The impact of network outage on value added services: a case study of M-Pesa in Ilala municipal in Dar es Salaam
Loading...
Date
2012
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Dodoma
Abstract
The study was aimed at assessing the impact of network outage on the Value Added
Services (VAS) particularly Mobile-Pesa (M-Pesa) among other (VAS) offered by
Vodacom network operator in Tanzania. The study was conducted in Ilala municipal in
Dar es Salaam Tanzania. The basic parameters used to assess the network availability
were Mean Time To Repair (MTTR), Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR) and Total User
Outage Time (TUOT).
The parameters like the time to get response from the operator, the time to accomplish one
successfully M-Pesa transaction and the number of call attempts managed to make a
successful call for M-Pesa were also used to measure the customer level of satisfaction on
the M-Pesa service. The structured questionnaire given to 150 M-Pesa customers and
agents as well as five key informants (two network engineers, two site engineers and one
switching official) were used to obtain the information for this study.
Observation was used to asses the quality of service (QoS) of Vodacom network in
delivering M-Pesa to the customers. The study has found that M-Pesa customers’
satisfaction was moderate. The QoS on VAS like other service was bellow the
recommended level by Tanzania communication QoS regulation of 2011. None of the
respondents in all locations involved in the study were satisfied at the stipulated level of
service quality. Furthermore the study found that the Vodacom network outage greatly
contributes to loss to the operator and to the customers.
The results also show that, the Vodacom network is characterized with much busy hours
and congestions something which degrades the accessibility of the offered services like MPesa.
The Vodacom network operator was advised to reduce the restoration period after
failure and to increase the capacity of network so as to sustain more customers and the
offered services like M-Pesa.
Description
Dissertation (MSc Telecommunications Engineering)
Keywords
Network outage, Value added services, Mobile-Pesa, M-Pesa, M Pesa, Vodacom, Vodacom network, Tanzania, Ilala municipal, Dar es Salaam
Citation
Leonard, S. (2012). The impact of network outage on value added services: a case study of M-Pesa in Ilala municipal in Dar es Salaam. Dodoma: The University of Dodoma