Reduce Network Optimization Time by 50%

Operator Cuts Network Optimization Time by 50%

A mobile network operator, with operations spanning Northern and Eastern Europe, was looking to expand its mobile and data services offering into the Internet of Things (IoT). It identified two emerging cellular IoT technologies— NB-IoT and LTE-Cat-M1 (LTE-M)—as prime methods for delivering that service, but needed to better understand the real-world performance of those technologies. The operator wanted technical validation that its network could meet the quality and coverage requirements necessary to support its IoT business case. The operator began by launching an IoT pilot project. The goal was to see if data from its IoT sensor product could be transmitted directly to displays, over a commercial network, using NB-IoT and LTE-M. While lab tests told one story, the provider discovered unexpected challenges delivering high quality of service (QoS) in field locations where the technology would be installed. One challenge stemmed from the fact that NB-IoT and LTE-M performance depend heavily on the field performance of commercial network equipment and IoT devices, as well as interoperability between the equipment. Network design and configuration have big impacts on performance as well. As a result, the operator needed a way to accurately test and measure the technologies in the laboratory and in live networks. It also needed a way to test the functionality of its IoT sensor product in the field to verify and benchmark its performance.

Comprehensive Lab and Field Testing Delivered

To get the measurement data it required, both in the laboratory and field, the operator turned to Keysight Technologies with its Nemo Outdoor and Nemo Analyze solutions. Nemo Outdoor is a laptop-based full drive test tool for testing, troubleshooting and optimizing mobile and wireless networks. Nemo Analyze is a highly efficient and fully scalable analysis tool for benchmarking, automated troubleshooting, and statistical reporting based on drive test data. Using Nemo Outdoor, the operator was able to accurately measure its IoT service delivered in an actual network. During the initial field/laboratory test phase, the LTE-IoT radio access network (RAN) was tested, together with the core network. Nemo Outdoor was connected to the IoT modules and a load was generated over the live connection between the device and the network using a test protocol. The measurement application collected application performance readings, as well as the radio metrics by tapping into the diagnostics interface of the IoT modem/chip of the device. Nemo Outdoor provided the operator a holistic view of the network, from the application-level down to RF metrics and control plane signaling. With this information, the operator benchmarked the performance of its NB-IoT and LTE-M technologies and its IoT sensor product, and verified the interoperability of the equipment to be deployed. Nemo Outdoor was then used to perform extensive indoor and outdoor measurements to gauge network coverage and quality. This information enabled the operator to verify its IoT coverage and obtain data that pinpointed potential issues. The operator then analyzed the signal with Nemo Analyze to further investigate the root cause of its problems (see the figure). The resulting data was used to quickly optimize the network for improved QoS. It also provided the operator with the network performance technical details it needed to drive equipment improvement discussions with the IoT network equipment manufacturer.

A Head Start in IoT Network Deployment

Using Keysight’s Nemo Outdoor for accurate drive testing and Nemo Analyze for thorough analysis of the results, the operator reduced the time it normally takes to optimize its network by 50%. That optimization delivered the operator a 25% improvement in network quality and improved its QoS. More importantly, with tangible measurement data that the live NB-IoT and LTE-M network was able to deliver the quality and coverage the operator expected, it can now confidently execute on its IoT business plan ahead of its competition. And, it can begin using its IoT sensor product for applications like improving efficiency at construction sites. The pilot project was deemed a success and the operator has now begun deployment of NB-IoT technology to its entire network.