The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), which conducted EESAT for cellular service quality testing of the end of last year, revealed yesterday that the overall network performance by mobile operators had on average been met. The EESAT (Extensive Endpoints Service Availability Testing) study was to assess current performance of cellular operators. It is also building the platform to perform technical measurements on digital cellular networks for benchmarking purposes. The EESAT study was conducted between Nov 19 and Dec 13 last year within the Klang Valley, where the concentration of the cellular users is the highest. The networks involved in the test were Celcom GSM900 (019), DiGi GSM1800 (016), Maxis GSM900 (012), TM Cellular GSM1800 (013) and Timecel GSM1800 (017). MCMC in a statement yesterday said that the overall cellular service quality testing with the required 80 per cent benchmark percentage for EESAT had on average been met. It said the tests were conducted without the prior information or knowledge of the cellular operators. During the test, the Celcom-019 network had registered an average of 97.74 per cent, DiGi-016 (97.41 per cent), Maxis-012 (94.61 per cent), TM Cellular-013 (96.1 per cent) and Timecel-017 (96.47 per cent). The EESAT study adopted two methods of measurement - the system drive test and static test. The system drive test investigates and observes the network reliability from a moving customer perspective that includes handing over from one servicing radio cell to another. The static test, on the other hand, is aimed at observing the network reliability and availability from the static customers' perspective (these are the customers who are being served with the same radio cell area only). Calls were made under the same condition and environment for all operators. MCMC said although there were differences of views and concerns in the findings, the result of the EESAT study of November/December was generally accepted. The Commission said it hoped to conduct the EESAT study and benchmarking exercise as a periodic assessment of the cellular operators' performance. The MCMC also plans to expand the EESAT study to other regions in the country within this year.