#roaming optimization

There is no question that roaming is a major multi-million revenue generator for network providers and that it will continue to be leveraged by those in the mobile data industry for the next several years.  It is imperative that carriers make sure that their network is able to accommodate roaming optimization so that they can capture and retain their customers, and so that they can form the right roaming partnerships with other international carriers in order to extend their services abroad.

What To Look For In A Roaming Optimization Provider

The first thing which every network needs to look for in a roaming provider is whether they are compliant with the latest GSA Global Roaming Quality (or “GRQ”).  Without this guarantee you may be sinking a lot of capital into a solution which will turn out to be useless.

Another important feature to ask vendors about is their roaming analysis and Key Performance Indicator (KPI) reporting capabilities.  These tools will allow operators to identify capture points, analyze the roaming traffic and look into why hey have lost roamers on their network right down to a cell level.  Some key features which should be included include:

·         Traffic captured, lost and retrieved from competing providers

·         Steering of Roamers (SOR) detection and on-going measurement

·         MMS or email success rates

·         Individual user data throughput for your data services

Added Troubleshooting Capabilities

A lot of the state of the art solutions available today also provide troubleshooting solutions, allowing operations to quickly detect any roamers who are unable to access their network or discover poor service quality in certain areas.  These tools allow users to perform full investigations  which include having the ability to isolate the issues root causes which often include:

·         Poor network coverage

·         Handsets not configured for roaming

·         Subscribers who do not have roaming rights

Networks then have the ability to make quick real-time and informed decisions.  You can take correction actions, perform performance benchmarks, and prioritize network optimization tasks as necessary.

Choosing The Right Vendor

The right vendor for almost every network provider today is one which is offering cutting edge strategies to today's common problems and which has their eyes set on where the future of mobile technology is heading.

But apart from being creative, the company must also be compliant.  Regulations are continually changing particularly when it comes to roaming in Europe and around the globe, and the vendor you choose technologies from must be able to keep up with these ever changing policies.

Another important aspect to look into is the success rate of the vendor's solutions in the past.  Some have been in the industry for a decade or more and have had little success, while others have created product after product which has been adopted by some of the largest network providers worldwide.