Performance evaluation of 3G (UMTS Network) for E-Learning Video Streaming

Advancement in technology has led teaching and learning to improve from traditional to electronic learning (E-Learning). E-learning consists of different multimedia including videos which facilitate learning much easier. Unfortunately, videos accessed on e-learning platform suffer in Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE). The aim of this paper is to evaluate QoS in terms of jitter, delay and packet loss, also to evaluate and compare objective and subjective QoE of e-learning video transmitted via Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) network. A model of UMTS network was developed by using Network Simulator 2 (NS2) and EvalVid framework. The developed model was used for e-learning video streaming. The streamed video was objectively and subjectively evaluated for its QoE, also jitter, delay and packet loss were used as the parameters for QoS. The obtained results has shown that e-learning video streaming delivered through 3G/UMTS suffers packet losses that exceeds the accepted value of 1%, hence poor video streaming QoS. Subjective QoE turned out to be much worse than objective QoE. Therefore, this paper recommends preference in using subjective QoE, because it gives real feelings of users with regards to QoS. Results suggest that UMTS is not suitable for e-learning video streaming.