--- title: "E.600 busy hour, NTA duties and ITU sectors" subject: "Telecommunications" chapter: 7 key: "semester_8/telecommunications:e600-busy-hour-nta-itu" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/telecommunications/e600-busy-hour-nta-itu site: BCT Engineering --- # E.600 busy hour, NTA duties and ITU sectors Telecommunications · Chapter 7: Telecommunication Regulation - Asked in: 2073 Chaitra, 4+4 marks - Video: [Tutorial 03- International Telecommunication Union (ITU)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccK7zWsz3B8) — Dr. Rajeshwar Dass - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/telecommunications/e600-busy-hour-nta-itu - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/telecommunications/chapter-7 ## Question Write the guidelines of CCITT used to measure busy hour in its recommendation E.600. What are function and duties of NTA? What are the sectors of ITU? ## Short answer CCITT E.600 defines busy hour as the continuous one-hour period with the greatest traffic volume; the time-consistent busy hour uses the same start time daily for averaging. The Nepal Telecommunications Authority issues licences, allocates frequencies, regulates tariffs and interconnection, promotes competition, manages numbering, ensures QoS, and manages the rural fund. ITU has three sectors: ITU-R (radiocommunication), ITU-T (standardization), and ITU-D (development). ## Answer #### Busy hour as per CCITT Recommendation E.600 Telecom equipment is dimensioned for the traffic in the busiest hour. E.600 gives these definitions/guidelines: 1. **Busy hour:** the continuous one-hour period lying wholly within the time interval concerned for which the traffic volume or the number of call attempts is greatest. 2. **Peak busy hour:** the busy hour of each day; it usually changes from day to day. 3. **Time-consistent busy hour:** the one-hour period starting at the same time each day for which the average traffic volume or call-attempt count over the days considered is greatest. Measurement guideline: traffic is recorded in quarter-hour intervals over many days; the four consecutive quarter-hours with the largest total give the busy hour. Measurements are usually taken on normal working days (excluding unusual days), and the time-consistent busy hour is used for planning. #### Functions and duties of NTA The **Nepal Telecommunications Authority**, under the **Telecommunications Act, 2053 (1997)**: 1. Issues and renews licences for telecom services. 2. Allocates and monitors radio frequencies. 3. Approves tariffs and regulates interconnection. 4. Promotes fair competition and prevents monopoly. 5. Manages the national numbering plan. 6. Sets and monitors quality of service; protects consumers. 7. Manages the Rural Telecommunication Development Fund. 8. Grants type approval and advises the Government on telecom policy. #### Sectors of ITU | Sector | Function | |---|---| | **ITU-R** (Radiocommunication) | spectrum and satellite orbit management, Radio Regulations | | **ITU-T** (Standardization) | international Recommendations, numbering (E.164), tariff principles | | **ITU-D** (Development) | help to developing countries, policy, capacity building | The sectors are supported by the General Secretariat in Geneva and governed by the Plenipotentiary Conference and Council. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. According to E.600, the busy hour is: A. The hour starting at 12:00 every day B. The continuous one-hour period within the interval concerned with the greatest traffic or call attempts C. The average of all 24 hours D. Any fifteen-minute peak Answer: B. Busy hour is the continuous one-hour period with greatest traffic volume or call attempts. (Key point: Busy hour definition) 2. What is the time-consistent busy hour? A. The busy hour of each day, which changes daily B. The one-hour period starting at the same time each day with greatest average traffic over the days considered C. The busiest quarter-hour D. The hour with least traffic Answer: B. It is a fixed-start hour, used for planning; the peak busy hour changes day to day. (Key point: Time-consistent busy hour) 3. How is the busy hour found in the measurement guideline? A. The four consecutive quarter-hours with the largest total B. Any single measurement C. The sum of all weekend traffic D. The last hour of the day Answer: A. Traffic is recorded in quarter-hours and the four consecutive ones with the highest total give the busy hour. (Key point: Measuring busy hour) 4. Which pairing of ITU sector and function is correct? A. ITU-R: tariff principles B. ITU-D: Radio Regulations C. ITU-T: spectrum management D. ITU-R: spectrum and satellite orbit management Answer: D. ITU-R handles spectrum and orbits; ITU-T standards and numbering; ITU-D development. (Key point: ITU sectors) ## Related in Telecommunications - [Traffic engineering goals; E.600 busy hours](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Ftelecommunications%3Atraffic-engineering-busy-hour-e600) — Telecommunications, chapter 6 - [CCITT Q.40 transmission plan guidelines](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Ftelecommunications%3Accitt-q40-transmission-plan) — Telecommunications, chapter 2 - [Purpose, duties and responsibilities of ITU](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Ftelecommunications%3Aitu-purpose-duties) — Telecommunications, chapter 7, asked 3× - [Purpose of ITU and NTA's regulatory role](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Ftelecommunications%3Aitu-purpose-nta-regulation) — Telecommunications, chapter 7, asked 2× - [NTA's role and ITU numbering plan](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Ftelecommunications%3Anta-role-itu-numbering) — Telecommunications, chapter 7 - [Roles of NTA and ITU](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Ftelecommunications%3Anta-roles-itu-roles) — Telecommunications, chapter 7