Why Zain Subscribers are Having difficulties in reaching Safaricom Subscribers

Just recieved a request to talk about the technical reasons that led to Zain subscribers having difficulties in reaching the Zain subscribers. The request is below.

Mrasta Mnoma Boboshanti

Could you care to explain in your blog why Zain subscribers are having a hard time in reaching Safaricom subscribers.

To have a good explanation for this I will have to give you a sample situation in another context. Lets say you are a farmer who deals with paultry. At the moment you have about 50 chicken and your food supplier delivers meals that only fit the 50 chickens every begin of day. Then the following day, you decide to but 50 more chicken to add up your stock and you end up having 100 chickens. On the same day, your food supplier only delivers food for 50 chicken because he never knew you were going to have doubled your chickens. Whose mistake would this be? Its clear, the mistake is yours because you never communicated your chicken stock upgrade to the supplier.

With this context in mind lets take the example of Zain and Safaricom. Initially, Zain had a low subscriber base and this means the initial transmission capacity between Zain and Safaricom subscriber was low. Zain slashed its prices with an intention to up its subscriber base and it did not do a 7 day communication to Safaricom to increase the transmission capacity of Zain subscribers. According to newspaper and news on TV, the communication was done on the previous night and after the prices had been launched to the public. This is a SLA infringment by Zain because as the SLA states, a transmission capacity upgrade needs atlease 6 days to upgrade and 1 day to test. Zain has failed its subscribers and this is no doubt. The offer is termed as a ‘Trial and Error‘.

However, we all have to wait for atleast 8 days for the Network to be up and running smoothly.

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Wireless Internet Service Providers – After Basics

I know you all know I once talked about the WISP (Wireless Internet Service Provider) architecture on an earlier blog. This is a continuation on the blog post and it is written as a request from an esteemed and devoted reader – Michael Namai. Ok. Mike, I hope your mind is fresh and ready for this:

I hope you already know about the theoretical part of the architecture if not then click #here. If yes then let’s continue. I have categorized the blog into different subtitle headers based on the questions you had asked for and Ill be talking extensively on the different needs to setting up the WISP. This is an after basic blog.

MINI BASE STATION

Based on your request, you asked me to write about the ISPAIR mini-BTS that is under the Netkrom products.

• Base Station Module

There are different Base Station modules under Netrkrom and the type is needed is based on your needs and what you aim to target. In my own opinion you should highly consider the ISPAIR Multi-band Base Station 500 series.

ISPAIR BTS - 500 Series modules

For full description on the above product click here

• Base Station Antennas

Antennas are important as they are used to boost the sector distance. Installing Antennas should be done professionally as there are so many factors to be considered. See below antenna pictures.

Already installed Antennas

Antennas should be offered with the ISPAIR on request or you can buy them on the black market # contact me for some black market pricing.

• Base Station Mesh

The Mesh is what holds the outdoor gadgets together and this design is ideally yours. You might want to buy an already existing Mesh or Design your own on the jua kali market. However, there is no relevance in wasting so much money on this as you can always mount it anywhere. As long as it is stable and tight. picture examples;

Netkrom Module on a Straight tower

CUSTOMER PREMISE EQUIPMENT (CPE)

This equipment is installed at the cutomers premise as an access point to your Base Station. There are several types and my advice is either to the 500 series or 510 series. Pictures and link Below

500 Series CPE

Click here for pricing and reviews of this product

510 Series Netkrom CPE

Click here for pricing and reviews of this product.

I advice you to get the 510 series CPE. Since you target a client base of around 200 cutomers, you will need to have 200 of this sets that you can either sell or lease to customers.

COMPUTER AS A YOUR SERVER

A Computer is necessary in the WISP setup because of these reasons:

• Initial configuration and maintenance of the WISP Base Station

In order for the Base Station to function it has to be configured and set up with the desired access name, passwords and frequencies. For this to happen, you have to install the Base Station access CD on a computer to establish a connection to the BTS. This offers you the BTS software that is used to set up the BTS and manipulate it as desired.

Another reason is for maintenance purposes. LED observation (viewing of hardware lights) is not enough for BTS maintenance and this might lead to incomplete diagnosis. For this reason, you will need a computer so as to view the hardware problems via the software. (The BTS software is able to show you faults and how to diagnose them).

• Mapping  and Maintenance of Client CPEs

Another reason for having a computer is to enable remote access of client CPEs for mapping purposes# mapping is the process of enabling a client CPE associate with the Internet server at the main station. This mapping process is possible after the CPE has been associated with the Access Point BTS.

Maintaining a client is the hardest part of the work and this tests your customer support capabilities. If a customer has link problems you will be able to view and manipulate the CPE remotely from the main side, thanks to the Access Point Software. If customers CPE needs to be disconnected because of payment reasons, you will not have to go to the clients premise and take the CPE, all you need to do is disallow the CPE Mac address from getting internet connection.

There is not need of a special type of computer to do all this work but a strong computer with proper memory is needed. Remember, “If the software goes down, the client goes down” and this will lead to customer frustration which, trust me, I wouldn’t want you to deal with. For this reasons the best computer is needed

On my view, a HP is a good brand and maintaining it is quite easy, it is meant for resilience purposes and the new version of it is good. Click here to view the new HP.

Remember, the computer needs a backup system that backups the software on a timely manner. Backing up saves against loss of data in case of any problems. You can use an external drive to backup your data on a 12 hour basis. #contact me for more on that..hiyo ni kazi ya kando…lol

ROUTER

A Cisco router is a must need product for security reasons. A normal router would allow hackers like us into your system thus making it vulnerable. There are several Cisco router models and even though some have high capabilities, we are only setting our mind on access lists; access lists are used to define the number of IPs that can access the network.

cisco 871 series router

Cisco 871 front View

Several ports on a Cisco 871, the router does not allow scalability so you will need a switch to expand your local network

You can use the Cisco Partner locator page to know a cisco router dealer near you. Clickhere

Click here for this router deal in Kenya

CABLING

A networking cable is needed to interconnect your gadgets. There are several cables and most cables are not certified for BTS usage. Cables I can advice are shielded cat6e cables or an armoured and shielded cat5e cable which is mostly used in a BTS setup. See pictures below:

When choosing a cable ensure it is a shielded type so as to avoid interferences which in turn affects the system transmission.

Cat 5e Shielded and Guarded Cable

INTERNET LINK

If you want to offer internet services to your customers you will need to have a good and dedicated internet link. The link should be at least 512 kbps and an infinite at most. When choosing an internet link ensure you choose an ISP that has built its reputation in the ISP market.

However, If you want to offer point to point or point to multipoint services to your customers, you do not require an internet link; maybe for personal usage.

Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS)

Even though this is categorized under add on features on your WISP setup, it is essential for ensuring loss of data and also protecting your systems from power surges.

SERVER RACK

This is also categorized under add on materials #it is not a primary requirement in the setup. It is simply used to neaten up the workplace and make the environment spacious thus easy troubleshooting and tagging especially of cables.

See Below the complete outdoor setup diagram. Coutersy of Netkrom

WISP Outdoor Setup

I hope this has helped you know the after basic essentials. I know I have not included any pricing but I will do so immidiately my price research comes through. I want to direct you the best deals in town.

I can also be available to assist in the setup as long as you are ready to pay me and carter all expenses # its so negotiable. Cheers!

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Good Old Primary School Days

Late yesterday, after having a long “what’s up” chat with one of my primary school colleagues #Ian Sketch, I found myself in my past life regression; remembering the good old primary school days.

I found it hard to remember the first days of school but one thing was clear about it, it was nothing like my dreams had been. I was rather exited about this new phase of life and learning was not anything to do with the excitement as years later I would come to know. I remember being deposited into a noisy classroom overflowing with over 70 proud graduates of pre-unit; in those days, all kindergarten graduates were assigned to a class known as the pre-unit where they would spend a year making noise simply because they are not old enough to join primary school. Teachers were assigning students to the two streams that made up the first grade: East or West. When my name was called out I was assigned to 1 East or “1 E” as we would call it.

I had no favourite subjects but I sure loved spelling, we each possessed a green 32 page half cut writing books from which words to learn were assigned every day. At the start of every English lesson, we would sit a spelling test, and how I looked forward to it!

Primary school was one big adventure, its joys only surpassed by those of college school. The best part of school was recess – we had at least two of these a day- A mid morning break which was fully occupied by “mandazi” and games like chobo, hop step and jump, rounder and skipping. I remember the entire school gathering in the hall to watch school plays and magic show performances; I never liked this plays and vague shows of making flowers using magic but I took this opportunity to relax my mind away from class. And what of the joys of eating mangoes purchased from hawkers, cut open and filled with red hot chilli pepper, Or the “mama chipo” fries that would take up all our lunch money. Fun was the name of the game, how could I not love school?

Although my most pleasant memories of primary school are those of the numerous extra-curricular activities I engaged in with my peers, I really enjoyed learning and was always gratified when I made it to the next class during our final end of year examination. I positively hated studying for the Mock and the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exams which we sat at the end of eighth grade. I started studying for the exams in Seventh grade which did not exactly pay off… lol. But I did get admitted to one of the best high schools in Kenya # Cardinal Otunga High School; at least I had it on my wish list.

I wasn’t sad at all to graduate from primary school because I was looking forward to greater adventures in high school though much things significance the good old primary school days. It has helped me live morally, achieve excellence and build a harmonious life. I seem to have succeeded beyond my wildest dreams.

Thank You,

#Victoria Primary School

Victoria Primary School Location - Kisumu. Courtesy of Google Maps

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