The roadmap to introduce the 3G UMTS Radio Access Network (RAN) is roughly divided into four phases: coverage design, system installation, RAN tuning and area patrol. NEC specifically conceptualises the two phases of optimisation, i.e., RAN tuning and area patrol, as "SAITEKIKA" in order to differentiate NEC's unique services from those of other vendors. W-CARD aims to be a network lifecycle partner, providing technical support across all of the phases, except system installation*.



*System installation shall be carried out by customers or discussed separately.



At the initial stage of mobile network planning, coverage and capacity issues are costly and of primary concern because of their importance to network performance after service launch. W-CARD offers automatic calculation and analysis features allowing network designers to quickly deploy sites, and predict coverage & required capacity using input data such as map data, traffic models and various parameters.


Today's mobile network leaves no room to question the importance of performance optimisation. The network operators' attention is now focused on selecting the best solution to help them optimise the network performance for maximum potential.

RAN SAITEKIKA represents NEC's extensive approach to improving service quality as experienced by mobile users and to maximising network performance in terms of coverage and capacity. Its concept relies on "area management" that is a "real RF environment" oriented and measurement data based approach. Apart from the popular performance counter based approach that is end user satisfactory oriented, area management aims at network-wide performance improvement through solution finding for individual problems arising from the real RF environment.
The goal of RAN SAITEKIKA is to assist network operators in securing mobile user satisfaction and retention, minimise network operating costs, and maximise the efficient use of invested funds.



The phase of RAN SAITEKIKA prior to service launch, is denoted as "RAN tuning ". Toward the service launch, the primary concern of the customers resides in ensuring seamless service continuity and timely service launch. To meet customers' requirements, NEC provides optimisation services focused on evaluating and improving the planned coverage in a quick and secure manner.




Throughout the lifetime of a W-CDMA network, the network performance is constantly challenged by trade-offs among coverage, capacity and quality. Because of this, the network needs ongoing permanent maintenance and monitoring. NEC specifically denotes the maintenance and monitoring activities after service launch as "area patrol". Compared with the RAN tuning, the focus shifts to coverage maintenance and feasibility assessment for network upgrading.