According to the latest statistics released by the Zhejiang branch of China Mobile, the number of registered VoLTE users and monthly active users in the province reached 10.56 and 12.82 million, respectively, 10 times greater than last year’s figures.
Zhejiang is the first province in China to exceed 10 million VoLTE users. Their VoLTE user traffic accounts for 20% of the total, which is above the national average of 8%. The network-wide service quality, system performance, and resource indicators are all running strong.
Ever since the Zhejiang branch gained its first millions of users in March of the last year, the branch has been spearheading the nation’s VoLTE development. To respond to China Mobile’s strategy, the branch put forward the concept of “user experience-centric service quality optimisation and transition-orient business development”.
By partnering with Huawei, the branch reinforced VoLTE service provisioning and focused on user experience and signal coverage to improve their VoLTE service quality and user growth from end to end.
Four steps to smoothen VoLTE auto-provisioning
In September of 2016, the Zhejiang branch took the initiative to auto-provision VoLTE services. By May of this year, the branch had pre-configured all user information for more than 30 million potential VoLTE users. This move poses a great challenge to resources and service quality, but reflects the branch’s confidence in their networks and user experience. The massive increase in VoLTE users challenges the interface and BOSS processing capabilities, equipment capacity, and system performance.
To remedy this, the branch took four steps to ensure smooth and comprehensive VoLTE auto-provisioning. The branch analysed massive data and took measures, such as removing very annoyed persons (VAPs) and promoting services to inactive VoLTE users for them to become active again, to ensure good user experience and reduce resource usage. To date, 83% of VoLTE users have become active, and 66% of core network resources have been saved.
Introducing VoLTE poor quality eNodeB Percentage and VoLTE camping duration rate to constantly increase user experience
To accurately evaluate voice service experience and propel network development, the Zhejiang branch created two major indicators, VoLTE Poor-Quality eNodeB Percentage and VoLTE
Camping Duration Rate, to look for signs affecting voice service experience. The VoLTE Poor- Quality eNodeB Percentage indicator comprehensively reflects user experience. It is often affected by a low voice service MOS, dropped calls, or abnormal handovers.
The VoLTE Camping Duration Rate indicator demonstrates the overall HD voice service proportion, which also indicates the network coverage. The branch used the two indicators to optimise networks and achieved remarkable results, with VoLTE poor-quality eNodeB percentage reduced from 7.08% to 0.79% and VoLTE camping duration rate increased from 91.7% to 94.74%.
The three layer overall evaluation and troubleshooting approach to extending 4G network coverage
Wide 4G network coverage is the basis for VoLTE service development. To achieve this, the Zhejiang branch came up with a three-layer overall evaluation and troubleshooting approach to scientifically estimate network coverage, from macro to micro perspectives.
Using MR based precise location, the branch carried out value-oriented and refined optimisation as well as accurate network planning and construction, which effectively expanded the 4G network coverage. Additionally, the branch adopted a wind-up evaluation mechanism to ensure that all network coverage issues were properly resolved. As of now, the 4G network coverage issues in 962 buildings have been resolved after adding new equipment, and the coverage in an additional 112 buildings has been optimised.
The Zhejiang branch’s VoLTE initiative has proven to be successful and has since been introduced to other branches. During the enhancement process, the branch deepened cross- department collaboration, ensured network stability, strengthened customer care, and reduced VAPs and terminal issues.
These measures have additionally accelerated user migration from legacy voice services to VoLTE, and backed the company’s long-term strategy of steadily growing the VoLTE user base and enhancing the service quality. It only took the branch half a year to reach the VoLTE goals put forward by China Mobile.
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