Assessing the Quality of Experience (QoE) of 3G, 4G, and 5G
mobile networks in a specific area by measuring throughput, network coverage,
bandwidth, is of paramount importance to ensure a high user quality experience
on the network. Drive testing captures accurate real-world data of the RF
environment when placed under a certain set of environmental and network
conditions. New-age modern network simulation techniques made it possible for
network engineers to create a mathematical model to evaluate network performance.
Though it is true to some extent, drive test in telecom remains the core of the
network evaluation process to evaluate how the user experience the network
environment continuously.
So, drive test in telecom is the best possible solution for
mobile network operators (CSPs) to collect signal strength, mobile network
latency, voice call KPIs etc. along with GPS coordinates and constantly improve
the network.
RF drive test tools are also used to check coverage criteria
of the installed cell towers and to evaluate if the cell tower sectors are
providing the intended area of coverage as designed by Telcos. Data collected
is stored in the log files and are further evaluated on RF logs post-processing
tools which usually have GIS-based visualization capabilities.
3E app converts any Android smartphone to a RF testing tool
on the mobile network and generates detailed data points. Unlike traditional RF
testing equipment 3E app also displays Information about 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G
drive test parameters from the end-user perspective without any dependency to
purchase additional hardware from vendor. Like all the other RF drive test
software 3E app also performs drive test on the mobile network and post-drive
test analysis using web-based interactive Google maps UI and optimize the
cellular network by identifying poor QoE areas and except the fact that there
is no manual post processing required and hefty licensing costs.
3E solution can be used in the following use cases as 4G network tester, 4G LTE tester, 4G test equipment, 4G testing tool, 4G VOLTE Tester, 4G LTE test equipment, LTE testing tool and drive test 4G LTE.
‘Minimization of Drive Tests (MDT)’ concept has been defined
in Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specifications standard. Telecom
companies apply this technique in planning, optimization, and troubleshooting
methods and examine network quality after upgradation and reconfiguration of
network. Since drive testing is time consuming, expensive, and often fails to
recognize the failure, embracing MDT approach helps operators generate reports,
example on call setup and coverage issues, clubbed with real-life Radio Access
Network (RAN) analytics from drive test provides detailed information on
network performance.
Drive Test Analysis for 4G LTE networks
Drive test mainly include identifying areas with no 4G
connectivity, handover issues, call drops, low throughputs, no data etc. Modern
RF-based 4G drive test tools are useful in determining such network issues and
to enhance the network performance for their users.
User Experience of Network in specific geographical
locations i.e. hotspots can be discovered with drive test analysis. Mobile network
operators are carrying out network-based tests for measuring coverage and
quality of the cellular network signal, mobile network latency, voice/data
services, user QoE and evaluate the performance KPIs using cellular drive test
equipment.
Classification of Drive Test in Telecom industry
Most of the MNOs depend on real-life user experience KPIs
based on performed drive tests and benchmark user QoE on the mobile network.
Nevertheless, traditional drive test involves huge investment in getting RF
drive test tools and sometimes incapable of mass deployment to get large
impression of mobile network around the coverage area.
RF drive testing can be classed into following use cases:
- Single
site verification (SSV) or Single Cell Function Test (SCFT)
- Multiple
site verification (MSV) or cluster drive test
- Operator
benchmarking drive test (Market level drive test)
Single Site Verification (SSV) or Single Cell Function
Test (SCFT)
SSV drive test or SCFT drive test is all about performing
5G/4G/3G drive test analysis on a particular site (Example newly installed cell
tower) and this is usually performed by drive testing or by walk testing around
the site.
In site level testing, site is ready for performing SSV
testing after completion of engineering, installation and integration and no
active alarms are observed. The main aim of SSV testing is to validate functional
performance of the site and identify/flag workmanship issues, product issues
& provisioning issues before turning the site on for commercial users. Such
kind of SSV testing for site entails stationery and mobility drive tests
conducted using smartphone app-based solution. 3E app is an Android based
application that can perform SSV tests for a site and includes CSFB Calls,
Volte Calls, Ping Test, FTP file Uploads and Downloads etc.
Single cell functionality test or single site verification
is a static test which collects each sector information of the cell site in
terms of coverage and quality parameters depend upon the technology like 3G, 4G
LTE, 5G in the cellular mobile network. We, at 3E, have always been at the
forefront to assist our customers with their SSV network testing needs. Our
users have been using this app to make their LTE drive test procedure easy and
gain desired output.
As the name suggests, network tests like drive test 3G, 4G
LTE drive test, 5G drive test when performed on a group of cells is
termed as a ‘Cluster drive test’ or ‘MSV’.
Initially, in traditional drive test, network testers used
to drive along target routes to collect information regarding coverage data
through various iterations and field tests with cellular rf drive test
equipment. But, as telecom businesses are expanding, it is cumbersome to refine
expanded networks in terms of size, capacity, and number of users. With cluster
drive test, operators can perform network tests by taking a group of cells and
deploy it in a particular location and investigate the network accordingly.
Cluster drive test is executed when the network is in active
mode (i.e., providing service to customers) and inspect the interference amid
two cells and handover taking place or not. Network parameter details like
Drive Route, Quality plots of RSRQ, SINR, PUSCH, Coverage plot, Download and
Upload throughput is accumulated. Operators use this data to get output which
is further utilized to optimize the mobile network and deliver efficient
service to users. 3E’s active RF tester app for 5G, 4G, 3G, 2G drive testing is
compatible and deployed on a variety of available Android smart phones for
cluster (mass) drive testing, producing crowd sourced QoE data.
Multiple site verification or 4G LTE drive test must have
measurements of radio parameters such as RSRP, RSRQ, SINR, PCI, EARFCN, and
WCDMA drive test parameters like RSCP, RSSI, ECNO, PSC, UARFCN etc. at least at
basic level to identify primary network issues. Implementation of cell lock /
band lock feature allows RF engineers to measure all these parameters on
selected bands as per their requirements.
3E app can help you perform cluster pre and post drive
tests based on 2G 3G 4G drive test parameters under voice and data services.
Using this app, users can conduct drive test for various tests like Ping test,
Call test, Speed test, HTTP test, SMS test and Stream test and analyze the
drive data for QoE monitoring. The app enables users to generate cluster
drive-based reports daily or hourly basis as per the client requirement for QoE
monitoring. Conducting drive test can resolve ARPU customer complaints based on
network usage and cost optimization techniques.
Operator benchmarking drive test (Market level drive
test)
In this test, comparison is done in terms of number of call
drops, data throughputs, and other key KPIs on 4G / 5G networks between various
network operators and analyze who is providing better user experience. Usually,
market level drive testing is performed by operators themselves/ independent
bodies/ telecom regulators. For example, telecom regulators from various
countries constantly perform market level drive test to identify
underperforming operators whose user experience KPIs are not meeting regulatory
requirements.
‘Market level drive test’ analysis is carried out based on a
particular market or an entire geographical area with the use of 5G, 3G, CDMA,
LTE drive test tools. Operators conduct drive testing on an area to analyze
user experience with respect to other cellular service providers. Market level
drive testing can identify their strengths, example high data throughput
compared to competitors, and this provides them an opportunity to upsell their
services by advertisement campaigns.
Drive test engineers / RAN testing engineers can perform
drive test by locking on to a specific cell, for instance, 4G LTE cell in their
test location and select the desired bandwidth such as LTE 40, LTE 25, and so
on. Here is the procedure to unlock cell lock / band lock feature on your
Android smartphone and test with 3E solution.