Optimizing Network Access for Best Customer Experience
Being the best network is about speed, coverage and user experience. The combination of external measurement tools, variety of radio coverage and range of what users can do, make this an annual challenge for mobile networks around the world. Using standard comparisons, the simplicity of being Number #1 – the best network – provides a trusted, external endorsement that attracts new customers and strengthens competitive marketing efforts.
Case Study: Best in Test….
External testing of mobile data access has become the independent way to assert best-in-class network access for users & their data. Organizations such as Ookla, Umlaut and OpenSignal provide a variety of methodology and testing to enable the measurement of quality and coverage of data access. With the predominant focus on mobile data (independent of voice access) they have become both the way networks measure themselves against the competition but also how we, as end users, can check whether we are getting a good service across broadband and mobile.
Challenge: Networks Built for Speed – but it is coverage & experience
The challenge for mobile data networks is the mobility of the users themselves. A lab test can be configured for optimal results but mobile tests (drive, walk, user initiated) can be done from any location at any time. In the case of crowdsourced testing, the test itself can be affected by location – e.g. in a basement versus outdoors near a cell tower. In those cases the mean value over time should equalize out conditions and connectivity in the test.
How can Enea help?
Enea can’t improve radio coverage or provide new physical bandwidth – but what we do well is optimize the use of protocol and speed of data access when a user is connected (or transiting between 4G, 5G, 5G NR). The Enea data traffic management software optimizes traffic flow based on cell site location and time of day.
The tests themselves follow the methodology as laid out by the different testing organizations, but are generally a measure of speed, the download time of web pages and large content files as well as streaming access.
As a specific case in point, Enea enables faster downloads by improving the performance of core protocols used to transport data and how they interact with the mobile network. We know that over 50% of data access uses the TCP protocol. Using TCP acceleration, the download time can be automatically optimized, and adapted to both 4G & 5G radio to deliver the content much quicker. It is about using the maximum speed of the network effectively!
The result?
As an example, using Enea TCP acceleration the utilization of the available bandwidth can be improved by 10-25%. It both accelerates to maximum bandwidth more quickly, reacts to changes (if the user is in a drive test moving from 5G to 4G and back) as well as handling varying conditions, such as packet loss and higher latency (if the user/device is in the basement or may have shadow effects from tall buildings in urban environments (aka a walk test).
See the following example of the difference when Enea TCP Acceleration is OFF and ON. TCP Acceleration increases the max bandwidth with 16% and the time to reach 90Mbps bandwidth is improved by over 50%!
TCP Acceleration OFF
TCP Acceleration ON
Staying at #1….
The network and data access has to keep pace with internet changes and users’ expectations. There is also competition for the top spot of best network or best user experience. Having the right traffic management capabilities that automatically adapt to their environment and data access is critical.
That’s why Enea’s traffic management tools have sustained the #1 position for our customers across the different key testing processes to measure network access and user experience. Enea is here not just for the one-off, check out our educational webinar on testing, as well as our recent article on achieving #1 status for the third year in a row in drive tests!
