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BH (Busy Hour)

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Busy Hour (BH) is a metric that is commonly used in telecommunications and networking to describe the period of time during which the network experiences the highest level of usage. Specifically, it refers to the one hour time period during a day when the highest volume of traffic is generated. It is an important metric because it is used to plan, design, and dimension network resources such as circuits, links, switches, and routers. In this article, we will discuss BH in detail, including its definition, calculation, significance, and how it is used in telecommunications.

Definition of Busy Hour (BH)

Busy Hour (BH) is the one hour time period in a day when the network experiences the highest volume of traffic. It is usually measured in terms of the number of calls or the amount of data traffic generated during that hour. The BH is used to determine the maximum capacity requirements of a network during the peak hours of usage. The BH is also known as the peak hour or the hour of maximum traffic.

Calculation of Busy Hour (BH)

The BH can be calculated using various methods depending on the type of network and the type of traffic being measured. For example, in a telephone network, the BH can be calculated based on the number of calls made during the hour of maximum traffic. Similarly, in a data network, the BH can be calculated based on the amount of data traffic generated during the hour of maximum traffic. The following are the most common methods used to calculate the BH:

  1. Average Busy Hour Call Attempts (ABHCA) - This method is used to calculate the number of call attempts made during the BH. The ABHCA is calculated by dividing the total number of call attempts made during a 24-hour period by 24. This gives the average number of call attempts per hour. The maximum value of ABHCA is used as the BH.
  2. Average Busy Hour Call Duration (ABHCD) - This method is used to calculate the average duration of calls made during the BH. The ABHCD is calculated by dividing the total duration of calls made during a 24-hour period by the total number of calls made during that period. The maximum value of ABHCD is used as the BH.
  3. Average Busy Hour Traffic (ABHT) - This method is used to calculate the amount of traffic generated during the BH. The ABHT is calculated by dividing the total traffic generated during a 24-hour period by 24. The maximum value of ABHT is used as the BH.

Significance of Busy Hour (BH)

The BH is a significant metric in telecommunications because it is used to determine the maximum capacity requirements of a network during the peak hours of usage. It is important to dimension the network resources such as circuits, links, switches, and routers to handle the peak traffic load during the BH. Failure to do so can result in network congestion, dropped calls, slow data transfer, and poor quality of service (QoS).

The BH is also important for network planning and design. It helps network planners to identify the busiest hours of the day, the type of traffic generated during those hours, and the peak traffic volume. This information can be used to design the network to handle the expected traffic volume during the BH. It also helps network planners to identify the areas of the network that are likely to experience congestion and to plan for network expansion or upgrades.

The BH is also used for billing purposes. Telecommunications service providers charge their customers based on the amount of traffic generated during the BH. They also use the BH to set tariffs for peak and off-peak hours.

The BH is also used to measure the performance of a network. The QoS parameters such as call completion rate, call blocking rate, and call setup time are measured during the BH. These parameters are used to evaluate the network's performance during the busiest hours of the day. The QoS parameters during the BH are compared with the QoS parameters during the non-busy hours to identify any degradation in the network's performance during the BH.

How Busy Hour (BH) is Used in Telecommunications

The BH is used in various aspects of telecommunications, including network planning, network design, network optimization, and network management. The following are some of the ways in which the BH is used in telecommunications:

  1. Network Planning - The BH is used in network planning to determine the capacity requirements of the network during the busiest hours of the day. The network planners use the BH to identify the areas of the network that are likely to experience congestion and to plan for network expansion or upgrades.
  2. Network Design - The BH is used in network design to design the network to handle the expected traffic volume during the BH. The network designers use the BH to determine the number of circuits, links, switches, and routers required to handle the peak traffic load during the BH.
  3. Network Optimization - The BH is used in network optimization to optimize the network performance during the BH. The network engineers use the BH to identify the areas of the network that are likely to experience congestion and to optimize the network parameters such as bandwidth, routing, and signaling to avoid congestion during the BH.
  4. Network Management - The BH is used in network management to monitor the network performance during the BH. The network managers use the BH to monitor the QoS parameters such as call completion rate, call blocking rate, and call setup time during the BH. They use this information to identify any degradation in the network's performance during the BH and to take corrective actions.

Conclusion

Busy Hour (BH) is a significant metric in telecommunications that is used to determine the maximum capacity requirements of a network during the peak hours of usage. It is an important metric for network planning, design, optimization, and management. The BH helps network planners to identify the busiest hours of the day, the type of traffic generated during those hours, and the peak traffic volume. This information can be used to design the network to handle the expected traffic volume during the BH. It also helps network planners to identify the areas of the network that are likely to experience congestion and to plan for network expansion or upgrades. The BH is also used to measure the performance of a network and to set tariffs for peak and off-peak hours. Overall, the BH is a critical metric in telecommunications that is essential for ensuring high-quality service and optimal network performance.