The Digital Communications Workplace of Iceland (ECOI) has chosen Rohde & Schwarz cellular community testing to evaluate and benchmark the efficiency, protection and capability of the nation’s three cellular community operators. The marketing campaign is meant to in the end enhance the standard of service (QoS) and high quality of expertise (QoE) for the tip customers in Iceland, given the island’s difficult geography and local weather. ECOI commissioned Rohde & Schwarz community analytics providers to roll out a benchmarking marketing campaign primarily based on an internationally standardized, clear course of primarily based on the European Telecommunications Requirements Institute (ETSI).

The nationwide regulatory authority Fjarskiptastofa (FST) – internationally referred to as the Digital Communications Workplace of Iceland (ECOI) – commissioned Rohde & Schwarz to conduct a large-scale cellular community high quality benchmarking marketing campaign in Iceland. The cellular community testing consultants from Rohde & Schwarz deliberate and applied the benchmarking marketing campaign as a service for ECOI. The collected information was processed utilizing the Community Efficiency Rating (NPS) 2.0. The NPS is a totally clear take a look at methodology according to ETSI TR 103 559 that compares standardized KPIs for cellular networks utilizing energetic drive and stroll assessments.

ECOI is likely one of the first regulatory authorities in Europe to depend on the NPS for such a large-scale community benchmarking marketing campaign. The NPS relies on a technique described by the European standardization group ETSI in ETSI TR 103 559. It supplies an industry-proven normal and internationally comparable high quality of service and consumer expertise assessments for cellular networks.

The marketing campaign was carried out over 5 weeks in September and October 2023. Roughly 9 000 km have been pushed by large cities like Reykjavik, small cities and on distant roads across the complete island. The community high quality inside purchasing malls was additionally assessed. Roughly 90 % of Iceland’s inhabitants was coated. The marketing campaign included over 17 000 calls and the analysis of over 160 000 information assessments, together with software stage assessments for 90-second voice calls, eGaming purposes, on-line conferences and video chats to evaluate the standard expertise for present subscribers. NPS model 2.0 applies tougher thresholds and complicated weighting, particularly for developed networks dominated by 5G know-how, as is the case in Iceland.

The benchmark measurements confirmed that each one three cellular networks in Iceland; Síminn, Nova and Vodafone scored over 700 factors (out of 1000), making them on par with different cellular networks in Europe. All three networks have excellent 5G protection in cities and cities and glorious 4G protection nationwide. Each voice and information providers are dependable, however there’s nonetheless room for enchancment. Because of the NPS technique utilized in actual drive assessments, QoE points particularly alongside highways might be detected, which stay unnoticed with different take a look at strategies.

ECOI needs to spur the event of Iceland’s telecommunications networks and supply providers for everybody, irrespective of the place they stay on the sparsely populated island. By fostering wholesome competitors among the many three Icelandic community operators with benchmarking, the operators are inspired to put money into the infrastructure that in the end advantages end-users and companies. Þorleifur Jónasson, Director Infrastructure Division on the Digital Communications Workplace of Iceland, says: “ECOI believes that solely a technique deeply rooted in internationally acknowledged requirements permits a good and unbiased evaluation of the cellular community high quality. That is why we partnered with Rohde & Schwarz to supply us with their cellular community high quality benchmarking providers. Their ETSI outlined Community Efficiency Rating methodology satisfied us.”

Maja Mitic, Director Community Analytics Providers Cellular Community Testing at Rohde & Schwarz, says: “Iceland has huge open landscapes and a tough local weather that may make it difficult for operators to supply the very best community protection, particularly with 5G within the recreation. ECOI is among the many first regulatory authorities in Europe to belief Rohde & Schwarz with such a clear and unbiased large-scale benchmarking marketing campaign to evaluate a rustic’s community high quality and consumer expertise. It’s an important step to make sure additional funding, innovation and shopper safety by enhanced competitors amongst Icelandic community operators.”