Struggling with mobile network performance during peak hours?

During peak periods, mobile towers become overloaded, affecting service quality. This can lead to slower internet, call difficulties, or complete connection loss. To manage congestion, operators optimize network capacity, implement load balancing, add new carriers, and use advanced technologies like 5G and VoWIFI. They also prioritize essential services. Users should know their experience may vary during high demand. Telecom companies invest in infrastructure and innovations to enhance network capacity and resilience, improving peak hour performance.

One may experience congestion in different ways depending on the service you are trying to consume. Services such as web-browsing, video streaming, voice calls and text messages have different sensitivities to the effects of congestions. Modern networks are also capable to manage the quality of service (QoS) provided in a differentiated way. Therefore, congestion may result in a reduced video quality for streaming services but have little to no impact on your text messages or voice calls.

Living in a more rural area of Germany, the peak times with congestions are mostly the whole business day - if you are lucky enough to have some coverage at all. But this quite obvious, given that cell areas are basically stretched as much as possible in the rural areas. In and near cities, having overprovisioned cells are natural given the sheer number of Mobile phones per square Kilometer. Outside the cities, it is a total different Ball game

Regardless how much we alltogether dislike congestion, it‘s a matter of truth, that congestion is kind of a built-in feature of communication networks. Or in other words, communication networks are built for a statistically meaningful amount of concurrent users generating traffic. However that does not mean, that we can’t do anything about it. The best way to avoid congestion is to „detour“ (e.g. WiFi or switching to 2G) like in real life. But like in real life one is not the only one to detour and you found yourself in congested detour. Other ways to deal with congestion is adapt your communication (where possible) to less data savvy forms like text instead of audio or audio instead of video.

Capacity is also impacted by the location of the user. Mid and High band spectrum has a challenging time penetrating inside buildings from outdoor towers. This impacts the quality of service and the spectral efficiency of outdoor assets. The only real way to address this today is the deployment of dedicated in-building wireless systems.

Capacity is also impacted by the cell sizes, especially when stretched to the Limit to cover as much territory as possible in rural areas

Capacity feels for a user like a singular source to enable communication. However, this is not always the case. In modern cellular networks capacity is provided by different means, i.e. different frequencies and different mobile communication generations. E.g., when 5G is already overcrowded, 2G might still have enough capacity for a phone call.

Many users are on unlimited or hefty data plans. There's little incentive for them to adjust their usage to off-peak times, and it should not be users concern. Through micro data packages & related pricing tools, time chunks ranging from say 5-minutes to 3-hours operators can offer consumers motivation to change their behavior, and also alleviating congestion concerns. This strategy doesn't just smooth out network demand; it maximises profitability, yields highest $/MB levels and improves return on investment. As these small time chunks are designed for immediate use, they can't be hoarded for peak times. Plus, users buying time have no pressure to maximise gigabyte usage, leading to a more efficient distribution of network traffic.

We all consume cellular service without a thought to the impact our consumption has. If we consider similar services such as electricity or water, we are far more careful. For those that are environmentally conscious, consider that higher utilization of cellular systems results in higher energy consumption. Being more mindful of our cellular usage can not only help reduce the impact of congestion but also contribute to a more sustainable network.

Sometimes, there is very little choice other than to use as much wireless data volume as well if the wireless bearer has to be used as a replacement for other hardwired high-speed technologies like fiber. Especially if a fiber deployment gets stuck for several years with intransparent reasons. Like it happens quite frequently here in Germany

Actually I agree because it is a small part of an answer it will direct to an open path by directing to an available network.

Of course, good technology is an enabler for better communication. However, in my experience it is even more important, to have excellent staff that makes good use of all the technological choices that are provided in abundance by all these advanced technologies.

For sure, WiFi may be an option to avoid congested mobile networks. However, many WiFi networks do not generate revenues and thus they are often poorly managed which makes them in many cases not a valid alternative to congested cellular networks. However, they clearly do have the potential to be it.

Through time based micro data packages & related pricing tools, time chunks ranging from say 5-minutes to 3-hours operators can offer consumers motivation to change their behavior, and also alleviating congestion concerns. Imagine pricing an hour of data more affordably - say at 25%-50% of peak hour price - during off-peak hours. Suddenly, you've got a powerful tool to nudge user habits towards more network-friendly patterns, just like dynamic electricity pricing encourages off-peak consumption.

IMHO, it make sense to distinguish between consumer and pro usage. When looking at consumer usage, I do see a need to make cellular networks more ubiquitous rather then providing new features. But when looking at pro usage, these users have for sure even higher demands for reliability and all the other non-functional requirements plus pro communication requires some new features that are not relevant for consumers. Bottom line when looking at the upcoming 6G I expect some marketing noise towards consumers, however the real innovation takes place for pros.