NTRA prepares service quality measurement report for 2022 first quarter

In light of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority’s “NTRA” efforts to boost the quality of telecom services provided for users, the National Telecom Center for Monitoring Service Quality, subordinate to NTRA, has prepared its report on quality measurements for the first quarter (Q1) of 2022 (from January to March 2022).

The report covers voice and data service indicators as provided by telecom operators in Egypt’s market. In fact, quality-measuring tests were conducted on mobile phone service over 81 cities and districts, where phone call and data transfer samples were tested. This process took place via measuring equipment and vehicles, and for distances of about 108 thousand Km. across major and sub roads of urban and rural areas, during the first quarter of 2022.

Report-findings entailed the Key Performance Indicators of voice and data service as follow:

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of voice service:

• Call-Blocked Rate: Rate of unsuccessful attempts to start a phone call
• Call-Dropped Rate: Rate of disconnected phone calls for technical issues, before being ended by either side.
• Call Access Time: Rate of calls requiring a long time or taking long seconds, from the time the dial button is pressed until a ring is heard by the other side.
• Voice Quality Rate: Level of voice purity during phone calls.

Data service KPIs:

• Average http Download Throughput: Minimum download speed is monitored for the lowest 10% of sample.
• Average http Upload Throughput: Minimum upload speed is monitored for the lowest 10% of sample.

Below is the total number of cities and districts where voice quality issues were monitored in 2022-Q1:

• Vodafone: 18 areas, out of 81, were monitored to have voice quality issues; with Upper Egypt on top, followed by Delta and the Suez Canal. Number of areas suffering from voice quality issues was increased to 18 in March 2022, in comparison to 17 areas back in January 2022.
• Orange: 23 areas, out of 81, were monitored to have voice quality issues; with Alexandria on top followed by Delta and Cairo. Number of areas suffering from voice quality issues was increased to 23 in March 2022, in comparison to 20 areas back in January 2022.
• Etisalat: 24 areas, out of 81, were monitored to have voice quality issues; with Upper Egypt on top followed by Delta and Alexandria respectively. Number of areas suffering from voice quality issues was increased to 24 in March 2022, in comparison to 23 areas back in January 2022.
• WE: 36 areas, out of 81, were monitored to have voice quality issues; with Upper Egypt on top followed by Cairo and Delta. Number of areas suffering from voice quality issues was reduced to 36 in March 2022, in comparison to 37 areas back in January 2022.

Below is the total number of cities and districts where data quality issues were monitored in 2022-Q1:

• Vodafone: Out of 81 cities and districts, 33 areas were monitored to have poor data service in March 2022, in comparison to 27 areas having issues in data quality back in January 2022. On the top of affected areas came Delta, followed by Cairo and Upper Egypt respectively. Furthermore, Average download speed reached 29 Mbps/ second in March.
• Orange: Out of 81 cities and districts, 33 areas were monitored to have poor data service in March 2022, in comparison to 27 areas having issues in data quality back in January 2022. On the top of affected areas came Delta, followed by Cairo and Alexandria respectively. Furthermore, Average download speed reached 25 Mbps/ second in March.
• Etisalat: Out of 81 cities and districts, 12 areas were monitored to have poor data service in March 2022, in comparison to 10 areas having issues in data quality back in January 2022. On the top of affected areas came Upper Egypt, followed by Cairo and Giza respectively. Furthermore, Average download speed reached 31 Mbps/ second in March.
• WE: Out of 81 cities and districts, 12 areas were monitored to have poor data service in March 2022, in comparison to 3 areas having issues in data quality back in January 2022. On the top of affected areas came Upper Egypt, followed by Alexandria and Giza. Furthermore, Average download speed reached 30 Mbps/ second in March.

Measures taken by NTRA to improve service quality for users:

1. EGP 19 million-fines were imposed on telecom operators for violating quality standards

NTRA imposed fines of about EGP 19 million on mobile operators for trespassing telecom quality standards in 2022-Q1.

2. 2. Deployment of 786 cell-sites was approved by NTRA during 2022-Q1

Deployment of new 740 cell sites, during 2022-Q1, was approved by NTRA, by a 42%-increase compared to 2021-Q1. Furthermore, deployment of new 46 stations at the major national and strategic roads across Egypt was approved by NTRA. This process has actually contributed to improving the standards of telecom service provided in Egypt’s market.

3. Inspection campaigns were launched to seize unlawful signal boosters in Egypt’s market

Campaigns were launched by NTRA, in coordination with telecom police, to seize unlawful signal boosters harming telecom quality. As a result, 222 illegal repeaters and boosters were removed and seized during 2022-Q1. NTRA also calls upon citizens to use the NTRA-authorized signal boosters available at the outlets and stores of mobile operators.

4. Average speed of http Download Throughput was changed for mobile operators

NTRA followed up the process to activate the new frequency bands provided within 2600 MHz, via Time Division Duplexing (TDD), at the beginning of December 2021. In fact, an increase in average download speed was monitored for Vodafone, Etisalat and WE reaching 29 Mbps/ second, 31 Mbps/ second and 30 Mbps/second respectively during March 2022. Meanwhile, average download speed remained consistent for Orange by 25 Mbps/ second during the same period.