Significant performance incidents in communications networks and services
These statistics detail the numbers and causes of significant performance incidents (severity ratings A, B and C) in communications networks and services provided by telecommunications operators and the effects these incidents have on services. The statistics are compiled based on incidents reported to Traficom by telecommunications operators and updated every six months.
Telecommunications operators report significant incidents in the performance of their networks and services to Traficom. In Traficom’s Regulation, performance incidents are rated depending on their severity, that is, the affected communications service, the size of geographical area and number of users affected by the incident.
The above graph presents the causes of the significant performance incidents (severity rating levels A, B and C) reported to Traficom by telecommunications operators. The causes are presented as percentages since one incident may have several causes.
In addition to the severity of incidents, Traficom monitors which communications services significant incidents affect the most. The graph above demonstrates the effects that significant incidents (severity ratings A, B and C) have on services. The effects on services are presented as percentages since one incident may affect multiple services.
Definitions
SEVERITY RATING
The severity rating includes four levels: A, B, C and D. Incidents with the rating A are the most severe ones and incidents with the rating D the least severe. Telecommunications operators send Traficom detailed reports about incidents with ratings A, B and C (not D).
For example, incidents concerning the performance of telephone services are rated based on the number of users as follows:
| A (most severe) | Affects at least 100,000 persons |
| B | Affects at least 10,000 persons |
| C | Affects at least 1,000 persons |
In television services, incidents that prevent viewers from watching broadcasts because the picture is missing are rated based on the number of users as follows:
| A (most severe) | Affects at least 300,000 persons |
| B | Affects at least 100,000 persons |
| C | Affects at least 50,000 persons |
SERVICE CATEGORIES
| Mass communications services | Incidents affecting radio and television services |
| Disruption in email services | |
| Mobile services | Telephone services, internet access services (i.e. data services) and short message services (SMS and MMS) provided in the mobile communications network |
| Other wireless network | E.g. satellite, WiMAX and WLAN network services |
| Fixed internet access service | Fixed broadband connections, including xDSL and cable modem services |
| Public telephone service in fixed networks | Fixed telephone connections, such as PSTN services |
CAUSES
When reporting significant performance incidents, telecommunications operators also indicate the causes of these incidents. The causes are monitored in order to prevent disturbances in functionality by focusing on the factors contributing to the disturbances.
Power cut | A failure in the public electricity supply causes a cut in the power supply of a communications network or service component (and reserve power has run out) |
Failure of power unit system | Performance incident due to a failure in the power supply systems of an equipment facility. |
Cable break | Failure of a data cable |
Hardware malfunction | Failure of equipment used in the provision of a communications network or service |
Software malfunction | Failure caused by software of equipment used in the provision of a service |
Equipment facility fault | Incident related to the conditions (such as temperature or humidity), operability or reliability of an equipment facility |
Update or modification | Incident arising from an update or modification of a communications network or service component |
Unknown | Cause of the incident cannot be ascertained |
Other | Cause cannot be included in any of the above categories |