How UCC measures the Quality of Service for TV broadcasters

The Communications regulator (UCC) has always been carrying out Quality of Service (QoS) surveys for Telecommunication companies and how the arrows are pointing towards QoS for TV broadcasters.

Given the advancement of digital TV broadcasting services primarily driven by the analogue to digital migration process, there has been significant opportunity to improve and guarantee the service quality to viewers.

UCC is mandated to conduct inspections, surveys or performance audits of the quality of service of the licensees from time to time to establish the performance of the licensees and adherence to the UCC quality of service standards. The standard applies to Television (TV) Broadcasting service categories;

• Public Infrastructure Provision (PIP)-Broadcasting Infrastructure that includes terrestrial, satellite, and cable platforms.
• Public Service Provision (PSP)-Content Service Provision (CSP) on the terrestrial, satellite, and cable platforms. The content classifications include subscription and free to air content.

TV broadcasters are required to provide UCC with reports every quarter, on the results of measurements done against some of the Quality of Service parameters. The reports submitted shall contain results for the respective quarter aggregated on a monthly basis starting on 1st January of the respective calendar year. Such a report shall be submitted to UCC by the 25th day of the first month of the following quarter.

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Lets look at all the Quality of Service parameters UCC has imposed on TV broadcasting services.

Network Related Quality of Service Parameters

1. Service Availability: This is the ability of a service provider to perform its required function at a stated instant or over a stated period. It measures the proportion of time for which each broadcasting service is available on the signal distribution platform. Calculated as a percentage of Service uptime/ 24 hours Target >99% availability.
2. Picture Quality: It is a term used by a TV viewer to rate the inherent quality of the picture. It assesses the television picture quality of the output of the signal distribution platform received by the viewers. It is based on the ITU-R BT.5006discrete quality and impairment scale ranging from 0-5. 5 being excellent or Imperceptible, 4 is Perceptible, but not annoying, 3 being Slightly annoying, 2 is annoying, and 1 very annoying. Target > = 4.
3. Bitrate per program stream: It is a measurement of the number of bits that are transmitted over a set length of time. It is used to know the speed at which the digital audio and video files are encoded or compressed. It is calculated as the average bit rate over 24 hours. Target is Average bitrate >1.5Mbit/s.
4. Modulation Error Ratio(MER): It a measure of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in a digitally modulated signal. It quantifies the performance of digital broadcast transmitters using digital modulation. It is captured from field measurements from the drive tests the UCC will conduct. It is calculated as 10 log (average symbol power/ average error power). Target MER> 32dB at the transmitter output.
5. Bit Error Rate before RS (Outer) decoder: The ratio of the number of bits with errors to the total number of bits transmitted. It quantifies the quality of a digital transmission from a broadcast transmitter. Target is Bit Error Rate, BER< 10e-9.
6. Carrier Power to Noise Ratio: The ratio of the received signal strength relative to the strength of the received noise. It evaluates the quality of the received signal from a broadcast transmitter. Target of C/N >10dB.
7. Signal strength: It is the magnitude of an electric field at a reference point, which is located at a significant distance from the transmitting antenna. It measures the transmitter power output as received by a TV receiver antenna at a distance from the broadcast transmitter. Target of Signal strength > 32dbm/μV

Customer Service Related Quality of Service parameters

1. First time service activation: This parameter assesses the proportion of time taken to provide a pay TV service to the customer from the instant the licensee acknowledges receipt of the payment from the customer. Should not exceed 48 hours.
2. Subsequent service reactivation after payment: This shows the proportion of requests for reactivation that are concluded within the agreed timeframe after acknowledgement of the customer’s payment by the licensee. Should not exceed 24 hours.
3. Customer support performance in complaints handling: It assesses the quality of support services offered to customers by the licensee through service centers. Should not exceed 24 hours.
4. Notification time on service maintenance: It measures the time given to the customers (Content service providers /and public) to receive notification about preventive maintenance work on the signal distributor’s network. Notice should be at least 3 days in advance.
5. Billing performance: It assesses the accuracy of the bill and billing options (Prepaid and Post-paid) and billing currency.