A performance analysis for UMTS packet switched network based on multivariate KPIs

Mobile data services are penetrating mobile markets rapidly. The mobile industry relies heavily on data service to replace the traditional voice services with the evolution of the wireless technology and market. A reliable packet service network is critical to the mobile operators to maintain their core competence in data service market. Furthermore, mobile operators need to develop effective operational models to manage the varying mix of voice, data and video traffic on a single network. Application of statistical models could prove to be an effective approach. This paper first introduces the architecture of Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) packet switched (PS) network and then applies multivariate statistical analysis to Key Performance Indicators (KPI) monitored from network entities in UMTS PS network to guide the long term capacity planning for the network. The approach proposed in this paper could be helpful to mobile operators in operating and maintaining their 3G packet switched networks for the long run.