Accurately measure the performance of data services delivered over HSPA+

HSPA+ and at the same time allow them understand where additional capacity is best deployed. Unfortunately measuring HSPA+ data network performance is not straightforward:
HSPA+ features such as 64QAM (higher order modulation) and MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) offer the possibility of higher data rates but are not achievable in all network conditions. The success of HSPA+ rollouts will depend on understanding when and where new the features are available, being used and what improvements are delivered. Data Service KPIs are different. For voice networks measurements like drop call rate (DCR) are both easy to measure and broadly representative of customer experience. For data networks more complex KPIs are required for example measures for average data throughput per session Whereas circuit switched voice is effectively a single service network customers use the data networks to access a wide variety of services such as web surfing, video streaming and Twitter updates. To measure the performance of the data network operators need to measure the performance of the many different services that use that network. End to end performance becomes more critical as congestion can reside both in radio access and the core networks.

The Challenge
The mobile internet is here and now with over a third of all phones being sold Smartphones operators are having to cope with data volumes that are doubling year on year. LTE is on the horizon promising increased network data capacity at a lower cost per bit; however due to spectrum availability (especially in coverage bands) and high rollout costs most operators remain focused on getting the most out of their existing data networks. For many operators this means extending the capacity of their current HSPA networks through investment in additional carriers and the deployment of HSPA+.

Operators still rely on drive testing to validate the performance of data network rollouts and as a result they require post processing tools that can analyze the latest network measurements and complex data services.

Analyzer for HSPA+ Data Services Analysis

Actix has worked closely with leading edge operators rolling out extensions to their data networks to expand Actix Analyzer by adding sophisticated data service analysis capabilities that will allow operators to get a true picture of performance of their data network. Actix Analyzer, the industry leading post processing tool, provides:
Support for latest HSPA+ devices in all major logging formats Supports HSPA+ measurements such as 64QAM and MIMO Dedicated data service analysis for troubleshooting data services Data service performance reports to simplify data service validation

HSPA features by release

To make this evolutionary approach work it is critical for operators to accurately measure the capacity and performance improvements achieved by the rollout of HSPA+. Accurate measurements will ensure operators realise the full potential of

Data Service Validation Features in Analyzer

Actix Analyzer now contains the following dedicated data service analysis features. Support for latest HSPA+ decodes: Analyzer supports the latest drive survey decodes from all of the major vendors. Capture of HSPA+ network measurements: Analyzer supports the measurement of the latest HSPA+ (release 7 and release 8) features including: CQI, frame usage, modulation usage and number of codes. Dedicated Data Service Analysis KPIs: Analyzer supports powerful top down KPIs allowing operators to evaluate the quality of different data services as perceived by end users Performance thresholds can be set on per data service basis (independently for upload and download) to set precise goals for data service performance. These allow the detection of:
IP service setup failures and drops Data sessions failures due to radio link drop Low absolute throughput for a network technology Low composite throughput across different network technologies Web browsing high page download duration Ping high round trip time Ping lost

the underlying cause of poor data service performance is due to poor radio quality or congestion on the core or radio networks and to understand when and where HSPA+ features were available and used.

Data session analysis showing: 1. Low UE frame usage due to HSPA congestion 2. Low throughput at HSPA cell change 3. Spikes of low throughput caused by the scheduler

IP Packet Inspection: Analyzer provides full IP layer decodes and session analysis to provide full inspection into the IP traffic layer supported by HSPA+ allowing KPIs to be built that cover Jitter and other measure of IP performance. HSPA+ Performance Reports: Out of the box performance reports enable operators to quickly create validation and acceptance reports that communicate the coverage and capacity achieved by the rollout of HSPA+ features and the additional of new carriers. Benchmark reports can be built allowing operators to compare their data service performance and coverage with their competitors.

Spotlight Summary Dashboard: The dashboard highlights failed KPIs and summarizes the performance of each data session. From here engineers can understand the performance of data sessions, whether HSPA+ features were used and drill down to establish the underlying causes of any problems and areas of poor performance.

Customer Benefits
Customers who have deployed Actixs data services analysis capabilities have seen report building and troubleshooting time reduced by up to 80%. Accurate HSPA+ validation and acceptance improves both network quality and capacity and ensures HSPA+ rollouts realise their potential.
Spotlight Data Service Dashboard

Detailed Data Session Analysis: Analyzer enables drill down to detailed data session analysis providing all the information required by engineers to understand the root cause of the problems affecting the data services performance. The analysis covers the entire data session correlating data service performance with the underlying network measurements. This enables engineers to establish whether

About Actix
Actix is one of the worlds leading mobile network analytics companies, helping mobile network service operators provide reliable connections on a global scale. Established in 1991, weve grown to support more than 500 customers, with over 10,000 active software licenses deployed.