Get real time network performance metrics to make the most out of costly infrastructure deployments
In the competitive wireless marketplace, customers expect high quality of service everywhere, not just outside. With costly distributed antenna system (DAS) and small cell deployments gaining traction with service providers and venue owners across multiple verticals, the in-building space is shaping up to be the next mobility battleground.
But before taking on in-building equipment upgrades, it’s imperative to set a strong baseline by understanding exactly where coverage and capacity is (and is not) in a given space. With that information in hand, analytics solutions can generate actionable insight into how a service provider can maximize the return on investment associated with in-building connectivity solutions.
During the recent CTIA Super Mobility showcase in Las Vegas, Nevada, representatives from Anite were on hand to demonstrate cutting-edge testing solutions, as well as discuss with RCR Wireless News the benefit to both operators and the end-user, in this case, valuable customers.
Alex Chua, director of product management and business development for Anite’s Network Test business line, discussed the sleek Nemo Walker Air unit, which supports seven handsets controlled by a master tablet all contained in an ergonomic backpack that weighs around 12 pounds.
“We see this as very useful for new in-building DAS as well as small cell installations,” he said, noting the ability to differentiate between various DAS antennas and determine carrier-specific configuration quality.
A new feature overlays test measurements with interior maps. “We’re able to provide real time feedback to the tester in terms of whether an antenna in a specific location is firing at the right power levels. In this case, we have a green light showing us this antenna specifically is working correctly in that environment.”
Nemo Walker Air is Android-based and includes POLQA and PESQ voice quality testing and PEVQ-S video quality testing. Metrics include voice call quality, FTP/HTTP data transfer, Iperf, HTML browsing and social media testing data.
Chua also demoed the Nemo In-Building Coverage Meter, which enables technicians, sales representatives and other field staff a quick and easy solution for testing indoor coverage coupled with an easy to read visual display.
“You’ll be able to use this tool to get a gauge of how good the wireless performance is in a building and make a decision whether it is necessary to install an in-building DAS system or adding small cells within the building.”
Each test generates a simple report that compiles 2G, 3G or 4G data points in a format that can be readily shared.
Another new product offering showcased at CTIA is the call trace module for Anite’s Nemo WindCatcher drive test data post-processing tool, which brings valuable geo-location information into the analytics platform. Sales Engineering Manager Deepak Sivakumar explained the solution, which turns data that’s already available on the operator’s network into actionable business insight.
“What we are doing now is introducing call trace into our Nemo WindCatcher module, which allows customers, especially the operator community, to really capture every single call from every single subscriber. The key benefit, I would say, is churn prediction analysis, which allows the operator to identify areas where there’s potential churn happening.”
In fact, the call trace module gives an operator the power to not only stop churn before it happens, but also get a clear look at how customers are interacting with the physical network.
“The operator can look at capacity-related KPIs and events visually on a map and tell, ‘Hey, at this point, let me go deploy a small cell system or a DAS.’ Investment-related decisions can be driven using our call trace module.”
Taken as a whole, these complementary products can collect key performance data in the field and provide operators with the analytics-driven insight they need to turn the data into deployment plans and, from there, into an improved network experience that drives customer retention.
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