Background
Consumers
take a number of factors into account when buying and using
a mobile phone. The ability to make a successful call is one
such factor.
To assist
consumers, the four mobile network operators, working together
with Oftel and consumer groups, have published the results of
the individual operators’ network surveys of call success
rates(1). The survey
measures the percentage of test calls connected and completed
successfully, percentages of dropped calls and failed set-ups,
both nationally and regionally. These figures are the results
of each mobile network operators’ survey of its own network
during the period April 2000 – September 2000.
In order
to cover a wide range of locations, data was compiled from vehicles
– using roof mounted aerials and automatic call generation
equipment to make test calls – driving routes on major
roads and population centres during the normal working day.
The drivers of the vehicles did not make calls.
Scope
The mobile
network operators undertook their own drive round surveys, each
making approximately 17,000 test calls between 1 April 2000
and 30 September 2000. Seventy towns and cities plus major ‘A’ roads
and motorways were surveyed throughout the UK(2).
Measurements
were made using an agreed set of routes although the same routes
were not necessarily driven in the towns and cities. The roads
were driven Monday to Friday between the hours of 8 am and 8
pm, excluding Bank Holidays.
Customers
should note that the survey results are limited by a number
of factors, including the nature and location of the tests employed.
Consumers’ own experience may differ from the reported
level of service depending on factors such as the handset and
equipment being used, geographic location and time of day.
Furthermore,
when making a purchase decision, consumers should also take
into account other factors including price of handset, connection
charge, call tariffs, claimed coverage, service features, terms
and conditions and indeed any other factors which individuals
consider relevant to their needs.
Oftel and
the operators decided not to publish individual operator results
for the period April 2000 - September 2000 as the results were
not fully comparable and could have been misleading to consumers.
The operators together with Oftel and consumer groups, are currently
working to further improve the methodology, comparability, and
accuracy of the survey approach used. This will allow
comparable individual operator results to be published in the
near future.
(1)
Reference to "call success rates" refers to the test
equipment’s ability to set up and hold a call for two minutes.
This measure does not give a figure for the audio quality of
the call.
(2)
One2One did not survey Northern Ireland due to having no commercially
available network within the region during the time of the survey.
Orange did not survey Northern Ireland due to technical
reasons.
