Globe tops NTC Metro Manila study
By Riza T. Olchondra
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:57:00 11/06/2008
Filed Under: Telecommunications Services
MANILA, Philippines--Globe Telecom Inc. beat rivals Smart Communications Inc. and Digitel Mobile Inc.’s Sun Cellular brand in a benchmarking study the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) did in Metro Manila.
NTC engineers conducted tests from Sept. 17 to Oct. 6 on three cellular service operators to measure the quality of services rendered. As part of the tests, they made 2,475 network-to-network calls per operator in 13 Metro Manila cities.
The engineers measured quality of service indicators, and parameters affecting network performance. The number of blocked calls and dropped calls against good calls were also measured.
Smart led the field on signal strength (91.81 percent), compared with Globe’s 86.58 percent and Sun’s 84.48 percent. In signal clarity, Smart rated 93 percent, slightly behind Globe (93.79 percent) and ahead of Sun (84.47 percent). In handover success rate, Smart led with 99.03 percent, followed by Globe (98.27 percent) and Sun (96.72 percent).
High marks in these parameters reflect good network coverage, good signal quality and proper handover. Good performance in these areas should result in lower percentage of blocked and dropped calls.
Yet, Smart registered 93 blocked calls (3.79 percent of 2,475) while Globe posted 49 (1.99 percent) and Sun, 779 (17.05 percent). On dropped calls, Smart registered 35 (1.42 percent), Globe 35 (1.42 percent), and Sun 48 (1.95 percent).
One explanation for the seeming disparity is that there may be other factors that contribute to the occurrence of blocked and dropped calls.
“Network congestion and system failure might be reflected,” NTC said in its report.
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