Success story

Excelcomindo raises service quality in a multi-vendor network with Nokia Siemens Networks NetAct™ Optimizer

In major cities throughout Indonesia, competition among the cellular mobile operators is increasingly fierce.

Nokia Siemens Networks was asked to perform the optimization for XL’s network in Bandung. Specifically, the tasks focused on optimizing key performance indicators (KPIs) such as failure rates in getting connections, call drop rates, quality of calls and strength of received signals.

Before contacting us, XL underwent routine drive-testing to get the network statistics and perform onsite fine-tuning. Subscriber complaints were also taken by phone and XL would then try to identify whether the problem was hardware or radio-related. If it was the latter, then the Network Operation Center (NOC) would have to switch the channels or change the radio parameters based on suggestions from the Optimization Team. Another drive-test would be required to verify that the problem had been rectified. “Every day we usually receive up to

I would personally recommend the service using this efficient and effective tool to other operators if they asked me.

Anton Perwira Putra, Network Optimization Manager, Central Area, XL

10 orders,” said Anton Perwira Putra, Network Optimization Manager, Central Area, XL, “And the task used to take a lot of time and resources.”

Working in a challenging terrainBandung is a popular weekend destination for thousands of people from Jakarta, which means that during weekends there can be an increase of up to 50% in call traffic. However, what is more challenging is the topology of the terrain. “In Bandung, you can have the radio signal propagate easily about 10 km from an elevation of 1200 m north of Bandung to 700 m in the center of the city, making it very difficult to contain,” explained Jaime Castillo, Radio Planning Manager, Nokia Siemens Networks, who led our team in the project. “It is a huge challenge to prevent the radio signal from one cell from interfering into another.”

The three biggest GSM operators in Indonesia, including Excelcomindo (XL), have to work hard to retain their customer base, and one way of lowering churn is to optimize service quality.

In the hilly Bandung area, one of XL’s major service areas, the geographical topology makes it difficult to achieve and maintain the performance targets. Nokia Siemens Networks helped the operator optimize its network operation with Nokia Siemens Networks NetAct™ Optimizer and today XL is delighted with its current network KPIs in Bandung.

Indonesia’s cellular operator XL has been a technology leader. Quietly, it has experienced fast subscriber growth. The key to this accomplishment is its aggressive promotion campaigns and relentless effort to retain its customers. It means making sure that they get consistently high quality of services.

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XL is also rapidly expanding its network in the area. Every time a new cell is added, it causes temporary instability to the entire network. A lot of fine-tuning is required until the performance is optimal once again.

Our holistic approachDifferent vendors use different methods for optimization, but we are able to cover all bases-not just the radio access portion. In the optimization project in Bandung, we set ourselves a very tight schedule. During the first month, we undertook a site audit on each of around 200 sites that XL had in the region. The team checked the height of the towers, the orientation of the antennas and compared them with the original design. We also audited the core network, evaluated the transmission network and evaluated the data performance of XL’s General Packet Radio Service (GPRS).

Subsequently, NetAct Optimizer was employed to speed up the optimization of the network by first obtaining a complete and accurate picture of the network, it then post-processed all data collected over a period of a few days when there was no network growth or systems parameter changes. It is worth noting that the data was obtained from every active mobile subscriber in the network every five seconds. Thus, the amount of data was extremely large.

NetAct Optimizer used the data effectively to generate the optimal frequency plan. In addition, it further analyzed the current network performance data and displayed the results on a geographical map. Subsequently, it also proposed either a new optimal frequency plan configuration or the necessary changes to an existing frequency plan.

A further benefit of NetAct Optimizer is that it works exceptionally well in a multi-vendor environment-including XL’s Ericsson-supplied infrastructure in Bandung. It replaces the traditional drive testing method of Radio Frequency (RF) optimization. Thus, this results in an efficient and effective way of doing RF optimization to reduce time, costs and money.

Efficiency gainsOne of the greatest advantages of NetAct Optimizer, as XL sees it, is the far shorter cycle time. It consists of the following phases: Measurement of parameters, use of optimizer, plan checking and implementation. These phases can normally take 2–3 weeks, but we completed the phases in 7 days due to the complete cooperation and coordination that XL provided. This ensured that all activities were carried out on schedule.

Normally, with a different set of tools with the same level of effectiveness as NetAct Optimizer, the project would take up to three months.

With NetAct Optimizer, XL was able to create the frequency plan and fine tune the final optimal plan in a fraction of the time. This represents efficiency and reduction of the overall timeline, basically reducing the project time from three months to seven to ten days.

KPI improvement using NetAct OptimizerAt the end of the network optimization service, the KPI improvements that were achieved are described in the table on the right.

ChallengesBandung’s geographical topology makes it difficult to achieve and maintain performance targetsFrequent drive-testing consumed considerable time and resourcesMuch fine-tuning is needed to restore network performance following the addition of a new network cell

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BenefitsDrive-testing has been eliminated, making RF optimization faster and more cost-effective Optimization that conventionally takes up to three months took just seven days with NetAct OptimizerOperating expenses have been cut through automation

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Excelcomindo’s Anton Perwira Putra has this to add:

“Optimized network performance is crucial to our business success. Nokia Siemens Networks NetAct™ Optimizer truly shines in helping us maximize our capital efficiency, minimize our operating expenses through automation and increase our subscriber loyalty through speedy response and high service quality.”

KPI After Optimization

OSS Average Daily Drop Call Rate

36% Relative improvement

Average SDCCH Drop

36% Relative improvement

TCH Drive Test Drop Call Rate

78% Relative improvement

Handover Success Rate -OSS

2.6% Absolute improvement

Copyright © 2007 Nokia Siemens Networks. All rights reserved.Nokia Siemens Networks and the wave logo are registered trademarks of Nokia Siemens Networks. Other company and product names mentioned herein may be trademarks or trade names of their respective owners. Products and solutions herein are subject to change without notice.Nokia Siemens Networks Corporation, Karaportti 3, FI-02610 ESPOO, FinlandProduct code C401-00121-R-200710-1-EN – Indivisual