Radio Network Performance & Optimisation-II

Radio Network Performance

&
Optimisation-II

Abstract

This is a technical document detailing a typical NDC

Radio Network Performance & Optimisation Process based on Key Statistics.

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 Radio Network Performance & Optimisation-II

CONTENTS

Radio Network Performance & Optimisation-II

(1.0) Introduction Page 3

(2.0) Raw Statistics Page 4

(3.0) Key Statistic Page 4

(3.1) Explanation of Key Statistic Page 5

(4.0) Network Health Statistics Page 8

(4.1) Call Success Rate (CSR)

Page 8

(4.2) Call Set-up Success Rate

Page 9

(4.2.1) Recommendations to Improve Low CSR

Page 9

(4.3) Handover Success Rate (HSR)

Page 11

(4.3.1) Handover Causes

Page 11
(4.3.2) Handover Failures
Page 13

(4.4) Dropped Call Rate (DCR)

Page 14

(4.4.1) Recommendations to Improve DCR

Page 14

(4.5) SDCCH Blocking Rate

Page 16

(4.5.1) SDCCH Access Success

Page 16
(4.5.2) SDCCH Access Success Rate
Page 17

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 Radio Network Performance & Optimisation-II

(4.6) TCH Blocking/ TCH Assignment Success Rate

Page 17

(4.6.1) Recommendations to Improve TCH Blocking Rate

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Radio Network Performance & Optimisation-II

(1.0) Introduction:

The aim of optimisation is to maximise the Quality of Service (QoS) of the GSM network. In
order to do this we need to measure the QoS, compare the measured value with the desired
value, and then take steps to correct the causes of any deviations from the desired value. The
goal is to reach or exceed the customers required level of performance. Optimisation is used
to examine the following criteria when tuning a cell: frequency planning (interference related
issues); topology (neighbours list), cell dynamics (handover timers and margins); hotspot
detection, database parameter and antenna tilts.

Optimisation is traditionally undertaken immediately after the commissioning stage, or after a

new frequency plan is introduced in a deployed network. Several teams of field personnel
undertake extensive drive testing around each site making a number of calls, concentrating
on testing the handovers between each cell. Each call is investigated and any identified or
potential problems resolved by classical fault-reasoning/resolution methods. This
methodology, termed “drive-testing”, is used by most network operators as a tried and tested
way of identifying areas of their network for improvement through optimisation. This method of
network performance measurement is very important for comparing the performance of
network under test with competitor’s network.

Drive test statistics represent a small sample of the total calls on the network and can provide
a useful indication of network quality. In order to provide a precise imitation of user traffic, the
statistics obtained from the whole network through the OMC-R (Operations and Maintenance
Center-Radio) are a more accurate assessment of the quality of the network

Raw statistics available from the OMC-R is used to generate Key Statistics. This Key
Statistics will then be measured against the benchmark agreed with the customer. NDC
believes this is the most effective way of monitoring the performance of the network as the
result is derived from all of the users of the network.

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 Radio Network Performance & Optimisation-II

By deploying Advanced OMC Optimisation Tools which are more specific to Original
Equipment Supplier (OEM), network operators can undertake intelligent optimisation, based
on actual subscriber call information available from OMC statistics to provide optimisation
information.

Optimisation based on Key Statistics and Advanced OMC optimisation tools requires
statistical data from the network; therefore the network must be carrying a significant amount
of traffic, to start this process.

Flow chart- (1.1) shows NDC’s process of Radio Network Optimisation. To start the
optimisation process we require Key Statistics, Drive Test Data, RF Design Parameters,
Database Parameters, and Quality Of Service data.

Raw statistics are collected from OMC and key statistics will be derived using the predefined
formulae (OEM Specific). Advanced OMC Optimisation Tool also uses Raw statistics,
alongwith layer 2, layer 3 messages, Timing advance information, quality and level
information of up-link and down-link for an individual call to determine the performance of the
network and provides suggestions to improve the Quality Of Service of the network. There will
be a interactive process between the Optimisation Process and the Advanced OMC
Optimisation Tool for understanding a problem in greater details based on the information and
statistics fed to the system. The outcome of the process is an Optimisation Report which
gives details on the changes need to be done in the database, Antenna down tilts etc to

improve the quality of network. The Performance Engineering is part of Optimisation Process,
which deals with the analysis of the statistics and gives a detailed performance report. The
results of this report are used to compare the network performance with the benchmarks.

This document discusses the process of Radio Network Performance Evaluation and
Optimisations based on Raw Statistics available from OMC. We have discussed the Key
Statistics in detail along with suggestion to improve the network performance based on the
Key Statistics performance. Drive Testing for benchmarking system performance is equally
important part of network optimisation and is discussed in a separate document.

(2.0) Raw Statistics:

Performance related data and a copy of site database are present in the
Operation and Maintenance Centre– Radio (OMC-R). The management of
BSS network is controlled from the OMC-R. The raw data (Statistics) that is
appended in the OMC-R from individual BSCs on a pre-defined time interval
basis is OEM specific. Typically customer chooses 30 minutes time interval
for pegging the performance related information from the BSS to the OMC-R.
Raw Statistics also referred to as Counters are chosen from the list of
available performance parameters present in the OMC-R. The Key Statistics
are computed from the counter value of these parameters and are presented
to the operator/carrier on daily or operator defined time basis. The Key
Statistics of importance and their counter values in the raw statistics are
explained below.

(3.0) Key Statistic:

The details of the key parameters are as below,

a) CELL ID’s: Defines the Cell identity number of base station.

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 Radio Network Performance & Optimisation-II

b) Peak Hour: Defines the peak busy hour for each cell in the
network.

c) Call Volume: The number of call origination which, successfully access

a TCH.

d) TCH Offered [Erl.]: Traffic intensity offered on TCH channels.

e) TCH Carried [Erl.]: Traffic intensity carried by the TCH channels.

f) TCH Blocking (%): The portion of the call origination that failed due
non-availability of
TCH.

g) SDCCH Offered [Erl.]: Traffic intensity offered on SDCCH channels.

h) SDCCH Carried [Erl.]: Traffic intensity carried on SDCCH channels.

i) SDCCH Blocking (%): The portion of channel access that failed due to
non-
availability of SDCCH.

j) Call Success rate (%):It represents the proportion of calls which complete
successfully i. e., set-up successfully and do not
suffer a RF
loss before user termination or successful
handover.

k) Drop Call rate (%): It represents the proportion of MSs which,

having
successfully accessed the TCH, subsequently
suffer an
abnormal release caused by RF losses and losses
during
handovers.

l) HO Success rate (%): It represents the proportion of handovers that were

attempted from the source cell that succeeded
making it to
the destination cell.

m) HO Failure rate (%): It represents the proportion of handovers that were

attempted from the source cell that failed to make
it to the
destination cell it includes failure of ping-pong
handovers.

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n) TCH RF loss rate (%): It represents the proportion of allocated

calls on TCHs that
are lost due to radio connection failure on the
TCH.

o) SDCCH RF loss rate (%): It represents the proportion of allocated

SDCCHs that are
lost due to radio link loss on the SDCCH.

(3.1) Explanation of Key Statistic:

a) Call Volume:

Call Volume =  Total_calls

b) TCH Offered [Erl.]:

TCH offered = BUSY_TCH (MAX)

c) TCH Carried [Erl.]:

 (BUSY_TCH_MEAN) x Measurement interval (Min.)

TCH Carried =
Interval (Min.)

d) TCH Blocking (%):

ATCHSMBS

TCH Blocking = x 100

ATTCHSEI
Where,

ATCHSMBS – Attempted TCH seizures meeting a TCH blocked state and

ATTCHSEI – Attempted TCH seizures.

e) SDCCH Offered [Erl.]:

SDCCH Offered = BUSY_SDCCH (MAX)

f) SDCCH Carried [Erl.]:

 (BUSY_SDCCH_MEAN) x Measurement interval (Min.)

SDCCH Carried =
Interval (Min.)

g) SDCCH Blocking:

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 Radio Network Performance & Optimisation-II

SDCCH Blocking = 100 x ATSDCMBS

NATTSDPE

Where,

ATSDCMBS – Attempted SDCCH seizures meeting an SDCCH blocked state

NATTSDPE – Number of attempted SDCCH seizures in a period

h) Call Success Rate:

Call Success Rate = Call_setup_success_rate x (1- (drop_call_rate / 100))

Where,
SUM (TOTAL_CALLS)
Call_setup_success_rate = x
100% (CM_SERV_REQ_CALL + CM_REESTABLISH
+
PAGE_RESPONSE + CM_SERV_REQ_SMS +
CM_SER_REQ_EMERG - SMS_INIT_ON_SDCCH)
Where,

CM_SERV_REQ_CALL – Service request for call.

CM_REESTABLISH – Call restablishment.
PAGE_RESPONSE – Response for Paging.
CM_SERV_REQ_SMS – Service request for SMS.
CM_SER_REQ_EMERG – Service request for emergency calls.
SMS_INIT_ON_SDCCH – SMS initialisation on SDCCH.

i) Drop Call Rate:

RF_LOSSES_TCH + INTRA_CELL_HO _LOSTMS +

OUT_INTRA_BSS_HO _LOSTMS +
OUT_INTER_BSS_HO_LOSTMS
Drop Call Rate = x 100%
TOTAL_CALLS + IN_INTER_BSS_HO _SUC
+ IN_INTRA_BSS_HO _SUC

Where,

OUT_INTER_BSS_HO_LOSTMS = OUT_INTER_BSS_HO _ATMPT -

OUT_INTER_BSS_HO _SUC -
OUT_INTER_BSS_HO _RETURN

j)
k) HO Success Rate:

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 Radio Network Performance & Optimisation-II

OUT_INTER_BSS_HO _SUC + INTRA_CELL_HO _SUC

+
OUT_INTRA_BSS_HO _SUC
HO Success Rate =
x 100 % OUT_INTER_BSS_HO _ATMPT +
INTRA_CELL_HO_ATMPT
+ OUT_INTRA_BSS_HO _ATMPT

l) HO Failure Rate:

INTRA_CELL_HO_LOSTMS +
OUT_INTRA_BSS_HO_LOSTMS +
OUT_INTER_BSS_HO_ATMPT -
OUT_INTER_BSS_HO_SUC -
OUT_INTER_BSS_HO_RETURN
HO Failure Rate =
x100%
OUT_INTER_BSS_HO_ATMPT +
INTRA_CELL_HO_ATMPT
+ OUT_INTRA_BSS_HO_ATMPT

m) TCH RF Loss Rate:

RF_LOSSES_TCH
TCH RF Loss Rate = x 100%
TOTAL_CALLS + IN_INTER_BSS_HO_SUC
+ IN_INTRA_BSS_HO_SUC

n) SDCCH RF Loss Rate:

RF_LOSSES_SD
SDCCH RF Loss Rate = x 100%
ALLOC_SDCCH - CHAN_REQ_MS_FAIL

To study further on handover Failure and Success rate a detail HO report

reflects the causes of handover in uplink and downlink. The report includes,

a) Attempted Intracell Handover: It shows the number of handovers

due to,

(i) ULQ – Uplink Quality.

(ii) DLQ – Downlink quality.

b) Attempted Intercell Handover: It shows the number of handovers

due to,

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 Radio Network Performance & Optimisation-II

(i) ULQ – Uplink Quality.

(ii) DLQ – Downlink Quality.
(iii) ULS – Uplink Level.
(iv) DLS – Downlink Level.
(v) DIST – Timing Advance.
(vi) PBGT – Power Budget.
(vii) DR – Directed Retry.

C) Unsuccessful Intracell Handover with RF Loss:

It measures Intracell handover failure due to RF loss.

d) Unsuccessful Intercell Handover with RF Loss:

It measures Intercell handover failure due to RF loss.

e) Intracell Handover Failure Rate (%):

It represents proportion of Intracell Handover that were attempted from

the source cell but failed to make it to the destination cell.

f) Intercell Handover Failure Rate (%):

It represents proportion of Intercell Handover that were attempted from

the source cell but failed to make it to the destination cel

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 Radio Network Performance & Optimisation-II

(4.0) Network Health Statistics:

We have considered a typical network with five BSC’s to analyse the network performance.
To undertake this activity stastics of atleast 2 weeks should be analysed. The key parameters
to be considered are;

 Call Success Rate

 Call Setup Success Rate
 Handover Success Rate
 Dropped Call Rate
 SDCCH Blocking Rate
 TCH Blocking Rate
Customer sets a bench mark for these parameters as a measure of quality of the network and
expects the performance to be equal or better than this. The typical value of the bench marks
for each of the above mentioned parameters are as follows,

 Call Success Rate - 98 %

 Call Setup Success rate - 98 %
 Handover Success Rate - 98 %
 Dropped Call Rate - 0.5%
 SDCCH Blocking Rate - 0.5 %
 TCH Blocking Rate - 2%

(4.1) Call Success Rate (CSR):

Call Success Rate is a network “figure of merit” which quantifies the network from a
subscriber’s perspective. It represents the proportion of calls that are successfully completed.
For this to occur the call must be successfully set-up and should not suffer a RF Loss prior to
subscriber termination or handover.

CSR is an important key statistics which is considered for performance

analysis of a network. Figure- (3.1) gives CSR for five BSCs in a typical
network compared with the benchmarks of 98%.

Call Success Rate

100
Call Success Rate (%)

95

90 BSC wise performance

85 GOS Bench Mark

80

75
BSC1 BSC2 BSC3 BSC4 BSC5
BSCs

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 Radio Network Performance & Optimisation-II

Fig.- (3.1)

(4.2) Call Setup Success Rate:

The Call Set-up Success Rate relates to the proportion of subscribers that
successfully achieve access to an allocated TCH, implying the end of a
successful signalling phase in assignment procedure. Figure -(3.2) shows six
worst cells with poor Call Set-up Success rate compared against benchmark
in typical network.

Call Setup Success Rate

100
Call Setup Success Rate (%)

95
Call Setup Success
90
Rate
85 GOS Bench Mark

80

75
Cell 1 Cell 2 Cell 3 Cell 4 Cell 5 Cell 6
Cells

Fig.- (3.2)

(4.2.1) Recommendations to Improve Low CSR:

A low CSR, not meeting its benchmark could be due to one or more of the
following reasons;

a) SDCCH blocking:

A high figure of SDCCH Blocking rate would bring down the call success rate
significantly. Lack of sufficient SDCCH resources in a cell when a MS makes
an attempt for access is SD blocking.

SDCCH Blocking can be avoided by redefining the timeslot configurations

(Combined / Non combined) ie, adding more SDCCH slots to the cell with
severe SDCCH Blocking.

b) SDCCH failures

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This also account for poor CSR. Causes for radio failures have to be
deciphered. It could be due to radio link failures or due to abnormal behaviour
of individual SDCCH time slots. Call Set-up Success rate could be affected
considerably due to severe Co-channel or Adjacent channel interference. In
other words, the MS might not be able to hold on to the allocated SDCCH
resource due to severe interference. The frequency plan deployed has to be
checked for any cause of severe interference.

c) Dropped calls

Other than the normal user termination of the call, if the call drops due to
quality, distance or a handover failure at the old cell it brings down the CSR.
Handover failure at the old cell is the

inability of the mobile to revert back to the original serving cell after an
unsuccessful handover attempt.

(d) TCH Blocking:

The TCH Blocking Rate is defined as the proportion of TCH requests from
origination and hand-in calls that fail due to there being insufficient TCH
resources to carry the call.

Unavailability of system traffic channel resources due to congestion or

deliberate user blocking of TCH would reduce the CSR significantly. The
allowable blocking rate is typically 2% for all cells. More carriers have to be
added to heavily congested sectors to overcome TCH blocking and thereby to
improve CSR. Figure -(3.3) gives the TCH Blocking rate for five BSCs with
their benchmarks being 2 %. An arbitrary case of ten TCH congested cells is
portrayed in figure -(3.4).

TCH Congestion
30
25 TCH Congestion
20
GOS Bench Mark
15
10
5
0
BSC1 BSC2 BSC3 BSC4 BSC5
BSCs

Fig.-(3.3)

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Worst TCH Congestion Cells

30
25 TCH Congestion
20
15
GOS Bench Mark
10
5
0
Cell 1 Cell 2 Cell 3 Cell 4 Cell 5 Cell 6 Cell 7 Cell 8 Cell 9 Cell 10
C e lls

Fig.- (3.4)

(4.3) Handover Success Rate (HSR):

HSR is a measure of successful handovers from the serving cell to its best
neighbour. Handovers can be intracell, intra BSS, inter BSS or inter MSC
handovers. When a handover required to the best neighbour results in a
rejection due to unavailability of resources or any other reason, it is
considered as a handover failure. However it is to be noticed that a handover
failure does not necessarily mean a dropped call. Attempt to handover the call
to second best neighbour begins after an unsuccessful attempt to the best
neighbour which will delay the handover process and deteriorate the quality
further. Thus HSR is taken as a key statistics in evaluating the network
performance.

Figure- (3.5) presents the cells with low Intra Cell HSR. The Intra BSS HSR
measures the success of a mobile completing a handover between cells
physically located within the same BSC. This occurs once the BTS transmits
the handover command to the MS. As the success rate is referenced to the
source call, any TCH blocking on the target cell does not impact on this
statistics.

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Handover Success Rate

Handover Success rate (%) 100 Handover Success Rate
95 GOS Bench Mark
90
85
80
BSC1 BSC2 BSC3 BSC4 BSC5
BSCs

Fig. - (3.5)

(4.3.1) Handover causes:

Two criteria groups of different handover causes are defined below;

a) Radio criteria:

 Received quality (RX QUAL on up-link and down-link) too low / bit error rate too high on
up-link and down-link.
 Received level too low (RX LEV on up-link and down-link).
 MS-BS distance handover (Timing Advance).
 Power Budget handover (handover to a better cell with regard to relative received level).

b) Network Criteria:

 Serving cell congestion (directed retry)

 MS - BS distance too high in Extended cells.

The first three handover causes in radio criteria are known as mandatory or
imperative causes due to the fact that an occurrence of one of these causes
mean that a handover is necessary to maintain the call. In a well planned
network, handover to a better cell cause (Power Budget) which is an optional
one should be the overwhelming cause for handovers to happen. The pie
chart in figure- (3.6) shows the breakdown of the handover causes within a
typical network. So the handover due to causes other than Power Budget
cause have to be identified and steps have to be taken to minimise their
percentage of occurrence as a part of performance improvement process.

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Handover Causes
10.5
3.8 Uplink Quality
6.7 Uplink Level
1.8 Downlink Quality
Downlink Level
Power Budget
77.2

Fig. - (3.6)

c) Up-link level Handovers

This handover occurs specially in case of cells in rural areas or cell covering a
large area. A handover observation has to be initiated to identify the cells
having large number of uplink level handovers and measures like
implementation of Tower Mounted Amplifiers (TMAs) have to be taken to
improve the uplink level.
d) Up-link quality Handovers

As the name implies, this handover decision is made due to poor quality in the
up-link. Dynamic Power control feature can be enabled in the up-link to
improve its quality. By using this feature BTS instructs MS to transmit only
that much power which is sufficient for maintaining the call. This makes MS
transmit lower power hence the amount of interference at BTS level
decreases thereby reducing up-link quality handovers. Other option available
is using Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) where MS transmits only when
there is voice activity. However, the disadvantage of enabling this feature is
that the measurement reports are less reliable (SUB values) for SACCH
frames than those for which there is no silence period (FULL values) SACCH
frames.

e) Down-link Quality Handovers

This happens due to down-link quality deterioration. Interference of RF signals

and the radio environment are major causes of it. Optimisation procedure for
interference control such as redefining frequency plan, change of antenna
parameters (using lower beamwidth antennas, down-tilt, etc.), power definition
at BTS, etc., help in reducing Down-link Quality handover.

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f) Down-link Level Handovers

Unnecessary down-link handovers happen if the cell boundaries are not well
defined with high overlapping areas. Even if the level of the serving cell is well
within the acceptable threshold, a down-link handover decision is made
because of a strong neighbour serving in the same area whose power needs
to be redefined.

(4.3.2) Handover Failures

Some of the probable causes for handover failures and subsequent remedies
that could be done to improve the network performance is given below.
Usually the handover failure rate for any cell should be less than 0.5 %. The
cells which do not meet this benchmark could have any of the reasons stated
below. Figure- (3.7) shows ten cells in typical network with poor inter cell
handover performance.

Worst handover Success Rate Cells

3 .5
3
Handover Faliure Rate
2 .5
2
GOS Bench Mark
1.5
1
0 .5
0
Cell Cell Cell Cell Cell Cell Cell Cell Cell Cell
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
C e ll s

Fig.- (3.7)

 The first and foremost point to be considered is to check whether it is an

incoming or an outgoing handover of a particular cell which is affected.

 In a highly congested zone, handover failures which are obviously due to

lack of resources could be resolved by adding up more carriers suitably.

 Handover observations can be initiated in the OMC for cells not meeting
the HSR benchmark to find out precisely why a handover attempt has
failed.

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 While defining the neighbour list, it must be ensured that the definition is
bi-directional. Say for example if cell A has cell B as its neighbour it is
mandatory that cell B has cell A in its adjacency list.

 Handover attempts could fail due to severe interference (Co-Channel or

Adjacent Channel Interference). A check has to be run on the frequency
plan of the poorly performing sites.

 If more than one site in the neighbour list of a site with poor HSR have
the same Base Station Identity code (BSIC) and Broadcasting Control
Channel (BCCH) frequency, the site would be unable to make a handover
decision which accounts for its poor

performance. Thus the BSICs and the corresponding BCCHs in the

neighbour list of the cell with poor HSR have to be checked.

 There is a possibility of a site being out of synchronisation with its

adjacencies. In this case the HSR of all the sectors of a BTS would be
affected.

(4.4) Dropped Call Rate (DCR):

A dropped call occurs when the subscriber has an allocated TCH and this is
abnormally released due to either RF loss or equipment problems. The Drop
Call Rate therefore is a measure of the proportion of subscribers that
successfully access a TCH, but then abnormally drop the call. Thus DCR for
a network is given more weight-age and should be as low as possible.
Dropped Call Rate is an important parameter as far as performance of the
network is concerned. Figure- (3.8) gives DCR for five BSCs in a typical
network compared with the benchmarks of 0.5%.

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Dropped Call rate

3

2 .5
Drop Call Rate
2 GOS Bench Mark
1.5

1
0 .5

0
BSC1 BSC2 BSC3 BSC4 BSC5
B S Cs

Fig.- (3.8)

(4.4.1) Recommendations to Improve DCR:

a) Poor down link level:

This is the main reason for the drop calls. If calls are dropping because of this
reason at the boundary cells then expansion of the network is the solution.
However, if it is caused because of some blind spots present in the network
then this can be avoided by putting up more sites in the area, improving the
EIRP of the existing cells, installation of repeaters etc. If these options affect
the network performance owing to high interference because of more reuse
then deployment of Micro, Pico cells and underlay-overlay cells can be very
good options.

b) Poor down link quality:

If the received level in the downlink is good and the quality goes bad, it can
be inferred that the major reason for poor quality is interference. Interference
is either Co-channel or/and adjacent channel.

If certain area is affected by interference resulting in poor quality then one of

the ways to reduce interference level is by redefining your coverage
boundaries, which can be achieved by increasing antenna down-tilt and
reducing antenna height. EIRP of a BTS can also be reduced to counteract
interference. Frequency plan deployed in the network can be redefined and

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 Radio Network Performance & Optimisation-II

reuse distances can be increased while dealing with quality problems in

general.

c) Poor up-link level:

Generally in the coverage boundaries of cells covering large area, calls drop
because of poor up-link level owing to high path loss. Probable solutions
without reducing the coverage boundary of a cell are to implement Tower
Mounted Amplifiers (TMAs). TMAs improve the sensitivity of the receiving
BTS antenna thus improving the up link level and reducing the link imbalance.

d) Poor up-link quality:

Up-link quality can be poor because of interference in the up-link.

Discontinuous transmission and dynamic power control in the up-link can be
used to reduce interference in the up-link. As stated earlier a check has to be
run on the current frequency plan.

e) MS Loss during handovers:

Unsuccessful handover attempts results in dropped call if the handovers are

imperative. In other words the inability of a MS to return back to the old cell
after an unsuccessful attempt at the neighbour results in dropped call. This
could be due to lack of TCH resources in the target cell. The obvious solution
is to increase the capacity of congested target cell to cater to the handover
attempts made to it.

Figure- (3.9) shows ten cells in typical network with worst dropped call rate
performance compare against with benchmark of 2%.

Worst Dropped Call Cells

5
Drop call rates (%)

4
3 Drop Call Rate
2 GOS Bench Mark
1
0
Cells Cells Cells Cells Cells Cells Cells Cells Cells Cells
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Cells

Fig.- (3.9)

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(4.5) SDCCH Blocking Rate:

The SDCCH Blocking Rate is defined as the proportion of all SDCCH request
(from MS origination and hand-in’s) that fail due to there being no available
SDCCH resources.

Figure- (3.10) shows an arbitrary case of SDCCH Blocking rate for 10 cells
compared with the benchmark of 0.5 %. Recommendations to improve
SDCCH Blocking is already discussed.

SDCCH Blocking Rate

1.4
SDCCH Blocking
SDCCH Blocking Rate (%)

1.2
GOS Bench Mark
1

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
Cell 1 Cell Cell Cell Cell Cell Cell Cell Cell Cell
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Ce lls

Fig. (3.10)

(4.5.1) SDCCH Access Success:

SDCCH Access begins when the BTS detects a Channel Request message
(in the form of Random Access Burst) from a MS requesting resources for
network transactions. The Establishment Cause encapsulated in the message
will be accessed for validity. After validation of the RAB, the BTS will attempt
to allocate a SDCCH for the MS. The success rate is derived from the number
of successful attempts once the BTS has decoded a valid RACH.

SDCCH access failure may occur for the following reasons;

 Poor RF Coverage
 Up-link Interference
 Phantom RABs.

When the BTS receives a phantom RAB the SDCCH is allocated, but no MS
accesses the channel. If the BTS does not receive a SABM on the SDCCH

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before timer rr_t3101 expires, the BSS will release the SDCCH. The main
cause of phantom RABs is the BTS detecting uplink signals from MSs in co-
channel, co-BSIC cells. These signals could either be Channel Request
message or, more likely, Handover Access message which are intended for
the remote cell.

(4.5.2) SDCCH Access Success Rate:

The SDCCH Access Rate is not being caused by a lack of SDCCH resources
as SDCCH blocking is subtracted in the calculation. The SDCCH Access
Success Rate is therefore a measure of the RF Link Performance during
SDCCH access. Reasons for low success rate could be due to calls
attempts being made from areas of low signal strength, such as within
building, or due to phantom RACH’s from nearby cells.

(4.6) TCH Blocking/ TCH Assignment Success Rate:

The TCH Blocking Rate is defined as the proportion of TCH requested from originating and
hand-in calls that fail due to there being insufficient TCH resources to carry the call. Figure-
(3.11) shows five BSC’s in a typical network which are experiencing low TCH Assignment
Success Rate.
TCH Assignment Success

TCH Assignment Success rate

94
92
Rate (%)

90 TCH assignment Success

88 rate
86 GOS Bench Mark
84
BSC1 BSC2 BSC3 BSC4 BSC5
BSCs

Fig.- (3.10)

(4.6.1) Recommendations to Improve TCH Blocking Rate:

 Problem of TCH Blocking can be resolved by deploying additional RF carriers within

the cell. This will increase the number of TCHs.

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 Radio Network Performance & Optimisation-II

 Congestion relief feature can be enabled. (OEM specific).

 Directed Retry feature can be enabled. (OEM specific).

 Call Queuing feature can be enabled.

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