Finding the best Radio Network Planning and Radio Network Optimization software
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The document presents a survey on the best radio network planning (RNP) and optimization (RNO) software, highlighting the challenges telecom operators face due to declining revenues and increasing operational costs. It details user experiences, preferences, and key software features necessary for improving efficiency in network operations. Key findings indicate that 'Atoll' and 'Actix' are popular among users, with 'site planning' and 'overshoot analysis' being the most commonly performed activities.
Finding the best Radio Network Planning and Radio Network Optimization software
- 1. Finding The Best Radio Network Planning and Radio Network Optimization Software (A Survey) Muhammad Waqas Akram 14/05/2012 Waqas.Akram@gmail.com
- 2. Telecom Mobile Operators Are Facing Declining Revenues And Increasing Costs That Are Putting Pressure On Their Margins Revenue Drivers •ARPU from •Voice Traffic •SMS Traffic •Data Traffic • Bundled and Flat rates Revenue Costs Cost Drivers •Wages •Electricity/Maintenance •Site lease/rent •Roll out of New Technologies e.g. LTE According to Oliver Wyman1, Network operations constitutes approximately 25% of the total OPEX for a mature market Telco. We can assume that for a growing market operator the cost of Network Operations is higher due to capacity expansion and personnel training OPEX Cost Drivers1 (Mature Market Operator) OPEX Cost Drivers2 (Growing Market Operator) 1. “Increasing Efficiency with Network Status Management” (Oliver Wyman), 2009 2. Assumption The pressure on the margins is also stopping Telcos from new investments. As a result in Developing markets the penetration of new technologies e.g. 3G and LTE is low. The mobile offerings are outdated and the businesses are struggling to take advantage of the mobile phone service.
- 3. Radio Network Planning Radio Network Optimization Network Management New Software Deployment Any RNP1 And RNO2 Software That Lacks The Latest Features Defined By Standard Bodies Can Increase The OPEX And CAPEX For Telcos Improper Cell planning and Site planning leading to deployment of more BTSs Growing requirement of network optimization activities e.g. Drive Tests, Antenna tilt changes etc. More human interaction required for network monitoring, script writing and execution for radio network parameter changes etc. Unnecessary costs can incur e.g. trainings of RNP and RNO teams on “wrong” software, swapping old software with software supporting latest features, new licenses etc. Increased CAPEX Increased OPEX Increased OPEX Increased Switching Costs Increasing Costs 1. Radio Network Planning 2. Radio Network Optimization The cost of not using the best available RNP and RNO software can be significant. We analyzed the opinion of users to see which RNP and RNO software are considered better than their competitors.
- 4. A Survey Was Conducted To Find The Opinion Of Users Of Radio Network Planning And Radio Network Optimization Software The survey was distributed to the global community of Radio Network Planning and Radio Network Optimization Engineers through Facebook, LinkedIn groups and mailing lists. The survey can be found at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3BHX9C8 210Number of respondents who answered all the questions in the survey 9.52% 23.81% 28.57% 4.76% 33.33% Less than 1 year 1 to 3 years 3 to 5 years 5 to 7 years More than 7 years Experience of respondents in the fields of Radio Network Planning and Radio Network Optimization 23Number of Mobile Operators with which respondents have worked 13Number of countries in which respondents have worked 26.47% 23.53% 17.65% Top 3 equipment suppliers with whom respondents have worked
- 5. “ATOLL” Is The Most Favourite Software. “Site Planning” Is The Most Performed Daily Activity Among The Respondents 47.62% 71.43% 0.00% 19.05% 0.00% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% Asset ATOLL TCPU NetAct Other Software Usage 66.67% 76.19% 57.14% 52.38% 33.33% 0.00% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% Site Planning Frequency Planning Neighbour Planning Physical Optimization Database Management Other Daily Activities Respondents were allowed to choose more than one software. Respondents selected all daily activities which they perform on Radio Network Planning software. 28.6% 23.8% 19.0% 19.0% 9.5% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% Site Planning Frequency Planning Neighbour Planning Physical Optimization Database Management Activity That Is Performed The Most Respondents were allowed to choose only one option. Site planning is performed mostly on daily basis. However it does not mean that other activities are not performed at all. Respondents were allowed to choose only one option. Database Management is the least performed daily activity. 9.5% 14.3% 19.0% 23.8% 33.3% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% Site Planning Frequency Planning Neighbour Planning Physical Optimization Database Management Activities That Are Performed The Least
- 6. Activity That Is Performed The Most And Activity That Is Performed The Least Vary For Each Software 30% 22% 21% 23% 28% 21% 17% 20% 29% 20% 17% 14% 10% 13% 14% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% ASSET ATOLL TCPU NetAct Split of Activities Performed Using Radio Network Planning Software Site Planning Frequency Planning Neighbour Planning Physical Optimization Database Management Respondents were allowed to choose multiple answers.
- 7. Radio Network Planning Software Have Been Mostly Used For 3G Followed By 2G/2.5G Technology Respondents were allowed to choose multiple answers. 46.2% 36.4% 0.0% 25.0% 38.5% 50.0% 0.0% 50.0% 15.4% 13.6% 0.0% 25.0% 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% ASSET ATOLL TCPU NetAct Technologies For Which Radio Network Planning Software Is Used 2G/2.5G 3G 4G/LTE
- 8. According To The Respondents, “Prediction” Is The Most Important Feature Whereas “Client-server Model” Is The Least Important Feature Respondents were asked to rank Radio Network Planning software features from 1 to 10 where 10 indicates the most important feature and 1 indicate the least important feature. The average rank of each feature is used in this chart. 9 7.56 7.29 8.31 7.15 7.93 7.53 6.88 7.63 6.6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Prediction Database Management OSS Script Generation Ease of Use Transfer of Knowledge Database Export/Import Technical Support Availability of Training programs and training material Availability of Upgrades for new technologies Client-Server Model Rank (Nr.) Ranking of Features (Average)
- 9. “Actix” Is The Most Favourite Software. “Overshoot Analysis” Is The Most Performed Daily Activity Among The Respondents Respondents were allowed to choose more than one software. Respondents selected all daily activities which they perform on Radio Network Optimization software. Respondents were allowed to choose only one option. Overshoot Analysis is performed mostly on daily basis. However it does not mean that other activities are not performed at all. Respondents were allowed to choose only one option. End to End Trace Analysis is performed the least everyday. 52.4% 28.6% 19.0% 14.3% 0.0% 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% Actix TEMS Discovery RANOPT Nemo Analyze Other Software Usage 38.1% 66.7% 47.6% 23.8% 14.3% 0.0% 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% Neighbour Optimization Overshoot Analysis Frequency Optimization Traffic Balancing End to End Trace Analysis Other Daily Activities 9.5% 33.3% 9.5% 23.8% 23.8% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% Neighbour Optimization Overshoot Analysis Frequency Optimization Traffic Balancing End to End Trace Analysis Activities That Are Performed The Most 23.8% 9.5% 14.3% 23.8% 28.6% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% Neighbour Optimization Overshoot Analysis Frequency Optimization Traffic Balancing End to End Trace Analysis Activities That Are Performed The Least
- 10. All Software Are Used To Perform “Overshoot Analysis” The Most. Activity That Is Performed The Least Varies For Each Software Respondents were allowed to choose multiple answers. 16.67% 23.08% 23.08% 16.67% 33.33% 30.77% 30.77% 50.00% 30.00% 23.08% 23.08% 16.67% 13.33% 23.08% 15.38% 0.00% 6.67% 0.00% 7.69% 16.67% 0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00% Actix TEMS Discovery RANOPT Nemo Analyze Split of Activities Performed Using Radio Network Optimization Software Neighbour Optimization Overshoot Analysis Frequency Optimization Traffic Balancing End to End Trace Analysis
- 11. Radio Network Optimization Software Have Been Mostly Used For 2G/2.5G Followed By 3G Technology Respondents were allowed to choose multiple answers. 42.9% 33.3% 50.0% 66.7% 42.9% 44.4% 16.7% 33.3% 14.3% 22.2% 33.3% 0.0% 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% Actix TEMS Discovery RANOPT Nemo Analyze Technologies For Which Radio Network Optimization Software Is Used 2G/2.5G 3G 4G/LTE
- 12. According To The Respondents, “Ease of Use” Is The Most Important Feature Whereas “Upgradable to New Technologies” Is The Least Important Feature Respondents were asked to rank Radio Network Optimization software features from 1 to 9 where 9 indicates the most important feature and 1 indicate the least important feature. The average rank of each feature is used in this chart. 7.27 7.13 7.13 6.86 6.6 6.4 6.2 6.27 5.93 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ease of Use Vendor Independence Enhanced and Better Reporting Options Useful Recommendations for Optimization Processing Time of Raw Data Transfer of Knowledge Technical Support Availability of Training Programs and Training Material Upgradable to New Technologies Rank (Nr.) Ranking of Features (Average)
- 13. Some Of The Mobile Operators Where Respondents Are Working Or Have Worked In The Past