Packet loss rate estimation in a packet switched voice cellular network

In this paper two analytical methods for the fast calculation of the packet loss probability in voice cellular networks are provided. Packet loss has significant impact on voice quality and therefore is an important factor (together with co-channel interference) in capacity dimensioning in wireless networks. The first method is based on the so-called "effective bandwidth" concept. Our second method is based on large deviation theory, in particular, the Bahadur-Rao theorem, and provides a refinement to the effective bandwidth based estimation. Both methods are computationally efficient and much faster than the exact analysis based on the fluid flow model. Numerical results are presented to verify the accuracy of the proposed approaches. It is shown that the Bahadur-Rao approximation is more accurate than the effective bandwidth approach.