| Improving CDMA Network Coverage |
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In 2003, Schema and a tier one North American CDMA operator initiated a joint project using Maxima OptiPlanner™ to improve the operator’s network coverage and quality in the downtown area of a large city. This project was part of a larger nationwide initiative to extend and improve the carrier’s coverage. Achieving nationwide carrier status represents a major strategic opportunity, but it also requires substantial investment amid fierce competition, all while trying to reduce customer churn rates.
Although this carrier had enjoyed a solid market position, continuing technical and market challenges placed it in an increasingly difficult competitive position — making network optimization a key element for its future market strategy.
Project Objectives
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Improve measured Ec levels; defined by a net decrease in the number of bins with Ec<-84 dBm, considered uncovered bins, and improved to Ec>- 84 dBm
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Improve Ec/Io levels to achieve a net increase in the number of bins in which Ec/Io is improved to a level exceeding –13 dB
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Improve soft handoff factor
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Minimize ineffective call attempt rate
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Reduce dropped call rate
Project Results
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Maxima OptiPlanner successfully optimized the network in the target region, improving network coverage by 42% while significantly reducing costs and project completion time
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Goal of maintaining quality while improving coverage was not only met, it was exceeded — access failure rate was improved by 20%
Operator Benefits
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Improved network quality – over 19% overall improvement in KPIs
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Improved customer satisfaction, reducing customer churn
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Fast project turnaround and low overhead, allowing for rapid optimization on an on-going basis
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A user-friendly product, enabling the engineering team to apply it in future network planning and maintenance projects
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Increased CapEx and OpEx savings by using a mobile measurements based optimization product (the most accurate source for network modeling), allowing for cheaper, faster, and more effective FP
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