For the third consecutive year, the Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (ANACOM) carried out a measurement study on the quality of service provided by the GSM mobile operators - Optimus, TMN and Vodafone.
The study disclosed now - "Survey on the Quality of Service of GSM Mobile Networks" - assesses three quality of service indicators: coverage, accessibility and audio quality. The used methodology was exactly the same the one used in the previous year, although the collection of measurements in the autonomous regions of Azores and Madeira has this year been extended to all the islands. The three operators, which networks were subject to the study, and the Portuguese Consumer Defence Association (DECO) were involved in the methodological definition of the tests.
The collection of measurements in the field took place between 18 February and 20 June 2002, whereby 49.999 test calls were made in 30 cities and 10 major road arteries in the Mainland and in 3 cities and major road arteries of all Azores and Madeira islands.
The conclusions of the report refer to a high coverage level and generic performance, placing the national GSM mobile networks equal to or better than their European counterparts. A comparative analysis between the quality levels of mobile networks in the Portuguese mainland and in the autonomous regions (the Azores, in particular) clearly shows, however, some asymmetries, namely as far as "accessibility" and "coverage" indicators are concerned.
The study is available to the public in CD-Rom, with ANACOM's public attendance service, at Av. José Malhoa, nº 12, Lisbon.
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- GSM Mobile Networks - Quality of Service Survey https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=678618
