GSM Optimisation-Training PDF

ChiIderIey SoIutions 2002 1
GSM Radio Network Optimisation v1.4 Page 1 TeIecom network ConsuItants Ltd 2002
GSM Radio Network
GSM Radio Network
Optimisation
Optimisation
February 2006 February 2006
Trainer: Trainer: Mr NeviIIe Hawkins Mr NeviIIe Hawkins
Introduction Introduction
Definition Definition
Objectives Objectives
Types of optimisation Types of optimisation
Network expansion Network expansion
Interfacing groups Interfacing groups
Optimisation strategy Optimisation strategy
System basics System basics
GSM air interface GSM air interface
Measurements Measurements
BSS Parameters BSS Parameters
IdIe mode IdIe mode
Measurement fiItering Measurement fiItering
Power ControI Power ControI
Locating (Handover) Locating (Handover)
Contents
QuaIity assessment QuaIity assessment
Network performance Network performance
measurements measurements
FieId measurements FieId measurements
Optimisation measures Optimisation measures
Antenna adjustments Antenna adjustments
Frequency and interference pIanning Frequency and interference pIanning
Neighbour Iist pIanning Neighbour Iist pIanning
Common probIems Common probIems
Advanced techniques Advanced techniques
Organisation Organisation
TimetabIes TimetabIes
Teams Teams
Preparation Preparation
Databases Databases
ImpIementation procedures ImpIementation procedures
Contents
Introduction
System Basics
BSS Parameters
QuaIity Assessment
Optimisation Measures
Organisation
Introduction
Definition
Objectives
Types of optimisation
Network expansion
Interfacing groups
Optimisation strategy
Introduction
Definition
"the process of fine tuning the radio network
cost effectiveIy, to improve the air interface
performance to achieve the desired
performance quaIity targets"
Objectives
Minimise interference
Achieve specified GOS
Achieve other network quaIity targets
CaII success rate > 99%
Radio optimisation is an essential process of fine tuning the network in the most
cost-effective manner in order to improve the air interface performance so that it
meets the required network performance quality targets. Radio network optimisation
is a process which is continuous throughout the lifetime of the network but can be
subdivided into categories namely, initial (or pre-launch) and ongoing optimisation.
The main objectives of optimisation are to minimise interference, achieve the
required network quality target (GOS better than 1%), achieve high call success rate
(99% or better), in a cost effective manner.
The results of achieving this include increased revenue and maximum customer
satisfaction.
n order to achieve these objectives, it is necessary to define the key network
performance metrics and the thresholds to be used in the analysis of the network
statistics. Generally two thresholds are defined, the first is an optimisation threshold
which enables worst performing cells to be identified for scheduled remedial work,
while the second is a fault threshold which identifies cells with problems requiring
immediate solution.
Introduction
InitiaI optimisation
A good radio network pIanning process may reduce
IeveI of optimisation at this stage
Ongoing optimisation
Output from this stage shouId be fed back into the
radio network pIanning process
Augments/improves knowIedge of radio network
pIanners
Improves the radio network pIanning
nitial Optimisation is carried out prior to and immediately following system
launch and aims to maximise the ability of the network to deliver service at
a predefined and acceptable level of network performance quality at
commercial launch. t is also carried out immediately following the turn on
of new cells for network expansion.
Ongoing Optimisation is a continuous program that aims to find and cure
problems, and enhance the performance of the network during its
operational lifetime.
Introduction
InitiaI optimisation
Takes pIace prior to and immediateIy after
network Iaunch.
Aims to maximise the abiIity of the network to
deIiver service at a predefined and acceptable
IeveI of network performance quaIity at
commercial launch
AIso takes pIace after new ceII additions
For a network roll-out, initial optimisation can sometimes be hampered by the fact
that the network is under loaded. For example, capacity bottlenecks and
increased capacity effects on interference can only be properly evaluated when
the network is fully loaded. Therefore optimisation will continue after commercial
launch, and further adjustments made as traffic grows.
At the initial stage, there is a rapid improvement in network quality due to the fact
that the network quality at that time is heavily influenced by simple problems (such
as neighbour definitions) which are more easily solved. However, when the
network is operational, the problems become more localised and are perhaps not
as easy to solve. n addition, the introduction of major changes or features in the
network may result in reduced quality, but rapid improvements should be realised
following the resolution of such problems.
When new cells are integrated into the live commercial network, initial
optimisation is required to ensure that the parameter settings and handovers to
neighbouring sites are correct and that no new problems are introduced. n this
case, the network is loaded and therefore the optimisation is carried out in such a
way as to minimise negative customer impact.
Introduction
Continuous program during operationaI Iife of
network
Find and cure probIems
Enhance network performance to meet
performance quaIity targets
Ongoing optimisation takes place continuously on a network in order to improve
quality performance with increased traffic loading, provide additional capacity (new
channel additions or network-wide frequency re-tunes) and resolve specific problems
which arise. Both these optimisation functions need a disciplined approach to network
implementation, operation and quality and require well controlled and documented
procedures.
Introduction
Network Expansion
Increasing the network capacity
Extending coverage to new areas
ImpIemented in stages or at reguIar intervaIs
Addition of extra TRXs on existing ceIIs
Addition of new sites
Expansion is an integral part of the operation of a mobile network. t is driven
primarily by the actual growth of the subscriber base, which in turn is driven by the
marketing strategy and the actual performance of the network as perceived by the
user. t is essential to ensure that there is always enough capacity in the network to
satisfy demand, and therefore, a strategy for network expansion planning is generally
established at the early stages of the life of the network. The additional capacity must
be introduced whilst maintaining and/or improving the quality of the network.
The growth of the radio network is therefore an ongoing process of refinements and
adjustments based on a number of input parameters, most of which are not under
the control of Radio Planning. They include:
The projected subscriber growth
The projected Usage in milli Erlangs (mE) per subscriber
Special Value-added-services
Special promotion plans
Types of subscriber equipment used
The projected number of mobile data users
Areas in the network requiring coverage improvements as identified by
Marketing, Sales, Operations, Customer Care
Introduction
Sources of information
Network statistics
DaiIy/weekIy - from tooI such as Metrica
ReguIar drive testing
Using test equipment (TEMS)
Customer compIaints
Via customer service
InternaI probIem reports
Generated within the operating organisation
Network stats: is a very good source of information given that the amount of traffic
in the network is high enough to provide reliable statistics. The frequency and level
of detail of the report should also be set to ensure that there is sufficient information
for the groups involved in the optimisation activities, and for management.
Drive testing: while the traffic in the network is still in the early growing stages and
not statistically reliable, it is useful to perform regular drive tests along standard
defined routes. Calls of 2 minute duration should be made to generate data which
can be analysed to obtain relevant stats. This practice should be continued
throughout lifetime of network.
Customer compIaints: Although this is a good source of information, the details
such as location and type of problem are sometimes imprecise. t is preferable not
to have customer complaints because by the time the complaint is received, the
problem has already caused inconvenience to a customer. t is better to find the
problem before the customer does.
nternal problem reports: staff in the organisation are encouraged to use the
network and call to a service desk or answering machine (set up for the purpose) to
lodge any faults they may find with the network (friendly customers!). All problems
can then be forwarded to the optimisation team for investigation (after flitering by
O&M).
Introduction
Radio network optimisation
Network Expansion
TraIIic
Quality
For a given quality target, a certain traffic level is achieved. As network traffic
increases, the quality degrades as shown by the blue curve. To get the quality
back to target,
Generally, network capacity can only be increased at regular intervals, not
gradually. To provide additional capacity on existing sites as the number of
subscribers to the service grows, extra radio channels have to be provided within
each base station. When base stations have their full complement of channels,
then existing cells have to be reduced in size by adding new sites. Coverage is
provided to new areas by the integration of new sites. Therefore, site activation
and frequency re-tunes are part of the ongoing system improvement, and all or
parts of the network will need to be optimised after each site integration or
frequency retune process. The network therefore requires ongoing optimisation
Introduction
Interfacing groups
Operations Dept
NMC
Field Engineers
OMC
Customer
Service
Center
Sales &
Marketing
Radio Planning
Dept
Umbrella View`
Statistics;PerIormance;Reporting
Problem
Areas &
Cells
Statistics,
Reports & Actual
Coverage Maps
Network
Site Acceptance
Status &
Clears
Customer
Complaints
Customer
Complaints
Change
Requests
Fault Clears
Network
Status
New Plans
Suggestions/Requirements Ior Cell-selection and Acquisition
Production and update oI Predicted Coverage Maps and Problem Areas
Quality Dept
Optimisation
Team
Trouble Reports Statistics, Reports
NPC
The figure above is an idea of the relationships between the various groups in relation
to the Network and to the Customer-facing groups. t may be that Operations also
have direct contact with the customers but in most cases this should not be
necessary.
Introduction
Phase1: Preparation
Project pIan, databases,
Team/interfaces, test
equipment, performance
targets/threshoIds
Phase2: CIuster definition
Define cIusters, generate
input data (site data, maps,
pIots, neighbour Iists, BSS
parameters )
Phase3: InitiaI optimisation
Basic site checks, cIuster
verification, network tuning
Phase4: Ongoing optimisation
Measurements, data
anaIysis, soIution proposaI,
soIution impIementation,
verification of soIution
Phase5: Database maintenance
Update aII databases
Feedback resuIts
As required for any successful project, and in particular for network optimisation,
good planning and preparation are essential requirements. The optimisation
campaign may be sub divided into the following stages:
Phase 1: Preparation: definition of project plan, creation of database s, definition of
project team and interfaces, provision of measurement equipment/tools, generation
of performance targets/thresholds, creation of optimisation guidelines
Phase 2: Cluster definition: identification and definition of BS clusters for
optimisation, generation and/or collation of input data for the cluster (site data,
maps, plots, neighbour lists, BSS parameters)
Phase 3: nitial optimisation: site validation (basic site checks), clu ster verification,
network tuning
Phase 4: Ongoing optimisation: diagnostic measurements (to include test data,
metrica statistics, customer complaints), identification of problems and proposal of
solutions, implementation of solutions, verification of improvement in network
performance
Phase 5: Database maintenance: update of optimisation and other plannin g
databases.
Introduction -review
Definition
Objectives
Network expansion
Interfacing groups
Contents
Introduction
System Basics
BSS Parameters
QuaIity Assessment
Organisation
GSM basics
Mast &
antennas
MSC
Point of
Interconnection
Base
Transceiver
Station
BTS
Base Station
Controller
BSC
VLR
HLR
AUC
Home Location Register
Authentication
Centre
Mobile
Switching
Centre
EIR
Equipment
Identity
Register
OMC/NMC Operations & Maintenance Centre/
Network Management Centre
POI
Mobile
Station
MS
Visitor
Location
Register
BSS
OSS
NSS
GSM System Architecture
A GSM network is a Public Land Mobile cellular Network (PLMN). t uses a network
of radio transmitters to transmit radio signals over the designated service area. The
radio signals are digitally encoded. This allows more services and greater security
than analogue systems.
The Base Station Subsystem provides the distribution function of the network. The
base transceiver stations provide the actual radio link with the mobiles used by the
subscribers. The BSS has a standard interface so that it is possible to connect to
different types of switching centres
The Network and Switching Subsystem is responsible for handling all the switching
and routing functions. The MSC does the actual switching, whilst the HLR/VLR
store the subscriber data. The AUC and the ER provide security of access to the
network.
The Operations Sub System is the operating nerve centre that monitors the various
BSS in the network, whilst the NMC is able to monitor the NSS as well as the
BSSs.
GSM basics
GSM Interfaces
TO
PSTN
BSC
Um Radio
Interface
BSS
TRAU
NSS
Abis
Interface
A-Interface
Ater
Interface
PSTN
Interface
The various components in the PLMN are linked either via the air interface
or terrestrial interfaces.
The main interfaces are:
1. Um: radio interface connects the mobile station to the BTSs.
2. Abis interface provides communication between the BTS and BSC.
3. Ater interface connects the BSC to the TRAU.
4. A interface provides communication between the BSS and the NSS, in
particular from the TRAU to the MSC.
Contents
System Basics
GSM channeIs
Spectrum aIIocation
Access scheme
Frame structures
PhysicaI channeI
LogicaI channeIs
ChanneI mapping (IogicaI onto physicaI)
Measurements
GSM Air interface
GSM standards
05.01: PhysicaI Iayer on the radio path: generaI
description
05.02: MuItipIexing and muItipIe access on the
radio path
05.03: ChanneI coding
05.04: ModuIation
05.05: Radio transmission and reception
05.08: Radio subsystem Iink controI
05.10: Radio subsystem synchronisation
The GSM standards are available from the nternet. f they were printed out they
would use and enormous a mount of paper. Many are to do with fixed networking
and with detailed protocols. The ones mainly relevant to the radio interface are the
"05 series. t is thoroughly recommended that radio planners and optimisation
engineers read the 05 series specifications entirely.
GSM Air interface
Spectrum AIIocation
900 MHz band
1800 MHz band
890
MHz
915
MHz
935
MHz
960
MHz
MS Transmit BS Transmit
1710
MHz
1785
MHz
1805
MHz
1880
MHz
The spectrum allocation for Standard GSM 900 Band is
890 - 915 MHz: mobile transmit, base receive;
935 - 960 MHz: base transmit, mobile receive.
The Extended GSM 900 Band, E-GSM (includes Standard GSM 900 band) is:
The allocation in the GSM 1800 Band is
GSM Air interface
The ARFCN
ChanneI bandwidth is 200kHz
GSM 900 F-DL(n) = 890 + 0.2*n 1 s s s s n s ss s 124 F-UL(n) = F-DL(n) + 45
E-GSM 900 F-DL(n) = 890 + 0.2*n 0 s ss s n s ss s 124 F-UL(n) = F-DL(n) + 45
F-DL(n) = 890 + 0.2*(n - 1024) 975 s ss s n s ss s 1023
GSM 1800 F-DL(n) = 1710.2 + 0.2*(n - 512) 512 s ss s n s ss s 885 F-UL(n) = F-DL(n) + 95
935.2 MHz
(n=1)
200 KHz 200 KHz
890.2 MHz
(n=1)
45 MHz
Each frequency carrier or channel has a bandwidth of 200kHz. The carrier frequency
is designated by the Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number (ARFCN).
There are 124 channels in the standard 900 MHz band, and 374 in the 1800 MHz
band. (although there are 125 channels in the 25 MHz at 900MHz band and 375 in
the 1800MHz band, the lowest channel is not used to prevent interference with
nearby non-GSM systems).
The Mobile to Base Station path is referred to as the Uplink (UL), and the Base
Station to Mobile path is the Downlink (DL).
Therefore, one ARFCN comprises one Uplink frequency and a corresponding
Downlink frequency.
GSM Air interface
Access scheme
TDMA with FDMA
200 kHz
TS0 TS1 TS3 TS4 TS5 TS6 TS7 TS2
577 s
Time
Frequency
f1
f2
f3
f4
TDMA Frame (4.615 ms)
The 200 KHz spectrum is divided in time into 8 slots. Each of the 8 slots is called a
TimesIot, and its duration is 0.577ms.
GSM Air interface
TDMA frame structures
TimesIot (15/26 ms)
Frame:
8 timesIots (TS0 - TS7)
MuItiframe
26 frames (FN0 - FN25)
51 frames (FN0 - FN50)
Superframe
51 * 26-frame muItiframes
26 * 51-frame muItiframes
Hyperframe
2048 superframes
The 200 KHz spectrum or frame is divided in time into 8 slots. Each of the 8 slots is
called a TimesIot, and its duration is (15/26ms) 0.577ms. The duration of the frame
is 8*0.577=4.615ms.
Each frame has a unique number called the Frame Number (FN), starting from 0. A
frame structure/hierarchy is important in order to give the BTS an internal clock
system. This clocking system is used for other functions such as network access,
logical channel configuration etc.
A 26-frame multiframe is used to carry Traffic channels (TCH) and associated
control channels (SACCH). The 51-frame multiframe is used for control channels
exclusively.
GSM Air interface
TDMA frame structures
0 1 3 4 5 6 7 2
FN0
0 1 3 4 5 6 7 2 0 1 3 4 5 6 7 2
FN1 FN50
0 1 3 4 5 6 7 2
FN25
0 1 3 4 23 2 24 25 0 1 3 4 2 48 49 50
26-frame MF 51-frame MF
0 1 3 4 23 2 24 25
0 1 3 4 2 48 49 50
51*26-MuItiframe Superframe
25*51-MuItiframe Superframe
0 1 3 4 2 2045 2046 2047
Hyperframe: 2048 Superframes
Exercise!
Given
TDMA frame period = 4.615ms
CaIcuIate the periods for each
MuItiframe
Superframe
Hyperframe
GSM Channels
ChanneI types
Defined in GSM 05.02
PhysicaI channeI
Frequency and timesIot
HSN and MA and MAIO
LogicaI channeIs
Speech (e.g. TCH/FS, TCH/HS)
Data (e.g. TCH/F9.6)
ControI (e.g. BCCH, SDCCH, SACCH etc)
GSM Specification 05.02 defines all the channel types. There are two
categories: Logical and Physical. Physical channels are defined by the
frequency or frequency sequence and the timeslot number, while logical
channels by the kind of information they carry.
There are various kinds of logical channel, broadly speaking traffic and
control. Traffic may be data or voice traffic. t is not possible to carry data
over a voice channel (unlike with an analogue line).
GSM Channels
PhysicaI channeI - Bursts
Information carried on physicaI channeIs is
transmitted in bursts
The moduIation scheme is GMSK
Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying with BT=0.3
ModuIation rate is 270.83 kb/s (=1625/6 kb/s)
Corresponds to 156.25 bits in the timesIot
No ampIitude moduIation
Gives minimum spectrum requirements
EnabIes constant output power to be used
Timeslots transmit bursts of data. Five types are defined, four full ones and one
short burst.
A burst is the information or physical content (speech or data) transmitted during
one timeslot - it is a period of the RF carrier that is modulated by a data stream.
Bursts have very precise timing characteristics, so that all network components
know exactly when to transmit and when to receive. The size of the burst depends
on the type of data that is transmitted. One burst contains a maximum of 156.25
bits, the odd 0.25 bit being due to a guard period of 8.25 bits duration (30s).
Where no data is required to be conveyed, no burst is transmitted and the timeslot
is empty.
Reduction of BTS or MS power will result in bursts of reduced amplitude filling a
timeslot.
GSM Channels
PhysicaI channeI - the GSM burst
Ref: GSM 05.05
dB
t
- 6
- 30
+ 4
8 s 10 s 10 s 8 s
(147 bits)
7056/13 (542.8) s 10 s
(*)
10 s
- 1
+ 1
(***)
(**)
156.25 bits
A timeslot is divided into 156.25 bit periods. A particular bit period within a timeslot is
referenced by a bit number (BN), with the first bit period being numbered 0, and the
last (1/4) bit period being numbered 156. The bit with the lowest bit number is
transmitted first.
A burst consists of sections as follows:
A guard period (approx 30s) to prevent overlapping with adjacent bursts
A useful part containing information (147 bits)
A mid amble or training sequence, used by equaliser to calculate multipath delay
and compensate.
Ramp-up and ramp-down takes place in the guard period.This is mandatory for MS
transmission, but the BTS is not required to ramp up and down between adjacent
bursts.
GSM Channels
PhysicaI channeI - Bursts
Five types
NormaI burst (NB)
Frequency correction burst (FB)
Synchronisation burst (SB)
Access burst (AB)
Dummy burst (DB)
Timeslots transmit bursts of data. There are different kinds of burst associated with
different channel types.
GSM Channels
PhysicaI channeI - bursts
NormaI Burst
3 142 3 8
1
/
4
3 39 39 64 3 8
1
/
4
8 41 36 3 68
1
/
4
Frequency Correction
Burst
Synchronisation Burst
Dummy Burst
Access Burst
1 1
TaiI Guard
Period
Extended Training Sequence
3 58
58 26 3 8
1
/
4
Encrypted Data
Encrypted Data Training
Sequence
TaiI
Fixed Sequence
Encrypted Data Encrypted Data
Encrypted Data Synchronisation
Sequence
Extended Guard Period
3 58
58 26 3 8
1
/
4
Encrypted Data
Encrypted Data Training
Sequence
TaiI
NormaI Burst (NB): full burst used for carrying user encrypted data or control
signalling on uplink and downlink. 1 bit on either side of the training sequence are
given the function of "stealing flags to denote if the burst carries data or has been
"stolen to provide urgent signalling channel FACCH.
Frequency Correction Burst (FB): full burst, used in downlink only and is the
simplest burst. All data and training periods are combined into one long period of 142
bits all set to '0'. t is used by a mobile to correct its frequency and demodulate the
synchronisation burst.
Synchronisation Burst (SB): full burst, used in downlink only on the SCH which
transmits frame number and initial identification information (BSC) of the cell. The
extended training sequence provides sufficient information for the mobile to attain
frame synchronisation with the BTS and obtain the Timeslot Number (TN) in the
Hyperframe.
Dummy Burst (DB): full burst, used in downlink direction only and has same structure
as normal burst except it does not carry any useful information. The encrypted data is
a known pre-defined series. t is used on the BCCH carrier which has to transmit all the
time to enable mobiles to synchronise and carry out signal measurements for handover
purposes.
Access Burst (AB): the only short burst in GSM, used by the mobile in the uplink to
access the network. The extended guard period of 68.25 bits makes allowance for
burst transmissions from other mobiles.
GSM Channels
PhysicaI ChanneI
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
TimesIot
156.25 bits
0.577 ms
PhysicaI ChanneI
TDMA Frame
TDMA Frame
Duration: 4.615ms
No.of timesIots: 8
Numbering: 0 - 2 715 647
(25 x 51 x 2048 -1)
TimesIot
Duration: 577us
No.of bits: 156.25
Numbering: 0 - 7
A TDMA Frame consists of the 8 consecutive timeslots [0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. The TDMA
frames are numbered rigidly, because different frames carry different channels, for
example a TCH and a SACCH share the same timeslot number and frequency, but
are differentiated through the TDMA frame number sequence that they use.
The PhysicaI channeI is the repetition of a particular timeslot - in this example, TS
1. The repetition of TS 2 would be another physical channel, etc. etc.
Therefore one RF carrier can carry up to 8 simultaneous conversations, in other
words it carries transmissions from 8 different subscribers simultaneously. The
Mobile or base station must transmit the information related to one call in the same
timeslot until the call is terminated.
Each physical channel carries a varying number of logical channels.
GSM Channels
PhysicaI channeIs
Frequencies, channeI aIIocation
CA: the Iist of frequencies aIIocated to a ceII
MA: the Iist of frequencies aIIocated to a mobiIe
When frequency hopping
MAI: indexes the Iist of mobiIe frequencies
For each TDMA frame
MAIO: offset to the MA Index to avoid two TRX in one
ceII using the same frequency
HSN: Hopping sequence number
Each cell is allocated a set of frequencies. The allocation is stored in the CA (Cell
Allocation). The frequencies may be hopping or not. When frequency hopping, a
mobile will be allocated a set of frequencies called the MA (Mobile Allocation). The
MA will be a subset of the CA.
The hopping sequence generation algorithm is carefully defined in GSM 05.02.
The algorithm itself generates an index (MA) for each TDMA frame, which is used
to look up from the MA list the actual frequency used in each TDMA frame.
Transceivers in one cell using the same MA are each given an offset (MAO) to the
index number for each frame. This makes it impossible for two TRX in the same
cell to use the same frequency in the same TDMA frame.
The sequence generation algorithm uses the Hopping Sequence Number (HSN)
and the TDMA Frame Number (FN) to generate the MA. FN is effectively random
for non synchronised BSs, but is the same for the cells on the same site.
GSM Channels
LogicaI ChanneIs
Traffic CHanneIs (TCH)
Speech channeIs
FuII rate traffic channeI for speech (TCH/FS)
HaIf rate traffic channeI for speech (TCH/HS)
Data channeIs
FuII rate traffic for 9.6 kbit/s data (TCH/F9.6)
FuII rate traffic for 4.8 kbit/s data (TCH/F4.8)
FuII rate traffic for s ss s 2.4 kbit/s data (TCH/F2.4)
HaIf rate traffic for 4.8 kbit/s data (TCH/H4.8)
HaIf rate traffic for s ss s 2.4 kbit/s data (TCH/H2.4)
GSM requires a great variety of information (data and control) to be transmitted in both
uplink and downlink. The concept of logical channels is used to convey the different
types of data. Therefore, to use a given channel is to transmit and receive specific
bursts at specific instants in time and on specific frequencies.
Speech traffic channels may be Full Rate or Half Rate or Enhanced Full Rate. Half
Rate channels only occupy half of each time slot.
GSM Channels
LogicaI ChanneIs
Traffic CHanneIs (TCH)
Data channeIs
TCH
TCH/F TCH/H
TCH/H 4.8
TCH/H 2.4
TCH/F 9.6
TCH/F 4.8
TCH/F 1.2
TCH/F 2.4
The Traffic channels carries either speech or data.
The Full Rate channel carries encoded information at a gross rate of 22.8 kb/s. The
net rate for speech is 13 kb/s, whilst for data, the net rates are 9.6 kb/s, 4.8 kb/s, 2.4
kb/s.
TCH/F9.6: 9.6 kb/s full rate data
The Half Rate channel have less coding overhead and carry encoded information at
a gross rate of 11.4 kb/s, and net rates of 4.8 kb/s, 2.4 kb/s.
TCH/H4.8: 4.8 kb/s half rate data
TCH/H2.4: 2.4 kb/s half rate data
Since 9.6 kbit/s is already slow enough, few people use the 4.8k or 2.4k channels.
GSM Channels
LogicaI ChanneIs
ControI channeIs
Broadcast ChanneIs (BCH)
Common controI channeIs (CCCH)
Dedicated ControI ChanneIs (DCCH)
There are a large number of control channels defined for different purposes. The
Control channels (CCH) carry signalling or synchronisation information. There are
three main types of control channels:
BCCH: Broadcast Control Channel: downlink only and are transmitted to all mobiles
CCCH: Common Control Channel: used for a temporary period to make
connections and set up other channels
DCCH: Dedicated Control Channel: used for a temporary period to make
connections and set up other channels
GSM Channels
LogicaI ChanneIs
ControI CHanneIs (CCH)
CCH
DCCH
SDCCH
BCCH
SCH FCCH
BCCH
FACCH
ACCH
SACCH
CCCH
RACH
PCH AGCH
(DL)
(UL)
(DL) (DL)
CBCH
(DL)
(UL&DL)
BCCH: Point to multipoint, unidirectional (Downlink) channel, transmitted at constant power
all the time from the BS. t carries information such as List of frequencies used in cell, cell
identity, location area identity, list of neighbour cells, access control (emergency calls etc.),
power control & DTX information. t includes
CCCH: Point to multipoint, bi-directional (Up & Downlink) channel, used for carrying signalling data for
access management functions. t includes
DCCH: Point to point, directional (Up & Downlink) channel, used for carrying signalling data for call
setup or for measurement and handover purposes. t includes
SDCCH: Stand Alone Dedicated Control Channel, used for data transfer to/from mobile during call
setup, and for transmission of SMS
ACCH: Associated Control channel, can be associated with either a TCH or an SDCCH, and are used
for the processes associated with those two channels
SACCH: Slow Associated Control Channel, carries timing and power control information
downlink to the mobile, and quality and signal strength measurements uplink to the BS.
FACCH: Fast Associated Control channel is used to implement user authentication and
handovers. t is transmitted instead of a TCH, and is referred to as burst stealing - the FACCH
steals the TCH burst and replaces it with its own information.
GSM Channels
LogicaI ChanneIs: ControI channeIs
Broadcast CHanneIs (BCH)
Frequency correction channeI (FCCH)
Synchronisation channeI (SCH)
Broadcast controI channeI (BCCH)
Common ControI CHanneIs (CCCH)
Paging channeI (PCH)
Random access channeI (RACH)
Access grant channeI (AGCH)
CeII Broadcast ChanneI (CBCH)
BCCH: Point to multipoint, unidirectional (Downlink) channel, transmitted at constant power
all the time from the BS. t carries information such as List of frequencies used in cell, cell
identity, location area identity, list of neighbour cells, access control (emergency calls etc.),
power control & DTX information. t includes
FCCH, Frequency Correction Channel, consists of bursts which have 142 fixed bits and
enables the Mobile to synchronise to the right frequency for the BS. t is transmitted in frames
immediately before the SCH.
SCH, Synchronisation Channel (DL) consists of regular sequence of bits and enables the
mobile to synchronise on first registration to the right TDMA frame using the frame number
and BSC. A timeslot containing the SCH is transmitted once every tenth TDMA frame. There
is an extended training sequence to help identify the cell to which the mobile is registering.
CCCH: Point to multipoint, bi-directional (Up & Downlink) channel, used for carrying signalling
data for access management functions. t includes
PCH: Paging Channel, downlink channel for paging mobiles
AGCH: Access Grant channel , downlink channel used to assign dedicated channel to a
mobile station for setting up calls.
RACH: Random Access channel, an uplink channel used by the Mobile for requesting for a
dedicated control channel when initiating a call.
CBCH: Cell Broadcast Channel, a downlink channel used to transmit broadcast messages to
all mobiles. t is transmitted in the place of an SDCCH - steals SDCCH.
GSM Channels
ControI channeIs
Dedicated ControI CHanneIs
SIow associated controI channeI (SACCH/TF)
Fast associated controI channeI (FACCH/TF)
Stand aIone dedicated controI channeI (SDCCH/8)
SIow associated controI channeI (SACCH/C8)
Stand aIone dedicated controI channeI, combined
with CCCH (SDCCH/4)
DCCH: Point to point, directional (Up & Downlink) channel, used for carrying signalling data
for call setup or for measurement and handover purposes. Dedicated channels are so called
because they are dedicated to one mobile in dedicated mode (as opposed to idle mode).
Dedicated control channels fall into two categories: There are "stand alone channels and
"associated channels. The stand alone channels can be set up in their own right.
SDCCH: Stand Alone Dedicated Control Channel, used for data transfer to/from BS/MS
during call setup, and for transmission of SMS. Messages inc. "Layer 3 messages and
indicate commands such as "Assign Channel, "Update Location Area, etc. The SDCCH
can be combined on the same physical channel as the BCCH and CCCHs, and is time
division multiplexed, or can be allocated an entire physical channel itself, depending on the
traffic requirements.
ACCH: Associated Control channel, can only be associated with either a TCH or an
SDCCH, and are used for the processes associated with those two channels
SACCH: Slow Associated Control Channel uses a small number of timeslots
occasionally to carry timing and power control information downlink to the mobile,
and quality and signal strength measurements uplink to the BS.
FACCH: Fast Associated Control channel is used to implement user authentication
and handovers. t is transmitted instead of a TCH, and is referred to as burst stealing
- the FACCH steals the TCH burst and replaces it with its own information. That is, a
FACCH exists when a TCH is temporarily used for SDCCH purposes.
GSM Channels
LogicaI ChanneIs
NormaI
Burst
SDCCH
BCCH
CBCH
PCH
AGCH
FACCH
SACCH
Access
Burst
RACH
Dummy
Burst
BCCH FCH SCH
Frequency
Burst
Synchronisation
Burst
GSM Channels
Mapping LogicaI to PhysicaI channeIs
PhysicaI channeI has severaI IogicaI channeIs
TCH/F + FACCH/F + SACCH/TF
FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH
SDCCH/8 + SACCH/C8
"Non-combined"
FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH + SDCCH/4 +
SACCH/C4
"Combined"
where CCCH = PCH + RACH + AGCH
GSM Channels
ChanneI Mapping: LogicaI to PhysicaI
TCH carrier
TCH/F + SACCH/TF + FACCH/F
24 sIots for TCH/F
1 sIot for SACCH
1 idIe sIot
T
C
H
T
C
H
T
C
H
T
C
H
T
C
H
T
C
H
T
C
H
T
C
H
T
C
H
T
C
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T
C
H
T
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S
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H
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T
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H
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H
T
C
H
T
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H
T
C
H
T
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T
C
H
T
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H
T
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H
T
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H
T
C
H
I
D
L
E
0 1 3 4 5 6 7 2
FN0
0 1 3 4 5 6 7 2
FN1
0 1 3 4 5 6 7 2
FN25
The TCH configuration comprises 24 TS where TCH/F (speech or user data) is
transmitted. 1 TS for its SACCH (each TCH has an associated SACCH to convey
signalling between MS and BTS in active mode), and 1 TS is idle. The TCH/F
period is 120ms, chosen as a multiple of 20ms in order to obtain some
synchronisation with fixed networks, especially SDN.
f the network sets the "stealing flags in the normal burst, a timeslot can be
stolen and replaced with a FACCH to send urgent signalling data
GSM Channels
ChanneI Mapping: LogicaI to PhysicaI
BCCH carrier (non combined)
FCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH
5 TS for FCH
5 TS for SCH
4 TS for BCCH
36 TS for CCCH
1 TS is idIe
F
C
C
H
S
C
H
B
C
C
H
B
C
C
H
B
C
C
H
B
C
C
H
C
C
C
H
C
C
C
H
C
C
C
H
C
C
C
H
F
C
C
C
H
S
C
H
C
C
C
H
C
C
C
H
C
C
C
H
C
C
C
H
C
C
C
H
C
C
C
H
C
C
C
H
C
C
C
H
F
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H
S
C
H
C
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C
C
C
H
C
C
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H
C
C
C
H
C
C
C
H
C
C
C
H
C
C
C
H
C
C
C
H
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C
C
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C
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C
C
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C
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H
I
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L
E
0 1 3 4 5 6 7 2
FN0
0 1 3 4 5 6 7 2
FN1
0 1 3 4 5 6 7 2
FN25
0 1 3 4 5 6 7 2
FN50
With non-combined, a separate timeslot is used for eight SDCCH channels and
their SACCHs.
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SDCCH/4(0)
SDCCH/4(0)
SDCCH/4(0)
SDCCH/4(1)
SDCCH/4(1)
SDCCH/4(1)
SDCCH/4(1)
SDCCH/4(2)
SDCCH/4(2)
SDCCH/4(2)
SDCCH/4(2)
SDCCH/4(3)
SDCCH/4(3)
SDCCH/4(3)
SDCCH/4(3)
SDCCH/4(4)
SDCCH/4(4)
SDCCH/4(4)
SDCCH/4(4)
SDCCH/4(5)
SDCCH/4(5)
SDCCH/4(5)
SDCCH/4(5)
SDCCH/4(6)
SDCCH/4(6)
SDCCH/4(6)
SDCCH/4(6)
SDCCH/4(7)
SDCCH/4(7)
SDCCH/4(7)
SDCCH/4(7)
SACCH/C4/(0)
SACCH/C4/(0)
SACCH/C4/(0)
SACCH/C4/(0)
SACCH/C4/(1)
SACCH/C4/(1)
SACCH/C4/(1)
SACCH/C4/(1)
SACCH/C4/(3)
SACCH/C4/(3)
SACCH/C4/(3)
SACCH/C4/(3)
SACCH/C4/(3)
SACCH/C4/(3)
SACCH/C4/(3)
SACCH/C4/(3)
IDLE
IDLE
IDLE
0
1
3
4
5
6
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2
F
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0
0
1
3
4
5
6
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2 F
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1
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5
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2
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1
0
1
SDCCH/4(0)
SDCCH/4(0)
SDCCH/4(0)
SDCCH/4(0)
SDCCH/4(1)
SDCCH/4(1)
SDCCH/4(1)
SDCCH/4(1)
SDCCH/4(2)
SDCCH/4(2)
SDCCH/4(2)
SDCCH/4(2)
SDCCH/4(3)
SDCCH/4(3)
SDCCH/4(3)
SDCCH/4(3)
SDCCH/4(4)
SDCCH/4(4)
SDCCH/4(4)
SDCCH/4(4)
SDCCH/4(5)
SDCCH/4(5)
SDCCH/4(5)
SDCCH/4(5)
SDCCH/4(6)
SDCCH/4(6)
SDCCH/4(6)
SDCCH/4(6)
SDCCH/4(7)
SDCCH/4(7)
SDCCH/4(7)
SDCCH/4(7)
SACCH/C4/(4)
SACCH/C4/(4)
SACCH/C4/(4)
SACCH/C4/(4)
SACCH/C4/(5)
SACCH/C4/(5)
SACCH/C4/(5)
SACCH/C4/(5)
SACCH/C4/(6)
SACCH/C4/(6)
SACCH/C4/(6)
SACCH/C4/(6)
SACCH/C4/(7)
SACCH/C4/(7)
SACCH/C4/(7)
SACCH/C4/(7)
IDLE
IDLE
IDLE
T
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FCCH
SCH
BCCH
BCCH
BCCH
BCCH
CCCH
CCCH
CCCH
CCCH
FCCCH
SCH
CCCH
CCCH
CCCH
CCCH
CCCH
CCCH
CCCH
CCCH
FCCH
SCH
SDCCH/4(0)
SDCCH/4(0)
SDCCH/4(0)
SDCCH/4(0)
SDCCH/4(1)
SDCCH/4(1)
SDCCH/4(1)
SDCCH/4(1)
FCCH
SCH
SDCCH/4(2)
SDCCH/4(2)
SDCCH/4(2)
SDCCH/4(2)
SDCCH/4(3)
SDCCH/4(3)
SDCCH/4(3)
SDCCH/4(3)
FCCH
SCH
SACCH/C4/(0)
SACCH/C4/(0)
SACCH/C4/(0)
SACCH/C4/(0)
SACCH/C4/(1)
SACCH/C4/(1)
SACCH/C4/(1)
SACCH/C4/(1)
IDLE
FCCH
SCH
BCCH
BCCH
BCCH
BCCH
CCCH
CCCH
CCCH
CCCH
FCCCH
SCH
CCCH
CCCH
CCCH
CCCH
CCCH
CCCH
CCCH
CCCH
FCCH
SCH
SDCCH/4(0)
SDCCH/4(0)
SDCCH/4(0)
SDCCH/4(0)
SDCCH/4(1)
SDCCH/4(1)
SDCCH/4(1)
SDCCH/4(1)
FCCH
SCH
SDCCH/4(2)
SDCCH/4(2)
SDCCH/4(2)
SDCCH/4(2)
SDCCH/4(3)
SDCCH/4(3)
SDCCH/4(3)
SDCCH/4(3)
FCCH
SCH
SACCH/C4/(2)
SACCH/C4/(2)
SACCH/C4/(2)
SACCH/C4/(2)
SACCH/C4/(3)
SACCH/C4/(3)
SACCH/C4/(3)
SACCH/C4/(3)
IDLE
0
1
3
4
5
6
7
2
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N
0
0
1
3
4
5
6
7
2 F
N
1
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1
3
4
5
6
7
2
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2
5
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1
3
4
5
6
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3
4
5
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GSM Channels
CaII set-up
MobiIe terminated
PCH used to transmit page to mobiIe in aII ceIIs
within the Location Area in which it was Iast
registered in the VLR
PCH
GSM Channels
CaII set-up
MobiIe terminated
MobiIe "hears" page and requests communication
on the RACH
PCH
RACH
GSM Channels
CaII set-up
MobiIe terminated
Base station responds on the Access Grant ChanneI
(AGCH), with detaiIs of a Dedicated ControI ChanneI
(SDCCH)
RACH
AGCH
GSM Channels
CaII set-up
MobiIe terminated
The SDCCH is used to transfer aII caII set-up
information, e.g. authentication detaiIs, caIIers
number (if enabIed), etc.
SDCCH
GSM Channels
CaII set-up
MobiIe terminated
On the SDCCH, the mobiIe is toId which traffic
channeI to use (frequency, hopping sequence,
timesIot)
SDCCH
TCH
GSM Channels
CaII set-up
MobiIe originated
Rather than starting with a "downIink" page, the
mobiIe initiates proceedings on the RACH
RACH
AGCH
GSM Channels
CaII set-up
Summary
Paging (PCH) -
mobiIe
terminated onIy
Random Access
Request (RACH)
Access Grant
(AGCH)
CaII setup
(SDCCH)
CaII in progress
(TCH)
GSM Channels - Review
GSM channeIs GSM channeIs
Spectrum aIIocation Spectrum aIIocation
Access scheme Access scheme
Frame structures Frame structures
PhysicaI channeI PhysicaI channeI
LogicaI channeIs LogicaI channeIs
ChanneI Mapping: LogicaI onto physicaI ChanneI Mapping: LogicaI onto physicaI
Contents
System Basics
GSM ChanneIs
Measurements
IdIe mode
Dedicated mode
RxLev
RxQuaI
Radio Link Timer
Timing Advance
GSM Measurements
IdIe mode
Dedicated mode
RxLev
RxQuaI
Radio Link Timer
Timing Advance
GSM Measurements
DownIink, idIe mode
SignaI IeveI of BCCH carrier frequency
SignaI IeveI of BCCH carrier from 6 neighbours
UpIink, idIe mode
No measurements
n idle mode it is not possible to measure the Bit error rate. Also, it is not
possible to measure the bit error rate of neighbours in dedicated mode.
GSM Measurements
DownIink, dedicated mode
SignaI IeveI of serving carrier
SignaI IeveI of BCCH carrier from 6 neighbours
Bit error rate of serving channeI
UpIink, dedicated mode
SignaI IeveI of serving carrier
Bit error rate of serving channeI
GSM Measurements
SignaI IeveI, RxLev
RxLev SignaI
0 < -110dBm
1 -110 to -109dBm
2 -109 to -108dBm
: :
: :
61 - 49 to - 48dBm
62 - 48 to - 47dBm
63 > - 47 dBm
Signal level is represented as RxLev for transmission back to the BSC. The RxLev
actually represents a signal level range, usually 1 dB. Therefore
Signal levels lower than 110dBm are reported as RxLev 0, and levels higher than
47 dBm are represented as RxLev 63. Even if a test mobile can measure higher, it is
still reported to the BSC as 63. Signal level higher than 110dBm but lower than
109dBm is reported as RxLev1 etc. etc.
GSM Measurements
Bit Error Rate (BER(), RxQuaI
RxQuaI BER range BER mean
0 < 0.2% 0.14%
1 0.2 to 0.4% 0.28%
2 0.4 to 0.8% 0.57%
3 0.8 to 1.6% 1.13%
4 1.6 to 3.2% 2.26%
5 3.2 to 6.4% 4.53%
6 6.4 to 12.8% 9.05%
7 > 12.8% 18.1%
RxQual of 4, about 2% BER, is about the limit of acceptable voice quality
when not hopping. 5 is unacceptable. n a hopping system RxQual of 6
may still give acceptable speech quality. The error correction coding will
restore the original data to a lower BER.
GSM Measurements
Measurement reporting
Reported once every (SACCH/TCH-F muItiframe)
Every 104 TDMA frames = 480ms for TCH
Every 102 TDMA frames = 471ms for SDCCH
4 TDMA frames carry SACCH channeI
Measurements reported on upIink
Messages sent on downIink
2 idIe frames
Measurements made by the MS on the neighbour cells are sent to the
BSC on the SACCH channel.
GSM Measurements
RxLev SUB and RxQuaI SUB
FuII measurements based on aII timesIots
With DTX not aII TimesIots transmit
SUB Measurements based on 12 timesIots
which aIways transmit
GSM Measurements
Radio Link Timer (RLT)
Radio Iink timer counts down from a maximum
vaIue whenever synchronisation is Iost
Timer at BS and MS
When synch is returned counts up in 2's
Maximum vaIue is a settabIe parameter
CaII disconnected when timer expires
Long timer, fewer dropped caIIs, more wasted
capacity
Shorter timer, caIIs disconnected unnecessariIy
GSM Measurements
Measurements
Timing advance
BS Tx
MS Rx
t tt t
1 11 1
t = range / c
MS Tx
3 TS
t tt t
1 11 1 BS Rx
t tt t
2 22 2
t tt t
2 22 2
Different mobiles at different ranges have different propagation times from
and to the BS. Without timing advance the second (dotted) burst
belonging to a closer mobile would interfere with the first. The MS with the
shortest delay should then wait longer to transmit, so that its received at
the MS at the appropriate slot.
Mobiles closer to the BS have their transmission delayed up to 63 bit
periods (232ms), so that all incoming bursts arrive in the correct timeslots
at the BS. The 232ms allows for a round trip delay corresponding to
69.6km, or a range differential of 34.8km. Since there is a guard time
between timeslots, the maximum range for GSM is generally considered
as 35km.
GSM Measurements - review
IdIe mode
Dedicated mode
RxLev
RxQuaI
Radio Link Timer
Timing Advance
Contents
System Basics
BSS Parameters
QuaIity Assessment
Organisation
Contents
BSS Parameters
IdIe Mode Behaviour
Measurement FiItering
Power ControI
Handover (Iocating)
Idle mode behaviour
PLMN seIection
CeII seIection
CeII reseIection
Location Updating
Idle Mode Behaviour
PLMN SeIection
At power on, MS first tries to seIect Iast
registered PLMN
If no previous registered PLMN, seIection is
made in
Automatic mode: uses PLMN Iist in order of priority
ManuaI mode: seIection is made by user based on
Iist made avaiIabIe by MS
Automatic mode: selection done in following order if available/allowed:
1. Home PLMN
2. Stored list in SM in order of priority
3. Other PLMNs with signal strength> -85 dBm
4. All other PLMNs in order of decreasing signal strength
Manual Mode:
MS first tries to select registered or home PLMN. Otherwise, MS will
indicate a list of all available PLMNs from which user selects. User can
reselect any other PLMN at any time.
Idle Mode Behaviour
PLMN SeIection: NationaI Roaming
If roaming permitted, another PLMN in the
home country can be seIected
MS wiII periodicaIIy try to obtain service on its
home PLMN.
Time period stored in SIM:
6 mins to 8 hours in steps of 6 mins
No time period indicates no attempts
Idle Mode Behaviour
CeII SeIection - Where do I camp on ?
Two strategies
NormaI ceII seIection
Stored Iist ceII seIection/doubIe BA Iist
?
Idle Mode Behaviour
NormaI CeII SeIection
A ceII is suitabIe if
it beIongs to seIected PLMN
is not barred
does not beIong to Iist of "forbidden LA areas for
roaming"
CeII seIection criterion is met
CeIIs have normaI or Iow priority
Priority controIIed by CBQ (Ph2) and CB
parameters
f no normal cells available, cells of low priority will be camped
on.
CBQ: Cell Bar Qualify
CB: Cell Bar Access
Behaviour of MS for various combinations of CBQ & CB
CBQ CB At Cell Selection At Cell Reselection
High No Normal Normal
High Yes Barred Barred
Low No Low Normal
Low Yes Low Normal
Idle Mode Behaviour
CeII SeIection
CeII seIection parameter C1
EnabIes MS to camp on ceII with which high
probabiIity of communications is possibIe
Based on signaI strength onIy
C1 caIcuIated for severaI ceIIs
MobiIe seIects ceII with highest C1
C1=(Received SignaI LeveI-ACCMIN) -
MAX[(CCHPWR-P),0]
OnIy ceIIs with positive C1 are considered
CCHPWR: maximum transmitting power that a MS is allowed to use when
accessing the network
P: maximum output power of the MS according to its class.
C1 Criterion is based only on signal strength. t is satisfied if C1>0
Idle Mode Behaviour
CeII SeIection: ACCMIN
Minimum IeveI for access to the network in idIe
mode
One for each ceII
UsuaIIy around the same IeveI as the mobiIe
sensitivity
Attract roamers by setting to -110dBm at airports
and borders
But phase 2+ picks roaming network at random
provided RxLev > -85 dBm
Idle Mode Behaviour
Stored List CeII SeIection
MS may have optionaI BA Iist stored in the SIM
Same measurements carried out as for normaI
ceII seIection, but BCCH carriers in stored Iist
are scanned, not neighbours
Speeds up ceII seIection
List updated if MS receives new data
If not successfuI, normaI seIection done
Idle mode behaviour
CeII seIection
Monitor BCCH
carrier of
"Camped CeII"
Monitor BCCH
of Neighbours
The mobile is in idle mode except when making a call or switched off!
When in idle mode, the MS is camped on one cell, there is no speech or
data traffic being carried. However, the MS is "listening to neighbour cells
(contained in neighbour list), and sending measurements back to the BSC
via the BS.
Idle Mode Behaviour
CeII ReseIection
MS monitors aII neighbour BCCH carriers and
seIects ceII best ceII
CeII reseIection parameter C2
C2=C1+CRO - TO * H(PT-T) for PT = == = 31
C2=C1- CRO for PT = 31
H(x) = 0 for x<0
H(x) = 1 for x> >> >0
CRO: CeII ReseIect Offset
TO : temporary negative offset appIied for duration PT
PenaItyTime
T : Timer starts from zero when ceII pIaced on nbr Iist
The MS always aims to camp on the best server. Cell reselection takes place when
the MS moves from one serving cell to another, or if the propagation characteristics
change to make the current cell not the best server.
C2 also used in Phase 2 for selection of microcells.
TO (dB), negative offset prevents fast moving MSs from selecting cell.
PT (secs), duration for which TO is applied. The value of 31 indicates that CRO is
negated and TO is ignored.
T (secs), timer is reset to zero when cell falls out of list of best six nbrs.
CRO, TO, PT are broadcast on the BCCH of each cell
Idle Mode Behaviour
Location Updating
Service area divided into Location Areas
Location Area Identity, LAIs
Process of informing network of the Iocation
of MS
LU performed at pre defined intervaIs
Three types of Locating
NormaI
Periodic registration
IMSI attach/detach
Location Areas are essential for routing incoming calls efficiently. f all area was
one LA, then a page would have to be sent to all MSs in the network, which would
be inefficient. f each cell were one location area, then the mobile would have to
update its location each time it left the cell area.
Normal locating: initiated by MS when it enters a new LA. f LA in new cell is
different to that stored in MS, then LU takes place. f LU fails (e.g by entering a
forbidden LA), then MS will try to select another cell or return to PLMN selection
state.
Periodic Registration: MS informs network regularly if it is still 'attached', even if a
change in LA does not occur.
MS (nternational Mobile Subscriber dentity) attach/detach: MS notifies network
if it is powered on or off.
Idle Mode Behaviour
NormaI Locating
Incoming caIIs resuIt in paging for mobiIe in aII
ceIIs within one Iocation area
When mobiIe moves Iocation area, it updates
the network
Large LAs: Much paging traffic (PCH)
SmaII LAs : Much update traffic (SDCCH)
Idle Mode Behaviour
LAI Periodic Registration
Updates LAI even if mobiIe has not changed
LA
In case of HLR crash
In case of Iong periods out of coverage
In case MS runs out of battery power
ControIIed by parameter T3212
Set from 0.1 hr to 25.5 hrs in 0.1 hr steps
Shorter for networks with patchy coverage?
Longer for mature networks?
Periodic Registration: Parameter T3212, a timeout value, determines how
regularly the MS informs network if it is still 'attached'. Ranges from
T3212=1 (6 mins) to T3212=255 (25.5 hrs), in steps of 6 minutes. t is
reinitiated when MS returns to idle mode after being in dedicated mode.
Idle Mode Behaviour
Location Areas
River?
Major road?
LA planning:
Do not put major roads across two location areas, because otherwise
every MS crossing the boundary would have to do an LA update, using up
SDCCH resources.
Do not use rivers or non propagation boundary type features to demarcate
Las.
Idle Mode Behaviour
IMSI Attach/Detach
MS powers on - IMSI attach
MS powers off - IMSI detach
Prevents unnecessary paging of MS
MS can be impIicitIy detached if no updates
received within a supervision period
Supervision period must be Ionger than periodic
update timer
Borders between LAs
CRH ceII reseIect hysteresis
LU takes pIace onIy if
C2(new ceII) > C2(oId ceII) + CRH
When MS is powered on, MS attach is sent to MSC/VLR. When MS is
powered off, MS detach message is sent. Prevents unnecessary paging
of MS.
f no contact between MS and network for a specified supervision period,
then the MSC will mark the MS as implicitly detached. The supervision
period = Base Time duration BTDM + Guard Time duration GTDM. The
BTDM must be coordinated with T3212 so that the MS is not unexpectedly
removed from network before LU is performed.
For Ph1 mobiles, C1 is used instead of C2 for updates in LA borders.
CRH may be different for each cell, and the one broadcast by the serving
cell is used for calculations.
Idle Mode Behaviour
BSIC
Base Station Identity Code
MS decodes BSIC from the BCCH
EnabIes mobiIe to differentiate between ceIIs
with the same BCCH frequency
Made up of NCC (0-7) and BCC (0-7)
NCC: normally one per network - for differentiating
networks at internationaI borders
BCC: aII vaIues avaiIabIe
NCC = Network Colour Code
BCC = Base Station Colour Code
BSC coding takes place as part of frequency planning process
Contents
BSS Parameters
IdIe Mode Behaviour
Power ControI
Handover (Iocating)
Measurement Filtering
Measurement preparation
FiItering
Measurement Preparation
Radio parameters, signaI strength, quaIity and
timing advance
DownIink measurements by MS are basis for
Locating
UpIink measurements by BS are used for
MS power controI
Basic ranking for Ericsson3
Triggering urgency and intra-ceII handover
Every SACCH muItiframe (480 ms)
Missing measurements
Neighbour not eIigibIe for handover if
consecutive reports missing
MISSNM maximum number of missing
measurements permitted
Missing measurements interpoIated if
reporting resumes before MISSNM report
periods
Measurements on neighbour terminated if
MISSNM exceeded.
FiItering
AppIied to signaI strength and quaIity
measurements
Smoothes out measurement noise
FiIters out fading components of duration about
same as fiIter response time
Five fiIter types
GeneraI FIR
Recursive straight average
Recursive exponentiaI
Recursive 1
st
order Butterworth
Median
General FR filter mplemented as straight average filters
n = filter length in SACCH periods,
wi are weight coefficients, cn are normalisation coefficients
Recursive Straight Average Filter
t is time of arrival of latest measurement report
Maximum computational efficiency (min load on BSC)
Recursive Exponential filter Quick step and impulse response
| = 1- o, o is the filter coefficient
Recursive 1st order Butterworth filter
| = (1- o)/2
=
=
n
i
i i n
strength signal w c rxlev
1
) (
(

+ =
n
strength signal strength signal
rxlev rxlev
n t t
t t
) ( ) (
1
t t t
strength signal rxlev rxlev ) (
1
+ =
| o
| |
1 1
) ( ) (

+ + =
t t t t
strength signal strength signal rxlev rxlev | o
Median FiIter
SeIects median vaIue from the Iast set of n
measurements
Less sensitive to measurement errors
Timing Advance FiIter
One type avaiIabIe
Straight average fiIter with Iength specified by
TAAVELEN
SeIection of SignaI strength fiIters
Filter selection parameter
SSEVALSI, SSEVALSD
Filter Type Filter length, SACCH
periods
1 General FIR 2
2 General FIR 6
3 General FIR 10
4 General FIR 14
5 General FIR 18
6 Recursive straight
average
SSLENSI, SSLENSD
7 Recursive
exponential
SSLENSI, SSLENSD
8 Recursive 1
st
order Butterworth
SSLENSI, SSLENSD
9 median SSLENSI, SSLENSD
SSEVALS : selects filter type during signalling phase (SDCCH).
SSEVALSD: selects filter type during speech/data phase (TCH).
SSLENS: specifies length of SSEVALS filter.
SSLENSD: specifies length of SSEVALSD filter.
Filter parameter settings can be specified separately for serving and
neighbour cells.
SeIection of QuaIity fiIters
Filter selection parameter
QEVALSI, QEVALSD
Filter Type Filter length, SACCH
periods
1 General FIR 4
2 General FIR 8
3 General FIR 12
4 General FIR 16
5 General FIR 20
6 Recursive
straight average
QLENSI, QLENSD
7 Recursive
exponential
QLENSI, QLENSD
8 Recursive 1
st
order
Butterworth
QLENSI, QLENSD
9 median QLENSI, QLENSD
QEVALS : selects filter type during signalling phase (SDCCH).
QEVALSD: selects filter type during speech/data phase (TCH).
QLENS: specifies length of QEVALS filter.
QLENSD: specifies length of QEVALSD filter.
Filter parameter settings can be specified separately for serving and
neighbour cells.
Initiation of fiIters
When fiIter is not fiIIed, it is modified
FiIter operates as straight average
AII except median
FiIter Iength equaI to number of avaiIabIe
measurements
Contents
BSS Parameters
IdIe Mode Behaviour
Power ControI
Handover (Iocating)
Power Control
Aim is to reduce transmit power to
minimum necessary for good reception
Tone it down!
Power Control
Benefits
Reduces interference
CIoser frequency reuse, hence capacity increase
Minimises battery consumption
Improves taIk time of mobiIes
Maximise battery backup consumption
Improves standby time for BTS power suppIy
Minimises receiver saturation
Power Control
MS Power controI MS Power controI
BTS Power controI BTS Power controI
MS Power Control
PossibIe on TCH & SDCCH
PC on SDCCH enabIed by SDCCHREG
Measured UL signaI strength and quaIity
vaIues sent to BSC in Measurement ResuIt
message
Minimum reguIation intervaI between two
power controI instructions is REGINT
SDCCHREG parameter enables power control
PC command is given every REGNT SACCH period. A new command is
sent only if different from previous one.
REGNT cannot be less than one SACCH period (480ms). MS can
change power output 8 times in one SACCH period (i.e. every 13th TDMA
frame). Power is changed in 2dB steps, giving a total of 16dB change in
one SACCH period.
Data Description Source
Signal Strength UL Full set (no DTX) BTS
Signal Strength UL Subset (DTX enabled) BTS
Quality UL Full set (no DTX) BTS
Quality UL Subset (DTX enabled) BTS
Power level used by MS MS
DTX used by MS or not MS
MS Power Control
Two modes of operation
InitiaI reguIation: on assignment of new
channeI and at handover
MS power reduction onIy, done very quickIy
Short initiaI signaI strength measurement fiIter
INILEN measurements needed
No quaIity input
Stationary reguIation: normaI mode
FiIter Iength SSLEN Ionger than INILEN
Measurements start at same time as initiaI fiIter
nitial Regulation: prevents receiver saturation, especially if MS close to
BS. nitial regulation performed only after initial filter is filled and NLEN
measurement reports available.
Stationary Regulation: will only take place after an initial regulation has
been performed.
MS Power Control
Three process stages
Missing measurements estimated
SeIection of fuII or sub set
Measurement fiItering
FiItering of measurements to remove temporary
variations
Power change caIcuIation
Power step change vaIue caIcuIated, based on
received quaIity. First unconstrained vaIue, then
constraints appIied.
Measurement filtering: determines if minimum signal strength is received.
Quality filtering is average of predetermined number of samples.
Power change calculation: two stages, unconstrained, constrained with
power step size and MS power range.
MS Power Control
Estimation of some missing measurement
missing signaI vaIue = Iowest(vaIue before Ioss,
vaIue after Ioss).
missing quaIity vaIue = worst (vaIue before Ioss,
vaIue after Ioss).
SeIection of measurement set
FuII set used if DTX not enabIed
Subset used if DTX enabIed
f DTX is not enabled, full set is used, but if DTX is enabled, then subset
measurements used. Full set always used for SDCCH
MS will continue to use DTX in a new cell when HO occurs, even if new cell does
not use DTX. The period of use in new cell is set by DTXFUL.
f measurement result missing at next pc command, no extrapolation done for
missing signal level and quality measurements, until next set of measurement
result received. Then
missing signal value = lowest( value before loss, value after loss).
missing quality value = worst (value before loss, value after loss).
Estimation of missing MS power level is always done set to highest known value
MS Power Control
SignaI strength:
INIDES, target UL vaIue is caIcuIated first
SScomp=(1/SSLEN)E EE E[SS +MSTXPWR-PWRused)]
QuaIity:
QDESUL is the target UL quaIity
Q_Ave, the fiItered rxquaI vaIue is average of QLEN
sampIes
QDESUL and Q_Ave can be transformed into C/I
vaIues QDES_dB and Q_Ave_dB
Signal Strength
SScomp: signal strength that would have been received by BTS if no
power control is enabled, ie compensated for power reduction regulation.
Really is path loss estimation!!
SS = actual signal strength received by BTS
PWRused = MS output power during measurement period
MSTXPWR = maximum MS output power
SSLEN = filter length (number of samples) for stationary filter.
Quality
Quality is measured in rxqual dtqu units (deci-transformed quality units).
dtqu = rxqual*10, ranging from dtqu=10 to 100.
Q_Ave_dB and QDES_dB are estimated C/ values, transformed as
Q_Ave_dB = 32 10*Q_Ave/25
Q_DES_dB = 32 10*QDESUL/25
Each rxqual = 4 dB
MS Power Control
Power Order CaIcuIation
InitiaI phase: unconstrained power order pu
pu = MSTXPWR - o oo o(SScomp -SSDES)
SSDES is target UL signaI strength
"One-shot" stage for achieving the correct power
after channeI assignment
No quaIity parameter invoIved
LCOMPUL : path loss compensation factor (0-100%), 0=no regulation
QCOMPUL: quality deviation compensation factor (0-60%)
Normally, PC is a function of signal strength or quality. However, in the
Ericsson case, PC function is made to be a combination of both.
MS Power Control
Power Order CaIcuIation
Stationary phase
For tracking propagation variations
IncIudes signaI strength and quaIity parameters
pu is the absoIute power IeveI
pu = MSTXPWR - o oo o(SScomp -SSDES) -
| || |(QDES_dB - Q_Ave_dB)
o oo o = LCOMPUL/100
| || | = QCOMPUL/100
dpu is the Power reguIation reduction,
dpu = LCOMPUL/100*(SScomp -SSDES) -
QCOMPUL/100*4/10*(Q_Ave - QDESUL)
LCOMPUL : path loss compensation factor (0-100%), 0=no regulation
QCOMPUL: quality deviation compensation factor (0-60%)
Normally, PC is a function of signal strength or quality. However, in the
Ericsson case, PC function is made to be a combination of both.
MS Power Control
ExampIe, power order caIcuIation
Let SSDES = -90dBm, SScomp= -64dBm,
LCOMPUL=50, QDESUL=10 (rxquaI=1) ,
Q_Ave=40, QCOMPUL=60
Then
Pt1 = 50/100(-64 + 90) = 13 dB
Pt2 = 60/100*4/10*(40-10) = 7.2
dpu = 13 - 7.2 = 5.8 dB power reduction
Exercise: How to prevent power reduction Exercise: How to prevent power reduction
with poor quaIity? with poor quaIity?
MS Power Control
Power order constraints
constraints are appIied if unconstrained power
order exceeds dynamic range
Power step size Iimitation: 16dB maximum aIIowabIe
in one SACCH period
MS Power range: depends on MS power cIass.
ReguIation intervaI ranges from MSTXPWR down to
minimum power IeveI of MS
Power Control
MS Power controI MS Power controI
BTS Power controI BTS Power controI
BTS Power Control
Power order constraints
Not possibIe on downIink BCCH carrier
PossibIe on TCH & SDCCHs
PC on SDCCH enabIed by SDCCHREG
Measured DL signaI strength and quaIity vaIues sent
to BSC in Measurement ResuIt message
Minimum intervaI between two power controI
commands is REGINTDL
Maximum power change is 30dB
BTS Power Control
Output power IeveI conversion
SeIection of fuII or sub data set
SignaI strength and quaIity compensated for
use of frequency hopping
ExponentiaI non-Iinear fiIters used to eIiminate
temporary variations
BTS Power Control
Power Order CaIcuIation: three steps
CaIcuIate two basic power orders pu1, pu2
BSTXPWR, SSDESDL, SSbstxpwr, QDESDL,
Qbstxpwr, o oo o1, o oo o2, | || |1, | || |2, LCOMPDL, QCOMPDL
pu = max (pu1, pu2)
AppIy power order constraints
Convert constrained power order from dBm
scaIe to PLused
PLused = 0, fuII power
PLused = 15, 30dB power down
SSDESDL: target value for DL signal strength
QDESDL: target value for DL quality
BSTXPWR:BTS output power on all non BCCH frequencies.
BSPWRMN: minimum allowed BTS output power for non BCCH freqs.
SS/Qbstxpwr: signal strength/quality that would be received without use of
power control.
f unconstrained power is outside dynamic range, then Power order
constraints applied. There are two possible cases
f unconstrained power > BSTXPWR, then pu=BSTXPWR
The lowest pu = max(min BTS output power, BSTXPWR-30, BSPWRMN)
BTS Power Control
Power Order CaIcuIation: three steps
CaIcuIate two basic power orders pu1, pu2
BSTXPWR,
SSDESDL, SS
bstxpwr
,
QDESDL, Q
bstxpwr
,
o oo o1 = LCOMPDL/100, o oo o2 = 0.3
| || |1 = QCOMPDL/100, | || |2 = 0.4
pui = o oo oi *(SSDESDL - SS
bstxpwr
) - | || |i *4/10*(Q_Ave -
Q
bstxpwr
)
pu = max (pu1, pu2)
Exercise: settings to avoid power reduction on Exercise: settings to avoid power reduction on
bad quaIity bad quaIity
SSDESDL: target value for DL signal strength
QDESDL: target value for DL quality
BSTXPWR:BTS output power on all non BCCH frequencies.
BSPWRMN: minimum allowed BTS output power for non BCCH freqs.
SS/Qbstxpwr: signal strength/quality that would be received without use of
power control.
f unconstrained power is outside dynamic range, then Power order
constraints applied. There are two possible cases
f unconstrained power > BSTXPWR, then pu=BSTXPWR
The lowest pu = max(min BTS output power, BSTXPWR-30, BSPWRMN)
Contents
BSS Parameters
IdIe Mode Behaviour
Power ControI
Handover (Locating)
Locating
Introduction
Ericsson 1
Ericsson 3
Urgency conditions
QuaIity
Timing Advance
AuxiIiary functions
Intra-ceII handover
HierarchicaI ceII structures
Locating
Locating AIgorithm
Works out conditions for handover decisions
for MS in active mode
Inputs to aIgorithm are
SignaI strength measurements
QuaIity measurements
Output is Iist of candidate ceIIs for handover
CeIIs are ranked and sorted in descending order of
preference for handover
Locating
Basic CeII Ranking
Two aIgorithms
Ericsson 1: signaI strength & path Ioss
Ericsson 3: signaI strength onIy
Common process stages
Correction for base station output power
different IeveIs possibIe on BCCH/TCH carriers
CaIcuIation of minimum signaI strength
ThreshoIds MSRXMIN (DL) and BSRXMIN (UL)
SSmin = min (MSRXMIN, BSRXMIN)
AppIication of signaI strength penaIties
What happened to Ericsson 2 ???
Algorithms aim to let TCH carriers control cell borders.
Corrected signal strength SS_DLn in neighbour cell n: for different output powers
between BCCH (BSPWR) and other carriers BSTXPWR:
SS_DLn = rxlevn + BSTXPWRn BSPWRn
Minimum signal strength conditions:
SS_DLn >= MSRXMNn
SS_ULn >= BSRXMNn
Where SS_DL is estimated by calculating DL path loss and subtracting from
maximum MS output power.
SS_ULn = min(P,MSTXPWRn) (BSTXPWRn SS_DLn)
Penalties are added to make it more difficult to handover to unsuitable cells. This is
done by subtracting a signal value from the signal strength estimate for the
unwanted cell, making it look worse than it really is. Penalties are applied for
handover failure, bad quality urgency handover and excessive timing advance. A
penalty is removed after the penalty duration has expired.
Locating
Sufficient LeveI Condition
ThreshoId separating Iow signaI strength ceIIs from
high signaI strength ceIIs
high signal
strength
low signal strength
DL min level
UL min level
DL effective sufficient level
UL effective sufficient level
B
A
Cells satisfying minimum condition are processed for sufficient condition.
Calculation of sufficient level: s=serving cell, n=neighbour cell
SS_DLn >= MSRXSUFFn TROFFSETn,s + TRHYSTn,s
SS_ULn >= BSRXSUFFn TROFFSETn,s + TRHYSTn,s
Solid lines in diagram represent final combined UL and DL condition.
Sufficient level for a serving cell may be different in relation to each
different neighbour cell. Setup shown in diagram is valid only for BS pair
A,B. t would be different for BS pair A,C.
Locating
Ranking - signaI strength (K) criterion
SignaI strength reIative to sufficient IeveI
K-ceIIs = Low signaI strength ceIIs,
K vaIues are
K_DLn,s = SS_DLn,s - MSRXMINn,s
K_ULn,s = SS_ULn,s - BSRXMINn,s
Effective K vaIue is minimum of UL and DL K vaIues
modified by KHYST and KOFFSET
K ranking
K_RANKn= min(K_DLn, K_ULn) - KOFFSETn,s -
KHYSTn,s
CeIIs are ranked with the highest K_RANK first
To rank the serving cell as K or L, the sufficient level is evaluated with
respect to the best neighbour n1. f K-cell, then it is ranked with the other
K-cells. Otherwise, it is ranked with the L-cells.
KHYST is used to decrease ranking values to underrate neighbour cells
to prevent ping pong handovers. Defined for a pair of cells and is always
symmetrical KHYSTa,b = KHYSTb,a
KOFFSET if positive decreases ranking value and if negative increases
ranking value. The cell border is displaced AWAY from cell with positive
value, and moved TOWARD the cell with a negative value. t is defined
anti-symmetrical for a pair of cells: KOFFSETa,b = -KOFFSETb,a
Locating
Ranking - path Ioss (L) criterion
Path Ioss is assumed symmetricaI
AppIied to high signaI strength ceIIs
Path Loss vaIues
p_Ln,s = BSTXPWRn,s - SS_DLn,s
L ranking vaIues
L_RANKs = p_Ls
L_RANKn = p_Ln + LOFFSETn,s + LHYSTn,s
CeIIs are ranked with the Iowest L_RANK first
LHYST and LOFFSET have the same properties as the K counterparts.
Path Loss criterion is independent of BS and MS power ratings. t
facilitates transfer of calls from big cell (strong interference) to small cells
(less interference). L-criterion should lower overall statistical interference
in network
Locating
Basic Ranking Candidate List
L-cells list
K-cells list
Best cell
Worst cell
Highest L-Rank
(lowest path loss)
Lowest L-Rank
Highest K-Rank
(highest signal level)
Lowest K-Rank
Locating
Ericsson 3
Considers onIy signaI strength
Ranking vaIues
RANKs = SS_DLs
RANKn = SS_DLn - OFFSETn,s - HYSTn,s
where
HYST = LOHYST if rxIevDL
S
< HYSTEP
HYST = HIHYST if rxIevDL
S
> >> > HYSTEP
HYSTEP indicates Low or High signaI strength for
serving ceII
The effects of OFFSET and HYST are similar to those described for
Ericsson1.
HYSTEP specifies when signal strength is high or low for serving cell.
When high, a larger hysteresis value can be allowed than when it is low, in
order to reduce the number of handovers.
LOHYST and HHYST are symmetrical and OFFSET is anti-symmetrical,
defined for a pair of cells. HYSTEP is a cell parameter.
Locating
Urgency Condition: Bad QuaIity
Handover is initiated when rxquaI exceeds
specified threshoIds, even if the IeveI is good
rxquaIUL > QLIMUL or
rxquaIDL > QLIMDL
Handover is aIIowed to ceII of Iower ranking,
but not to ceII with worse quaIity.
BQOFFSET, appIied to K-rank and L-rank vaIues,
defines how far from nominaI border MS can be to
quaIify for the quaIity handover.
When BQ urgency exists, unsuitable neighbours are removed from candidate
list. Signal strength of serving cell is compared with signal strength of
candidates, and those cells with large differences are removed from the list.
Ericsson1
f K_RANKn K_RANKs < -KHYSTn,s BQOFFSETn,s remove n.
f L_RANKn L_RANKs > LHYSTn,s BQOFFSETn,s remove n.
Ericsson3
f RANKn RANKs < -HYSTn,s BQOFFSETn,s remove n.
f BQ urgency handover performed, a penalty value PSSBQ and penalty
duration PTMBQ are applied to prevent immediate handover back to the old
cell.
A B
Hysteresis corridor
BQ urgency
HO prohibited
BQ urgency region
BQOFFSETb,a
Nominal cell border
Locating
Urgency Condition: Timing Advance
Timing advance (TA) can be used as a soft ceII
Iimiter, to force smaII ceIIs
TALIM is the defined ceII Iimit, maximum (63
bits or 35 km).
TA urgency occurs if TAs > >> > TALIM
Urgent handover is performed to neighbour
ceIIs where TAn < TALIMs
If no suitabIe candidate found, caII remains on
serving ceII
f TA urgency handover performed, a penalty value PSSTA and penalty
duration PTMTA is applied to prevent immediate handover back to the old
cell.
Locating
AuxiIiary network functions
Assignment to another ceII
Dynamic overIaid/underIaid subceIIs
Intra-ceII handover
Extended range
CeII Ioad sharing
Assignment to another cell: performed only a certain period after
immediate assignment.
where a better cell other than the serving cell is found, this cell is first in
the locating candidate list, and setup is "assignment to better cell.
where congestion exists on serving or better cell, "assignment to worse
cell can be made.
Hierachical cells: Up to three layers, used for directing traffic from higher
to lower layers. Higher layers to pick up traffic when congestion or
coverage problems occur.
Overlaid/Underlaid: for increasing traffic capacity. Overlaid cell serves
smaller area, smaller re-use distance possible.
Extended Range: allows cells with radius up to 72 km.
Cell Load Sharing: enables traffic load sharing during peak traffic when
traffic load exceeds a defined threshold. All calls close to border to cells
with low load (below defined threshold) become load sharing candidates.
The ranking values for candidate neighbour cells are recalculated using
reduced hysteresis values.
Locating
Intra-ceII handover
Try to find another frequency and/or timesIot
in the same ceII with better quaIity
OnIy if RxQuaI is bad AND RxLev is good
RxQuaI_UL/DL > QOFFSETUL/DL +
FQSS(RXLEV_UL/DL +SSOFSETUL/DL)
RxLev_DL/UL = actuaI measured signaI strengths, no
pc compensation
FQSS = quaIity vs signaI strength function
Does not work for:
BCCH downIink
Random frequency hopping
QOFFSETUL/DL: quality offset parameters uplink/downlink
SSOFSETUL/DL: signal strength offset parameters uplink/downlink
FQSS table
RXLEV rxqual
30 inIinity
31 60
32-35 59
36-38 58
39-41 57
42-45 56
46-48 55
49-52 54
53-55 53
56-58 52
59-62 51
~63 50
Locating
Up to three ceII Iayers
Can be configured as an umbreIIa Iayer over a
microceII Iayer
DuaI band network can be configured as different
Iayers
Aim to carry most traffic on the smaIIer/Iower
Iayer ceIIs.
Handover to a higher Iayer if Iower Iayer
congested or coverage probIems exist
CeIIs in different Iayers ranked separateIy
BSS Parameters - review
IdIe mode behaviour
Power ControI
Handover (Locating)
Contents
System Basics
BSS Parameters
QuaIity Assessment
Organisation
Contents
QuaIity Assessment
Network Performance Measurements
Use of statistics
Traffic
BIocking
Dropped caIIs
Noisy caIIs
CaII success rate
Handover causes
FieId Measurements
Network performance stats
Use of statistics
Traffic
BIocking
Dropped caIIs
Noisy caIIs
CaII success rate
Handover causes
Network Performance Stats
Introduction
Counters are avaiIabIe from the OMC, eg:
Traffic voIume
BIocking rates
RxQuaI
RxLev
Handover success
Dropped caIIs. etc etc..
EvaIuated by ceII, BSC, MSC etc
Software is avaiIabIe to process counters
This is a very good source of information given that the amount of traffic in the
network is high enough to provide reliable statistics. n order to facilitate the
identification and resolution of problems, it is important to determine the key
system metrics to monitor. The frequency and level of detail of the report should
also be set to ensure that there is sufficient information for the groups involved in
the optimisation activities, and for management. mportant key metrics which
should be considered include call success rate, blocking (TCH and SDCCH), call
setup and handover success.
The performance monitoring tool will produce regular statistics reports for each
cell for the previous 24 hours. The metrics will be calculated for the busy hour for
each cell.
Different operators offer different counters. E.g. some count number of RxQual=5,
others count noisy calls, or noisy call minutes.
Types of threshoIds
Target
Desired/specified threhoId
Optimisation
LeveI at which improvement is required
FauIt
LeveI indicating serious probIem requiring
immediate rectification
The key performance parameters are monitored against a set of thresholds:
Target, optimisation and fault thresholds
The Target threshoId is defined as the level that enables the customer to initiate
and complete a call successfully with good quality.
The Optimisation threshoId is defined as the level for a performance indicator
which requires some improvement. This threshold will focus attention on the worst
performing cells and optimisation activities are scheduled along with any others
and implemented as necessary.
The FauIt threshoId is defined as the level for a performance indicator which
represents a serious problem and is considered to be a fault condition. t therefore
requires an immediate solution and the necessary optimisation activities should be
scheduled with greater priority.
The thresholds may change depending on the maturity of the network, and should
be periodically reviewed.
Metric Definition Target
threshold
Optimisati
on
threshold
Fault
threshold
Comments
Call attempts Number attempts to start a
speech, dat or Iax call.
400 Ior
signiIi canc
e
N/A N/A Used to evaluate the signiIicance oI
other metrics
Setup success rate Number o I successIul TCH
call setups out oI call
attempts.
96 92 80
Call completion suc cess
rate
Calls which, once set up
are successIully con cluded
98 92 80
Dropped call rate 1 - Call completion suc cess
rate
2 8 20
TCH RF- loss rate Calls dropped only due to
interIerence or lack oI
signal (Radio Link Timeout
and handover timeout)
2 8 20 Pointer to coverage holes, or to
interIerence caused by a bad
Irequency plan, or to an
RxLe vAccessMin which is too low,
or RTL too short.
SDCCH RF- loss rate SD CCH channels
dropped only due to
inter Ierence or lack oI
signal
Irequency plan or to an
RxLe vAccessMin which is too low.
Also includes Iailed LAC up dates.
TCH blocking rate Failed TC H assignments
because all TCHs are in use.
1 2 20 An indication oI whether there are
suIIicient transceivers on the cell.
Normally the network should have
been extended to cope with traIIic
growth beIore blocking is
experi enced.
SDCCH blocking rate Fa iled SDCCH assign ments
0.5 1 5
Intra cell HO success rate Handovers between
timeslots on the same cell
96 90 80
Inter cell HO success rate 96 90 80
TCH traIIic Busy hour traIIic in Er langs,
average oI the 5 daily
busiest hours in the last
week.
N/A N/A N/A Used to weight the metrics and to
plan growth. (See traIIic planning
guidelines).
Metr ic Definition Target
thres h old
Optimis a ti
on
threshold
Fault
thres h old
Comments
Call attempts Number attempts to start a
speech, dat or Iax call.
400 Ior
signiI i canc
e
N/A N/A Used to evaluate the signiIicance oI
other metrics
Setup success rate Number o I successIul TCH
call setups out oI call
attempts.
96 92 80
Call completion su c cess
rate
Calls which, once set up
are successIully co n cluded
98 92 80
Dropped call rate 1 - Call completion su c cess
rate
2 8 20
TCH RF - loss rate Calls dropped only due to
interIerence or lack oI
signal (Radio Link Timeout
and handover tim e out)
Irequency plan, or to an
RxLe vAccessMin which is too low,
or RTL too short.
SDCCH RF - loss rate SD CCH channels
dropped only due to
inter Ierence or lack oI
signal
Irequency plan or to an
RxLe vAccessMin which is too low.
Also includes Iailed LAC u p dates.
TCH blocking rate Failed TC H assignments
1 2 20 An indication oI whether there are
suIIicient transceivers on the cell.
Normally the network should have
been extended to cope with traIIic
growth beIore blocking is
exper i enced.
SDCCH blocking rate Fa iled SDCCH assig n ments
0.5 1 5
Intra cell HO success rate Handovers between
timeslots on the same cell
96 90 80
Inter cell HO success rate 96 90 80
TCH traIIic Busy hour traIIic in E r langs,
average oI the 5 dail y
busiest hours in the last
week.
N/A N/A N/A Used to weight the metrics and to
plan growth. (See traIIic planning
guidelines).
Significance of statistics
BinominaI distribution
Ask 10 peopIe if they are married
5 say yes
Are 50% of aII peopIe married?
45% to 55%?
Chance that 40% or 60% are married.
To have a resolution of 1% in the call success rate would require 100
samples. However, there is still a distribution of the measured results
around the true probability.
BinominaI distribution
Confidence of 1%accuracy for given number of caIIs
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
100.0%
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200
Number of CaIIs
C
o
n
f
i
d
e
n
c
e

P
r
o
b
a
b
i
I
i
t
y
2%
5%
10%
20%
Dropped caII rate
Confidence of 1% accuracy for given number of caIIs
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
100.0%
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200
Number of CaIIs
C
o
n
f
i
d
e
n
c
e

P
r
o
b
a
b
i
I
i
t
y
2%
5%
10%
20%
Dropped caII rate
Hundreds of sampIes must be taken to be 90%
confident of onIy a 1% toIerance
Combine Busy hour statistics for the whoIe
week
Traffic
Traffic voIume must incIude time period
Busy hour normaIIy
eg 3 busiest hrs of the week
First work out when is the busy hour
Requires aII-day measurements
TCH traffic and SDCCH traffic
Busy hour important for ALL statistics
The determination of the busy hour is important for all statistics. Many
problems only manifest when load is high. Exception: downlink BCCH
interference.
Traffic
Forecasting
WeekIy busy hour traffic extrapoIated
T
r
a
f
f
i
c
Time
ndividual cells can have forecast traffic growth estimated before the traffic
is combined into a traffic map.
Traffic
Forecasting
LocaI growth or nationaI growth?
T
r
a
f
f
i
c
Time
ndividual cells might have a significantly different prognosis than the
overall growth forecast. For example a high traffic cell might cover the
operator's headquarters. Fast early growth, but now saturated.
Traffic
Forecast 3 months ahead for TRX count
Procurement
Frequency pIanning
Forecast 12 months ahead for site count
PIanning
Acquisition
BuiId
The frequency planning of the next turn-on-cycle will require as an input
the amount of traffic in each cell. The cell capacity will need to last until
the turn-on-cycle after that. A margin for error must be included.
BIocking rate
Must be measured in the BH
Traffic measurements required first
TCH bIocking and SDCCH bIocking
Need to know:
Number of CaII Attempts
Number of SuccessfuI TCH (or SDCCH) seizures
UtiIisation
% of TCH in use
n a frequency hopping system it may be that hard blocking does not
occur, only soft blocking.
Dropped caIIs
Various causes for this:
Poor BER (Radio Link Timeout - RF Loss)
DeIiberate disconnection (eg maximum range)
Hardware probIems
Fixed network probIems
Lots of obscure counters!
Noisy caIIs
RxQuaI measurements
What is the definition of a noisy caII?
e.g. 10% of RxQuaI > >> > 4
CIassify individuaI caIIs within the ceII to identify
probIem ceIIs
AIternativeIy, determine by using aII RxQuaI
measurements taken over a measurement period
(upIink and downIink)
CaII success rate
Service (coverage)
No bIocking
No RF Loss or other drop
Not defined as noisy
From the network it is not possibIe to see caII
attempts which faiI due to no coverage.
CaII success rate
Target for a new (or newIy expanded) network:
90% for each ceII
95% for each BSC
Target for a mature network:
96% for each ceII
98% for each BSC
The target performance of course needs to be met in the busy hour.
Averaging over the whole day is cheating!
CaII success rate
Report to the responsibIe engineer on a
weekIy basis:
Any ceIIs in engineer's area not meeting the target
Or the 10 worst ceIIs in engineer's area
(First remove ceIIs whose poor performance is due
to a known hardware probIem)
Handover causes
Power Budget (L-criterion) shouId be dominant
(90%)
SignaI IeveI (K-criterion) onIy for indoors
QuaIity cause shouId be rare
Distance cause onIy in ruraI areas
UpIink and DownIink causes
Link baIance
ImbaIance in statistics (eg noisier upIink than
downIink) can be caused by Iink imbaIance
Can carry out detaiIed measurements of cabIes,
combiners, output powers, sensitivities, diversity
gains, etc
Can anaIyse NPC data or A-bis traces.
The A-bis interface is between the BS and the BSC. Possible to record all
RxQual measurements for the cell in uplink and downlink. mprt these into
Excel and perform regression analysis.
Network performance review
Use of statistics
Traffic
BIocking
Dropped caIIs
Noisy caIIs
CaII success rate
Handover causes
Contents
QuaIity Assessment
Network Performance Measurements
FieId Measurements
Measurement Equipment
Statistics
AnaIysis
CaII Logging Equipment
Field measurements
Measurement kit
Statistics
AnaIysis
CaII Iogging equipment
Field Measurements
Measurement kit
Rooftop antenna
Field Measurements
Measurement kit
Engineering enabIed mobiIe
Records downIink measurements every 480 ms in
dedicated mode
Serving ceII:
BCCH, BSIC, RxLev, RxQuaI, TA
Layer three messages
Neighbour ceIIs
BCCH, BSIC, RxLev_N
GPS receiver
Location of every measurement
EnabIes dispIay on a map
Engineering mobiles manufactured by SAGEM, Ericsson, Nokia etc. These
mobiles have special engineering software (not available to Joe Bloggs on the
street) that is used for measuring the relevant data. They do not have storage
capabilities, therefore, data collected must be stored elsewhere.
Known test mobiles include:
- Nokia: 8148, PT11
- Ericsson: TEMS pocket
- SAGEM: OT35
- Nortel: 1822
Field Measurements
Statistics
CaII success rate
ProbabiIity of coverage
SignaI above required threshoId, NOT above median
pIanning IeveI
Check "indoor coverage" with a 20 dB attenuator
post processing RxLevs wouId have to take into
account DL power controI
Field Measurements
Data anaIysis
Dropped caIIs
In-buiIding Coverage
RxLev > -90 dBm
(= -102 + 18 - 6 = -90dBm)
Field Measurements
RxQuaI
AcceptabIe <= 4
UnacceptabIe >= 5
Field Measurements
Outdoor coverage
RxLev > >> > -108 dBm
(-102 - 6 dB = -108 dBm)
Field Measurements
Field Measurements
Dropped caII - interference
n this example the signal level is reasonably good, while the RxQual is
bad, indicating an area of interference led to the call dropping.
Field Measurements
Dropped caII - coverage
The serving signal drops very low, and the signals from neighbouring cells
are also low, so there is no opportunity for a handover. n the low signal,
the BER becomes high and the call drops.
Field Measurements
Dropped CaII - Unexpected reIease
n this example the signal level is adequate, and the BER remains low.
Nevertheless the call is terminated by a network command.
Field Measurements
The Layer 3 messages indicate that the call dropped because there were
no channels available on the target cell during a handover. The mobile fell
back to the original cell, which eventually became unusable
.
Field Measurements
Test mobiIe (eg TEMS) in taxis, buses and
empIoyees cars, making repeated caIIs
2 minute caII every 2.5 minutes
Data deIeted if caII is successfuI
If caII drops within two minutes, caII into computer
via modem and downIoad data for anaIysis
StatisticaI resuIts incIuding no service areas
This method of data collection is sometimes used to collect data, in
addition to regular drive testing, or when the network needs to be " loaded
for specific investigation. t requires finding friendly customers that will
agree to having the equipment installed in their vehicles for long periods of
time. t is quite subjective in that the measurement routes are defined by
the daily routine of the vehicle in which the kit is installed. However, it is
highly likely that the calls will be made where there is potential "people
traffic.
Field measurements - review
Measurement kit
AnaIysis
Statistics
Contents
System Basics
BSS Parameters
QuaIity Assessment
Organisation
Contents
Antenna Adjustments
Frequency & Interference PIanning
Neighbour List PIanning
Common ProbIems
Advanced Techniques
Antenna adjustments
TiIt
EIectricaI and mechanicaI tiIt
Side-Iobes and nuIIs
Antenna adjustments
TiIt - LL003:C and LL001:B are co-channeI
Plots from Quantum, courtesy of Quotient
A problem with automatic frequency planning tools is that they strictly
apply the input thresholds given by the user, or at least take them into
account. However, in certain circumstances the thresholds may not be
appropriate.
n this example, cell LL001:B is co-channel with LL003:B, but they appear
very close together. The size of LL001:B however, makes even a
relatively large interference area only a small percentage of the area, or
possibly a small percentage of the traffic.
Antenna adjustments
TiIt -AFP toIerates interference (<10% of traffic?)
n this case a relatively large area of interference only affects a small number of
Erlangs. However the area affected is a short stretch of very important road. n
addition, the prediction radius for LL003 does not appear to be large enough.
Other interference exists, which is not shown on the plot.
The network needs to be optimised to remove this interference in the BCCH layer.
Antenna adjustments
TiIt (4 degrees eIectricaI)
Replacing the antenna with one that has 4 degrees of electrical tilt
reduces the interference to LL001 so that the important road is no longer
affected.
Now it is important to predict the side effects.
Antenna adjustments
TiIt (4 degrees eIectricaI)
Check side effects
Coverage compromised?
Tilting the beam has reduced the interference, but has also reduced the
signal level closer to the site and a couple of coverage holes have
appeared.
Can the other road tolerate a lower signal in order to give the first road
interference free coverage?
Maybe a 2 degree tilt would have been sufficient?
Perhaps a combination of tilt and a change in azimuth a few degrees to
the south would give both roads good quality.
A better solution might have been to substitute a new BCCH frequency in
either of the two cells. However this might just move the interference to
somewhere else.
t is the cell planner / optimiser who must make the decisions regarding
the trade offs. This is why it is better that optimisers and cell planners are
the same people.
Antenna adjustments
SideIobes
In the verticaI pattern of most antennas are
sideIobes
Too much tiIt can start to increase interference again
NuIIs
The nuII in the verticaI pattern is best pointed
towards the horizon
NuIIs beIow the horizontaI can cause coverage
hoIes cIose to the site
Antenna adjustments - review
TiIt
EIectricaI and mechanicaI tiIt
Side-Iobes and nuIIs
Contents
Antenna Adjustments
Common ProbIems
Advanced Techniques
Frequency planning
CeII pIanning practice
BCCH carrier pIanning and optimisation
Non-BCCH carriers
Frequency hopping
Interference reduction
Frequency planning
Many "optimisation" probIems are in fact due
to poor ceII pIanning
Optimisation is a question on fine tuning the
capacity / quaIity tradeoff
Q
T
Expansion
Optimisation / better pIanning
Frequency planning
ProbIems when
Interference not contained
One ceII carries too much traffic
Inappropriate position of ceII boundaries
MuItipIe servers
Imprecise service area
AII the above wiII affect the quaIity for a given
traffic Ioad (or the traffic Ioad for a given
quaIity)
by making frequency pIanning harder
Frequency planning
BCCH carrier pIanning
For BCCH carriers downIink interference
aIways present
Frequency pIan must be interference free
Interference can be removed by changing the
frequency pIan
Frequency planning
Non-BCCH carriers
Interference affected by DTX, PC and Ioad
PC more effective if most traffic is near the site
Frequency pIanning reIativeIy easy (1/3 or 1/1)
Main issue is traffic pIanning
Frequency planning
Frequency hopping
With 1/3 or 1/1, and fractionaI Ioad: swapping
frequencies does not remove interference
Important to Iimit interference for aII ceIIs
New site? Surrounding ceIIs shouId aII have
down-tiIts reviewed.
Frequency planning
Antenna tiIt
Reduced height
Reduced power
Terrain or cIutter containment
Frequency planning - review
BCCH carrier pIanning and optimisation
Non-BCCH carriers
Frequency hopping
Contents
Antenna Adjustments
Common ProbIems
Advanced Techniques
Neighbour list planning
Too many neighbours
Too few neighbours
Automatic neighbour pIanning
Undefined neighbour reporting
DoubIe BA Iists
Neighbour lists
Too many neighbours
ImpossibIe adjacent channeI pIanning
Co-channeI pIanning made difficuIt
Inappropriate handovers to distant ceIIs
Less accurate neighbour RxLev
measurements
Update neighbour lists in cells
surrounding a new site!
The time for neighbour measurements is fixed within the SACCH
multiframe. More neighbours means fewer samples are taken of each
neighbour's signal level. There is an opportunity for measurement once
every TDMA frame, so 104 measurements every 480 ms.
For example, 6 neighbours : 17 samples per neighbour per measurement
report. 26 neighbours is only 4 samples per neighbour per measurement
report.
Neighbour lists
Too few neighbours
No handover
IdIe mode probIems when returning to
coverage
The problems of missing neighbours are obvious. Perhaps for this reason
most networks seem to have too many neighbour relationships.
Neighbour lists
Measure Iength of common boundary
Determine area of overIap
OverIap defined as where 2
nd
(or n
th
) server is Iess
than X dB beIow the best server
Second method preferred
ManuaI fine tuning normaIIy necessary:
not too bad in a mature network
Neighbour lists
Vendor feature
Heavy processing Ioad
MobiIe reports ALL ceIIs measured, not just
neighbours
Post processing statisticaIIy identifies
neighbours which were missed in pIanning
Neighbour lists
DoubIe BA Iists
ProbIem:
When coverage is "Iost" mobiIe Iooks for Iast used
BCCH
In a vehicIe coverage might be recovered some
distance away
"OId" ceII stiII gives sufficient signaI
"New", IocaI ceIIs are not neighbours of the oId ceII
If a caII is started it wiII soon drop
Neighbour lists
DoubIe BA Iists
SoIution:
Long neighbour Iists
Bad idea!
Two neighbour Iists
IdIe mode
Dedicated mode
Neighbour list plan - review
Too many neighbours
Too few neighbours
DoubIe BA Iists
Contents
Antenna Adjustments
Common ProbIems
Advanced Techniques
Common problems
Interference
Missing neighbours
MuItipIe servers
BIocking
FaiIed handovers
Common problems
Interference
Specific ceIIs:
TiIt
Height
Re-pIan
GeneraI, Iimits capacity for given quaIity
Need to identify "jamming" frequencies and ceIIs
Change CA Iists so that "jamming" ceIIs do not
aIways interfere with the same other ceIIs
Common problems
Missing neighbours
NormaIIy not an "obvious" neighbour
A terrain effect makes a distant ceII the onIy
server
Since the distant ceII is not a neighbour, the
caII drops, or is noisy
Common problems
MuItipIe servers
No dominant server
MobiIe is IikeIy to choose a ceII which is not pIanned
for use at that Iocation
Interference IikeIy (especiaIIy BCCH)
Frequency pIan assumed a different ceII
Many "ping pong" handovers
Measurements etc take time to settIe after a
handover
Common problems
BIocking
SoIution, extra TRX
BUT, what about frequency pIan?
Not reIevant in a soft-bIocking network
In a FH network interference happens first
UNLESS many fewer TRX than frequencies
Common problems
BIocking
PIan capacity so that number of ErIangs
< 40% of Number of Frequencies x 8
Exceeding this causes interference to OTHER
ceIIs
One or two ceIIs might exceed Iimit, if others are
Iess than Iimit
WeII contained ceIIs may carry more traffic
n a hopping network, the consequence of too much traffic in a single cell
will be interference in other cells. This is directly opposite to what
happens in a non-hopping network, where extra traffic leads to blocking in
the high traffic cell.
Common problems
FaiIed handovers
Target ceII congestion
ReIieve congestion in target ceII
Stretch source ceII to overIap more
MobiIes moving faster than handover timing
Speed up handovers
Design more overIap
Rapid fieId drop
Speed up handovers
Design more overIap
Common problems
TroubIe shooting
QuaIity reIated
Poor
QuaIity
RxLev RxQuaI
Other
Coverage
HoIe
Antenna
System
BTS/Radio
ProbIem
Co/Adj
Interference
Other
Interference
Time
Dispersion
BTS/Radio
ProbIem
BTS/Radio
ProbIem
System
ProbIem
Bad Handset
Common problems
TroubIe shooting
Handover probIems
Handover
ProbIem
CeII
Dragging
Handover
FaiIure
Ping- Pong
Handovers
Neighbour
List
Hysteresis
Interference
BTS/Radio
ProbIem
Neighbour
List
BTS/Radio
ProbIem
System
ProbIem
No Best
Server
Neighbour
CeII Data
Hysteresis
BTS/Radio
ProbIem
Congestion
Bad
RxLev/RxQuaI
Common problems
TroubIe shooting
CaII setup
Dropped
CaIIs
RxLev RxQuaI
Other
Coverage
HoIe
Handover
ProbIem
Antenna
System
BTS/Radio
ProbIem
Co/Adj
Interference
Other
Interference
Time
Dispersion
BTS/Radio
ProbIem
BTS/Radio
ProbIem
System
ProbIem
BSS
Parameters
Bad Handset
Common problems - review
Interference
Missing neighbours
MuItipIe servers
BIocking
FaiIed handovers
Contents
Antenna Adjustments
Common ProbIems
Advanced Techniques
Advanced techniques
Dynamic frequency pIanning
Smart antennas
UnderIay/OverIay
DuaI band networks
NationaI roaming
Advanced techniques
Use OMC data to auto-optimise a frequency
pIan
BCCH neighbour measurements
On hopping frequencies these neighbours are
aIso interferers
Don't necessariIy use 1/3 pattern with groups
CouId have more of an ad-hoc pIan
Some advanced frequency planning ideas with application particularly to
hopping networks are in the "research phases. Many different ideas are
being put forward, as can be established by visiting the conferences.
Advanced techniques
Smart antennas
EIectricaIIy steerabIe beam patterns
Steer a nuII towards an interferer
Antennas themseIves expensive
ControI a nightmare
Each mobiIe Iink has a different interferer
With FH each TDMA frame is a different interferer
More potentiaI for CDMA systems
Advanced techniques
UnderIay / overIay
Handover from inner to outer ceIIs using
speciaI aIgorithm (interference triggered)
Estimated 30% extra traffic
IF traffic density is highest cIose to the sites
D
R
Advanced techniques
DuaI band networks
1800 MHz for capacity in cities
900 MHz for coverage in ruraI areas
Coverage footprints different
CeII seIection and handover shouId favour
1800MHz ceIIs where possibIe
Issue: one or two BCCHs per ceII?
Advanced techniques
NationaI roaming
1800MHz mobiIe seIects 900MHz network when
home network not avaiIabIe
ExactIy Iike internationaI roaming
Need to reseIect back to home network when
possibIe
Handover to 900MHz ceII when 1800MHz
handover not possibIe
OnIy IeveI triggered handover
Use priority handovers to favour 1800MHz ceIIs
Advanced techniques - review
Smart antennas
UnderIay/OverIay
DuaI band networks
NationaI roaming
Contents
System Basics
BSS Parameters
QuaIity Assessment
Organisation
Organisation
TimetabIe
Teams
Preparation
Databases
Organisation
TimetabIe
Coverage / capacity pIanning
Frequency pIanning
Neighbour pIanning
Parameter pIanning
"On-air"
Intensive optimisation
Networks undergoing regular expansion normally mature from the chaotic
early days into a regular cycle of "long term planning "short term
planning "optimisation.
New sites are integrated into the network at regular, or at least pre-agreed
intervals, followed by a short period of very intensive optimisation work to
convert the planned network into one which meets the quality targets
while carrying the planned amount of traffic.
Organisation
TimetabIe
Turn-on-
date
F
r
e
q
u
e
n
c
i
e
s

a
n
d

p
a
r
a
m
e
t
e
r
s
Drop-
dead-
date
I
n
t
e
n
s
i
v
e

o
p
t
i
m
i
s
a
t
i
o
n
3

m
o
n
t
h

T
r
a
f
f
i
c

f
o
r
e
c
a
s
t

a
n
d

T
R
X

c
o
u
n
t
1
2

m
o
n
t
h

T
r
a
f
f
i
c

f
o
r
e
c
a
s
t

a
n
d

B
S

c
o
u
n
t
N
e
w

B
S

P
I
a
n
n
i
n
g
After a new turn on cycle a new frequency plan, neighbour plan and BSS
parameter plan will be loaded into the network. To avoid negative impact
on customers this is often done on a Friday night. mmediately following
this is a period of intensive optimisation. Often it will involve working the
whole weekend,, inn an attempt to ensure that on the Monday morning the
initial call success rate target is met. (90% worst cell, 95% average)
Ongoing optimisation will continue after this intensive optimisation period
in order to raise the CSR to 95% in the worst cell and averaging better
than 98%. However, the attention of the radio engineers will shift to
longer and medium term expansion planning until the time comes to
prepare for the next turn on cycle.
The "drop dead date is the final date at which sites must be listed for
inclusion in the next ToC. After this the traffic and frequency planning
activity will depend on having a stable network plan.
Organisation
Teams
QuaIity
Independent assessment of network quaIity
Drive tests
Network performance data
Radio pIanning / Optimisation
IdeaIIy within the same department
One person/smaII team responsibIe for an area of 50
to 100 sites
NB these functions are often organised differently within different
operating companies (also at different times), but the basic functions
remain.
The quality department will monitor the network and report areas requiring
attention to RF. ndependent monitoring encourages RF to chase targets.
Radio planning and optimisation ought to be within the same department,
since all decisions in this area require trade-offs between quality
(traditionally optimisation) and capacity (traditionally planning).
Organisation
Teams
Drive testing
Drivers and technicians/navigators
Resource avaiIabIe for QuaIity and Radio dept.
Operations
ImpIementation of BSS parameters
Maintenance issues
DeIivery of statistics
ImpIementation
BuiId of new sites
InstaIIation of TRX upgrades
Changes to antenna configurations
Drive test resource might be independent or in the quality department or in
the RF department.
Operations, often have responsibility for the OMC. Their function is
maintenance of the network, but this will often overlap with optimisation.
The obvious area is where parameter changes are necessary.
mplementation will be making changes to antennas where necessary.
Organisation
Preparation
CIuster definition
Optimise manageabIe bits of the network
Edge of cIuster shouId be an unchanged area
BS testing
New sites shouId be tested for fauIts BEFORE
optimisation
Antennas connected correctIy
Parameters set correctIy - neighbours / BCCHs
An optimisation area, or cluster must be defined, so that a team can manage its
work well. deally the network expansion and rollout will be organised so that the
surrounding area will be not require optimising at the same time.
Many so called "optimisation problems turn out to be hardware and software
faults, incorrectly connected antennas or simple typos. Soon after the integration
of new sites, they should be tested for functionality and correct configuration.
Organisation
Preparation
QuaIity assessment
Identify and Iocate probIems
Sources of data
Network performance statistics
Drive tests
Customer compIaints
The first step in both the intensive optimisation stage and in the ongoing
optimisation will be to identify the locations of network problems. Different methods
of doing this each have their advantages and disadvantages.
Network Performance Stats take time to collect and optimisation is usually
scheduled for low traffic periods
Drive tests only measure downlink, unless linked to A-bis traces, which can be
tedious.
Customer complaints normally come after the end of the weekend, rather than
early in the optimisation campaign, where it is desired to find all the problems.
Organisation
Databases
PIanning tooI
Current network situation
History
PIans
Network
Live database of parameters
Antenna tiIts and site Iocations
Database integrity is often difficult to maintain during an optimisation
event. The problem is that settings and parameters are changing so
quickly that it is sometimes difficult for the databases to keep up.
A direct link from planning tool to OMC can help. n the absence of this,
and certainly for antenna changes, a disciplined change request
procedure is required.
Organisation
Databases
Measurements
Large amounts of data
CataIogue to match with correct history database in
pIanning tooI
Optimisation database
History of aII optimisation probIems and soIutions
"TroubIe ticket" system
ProbIems shouId be formaIIy cIosed
Library of common probIems for future heIp
Organisation
Databases
Optimisation database exampIe
ProbIem Input
- Operations
- Qual. measurements
- Custumer Complains
- Employee
Problemreports
DCS-
Measurement
datas
-Logical Connection of
the Measurement data to
the Optimisation
Problem
- Measurement data
DCS-
Measurement
Request
- Optimisation ProbIem
- Opt. Project Managment
- Measurement Requests
- Para.Change request forms
- OptimisationprobIem SoIutions
Optimisation
-database
Problemerfassung
Change
Requestform
Optimisation
Reports
To
Measurement
team
- To Fieldengineers
- To OMC
- To Radioplanning
nternal in
Optimisation
Projekt Reports
nternal in
Optimisation for
Proplemmanagement
DB Output
DB-Management
Map nfo Geographical
Problemdisplay
The optimisation database should be multi-user with a number of functions including:
Storage of information on problem originator
Prioritisation of problems
Logical connection of problems to Optimisation areas
Grouping of problems to a master/main problem
Storage of problem resolution measures
Printing of Change Requests and Measurement Requests
Historical record of Problems
Attachment of Win-files (pictures, documents) to a problem
The database could be configured as required, local to each region, which means
that access will not be possible from another region or from a different location within
the region. Each optimisation problem would still have a unique problem number,
each new number being automatically assigned by the database. All measurement
and change requests, optimisation and project reports will be generated in paper
form.
An administrator should be appointed to maintain the database, thereby ensuring the
integrity over the lifetime of the network.
Organisation
ImpIementation procedure
Identification of probIems
AIIocation of drive routes
AnaIysis of data
SoIution of probIems
Check out side effects!!
Use pIanning tooI
Liaise with other RF teams
ImpIementation of soIution
Verify soIution
Organisation
0pt|m|sat|on
Optimisation Guidelines Optimisation Database
nput Data collection:
Metrica Statistics,
Drive Test Measurements
Customer Complaints
Cluster Definition
nitial Site Validation
Data Analysis/
Problem dentification
Solution Recommendation
and mplementation
Validation of Solution
n a nutshell, the organisation that is established for optimisation is required to carry
out these processes
Finally
Take action ...
Go optimise with confidence!
Contact details
TeIecom Network ConsuItants
HighfieId House
90 West Drive
HighfieIds CaIdecote
Cambridge CB3 7NY
TeI: +44 1954 210841
Fax: +44 1954 210840
EmaiI: enquiries@tnc-Itd.com
Web: www.tnc-Itd.com

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ChiIderIey SoIutions 2002 1

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