Kenya's telecoms regulator, the CCK signed a contract to buy QVoice systems from Ascom to monitor and optimize quality of mobile telephony services in the country. The aim of the agency is to validate network operator licensing agreements in terms of contractual Quality of Service (QoS) levels. Initial testing will be in heavily populated city centers and address key performance parameters including call drop rates, speech quality, service coverage and SMS delivery times.
Previously, the commission had only limited capability to conduct QoS tests and relied heavily on operator-supplied data on network characteristics. The new equipment based on Ascom's QVoice will enable the CCK to do an independent verification of the performance.
Ascom says that the objective is to bring Kenyan mobile telephone standards up on par with mature GSM markets in Western Europe.
QVoice introduced in 1993 has redefined the concept and ways of mobile network testing. The QVoice pallet of mobile network measurement and performance analysis equipment wields innovative capabilities, allowing operators to test, benchmark and optimize faster and more accurately.
Bernd Kuhlin, General Manager of the Division Security Solutions, adds: "We are proud that Ascom has been chosen as partner for mobile network testing in an important African market. It is our ambition to be able to support the Communication Committee of Kenya in their commitment to verify service performance."
The Mobile World subscriber database reports that Kenya had a little under 6.5 million customers at the end of the first half of this year - representing a population penetration level of 18.7%. "
Posted to the site on 30th October 2006
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/20103.php