1

Network Planning and

Optimization

NanoCell Technologies

www.nanocellindia.com

Day-1
2
M1 : Principles of Network Planning

M2 : Fundamentals of Network Dimensioning & Capacity Planning

M3 : Fundamentals of Network Optimization

M4 : Overview of Critical BSS Parameters : Hand Over, Power Control

M5 : Performance Monitoring : OMC Report Analysis (ND Reports)

M6 : Overview of Radio Network KPIs : SD & TCH Blocking, Drops, etc

M7 : Principles of Drive Testing : Log file Generation & Analysis, trouble
shooting, System Info. Messages

M8 : Overview of NSN Products & Features (BSS Specific)
Agenda
3
M1: Principles Of Network Planning
4
What is Network Planning?
Why is Planning necessary?
Scope of Network Planning
Inputs required for Network Dimensioning
Cellular Planning Principles
Factors governing Network Planning
Site Selection/Location
Field visit Cell Sizes
City Planning
Highway Planning
Rural Planning
Indoor Coverage Planning (IBS, Repeater, Leaky Feeder)
Antenna Systems
Link Budget
Topics Covered
5
MS BTS BSC
MSC
HLR
AUC
VLR
OMC
Other
MSCs
Other
Network
EIR
Other
MSCs
VLR
BSS
U
m

A
bis

A
E
G
F
D
B
C
GSM Network Architecture
Radio Network
6
Network planning is formal framework for network
implementation
Planning of BTS locations for providing adequate network
coverage, Capacity and Quality of service
Nominal Cell planning, CW Test, RF Survey, Frequency
planning, etc are some of the activities involved
Types of antennas, Types of BTSs, Selection of propagation
models are some of the important decisions made at this
phase
Radio Network Planning is an important activity
Network Planning
7

Create blue print for network role out
Maximise network quality of service (QoS)
Minimise the network resources, hence cost
Set network Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Meet the target KPIs
Continuous upgrading through optimisation
Achieve efficient usage of spectrum
Purpose Of Network Planning
8
Why Network Planning?
Good Quality of service
Good coverage & capacity
Satisfied customers
Moderate capital expenditure
Good Network Design
Poor Quality of Service
Loss of air time revenue
May need redesign
Time delays
Cost overruns
Improper Network Planning
9
Scope of Network Planning
Maximize Capacity
(Erlang/Km
2
/MHz)
Minimize
Network
Elements,
Reduce
Cost
Achieve
Better QoS,
Minimum
Interference &
Call Drops
Maximize Radio Coverage
Network Planning
Process
10
Network dimensioning
Detailed radio planning
Configuration planning
Coverage planning
Capacity and frequency planning
Parameter planning
Network monitoring & optimisation
Stages in Network Planning
11
Network
Planning
Radio
Environment
Competitive
Environment
Propagation, path
loss, clutter
Regulatory Issues
Spectrum, tariff, license Fee
Market forces,
demography, customer
expectations
Equipment
Specifications
Cost, power,
performance
Investor
Expectation
Budget, ROI
GSM Technology
Choice of parameters,
features
Planning Environment
12
Coverage Related
Coverage regions
Area type information
Capacity Related
Spectrum availability
Subscriber growth forecast
Traffic density map
Quality Related
MS Classes
GoS
Fade margins
Indoor coverage
Network Dimensioning Inputs
13
Site list with various options
Number of TRXs in BTS
Network role out plan
Coverage plan
Capacity plan
Site configuration & frequencies
Key performance indicators
Optimisation strategy
Deliverables
14
Cellular Planning Principles
15
Overlapping cells, each covering smaller area
Neighbouring cells use different carrier frequencies
Reuse of frequencies
Mobility of mobiles handled by handover
Paging for incoming calls
Tracking of idle mobiles
Cellular Concepts
16
Actual coverage
area of cell 1
Actual coverage
area of cell 3
Cell 1 overlaps 6 others

Different frequencies
must be used in adjacent
cells

Seven different sets of
frequencies required
Overlapping Cells
17
Hexagon Shaped Cells
Omni / Sectorised Cell Sites
Macro, Micro, Pico Sites for different purposes
Coverage overlap to enable successful handovers
Cell Site coverage is layered (Indoor, Incar, Outdoor)
Coverage is a function of
BTS transmit power, antenna height, gain, tilt, terrain
type,
MS Class, receiver sensitivity
Frequency band
Propagation model selection & tuning
Network Coverage
18
Cover area contiguously without holes
Coverage should be overlapping
Cover adequately interiors of populated areas
Airports, shopping malls, multiplexes, subways, ..
Serve the users traveling on highways at high speed
Provide required coverage for low density areas
Cover all these areas with sufficient fade margins
Coverage Planning
19
Capacity is created by sectorising sites
Add more carriers to each cell site / sector
Cover high density areas with layered cells
Efficient reuse of spectrum is critical
Interference reduction is challenge
GoS is linked to capacity
Traffic intensity, Traffic mix and KPI drives capacity

Network Capacity
20
a1
a2
a3 a3
a4 a6
a5
Cell Sectorisation
OMNI CELL
1 ANTENNA
b1
b2
b3
120
O
CELLS
3 ANTENNAS
60
O
CELLS
6 ANTENNAS
21
Sectored sites are preferred in high density
areas
Uses directional antenna (65-80, in case
of 3 sectors) as against omni
Covers more distance due to higher antenna
gain
Capital expenses are less since one cell site
is shared by 3 cells
Improves C/I in target area due to less no of
interferers in a particular direction
1.22 km
Effect Of Sectorisation
1.69 km
22
Same area covered by multiple layered cells
Macro, Micro & Pico cells
Handover can happen
horizontally (or laterally) or
vertically (or hierarchically)
Can handle hot spot regions
Results in improved
Coverage
Quality
Capacity
Disadvantages
Increased # sites (cost)
Increased signaling load and handovers
Stringent power planning necessary
Macro cells,
low density
Micro cells,
high density
Pico cells,
higher density
Cell Layers
23
Size can vary from 0.5 km to 15 km radius
Covers 0.8706 sq km
Typical power radiated could be from 2-20 Watts
Antenna height could be 10-30 meters
Macro cell is the basic configuration & it is very useful for
covering all types of areas
Rural, suburban & urban areas
Macro cells can meet various coverage & capacity
requirements
By varying cell radius, power and no of TRXs
Typical macro cell configurations are
Omni sites
Sectored sites with 2, 3, 6 sectors
Macro Cell Configuration
24
Macro Cell Configuration
Type of Macro Cell
radius
Total area
covered
No of
TRXs /
sector
Cell site
capacity *
(Erlang)
Traffic
(Erlang / sq
km)

Large omni
site

15 km

707 sq km
1 2.935 00.0042
2 9.01 00.0127
3 14.90 00.0211
Medium omni
site
5 km 79 sq km 2 9.01 00.1141
3 14.90 00.1886
Medium 3
sectored site
5 km 79 sq km 2 27.03 00.3422
3 44.70 00.5658
Small 3
sectored site
1 km 3.14 sq
km
2 27.03 08.6083
3 44.70 14.2357
Very small 3
sectored site
0.5 km 0.79 sq
km
2 27.03 34.2152
3 44.70 56.5822
* For a GoS of 2 %
25
Micro cell is for covering urban areas 50 to 300 m radius
Antenna mounted below rooftop
Power radiated could be 0.2 to 1 W
Covers slow moving / stationary mobiles at street / road
level
Propagation is usually line of sight
Micro cells supplement coverage of macro cells
Could be a layered network with macro & micro cells
Confined RF environment allows maximum frequency reuse
Micro cells help to increase capacity in densely populated
areas
Micro Cell Configuration
26
MicroCell
Type of
Micro
Cell
radius
Total area
covered
No of
TRXs /
sector
Cellsite
capacity *
(Erlang)
Traffic
(Erlang / sq
km)
Small 1
sectored
site
0.2 km 0.126 sq
km
1 2.935 23.29
2 9.01 71.51
3 14.90 118.25
Small 2
sectored
site
0.2 km 0.126 sq
km
1 5.8.7 46.58
2 18.02 143.02
3 29.80 236.50
* For a GoS of 2 %
27
Rayleigh Fading Channel
Average (say
-91 dBm)
Level with 10 dB
margin for 95 %
probability (-101
dBm)
28
Coverage Type Location
probability
Minimum Average
Signal Level
Signal Level
Relative to
Outdoor
High Loss
Indoor
95 % -68 dBm 23 dB
Indoor 95 % -73 dBm 18 dB
In Vehicle 95 % -84 dBm 7 dB
Outdoor 95 % -91 dBm 0 dB
Typical Coverage Objectives
29
Frequency resources are limited and costly
To cover large area, more number of sites required, hence
frequency re-use
Frequency reuse is done using cluster approach
Capacity can be increases by having more carriers in a cell
This results in increased reuse of frequencies
Interference is reduced by techniques like adaptive power
control, discontinuous transmission (DTX), frequency hopping,
reducing antenna height, underlay-overlay network

Frequency Planning
30
Two choices for allocating frequencies for layered network
Have separate frequencies for macro and micro cells
This will support a continuous deployment of micro
cells in critical areas
Common pool of frequencies for Macro and Micro Sites
Useful if there is no regular micro cell structure
Usually a mix of these methods is more appropriate
Frequency Allocation
31
Frequency Reuse Pattern
c2
c1
c3
a1
a2
a3
b1
b2
b3
c1
c2
c3
Frequency Re-use
3/9 Frequency Re-use
32
4 3 reuse mode:
one group includes 3 sectors /site ,12 frequency which
are distributed to 4 sites. Every site owns 3 frequency.
Frequency Reuse
A3
D2 B1
C3
B2 D1
D3
A2 C1
B3
C2 A1
B3
C2 A1
A3
A1
B1
D1
D3 D2
C3
B2 A1
C3 D2
C3
C1
D2 B1 C2 A1
A2 C1
D3
4/12 Frequency Re-use
33
Minimum spacing in kHz
In the cell 600
Between 2 co-site cells 400
Between 2 neighbouring
cells
200
Cells
Co-site cells
Neighboring
cells
Minimum Frequency Spacing
34
Type of
Interference
Frequency
Spacing

Nomenclature Ratio *
(minimum)
Co Channel 0 (Same ARFCN) C / I 9 dB
1
st
Adjacent Channel 200 kHz (ARFCN +/-
1)
C / A1 - 9 dB
2
nd
Adjacent Channel 400 kHz (ARFCN + /
- 2)
C / A2 - 41 dB
Other Adjacent
Channels
600 kHz or more C / A - 49 dB
* As per ETSI Standard
Interference Tolerance Limits
35
Morphology of the area
Topology of the area
Demography of the area
Business factors
Spectrum Availability
Competitor Analysis
Factors Governing Network Planning

These factors affect radio
environment & play role in
coverage planning

Decides the capacity planning
Operator inputs, regulatory inputs
Frequency re-use and Hopping



36
Multipath propagation
Shadowing
Terrain structures
Reflections
Interferences
Radio Environment
37
Assessing RF environment is critical
Path loss determines link budget
It is basically morphology and topology
Accurate topology is possible to get
However, morphology can change dynamically
When a sky scrapper comes up
Usage of realistic propagation model must
Combination of estimates and measurements
Estimates Okumara-Hata & Walfisch-Ikegami models
are widely used
Inaccurate modeling can result in widely varying results
Path Loss Prediction
38
Basic loss formula



Clutter loss factors
Land usage classes
Usually stated in dB/decade
Free space 20 dB/dec
Open country side 25 dB/dec
Suburban areas 30 dB/dec
Urban areas 40 dB/dec
Historic city centre >45 dB/dec
L = Lo + log(d)
Losses are exponential with
distance
Loss at reference point (e.g. 1km)
EIRP level
Coupling loss
= Lo
reference
distance
40 dB/dec
30 dB/dec
20 dB/dec
0.1km 1km 10km
Propagation Loss
39
Mixed land usage types on propagation path
25 dB/dec
30 dB/dec 20 dB/dec
40..50 dB/dec
Path loss
Signal Attenuation
40
Okumura-Hata Model
41
Limitation The Okumara-Hata formula is limited to a certain range of
input parameters and is applicable only over quasi-smooth terrain
(height variations 20 m). No obstacles are assumed to be close to
the BTS antenna.
Okumura-Hata Model
42
Multipath Propagation
43
Planning Activities
RF Planning
Nominal Cell Planning
CW Test (Model Tuning)
RF Site Survey
Drive Test (Coverage, Neighbor Definition)
Network Optimization
Bench Marking
44
Verification and Validation planning data
Usually termed as RF Survey
Nominal, Antenna Height and Orientation, City maps are critical
inputs for carrying out RF Survey
Tools required - GPS, Compass and digital Cameras
Search Ring size varies depending on the location
Sites are expensive and are long-term investments
Site acquisition is a slow process
Thousands of sites needed per network
Base station site is a valuable long-term asset
for the operator and accounts for majority of the
network cost
Site Selection
45
RADIO CRITERIA
LOS to the target areas
No surrounding high
obstacles
Good view in main beam
direction of all three
sectors
Room for antenna
mounting
LOS to next microwave
site
Short cabling distances
NON-RADIO CRITERIA
Space for equipment
Availability of leased
lines or microwave link
Power supply
Space for DG Set
Access restrictions?
Approach road
Space for earthing
Owners cooperation
Rental costs

Site Selection Criteria
46
Mostly 3 Sectored BTS
High Capacity BTS
Antenna Height 25 to 35 meter
Outdoor BTS with 2 sectors for covering main roads
High Gain Antenna : 18 dBi
Horizontal Beamwidth 65%
Vertical Beamwidth - 6-8
Cell size typical of 1-3 kms
Antenna tilt extensively used
Shopping Malls,Tech-Parks, High raised buildings are
covered with micro BTS / indoor BTS / repeaters
Morphological structure is of higher importance
City Coverage
47
Mostly two sectored BTS
BTS Sites co-located with backbone site
GSM Antenna height around 40 - 60 mtrs
Hi Gain Antenna : 18 dBi
Feeder cable with low loss per meter
Vertical Beamwidth < 6
Two/Three Antenna Configuration
Cell size typical of 5-10 kms
Minimum mechanical tilt
Narrow horizontal beamwidth
Covering Highways
48
Mostly 3 Sectored BTS
Low Capacity BTS
Antenna Height 35 to 50 meter
BTSs are separated by larger distance
High Gain Antenna : 18 dBi
Horizontal Beamwidth > 65 %
Vertical Beamwidth > 6
Cell size typical of 10 15 KMs
Antenna tilt usage is minimal

Rural Coverage
49
Criticality of covering indoors
Large no of users
High penetration losses
High user density
Challenges of indoor coverage
Limited space
Propagation more challenging due to fast multi path fading
and diffraction due to sharp corners
Covering Indoors
50
Frequency selective repeaters
Band selective repeaters
Indoor BTS
Pico cell structure
Power splitters
Leaky cables
Usually termed as IBS (In-Building Solution)
Indoor Coverage Options
51
This is a BTS in every sense of the word
Has its own connectivity to BSC
Can employ one or more TRXs
Can use the frequency / frequencies of a macro BTS cell
structure
Can be a single BTS or belong to a group of picocell structured
multiple BTS
Power transmitted less than 1W
Use Of Pico Base Station
52
REPEATER
POWER SPLITTER
Repeater With Antennas
53
Pros & Cons Of Using Repeater
Advantages Disadvantages
Low cost solution Does not add to capacity
Rapid Installation May not support full network
management features
Can be an ad hoc solution Requires coordination for frequency
planning
Ideally suited for initial phases Lacks flexibility
Reliable and simple to maintain Isolation required to avoid instability
54
Multi-level Building
LEAKY FEEDER
REPEATER
REPEATER
LEAKY FEEDER
JUMPER CABLE
Tunnel Or Subway Coverage
Repeater With Leaky Feeder
55
Antenna Systems
Omni Directional Antennas
Meant for coverage with minimum number of users
spread around
Suitable for rural area with very low density
Directional Antennas
Covers focused area
Used in sectorised cell sites
56
Directional antennas
Lobes
Main lobes
Side / back lobes
Front-to-back ratio
H-plane : 65-90 E-plane : 6-13
Half power beam-width
(3 dB- beam width)
Polarisation
Antenna impedance
Mechanical size (wind load)
Antenna down tilting
Mechanical / Electrical tilt (Electrical tilt is preferred due to good
backlobe suppression and dispersion control capability)
Improves spot coverage and reduces interference
Typical characteristics
VSWR : < 1.3
Impedance : 50 ohm
Front-to-back-ratio : >25
dB
Max. power : 500 W
Gain : 221 dBi
Antenna Characteristics
57
Parameter Urban Macro Rural Macro Micro Indoor
Gain (dBi) 12-18 16-18 7 7
Beamwidth (Hor) 65-80 65-80 65-90 65-360
Beamwidth (Ver) 7-10 7-10 <45 Not critical
Diversity Polarisation Polarisation Polarisation No
Polarisation Vertical Vertical Vertical Vertical /
Horizontal
Tilting Yes Yes / No No No
Frequency band Single / Dual Single / Dual Multi Multi
Size Large /
Medium
Large /
Medium
Small Small
Base Station Antenna Types
58
Multi coupler
.
.
.
TRX
TRX
TRX
Rx Antenna
.
.
.
Multi Coupler
59
Duplexer
Tx / Rx Antenna
From Tx
To Rx
Duplexer
60
Tx Antenna
Diversity
reception paths
Rx Antenna (1)
Rx Antenna (2)
Combing /
selection
process
To Rx
Diversity Techniques
61
Three Antenna Spatial Configuration
10 Separation
Receive 1
From transmitter
Receive 2
Space Diversity Antennas
To receiver
Diversity
combiner
62


10 Separation
Rx2
Transmit Receive 1
Duplexer
Two Antenna Spatial Configuration
Diversity
combiner
To receiver
Space Diversity Antennas
Tx / Rx1
63




A dual-polarisation antenna consists of two sets of elements
Each capable of receiving a particular polarised fields
The antenna has separate connectors to each element
The antenna ca simultaneously transmit and receive two
orthogonally polarised fields
H / V
Slant 45
Polarisation Diversity Antenna
(Tx / Rx1)
(Tx / Rx1)
Rx2
Rx2
64
Selection combining
Selects the signal whichever is better
Equal gain combining
Takes the average of the signals
Maximal ratio combining
Adds the signals by taking the relative phase shift between
the signals
Diversity Combining Techniques
65
Selection Combining
To Receiver
Diversity Antennas
+ +

66
Antenna height has maximum influence on coverage and
interference
In initial phases, tall antenna is used to cover large areas
As the network expands, antenna height has to be reduced
to reduced interference
Down tilt has to be done to focus the RF energy to a
narrower region
For micro cells, antenna may have to be mounted on walls to
focus energy along street
Effects Of Antenna Height
67
Wanted
coverage
unwanted
coverage
(interference)
unwanted
coverage
(interference)
Wanted
coverage
Effects Of Antenna Height
68
Log distance (km)
S
i
g
n
a
l

S
t
r
e
n
g
t
h

(
d
B
m
)

Free space loss
Increasing
antenna height
at BTS
Effects Of Antenna Height
69
Combiner loss =
3 dB
Tx Power
43dBm(20W)
Feeder
loss = 4 dB
40 dBm
36 dBm
Antenna
Gain = 16 dBi
EIRP = 52 dBm
Link budget= 157 dB
-105 dBm
Rx sensitivity
-105 dBm
Power Budget Downlink
70

Rx Sensitivity
-105 dBm
Feeder
loss = 4 dB
-105 dBm
-101 dBm
-117 dBm
Link budget = 150 dB
33 dBm
Tx Power
33 dBm (2W)
Antenna
Gain = 16dBi
Power Budget Uplink
71
Uplink Coverage
Limit
Downlink Coverage
Limit
Unbalanced Coverage
72
M2 : Fundamentals of Network
Dimensioning & Capacity Planning
73
Key Dimensioning Quantities
Traffic Planning
Traffic Patterns
Traffic Calculations
Example of Traffic Calculation
SDCCH GOS
TCH GOS
Erlang Table
Topics Covered
74
Area to be covered
Subscriber density
Traffic projection during busy hour
Busy hour call attempts (BHCA)
Grade of Service
Key Dimensioning Quantities
75
Traffic planning is having the necessary capacity in place to
handle the present and anticipated traffic
We need to have enough carriers at each of the cell sites to
handle the traffic generated there
Since the traffic varies during the day, a notion of busy hour
is defined and planning uses this busy hour for all calculations
Two types of resources are required for meeting traffic
Traffic channels (TCH) for handling the matured calls
Control channels (PCH, RACH, SDCCH) for handling the
call set up messages, SMS and other associated
overheads (location updating, periodic registration, )
Traffic Planning
76
Traffic is not evenly spread across the day (or week)
Dimensioning must be able to cope with peak loads
busy hour is typically twice the average hour load
PEAK TIME OFF-PEAK TIME
Busy Hour Traffic
77
Erlang is the unit of traffic or intensity of traffic
This is named after Danish researcher
Erlang can specify traffic of individual users or group of users
For individual users, Erlang is
Occupancy in one hour (usually during peak hour)
3600 sec
This is intensity of usage and the value is between 0 and 1
Suppose, one person uses his phone for 180 seconds during
busy hour, then his traffic (intensity) is 180 / 3600 = 0.05
Erlang or 50 mE
What Is Erlang?
78
Another term that is used is holding time this is the duration
of average call (during which the user is engaged in either
receiving or making calls)
Traffic intensity along with the holding time define another term
called Busy Hour Call Attempts number of call attempts
during busy hour
In the example above, user having a traffic intensity of 50 mE and
holding time of 60 seconds will generate 180/60 = 3 BHCA
If we take this figure as representative of a large number of
users, say 500, then we can find out the system capacity to
handle such users as follows
What Is Erlang?
79
Traffic Calculations
Type of Macro Cell
radius
Total area
covered
No of
TRXs /
sector
Cell site
capacity *
(Erlang)
Traffic
(Erlang / sq
km)

Large omni
site

15 km

707 sq km
1 2.935 00.0042
2 9.01 00.0127
3 14.90 00.0211
Medium omni
site
5 km 79 sq km 2 9.01 00.1141
3 14.90 00.1886
Medium 3
sectored site
5 km 79 sq km 2 27.03 00.3422
3 44.70 00.5658
Small 3
sectored site
1 km 3.14 sq
km
2 27.03 08.6083
3 44.70 14.2357
Very small 3
sectored site
0.5 km 0.79 sq
km
2 27.03 34.2152
3 44.70 56.5822
* For a GoS of 2 %
80
Grade Of Service (GoS)
Um GoS
< 2%
Total GoS < 5%
MS
BTS BSC
MSC PSTN
81
Total call duration of users = average traffic intensity x total
number of uses = 500 x 50 x 10
-3
= 25 Erlang
This indicates the total traffic generated by users
This is equivalent to 25 calls being made all the time
If we assume that we need 1 traffic channel to handle 1
call, the minimum number of traffic channels required is 25
However, since the calls will be made randomly, we need
to have more than 25 traffic channels to reduce blocking of
calls
If traffic channel is not available when a call attempt is
made, the particular call is blocked
Calculating TCH Capacity
82
Well designed network must work with low blocking
probability during busy hours typical figures are 1 to 5 %
(implying that this percentage calls will be lost due to non
availability of traffic channel during busy hour), and 2% is
considered a realisable figure
Since calls will be made by users randomly, we need to model
this statistically and arrive at figures that will satisfy real life
situation
To simplify the work Erlang table has been worked out that helps
us to find any one of these, with two others being specified
Traffic channel required, traffic offered, % blocking
Calculation Of TCH Capacity
83
No of
Circuits
Offered Traffic in Erlang No of
Circuits
Offered traffic in Erlang
1% Gos 2% Gos 5% GoS 1% Gos 2% Gos 5% GoS
1 0.010 0.020 0.053 13 6.61 7.40 8.84
2 0.153 0.223 0.381 14 7.35 8.20 9.73
3 0.455 0.602 0.899 15 8.11 9.01 10.63
4 0.869 1.092 1.525 16 8.88 9.83 11.54
5 1.361 1.657 2.218 17 9.65 10.66 12.46
6 1.909 2.276 2.960 18 10.44 11.49 13.39
7 2.501 2.935 3.738 19 11.23 12.33 14.32
8 3.128 3.627 4.543 20 12.03 13.18 15.25
9 3.783 4.345 5.37 21 12.84 14.04 16.20
10 4.46 5.08 6.22 22 13.65 14.90 17.13
11 5.16 5.84 7.08 23 14.47 15.76 18.08
12 5.88 6.62 7.95 24 15.30 16.63 19.03
Erlang Table
84
We can find the number of BHCA generated by the group of
500 users
Total BHCA = average BHCA x number of users = 3 x 500 = 1500
BHCA, or equivalently 5/12 call attempt every second
Control channels can be dimensioned by taking factors like
Call attempts
SMS delivery / reception
Location updating / periodic registration / IMSI detach/attach
Control Channels Calculation
85
No of
TRXs
Total
Time
Slots
Available
TCHs
Traffic Carried in Erlang
1 % GoS 2 % GoS 5 % GoS
1 8 7 2.501 2.935 3.738
2 16 15 8.11 9.01 10.63
3 24 22 13.65 14.90 17.13
4 32 30 20.34 21.93 24.80
5 40 37 26.38 28.25 31.64
6 48 45 33.43 35.61 39.55
Carrier Capacity
86
GOS for SDCCH should be say, 4 to 5 times better than the GOS
for Traffic
The following procedures must be taken into account when
dimensioning the SDCCH channels
Radio Resource management procedures such as
Call set-up
IMSI attach/detach
Mobility management procedures such as Location Updating and
Periodic registrations
Subscriber services such as SMS and Fax
SDCCH Dimensioning
87
The SDCCH channel can be configured in either of the two
ways:
Combined mode
Non combined mode
In the combined mode, SDCCH is combined with the BCCH
and CCCH in TS=0 as
1 BCCH + 3 CCCH + 4 DCCH (4 SDCCH/SACCH)
In the non combined mode, SDCCH uses the whole TS;
8 DCCH (SDCCH/SACCH)
SDCCH Configurations
88
SDCCH Traffic Per Subscriber / Hour
Traffic due to geographic
updates
LU attempts / subscriber * mean holding
time
Traffic due to periodic location
updates
PLU attempts / subscriber * mean holding
time
Traffic due to IMSI detach Detach attempts / subscriber * mean
holding time
Traffic due to IMSI attach Attach attempts / subscriber * mean
holding time
Traffic due to call attempts BHCA / subscriber * mean holding time
Traffic due to SMS SMS / subscriber * mean holding time
SDCCH Dimensioning
89

Activity
Attempts /
subscriber
Mean Holding
Time for SDCCH
SDCCH traffic
(seconds / hours
Location Updating 0.4 per hour 3.5 seconds 0.4 * 3.5 = 1.4
Periodic Updating Once every 2
hours
3.5 seconds 0.5 * 3.5 = 1.75
IMSI Detach Once every 3
hours
3 seconds 1/3 * 3 = 1
IMSI Attach Once every 3
hours
3.6 seconds 1/3 * 3.6 = 1.2
Call attempts
(MO)
0.8 per hour 3 seconds 0.8 * 3 = 2.4
Call Attempts
(MT)
0.3 per hour 3 seconds 0.3 * 3 = 0.9
SMS 1 per hour 6.5 seconds 1 * 6.5 = 6.5
SDCCH occupancy / subscriber / hour (in seconds) 15.15
SDCCH Dimensioning
90
SDCCH load per subscriber = 15.15 seconds / hour
= (15.15 / 3600) * 1000 mErlang
= 4.21 mErlang
Adding a margin of 10 % for false accesses, SDCCH traffic /
subscriber = 1.1 * 4.21 = 4.63 mErlang
Typical SDCCH Configuration
Number of TRX 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Number of time slots 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64
Number of TCH 7 15 22 30 37 45 52 60
Number of CCCH 3 3 3 3 9 9 9 9
Number of SDCCH 4 4 12 12 16 16 24 24
SDCCH Dimensioning
91
M3: Fundamentals of Network
Optimization
92
What is Network Optimization?
What is Network Quality?
Who sets the targets?
How to monitor the network?
Before starting the optimization
Optimization Issues
Optimization Example
Topics Covered
93
Optimisation is verifying the network performance
Is an activity that leads to optimal usage of network resources
Is correcting and rectifying of configuration and implementation
errors
Optimisation activity starts by monitoring network performance
against QoS targets
What Is Optimisation?
94
What Is Optimisation?
Monitor network
performance against
QoS targets
Carry out further
analysis of each
optimisation issue &
Identify solution
Implement proposed
changes to effect
solution
Identify
optimisation
issues
Monitor result of
change to determine
effectiveness
of solution
95
Deviations between plan and reality
Inaccuracy of radio planning
Statistical variations in the path loss characteristics
Finite terrain database resolution
Implementation issues
Wrong BSS parameter settings
Installation faults
Environment
Seasonal environmental changes, e.g. trees, leaves
Changes such as new highways, new buildings
Why Optimise?
96
Following parameters reflect network quality
Call success rate
Mobile terminated
Mobile originated
Call Set up failure
Dropped calls
Link quality
FER
RXQUAL
Network Quality
97
Set by the operator
Set by regulator as per licensing agreement
Dictated by market forces by competitors & subscribers
Set by Service Level Agreement (SLA) with customers
Set by the planning team
Targets For QoS
98
Daily reports generated by OMC-R
Specific reports are meant for performance monitoring
RF resource usage reports
Call success rate
SDCCH / RACH / PCH per cell site success rates
Call set up failures per cell
Resource availability reports
Drive test data
Customer complaints
Fault reports through escalation

Monitoring The Performance
99
Analysis of daily reports
Post processing and analysis of drive test data
Change in environment
Expansion by adding sites
Change in frequency plan
Complaints by subscribers
Change in configuration
Change in parameter settings
What Triggers Optimisation?
100
Coverage
Good signal level across the whole cell
Minimise coverage holes
Interference reduction by efficient frequency hopping techniques
To improve quality / capacity
Improve success rate of handover
Maintain RXQUAL at acceptable level
Avoid unnecessary handovers
Minimise transmit power
Traffic distribution
No congestion in any cells
Ensure reasonable blocked calls
Optimisation Philosophy
101
Initial optimisation
Site Audit
Proper Parameters use
Verify Neighbors list
Reviewing Frequency Plan
Primary optimisation
Verify existing coverage, site design objectives
Analysis & Identification of Problem areas/cells
From PMS & drive test statistics
Customer complaints
Optimisation Phases
102
Change the base station site configurations
Tilt antennas, to turn antenna direction, to change antennas
Change the radio parameters
Build higher or lower antenna masts
Move antenna locations
Move base stations
Tuning Network
103
Coverage assessment
Coverage holes, fade margins, RXLEV,
Capacity assessment
Blocked calls, dropped calls,
Interference assessment
RXQUAL, C/I,
Functionality assessment
Handover success rate
Radio Network Assessment
104
Congestion
TCH, SDCCH, PCH, RACH, AGCH
Poor Radio Coverage
Fading
Interference
Incorrect or Sub-optimal cell parameter settings
Hardware / software problem in the network / mobile
equipment / SIM
Set-up Failure - Examples
105
Interference
Poor radio coverage
Fading
Handover failure
Incorrect or sub optimal cell parameter settings


Dropped Calls - Examples