NTA (Nepal Telecommunication Authority) has found the mobile network call quality of Nepal Telecom (NTC) to be the best among the three telcos. NTA performed a study among three telcos: Ntc, Ncell, and Smart, which tells NTC mobile network to have the best quality.
The regulator performed the test for the three Telcos based on four benchmarks, for Mobile call and similar in Data service. Those Mobile call benchmarks are Call setup success rate, Call setup time, Call drop rate and Grade of Service (Call blocking probability). The study showed NTC mobile quality found to be superior for those 4 benchmarks. Similarly, the data service benchmarks include Ping test, webpage load test, File Download, and upload success rate.
NTA performed a sample test in the central city area of Kathmandu like Kamaladi, Singhadurbar, Tripureshwor, Basantapur. The sample test also includes the following major areas of Kathmandu like:
- Ason
- Newroad
- Ratnapark
- Jamal
- Paknajol
- Sorhakhutte
- Anamnagar
- Bijulibazar
- Nayabaneshwor
- Thapagon
- Milanchowk
- Battisputali
- Old baneshwor
- Maitidevi
- Ghattekulo
- Dillibazar
- Kamalpokhari
- Naxal
- Nagpokhari
- Gairidhara
- Tangal
- Bhatbhateni
- Bishalnagar
- Gahanapokhari
- Hadigaon
- Bhatikya Pool
- Mitrapark Area
NTA had performed drive test in those areas, measuring the mobile network (2G, 3G, 4G) quality. All the measurement were done in the busy hours from Ashoj 11 to 25. The analysis of the data gives the result as mentioned below.
After Ntc, Ncell stands the second in terms of the mobile network call quality benchmarks. And Smart Cell has the poorest mobile network among three.
NTA study result
Mobile call test report
Out of the four benchmarks, Ntc has the best Call setup Success rate of 98.26%. Whereas Ncell has 97.77 % Call setup rate and that of Smart Telecom is 92.39. NTA guidelines have the call setup success rate to be above 99 % which is not met by all operators.
The study further tells the Call setup time of Ntc to be 11.48 seconds whereas that of Ncell and Smart Telecom are 4.48 and 13.71 seconds respectively. As per the NTA quality guideline, the call connection or setup time should be below 5 seconds.
During the test, NTA found all of the operators to have 0% call drop which is quite good for all of them. NTA guideline requires the call drop rate to be less than 2%.
Similarly, the Grade of service of Ntc, Ncell, and Smart is found as 1.74%, 2.23%, 7.61 % respectively. Here Ntc stands the best for GOS, Less value means lesser the call blocking. Smart Telecom mobile network stands the worst as per their study. GOS indicates the probability of calls that will be blocked due to network resources.
Smart Telecom could not meet the criteria of 3 benchmarks whereas Ncell could not meet 2 of them. Ntc even if it is found best, could not meet the criteria of 99% call setup success rate.
Data service Test report
For the data service test result, NTC and Ncell are found to be competitive enough. The ping test result shows 140 milliseconds in Ntc, 180 milliseconds in Ncell and 150 milliseconds in Smart. The webpage loading test shows a better result in Ncell as the speed comes 7.36 seconds. The webpage loading speed of NTC and Smart come at 16.89 seconds and 20.79 seconds.
The data download success rate of NTC is found at 83.33 % whereas, for Ncell, it is 97.62 %. The data download success rate of Smart is 100 %, which shows as best data service in Nepal. Whereas for upload test, Ncell comes ahead than Ntc but not to the extent of Smart.
As per Bizmandu, NTA will give some time to improve the network to the telcos. If there is no improvement till that time, NTA will start penalizing the telcos.
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