Schema applied
UMTS OptiPlanner™ to improve network quality for a large Asian UMTS operator. Leveraging Schema`s optimization experience and the product’s optimization capabilities, the customer defined two challenging goals: improve network quality and coverage, and reduce the number of sites and antennas (thus minimizing CapEx and OpEx), all without affecting network performance.
In addition to technical and network performance issues, the operator faced serious business challenges: providing services in a growing and demanding cellular market, stiff competition from rival companies, and an extremely tight time schedule.
While overcoming these challenges the operator had three mission-critical goals to consider: maintaining high QoS while rolling out 3G cell sites, improving engineering efficiency in launching and maintaining the 3G network, and freeing valuable engineering resources that were previously occupied by time-consuming and arduous manual optimization. With these goals in mind the operator turned to Schema to provide a new optimization plan – one that was faster, more efficient and less costly.
Project Objectives
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Improve network quality and coverage while minimizing CapEx and OpEx
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Improve the engineering team’s efficiency in optimizing the 3G network
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Reduce sites and antennas - identify sites not necessary for initial 3G rollout
Project Results
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Ultima OptiPlanner successfully optimized the network in the target region, improving network coverage (RSCP and Ec/IO) by 22.3% (drive tests and indoor calls verified the results)
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Managed to eliminate one site and four antennas – around 8% of the overall site/antenna count, which was double the original project goal
Schema experts trained the operator’s engineering staff on the use of Ultima OptiPlanner, bringing them up to speed in a very short time, and allowing future site reduction and coverage/quality improvement projects to be run independently, thereby assuring very quick ROI in 4-6 weeks
Operator Benefits
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Improved network quality
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Improved operator market position and image as a standard-setting 3G provider
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Improved understanding of the complexity and benefits of optimization on an on-going basis
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Faster and more powerful network performance optimization compared to time-consuming manual methods
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Savings on CapEx and OpEx
