Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) technologies.
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3. The service providers are required to monitor the bandwidth utilization during
Time Consistent Busy Hours (TCBH) for all network link(s)/route. ISPs/ Service
Providers shall report to RURA the bandwidth utilization (loading) of all the
upstream links going to International Gateway Service Provider/ IX with a traffic
monitoring tool. However, for local links/intra-network links the service provider
need to report, only, exceptions having loading more than 80%. In case there is
more than one link, then the average utilization of all the route links should not
exceed 90% of loading level for a period of at least three months. The
broadband service provider is required to make provision for additional
bandwidth if the bandwidth utilization of the network links exceeds the 90%
loading level for a period of at least three months. Average utilization of
bandwidth in a route means utilization of bandwidth capacity on all the links of
the route.
Measurement Methodology for Link Bandwidth Utilization/Throughput:
In terms of field monitoring, RURA will require the broadband access service
providers to consolidate the monitored traffic charts for the various transmission
points within the broadband network and submit them to Agency for verification
of the accuracy and consistency of the QoS performance reported. As a further
check, Agency would also require the broadband access provider to submit
information on the ratio of bandwidth to users. This ratio would serve as an
additional guide to indicate whether the bandwidth purchased by the broadband
access service providers is overloaded.
(c) Broadband Connection Speed (download):
1. The “bandwidth utilization between the user and the nearest serving ISP node
during download shall not be less than 80% of the subscribed level. The
Broadband has been defined as “an always on data connection that has the
capability of the minimum download speed of 256 kbps to an individual
subscriber from the Point of Presence (POP) of the service provider where
multiple such individual broadband connections are aggregated”. In order
to facilitate measurement of download speed from ISP node by the user
independently, a measurement facility is needed at each Point Of Presence.
However, it would be difficult for the Broadband service provider to install the
measurement facility in each Point Of Presence to facilitate the user to test
independently the download speed. Therefore, service providers can install the
facility at a central location or at an ISP Node. The measurement in this way
shall include the intra-network links and loading of intra-network links may affect
the speed measurement sometime. Therefore, keeping the reasonable loading
level in intra-network links up to ISP Node, the benchmark has been prescribed
that service providers shall ensure the speed of Broadband connection is >80%
of the subscribed speed.
2. Measurement of Broadband Connection Speed (download): The parameter
can be measured on a sample basis by the user and service provider. The
service providers need to install download speed measurement software in the
Server at ISP Node to facilitate the user to measure independently the
download connection speed through a web link. The facility shall be made
available and the required procedure & information to facilitate such testing by
Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency