Our customer had a dilemma. In a major market, one of their RNCs (radio network controllers) began running near capacity, without an increase in subscribers. With network resources stretched, they needed to increase network capacity while avoiding any increase in capex spending.

With the help of Tektronix Communications, engineers used the Trend Navigate solution to analyze network traffic. After detecting extremely short data connections immediately following individual voice calls, engineers determined that phones with chatty apps were the problem.

Thousands of new apps hit the market every day. Some cause chattiness. Chatty apps steal network capacity because they constantly communicate with the network. Even from idle handsets. Since network equipment doesn’t provide app level information, chatty apps can go undetected by operators, and isn’t billable.

Trend Navigate's custom reporting allowed engineers to detect specific gaming and video conferencing apps that triggered chatty behaviour. One record showed 61 consecutive data connections, each lasting less than 1 second.

The solution isolated two handset models generating the traffic. The operator addressed these issues with the handset manufacturers and the app companies.

After the chatty apps were fixed, the operator was able to increase network capacity, regaining 30% in one RNC immediately. They also avoided unnecessary capex spending on capacity expansion.

Trend Navigate's unique ability to detect and isolate chatty apps and handsets solved an issue the operator didn’t know existed.