Sub-standard or fake phones cause call drops: A reaction
Our attention has been drawn to an article with headline “Call Drops – Are sub-standard phones really the cause?” written by Dr Emmanuel Akowuah of KNUST, Kumasi, on page 34 of the Wednesday, April 23, 2014 issue of the Daily Graphic.
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The article reproduced a quote presumed to have been made by Mr Kwaku Sakyi Addo, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, from an earlier edition of the paper. First of all, we wish to clarify that the original quote based on which the article was written was incorrect. The statement made by Mr Sakyi-Addo was that fake phone users were likely to suffer about 25 call drops out of every 100 made, which is far more than genuine handset users would experience; and that generally, sub-standard phones deliver poorer quality of experience. And there are studies which prove these assertions.
Definition of Fake phones
Fake phones are counterfeit copies of genuine handsets, which steal design and trademarks to deceive consumers. Other fakes do not infringe copyright but appear to be legitimate competition to genuine models. But all fake phones are produced without the relevant approvals, testing or certification and are sold illegally on the world’s black market.
With counterfeiters imitating all facets of a fake phones appearance, including labeling, design and packaging, it can be difficult to detect whether a phone is fake or genuine. Often it is the sub-standard components, low quality manufacturing and poor performance that consumers identify after they have already purchased a fake.
Research facts
Two recent studies confirm the assertions. The first was conducted in October 2011 by Qualcomm for GSMA, the global umbrella organisation of GSM mobile operators.
This research looked at the technical performance of 18 substandard phones alongside three genuine smartphones. The results found that 15 of the 18 sub-standard devices failed industry standardised tests on the ability of the phones’ antennae to communicate adequately.
Likewise, 16 of the 18 sub-standard phones failed transmission performance requirements. Both of these key indicators would translate into a very high percentage of drop in calls for any user of these sub-standard phones.
In addition, the study took the results of the first phase and investigated the impact that such devices had on a network in terms of voice and data capacity loss, data transmission speeds, impact on coverage etc. This phase highlighted that fake phones didn’t only degrade user experience on the network but also created major burdens for network operators. For instance, the results showed that if such devices were being used in large numbers, operators would suffer a 200 per cent loss in voice capacity and 50% loss in data capacity. It also showed that these poor-performing devices reduced coverage significantly and created holes in the network, which require substantially more base stations to rectify.
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Another study was by INdT (Instituto Nokia de Tecnologia) Laboratory in Brazil. Their study examined 44 counterfeit and sub-standard phones, comparing them with genuine phones.
The study showed that the counterfeit phones failed in 26 per cent of call attempts, and 24 per cent of established calls were dropped. Additionally, in places where a genuine phone could work perfectly, counterfeit phones would not be usable because of their lower quality of transmission capability when compared to original phones. There were also problems with cell handover, that is the phone’s ability to maintain the call while travelling or moving between cells. Handover time was 41 per cent longer than original phones and 34 per cent of calls were dropped during the handover.
The tests performed were designed to evaluate typical situations that occur when consumers use cell phones on the mobile network. Specifically, INdT tested dropped calls, handover ability (ie. ability to sustain a call while travelling), transmission capabilities, and access to theinternet.
Conclusion
Mobile phone users are more likely to have a better quality of experience if they use genuine handsets. It is important to identify and separate problems that may originate from the networks and those that are within the control of customers to solve.
The writer Derek B. Laryea is a Research & Communications Manager at the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications. Contact: Derek@telecomschamber.orginfo@telecomschamber.org Tel: 0577605485