TY - GEN
T1 - Through the Telco Lens
T2 - 2024 ACM Internet Measurement Conference, IMC 2024
AU - Kalntis, Michail
AU - Suárez-Varela, José
AU - Iglesias, Jesús Omaña
AU - Bhattacharjee, Anup Kiran
AU - Iosifidis, George
AU - Kuipers, Fernando A.
AU - Lutu, Andra
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Cellular networks rely on handovers (HOs) as a fundamental element to enable seamless connectivity for mobile users. A comprehensive analysis of HOs can be achieved through data from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs); however, the vast majority of studies employ data from measurement campaigns within confined areas and with limited end-user devices, thereby providing only a partial view of HOs. This paper presents the first countrywide analysis of HO performance, from the perspective of a top-tier MNO in a European country. We collect traffic from approximately 40M users for 4 weeks and study the impact of the radio access technologies (RATs), device types, and manufacturers on HOs across the country. We characterize the geo-temporal dynamics of horizontal (intra-RAT) and vertical (inter-RATs) HOs, at the district level and at millisecond granularity, and leverage open datasets from the country's official census office to associate our findings with the population. We further delve into the frequency, duration, and causes of HO failures, and model them using statistical tools. Our study offers unique insights into mobility management, highlighting the heterogeneity of the network and devices, and their effect on HOs.
AB - Cellular networks rely on handovers (HOs) as a fundamental element to enable seamless connectivity for mobile users. A comprehensive analysis of HOs can be achieved through data from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs); however, the vast majority of studies employ data from measurement campaigns within confined areas and with limited end-user devices, thereby providing only a partial view of HOs. This paper presents the first countrywide analysis of HO performance, from the perspective of a top-tier MNO in a European country. We collect traffic from approximately 40M users for 4 weeks and study the impact of the radio access technologies (RATs), device types, and manufacturers on HOs across the country. We characterize the geo-temporal dynamics of horizontal (intra-RAT) and vertical (inter-RATs) HOs, at the district level and at millisecond granularity, and leverage open datasets from the country's official census office to associate our findings with the population. We further delve into the frequency, duration, and causes of HO failures, and model them using statistical tools. Our study offers unique insights into mobility management, highlighting the heterogeneity of the network and devices, and their effect on HOs.
KW - measurements
KW - mobile networks
KW - network performance
KW - network topology
KW - traffic analysis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85212501282&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1145/3646547.3688452
DO - 10.1145/3646547.3688452
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85212501282
T3 - Proceedings of the ACM SIGCOMM Internet Measurement Conference, IMC
SP - 51
EP - 67
BT - IMC 2024 - Proceedings of the 2024 ACM Internet Measurement Conference
PB - ACM
Y2 - 4 November 2024 through 6 November 2024
ER -