline capacity build-outs. On top of that, they must also proactively reduce stranded network capacity to maximize the use of current resources. Without an automated optimization tool that works across all network layers and components, this process would be nearly impossible.” Source - Infovista ( Oct 10, 2013)
