Developing a Fuzzy-Simulink Model for Mobile Number Portability (MNP)

Abstract

Poor quality of service has become a major setback to the mobile telecommunication companies in Nigeria. This has led to customer’s complaints and dissatisfaction with the service. Call dropping, higher cost to business and social relationships and call delays are some of the other complaints that have been raised by some mobile phone users. Thus, the need to address the issues raised by the subscribers.This research presents a Fuzzy-Simulink model for MNP.  The average QoS KPI’s data set for the two prominent mobile network operators (MTN and GLO) in Nigeria from June 2022 to December2022 was used as a data set for the simulation in MATLAB. ABA (ABIA STATE), UMUAHIA (ABIA STATE) and MBAISE (IMO STATE) were the study areas. From the results, it was seen that the model was able to accommodate the various parameters needed for subscribers to port from one network to another. In the months of June 2022 to December 2022, GLO NG produces the best expectation curve of 96.1% at its peak. It could also be seen that the different networks have different call volumes. The NCC took the lead with 102%, followed by MTN with 101.1% and GLO with 100.9%. The NCC service level was the best, at a peak of 99.91%. The improved service level might be a result of improved service quality. These may include enhanced radio coverage, reduction of radio interface between subscribers, perfections in the functioning of the network, such as improved handover or cell-reselection attempts, efficient loading of the different elements of the network, etc.  MTN has the best MNP rate in the months under consideration. The implementation of this work therefore becomes inevitable since the research did not only assess the viability of MNP in Nigeria; it also evaluated the different frameworks as adopted in Nigeria. The model developed in this research will be of immense assistance should the Nigerian Communication Commission decide to revisitmobile number portability as earlier promised from the available literature.