BASIC TRAFFIC PLANNING Erlang Erlang is a dimensionless unit of telephonic traffic.

One erlang represents circuit occupied for one hour. 1 Erlang = 1 call Hour/ Hour
An Erlang is a unit of telecommunications traffic measurement. Strictly speaking, an Erlang represents the continuous use of one voice path. In practice, it is used to describe the total traffic volume of one hour. For example, if a group of user made 30 calls in one hour, and each call had an average call duration of 5 minutes, then the number of Erlangs this represents is worked out as follows:

2.5 Erlangs Erlang traffic measurements are made in order to help telecommunications network designers understand traffic patterns within their voice networks. This is essential if they are to successfully design their network topology and establish the necessary trunk group sizes. Erlang traffic measurements or estimates can be used to work out how many lines are required between a telephone system and a central office (PSTN exchange lines), or between multiple network locations.

= Minutes of traffic in the hour = Minutes of traffic in the hour = Hours of traffic in the hour = Hours of traffic in the hour = Traffic figure =
Minutes of traffic in the hour

number of calls x duration 30 x 5 150 150 / 60 2.5

Erlang traffic models

Several traffic models exist which share their name with the Erlang unit of traffic. They are formulae, which can be used to estimate the number of lines required in a network, or to a central office (PSTN exchange lines). A formula also exists to model queuing situations, and lends itself well to estimating the agent staffing requirements of call centers.

ErlangB This is the most commonly used traffic model, and is used to work out how many lines are required if the traffic figure (in Erlangs) during the busiest hour is known. The model assumes that all blocked calls are immediately cleared. Extended Erlang B This model is similar to Erlang B, but takes into account that a percentage of calls are immediately represented to the system if they encounter blocking (a busy signal). The retry percentage can be specified. Erlang C This model assumes that all blocked calls stay in the system until they can be handled. This model can be applied to the design of call center staffing arrangements where, if calls cannot be immediately answered, they enter a queue.

Erlang B The Erlang B traffic model is used by telephone system designers to estimate the number of lines required for PSTN connections (CO trunks) or private wire connections. The three variables involved are Busy Hour Traffic (BHT), Blocking and Lines: o Busy Hour Traffic (in Erlangs) is the number of hours of call traffic there are during the busiest hour of operation of a telephone system. o Blocking is the failure of calls due to an insufficient number of lines being available. E.g. 0.03 mean 3 calls blocked per 100 calls attempted. o Lines is the number of lines in a trunk group.

Extended Erlang B
The Extended Erlang B traffic model is used by telephone system designers to estimate the number of lines required for PSTN connections (CO trunks) or private wire connections and takes into account the additional traffic load caused by blocked callers immediately trying to call again if their calls are blocked. This traffic model may be used where no overflow facilities are available from the trunk group being designed. The four variables involved are Busy Hour Traffic (BHT), Blocking and Lines: o Recall factor is the percentage of calls, which immediately retry if their calls are blocked. o Busy Hour Traffic (in Erlangs) is the number of hours of call traffic there are during the busiest hour of operation of a telephone system. o Blocking is the failure of calls due to an insufficient number of lines being available. E.g. 0.03 mean 3 calls blocked per 100 calls attempted. o Lines is the number of lines in a trunk group.

Erlang C
Erlang C traffic model, can tell you how many agents are needed in the call centre during an hour. To work this out, it is required to know how many calls are received during that hour, the average duration of those calls and the average delay that will be tolerated in answering all your calls. Remember that call duration should include any wrap up times. You can display a running total of calculation results by pressing the Results button. It is important to understand that there is a bare minimum of agents you will need, regardless of the call answering delays, which you are prepared to tolerate.

BLOCKING The probability that a call attempt cannot be handled successfully, because of not enough free circuits and other switching equipments is called blocking. The Blocking Probability represented by B (n, A) is determined by Offered traffic A and the number of available circuits n. Blocking Probability is also known as Congestion or Plc (loss probability) If not only the circuits and switching equipment but also the reliability of the system i.e. the processor and/or the availability of other equipment is involved, the probability of lost call is called Grade of Service. The typical blocking (GOS_ allowed on the Air interface is 2%. For the whole network, including the PSTN, a blocking of 5% is acceptable. This is called total blocking.

Erlang Efficiency Erlang Efficiency is the efficiency on Access part of the Network, This is defined as a set of No.of Carriers & Grade Of Service. Erlang Efficiency= B (X,Y) X = No. of Carriers Y = Grade of Service Example: For a grade Of service 2% the & No. of carrier as 1 (no. of channels 7) the traffic that can be carried is 2.9. which means the erlang efficiency is 41%. Erlang Efficiency = (2.9/7)*100 Now if we increase the no. carriers ( no. of channels) with the same Grade of Service, we will see that Erlang Efficiency increase. Similarly if the above concept is taken into account for a junction where Carrier are termed as trunk, this capacity becomes Trunking Capacity.

Note: In both the cases the signaling plays a major role while calculating the efficiency factor.