Call volume (telecommunications)

In telecommunications, call volume refers to the number of telephone calls made during a certain time period. Depending on context, the phrase may refer to either the number of calls made to a specific physical area or telephone number (such as an emergency service) or the number of calls made between two or more areas (e.g. cities).

Various formulas exist to forecast the number of calls that might be made; another key distinction concerns whether long or short-term trends are to be predicted. [See [http://www.isixsigma.com/library/content/c070430a.asp How to Do Call Volume Forecasting for Service Desks] ]

Forecast Formulas

Perhaps the simplest formula used to forecast call volume is the linear equation

:$y\; =\; mx\; +\; b,$

where "y" is the expected call volume, "x" is time, and "m" and "b" are constants.

However, this is suitable for long-term trends only, [ibid.] and further assumes that growth will be linear. Another formula, seen in a mathematics textbook, [cite book
last = Blitzer
first = Robert
title = Introductory and Intermediate Algebra for college students -- 2nd ed.
publisher = Pearson Prentice Hall
date = 2006
pages = 507
isbn = 0131492594] is the inverse square equation

:$C\; =\; frac\{0.02\; P\_1\; P\_2\}\{d^2\},$

where "C" is the number of expected calls between two cities (during one day), "P"₁ is the population of the first city (in thousands), "P"₂ is the population of the other city (also in thousands), and "d" is the distance between them (units unclear in the book, but probably miles).

References