RNO TRAINING

ACCESSIBILITY
 Accessibility – Time plan
• Day 1:
– Objective
– Key Performance Indicators – KPIs
– Accessibility Definition
– Accessibility KPIs
– Paging
– Location Area Update
Key Performance Indicators - KPIs

• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are

used to categorize the Network elements
such as MSCs and BSCs.

• The KPI values allow the operator to

visually compare their network with other
networks, and also highlight areas that
may require focusing for improvements.
Key Performance Indicators - KPIs
KPI TOP 2
Paging Succes Rate (1st+2nd page) > 95.
Location Update Success Rate > 98.
Accessibility Random Access Failure > 0.2
SDCCH Time Congestion < 0.00
SDCCH Drop Rate < 0.6
TCH Assigment Failure > 0.2
TCH Drop Rate < 0.8
Retainability Call Minutes Between Drop > 155
Handover Success Rate > 98.
Voice Quality SQI UL Bad < 0.7
 Accessibility Definition
• “The ability of a service to be obtained,
within specified tolerances and other
given conditions, when requested by the
user.”

• Total number of successful calls set up/Total call

accesses to the network
 Accessibility Definition
Call to an MS
MSC/VLR 1. MSC/VLR sends paging command to all BSCs
belonging to the location area (LA) where MS is located
1

TRC 2. BSC forwards the paging command to all BTSs in that

LA, and the BTSs in their turn page the MS on the PCH

Accessibility
1
3. The MS responds to the BTS on the RACH and the
BSC 2 BTS forwards the response to the BSC (forward to MSC)
5
3 4. The BSCs checks with the BTS if it has an SDCCH
2 2
4 available and the BTS grants the MS an SDCCH by using
the AGCH

5. The MS and the BTS signal on the SDCCH,

measurement reports sent on SACCH are forwarded from
BTS the BTS to the BSC and once the signalling is done the
BSC decides which TCH to use
6
BTS 5
3 6. TCH connection established between MS and BTS
2
4
 Accessibility KPIs

KPI TOP 25% TOP 50% Below TOP 50%

Paging Succes Rate (1st+2nd page) > 95.10 >= 93.24 < 93.24
Location Update Success Rate > 98.23 >= 97.12 < 97.12
Random Access Failure > 0.27 >= 0.81 < 0.81
SDCCH Time Congestion < 0.0026 <= 0.0114 > 0.0114
SDCCH Drop Rate < 0.66 <= 0.87 > 0.87
TCH Assigment Failure > 0.22 >= 0.38 < 0.38
TCH Drop Rate < 0.84 <= 1.19 > 1.19
Call Minutes Between Drop > 155.52 >= 106.34 < 106.34
Handover Success Rate > 98.66 >= 97.51 < 97.51
SQI UL Bad < 0.75 <= 1.49 > 1.49
 Paging

KPI TOP 25% TOP 50% Below TOP 50%

st nd
Paging Succes Rate (1 +2 page) > 95.10 >= 93.24 < 93.24
Location Update Success Rate > 98.23 >= 97.12 < 97.12
Random Access Failure > 0.27 >= 0.81 < 0.81
SDCCH Time Congestion < 0.0026 <= 0.0114 > 0.0114
SDCCH Drop Rate < 0.66 <= 0.87 > 0.87
TCH Assigment Failure > 0.22 >= 0.38 < 0.38
 Paging – Overview

Paging Paging
global All BSC command Request

Paging in the
message MSC Cells with specified LAC
MSC

BSC wt
cells
local Paging Paging
using command Request
specified
LAC
 Paging – Overview
• MS can be paged by IMSI or TMSI
• Up to 4 Paging Requests per Paging block
IMSI IMSI or T T T T or IMSI T T
Note: T = TMSI

• MS only listens for paging at particular PCH sub-

channel corresponding to its Paging Group
 Paging - Overview
Listening Listening Listening
to PCH Measuring on to PCH Measuring on to PCH
Sleep mode neighbors neighbors Sleep mode

7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 7 0 1
TDMA
frames

F S B C F S C C F S

BCCH + CCCH
(downlink) Paging group

F (FCCH): Frequency Correction Channel

S (SCH):Synchronization Channel
B (BCCH):Broadcast Control Channel
C (CCCH):Common Control Channel;
Paging Channel (PCH) or Access Grant Channel (AGCH)
 Paging - Overview
VLR has an LAI
(normal case) Local LAI is missing
yes Paging? no
Paging in one LA. Wait for Paging in MSC area. Wait for
response: response:
PAGTIMEFRST1LA PAGTIMEFRSTGLOB

Answer? yes Successful yes Answer?

no no
2nd page according to 2nd page according to
PAGREP1LA PAGREPGLOB
Either 1 2 3 0 0 1
TMSI/IMSI IMSI used
Paging in one LA. Paging in MSC area. Paging in MSC area.
Wait for response: Wait for response: No repeated Wait for response:
PAGTIMEREP1LA PAGTIMEREPGLOB paging PAGTIMEREPGLOB

Answer? no no Answer?
unsuccessful

yes Successful yes

 Paging – Overview
• Upon receipt of a paging request message and if access to the
network is allowed, the addressed MS shall initiate within 0.5 s the
immediate assignment procedure. The establishment of the main
signaling link is then initiated by use of an SABM with information field
containing the PAGING RESPONSE message
• Upon receipt of the PAGING RESPONSE message the network stops
timer PAGTIMERFRST1LA (PAGTIMEFRSTGLOB).
• If timer PAGTIMERFRST1LA (PAGTIMEFRSTGLOB) expires and a
PAGING RESPONSE message has not been received, the network
may repeat the paging request message and start timer PAGREP1LA
(PAGREPGLOB).
 Paging - Overview
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 Paging - Overview
MSC BSC BTS MS
Paging Paging Command
Paging Request
PCH
Channel Request
Channel Required RACH
Channel Activation
Random Access

Channel Activation Ack.

Immediate Assignment Command

Immediate Assignment
AGCH
SABM, Page Response
Step NPAGE1RESUCC or
NPAGE2RESUCC
SDCCHUA
Establish Indication (Paging Resp.) SDCCH
SCCP Conn. Req
(Paging Resp.)
SCCP Conn. Conf.
 Paging - Overview Paging

› Monitor and detect congestion

on paging channel MSC
Paging

BSC Removed due to overflow

Paging Removed due to time-out

BTS
Removed due to overflow

LA 1 Removed due to time-out

 Paging – Strategy
• Recommended paging strategy is:
– First page as local page the MS by TMSI
– Second page as global page the MS by IMSI

• Other strategies and constraints:

– No second page: Less paging load, but risk more unsuccessful
paging
– Second local page: Less paging load, risk more unsuccessful
paging
– Second page by TMSI: Utilize less paging capacity, but some
pages maybe unsuccessful if TMSI of MS is wrong in VLR
 Paging – BSC Capacity
• It is difficult to estimate BSC Paging Capacity
• Rule of thumb: BSC can accommodate 8500 Paging
Commands/sec
• To further optimize the BSC paging capacity, paging queue
overflow can be monitored with the following formula:
TOTCONPAG
PAG _ FAIL   100%
TOTPAG
Where TOTCONPAG - step for every discarded paging message
when paging queue is full
TOTPAG - paging messages received from MSC
 Paging – BTS Capacity
• CCCH consists of 2 sub-channels for DL: PCH & AGCH
• AGCH used to allocate resource to MS during call setup
• PCH used to send paging request to MS
• Two types of Channel Configuration:
– Combined BCCH/SDCCH
• 3 CCCH blocks
– Non combined BCCH/SDCCH
• 9 CCCH blocks
• AGCH can have dedicated blocks or work by stealing
mode
 Paging – BTS Capacity
• Incoming paging command are buffered in a queue
• One queue for each paging group
• When paging blocks are available, BTS will send
these paging commands as paging requests over the
air interface
• If queue is full, further incoming pages are discarded
• If queue at BTS for too long time, the page may be
lost since MSC do not receive any page response
after timer expired
 Paging – Reducing Paging
• IMSI attach/detach
– If ATT = ON, MS will send attach/detach information to MSC/VLR
when it is powered on/off.
– Decrease unnecessary paging to MS not connected to network
– Constraint is higher SDCCH utilization
• Periodic Registration
– Avoid paging MS which lost coverage and not able to inform the
system that it is inactive
– Timer T3212 specifies the period for periodic registration
– Shorter T3212 leads to less paging, but higher utilization of
SDCCH
 Paging Capacity Impacting Parameters

• BCCHTYPE: NCOMB or COMB

– Non-combined BCCH will give higher paging capacity than
combined BCCH

• AGBLK: 0 – 1
– AGBLK=0 gives higher paging capacity than AGBLK=1

• MFRMS: 2 – 9
– The lower value for MFRMS, the higher paging capacity due to
trunking efficiency
– MFRMS setting is a trade off between battery consumption and call
set up time
 Paging – Optimization
• Analyze the following issues that could be
possible reasons for poor Paging Performance:
– Insufficient coverage
– High interference
– Non-optimum Paging Strategy
– Non-optimum Paging parameter settings
– Paging Congestion in MSc, BSC or BTS
– De-activated or incorrect use of Paging features
 Paging – Optimization
The following actions can improve Paging Congestion:
• MSC Paging Congestion
– Increase SAE
• BSC/BTS Paging Congestion
– Check Paging Strategy
– Increase number of Location Areas (This will increase SDCCH
load)
– Set BCCHTYPE to NCOMB
– Use TMSI paging requests
– Ensure IMSI attach/detach is activated (ATT = yes)
– Decrease T3212/BTDM (This will increase SDCCH load)
Paging – Optimization
L o w P a g in g S u c c e s s

Y e s
N o T M S I A tta c h A c tiv a te
/ D e ta c h ?
N o

W r o n g p e r io d ic lo c a tio n
Y e s C o r r e c t T 3 2 1 2 in B S C ,
u p d a t in g s e t t in g ? B T D M & G T D M in M S C
N o

S D C C H Y e s  In c re a s e S D C C H c h a n n e l
C o n g e s t io n ? A d a p t iv e c o n f ig u r a t io n f e a t u r e

N o

P a g in g Y e s  P la n m o r e L A
c o n g e s t io n ?  U s e T M S I p a g in g
N o

Y e s
T M S I p a g in g A c t iv a t e
n o t u se ?
N o

I m p lic it d e t a c h Y e s
a f t e r n o t p e r io d ic A c t iv a te
r e g is tr a tio n n o t u s e ?

N o

E N D
 Paging - KPI
• Paging Success Rate is measured on MSc level and calculated with the
following formula:

Paging Success Rate (1st+2nd page)

– Successful First and Second Pages of Total Number of First Pages

TOTALCELLS

1
NPAG1RESUC C  NPAG2RESUC C
TOTALCELLS
* 100[%]
1
NPAG1GLTOT  NPAG1LOTOT

This is the End-User perceived Paging Success Rate, which is used as the
Paging KPI.
 Paging – Additional indicators
• The following Paging indicator is useful when studying paging
performance (MSc level):

Paging Success Rate (1st page)

Successful First of Total Number of First Pages

TOTALCELLS

1
NPAG1RESUC C
TOTALCELLS
* 100[%]
1
NPAG1GLTOT  NPAG1LOTOT

This is the formula showing the system behavior

 Paging – STS Counter Summary
• Paging Success STS counters
– NPAG1GLTOT: The number of first global page attempts over A-Interface
– NPAG1LOTOT: The number of first page attempts to a location area over
A-Interface
– NPAG1RESUCC: The number of page responses to first page attempt on
A-interface
– NPAGE2RESUCC: The number of page responses to repeated page over
A-interface

• Paging Congestion STS counters

– TOTPAG: Number of paging messages received from the MSC
– TOTCONGPAG: Number of Paging messages discarded due to
congestion
– PAGPCHCONG: Number of discarded paging messages due to full
paging Queue.
– PAGETOOOLD: Number of discarded paging messages due to old paging
messages. `
Paging – Parameter Summary
Parameter Range Recommended Description
MFRMS 2-9 CCCH 4 MF period between
Multiframe transmission of
paging message to
same paging group
AGBLK 0-7 0 Reserved CCCH
blocks for AGCH
BCCHTYPE COMB, - Channel configuration
COMBC,
NCOMB
T3212 0-255 40 Time between period
registration
ATT YES, NO YES IMSI Attach/ detach
allowed
CRH 0-14 (steps of 4 Hysteresis used when
2) dB MS in idle crosses a
LA area
GPRSNWMODE 0-3 2 (No Gs- Whether or not Gs-
Interface & no interface & MPDCH
MPDCH used) used
Paging – Parameter Summary
Parameter Recommended Description
BTDM T3212 * 6 Implicit detach supervision
GTDM 6 min Extra guard time before
Range: 0-255 subscriber set to detached
TDD OFF (default) Time inactive IMSI in VLR
before it is removed
PAGTIMEFRST1LA 4sec (default) Time supervision for page
Range: 2-10sec response for first page
PAGTIMEFRSTGLOB 4sec (default) Time supervision for page
Range: 2-10sec response for first global page
PAGREP1LA 2 (recommend) How second page is sent
Range: 0-3
PAGEREPGLOB 0 How global page is repeated
Range: 0-1
PAGTIMEREP1LA 7sec (default) Time supervision for page
Range: 2-10sec response for second page
PAGTIMEREPGLOB 7sec (default) Time supervision for page
Range: 2-10sec response for second global
page
 Paging – Parameter Summary
Parameter Recommended Description
TMSIPAR 1 or 2 TMSI should be used or not
TMSILAIMSC 0 (default) New TMSI to be allocated at
Range: 0-1 change or LAI within
MSC/VLR
SECPAGEPATH 1 (recommend) Define which interface 2nd
Range: 0-2 paging is sent
TIMPAGINGM 9 sec Time supervision for 1st CS
Range:2-20sec paging sent over Gs interface

SGSN Parameter

Parameter Recommended Description

T3133 5 sec Time supervision for PS
Fixed Paging
 Location Update

KPI TOP 25% TOP 50% Below TOP 50%

KPI Succes Rate (1st+2nd page)
Paging TOP
> 95.1025% TOP 50%
>= 93.24 Below< 93.24
TOP 50%
Location Update Success Rate > 98.23 >= 97.12 < 97.12
Location Update Failure
Random Access Success Rate >>98.23
0.27 >=>=97.12
0.81 <<97.12
0.81
Random Access
SDCCH Time Failure
Congestion <>0.0026
0.27 <=>=0.0114
0.81 ><0.0114
0.81
SDCCH
SDCCH Time Congestion
Drop Rate <<0.0026
0.66 <=<=0.0114
0.87 >>0.0114
0.87
SDCCH Drop RateFailure
TCH Assigment <> 0.22
0.66 <=
>= 0.87
0.38 >< 0.38
0.87
TCH
TCH Assigment
Drop Rate Failure >< 0.84
0.22 >=
<= 0.38
1.19 <> 1.19
0.38
TCH Drop RateBetween Drop
Call Minutes ><155.52
0.84 >=<=106.34
1.19 <>106.34
1.19
 Location Update – Overview
• In Idle Mode the MS is powered on but not allocated a
dedicated channel
• The purpose of Idle Mode is for the MS to be able to
access the system and be reached by the system any
time and anywhere
• Idle Mode behavior is managed by the MS
• Idle Mode is controlled by the parameters which the MS
receives on BCCH.
• Location Updates enable the to register its current
location to the network so that the network knows where
to route incoming calls.
Location Update – Overview
 Location Update – Overview
Cell reselection process

C21 = C1+CRO-TO* q(PT-T); PT=31

C21 = C1-CRO PT=31

CRO - Cell reselection offset q(x) = 0, x <0

TO - Temporary negativ offset
 1, x 0

PT - Time for application of a temporary offset

T - Timer
1 C2 is only supported by phase 2 mobiles
 Location Update – Overview
Cell reselection process

• The serving cell becomes barred

• Repeated unsuccessfull access attempts
(MAXRET)
• Downlink signalling failure
• C1<0 for serving cell more than 5s
• C2neighbour>C2serving(+CRH) more than 5s
 Location Update – Overview
Cell Reselection Hysteresis (CRH)
• Receiving signal strength (RXLEV) hysteresis for required cell re-
selection over a location area border.
• Each change of location area requires a location update to be
performed, which increases signaling load.
• CRH is used in order to prevent ping-pong effects for cell selection
across location area borders
• If the CRH value is set too low, the fluctuations in signal strength may
lead to a ping-pong effect for location updating.This will cause an
undesired increase in the signaling load on the SDCCH
• If the parameter is set too high, the mobile may camp on the wrong cell
(not the strongest one) for too long when entering a new location area.
Location Update – Overview
 Location Update – Overview
Cell selection process

• PLMN not allowed

• No SIM card inserted
• Illegal MS
• IMSI unknown in HLR
• .....
Limited service state
• Emergency calls only
• Cell reselection as normal,
but CRH is ignored
• No updating
Location Update – Overview
Location updating process

• Normal - at change of Location area

• Periodic - according to T3212
• IMSI attach/detach, ATT
 Location Update – Strategy
• Location Area Code (LAC) is part of Cell Global Identity
• Circuit Switched (CS) paging done based on LAC

• Larger LA
– Higher paging load
– Less LAC update, lower SDCCH utilization
• Smaller LA
– Lower paging load
– More LAC update, higher SDCCH utilization
 Location Area – Strategy
Location Area (LA) dimensioning strategies:
• Size of a LA must not exceed the maximum paging capacity for the BTS /
BSC
• In a rural area, it is easy to find LA border cells. But there’s no reason to
have a smaller LA than required
• General rule of thumb : 1 LAC per BSC
• If a BSC covers a large area with high traffic, consider splitting the LA. This
will reduce the paging load in BTS and BSC
• In larger cities, SDCCH load will be higher for LA border cells. If difficult is
experienced to find LA border cells and the BSC coverage area is small,
several BSCs can share one LA
• Define LA border at cells with low subscriber density

• Good information is available in the Location Area Dimensioning Guideline

Location Update – Optimization
• Analyze the following issues that could be possible
reasons for poor Location Update success rate:

– Insufficient coverage
– High interference
– Location Area borders not optimum
– Low CRH Hysteresis
– Short time for periodic registration (T3212)
– Insufficient SAEs
– SDCCH congestion
Location Update – Optimization
L o w L o c a tio n U p d a tin g
S u c c e s s

b o rd e r Y e s  R e a llo c a te t o a n o t h e r L A o r M S C
c e ll?  In c re a s e C R H
N o

L o w C R H Y e s
In c re a s e C R H
H y s te r is is ?

N o

B a d L A Y e s
R e - d im e n s io n in g L A
D e m e n s io n in g ?

N o

S h o r t p e r o d ic Y e s C h e c k T 3 2 1 2 in B S C &
r e g is tr a t io n ? B T D M in M S C
N o

Y e s  C h e c k f r e q u e n c y p la n
In te rfe re n c e ?  A c tiv a te r a d io f e a t u r e
N o

S o f tw a r e F ile Y e s C o r r e c t s e tt in g s f o r S A E 5 0 0 B lo c k
C o n g e s t io n ? M L U A P , M L C A P ,M L V A P ,M M M L R
N o

S D C C H Y e s  In c re a s e S D C C H c h a n n e l
C o n g e s tio n ?  A d a p tiv e c o n f ig u r a tio n f e a tu r e

N o

A u t o m a t ic Y e s A c t iv a t e a u t o m a t ic
d e r e g is tr a t io n ? d e - r e g is tr a tio n

E N D
 Location Area Update - KPI
• Location Area Update Success Rate is
calculated using the following formula:

Location Update Success Rate

– Successful Location Updates of Total Number of

Location Updates
TOTALCELLS

 1
NLOCOLDSUCC  NLOCNRGSUCC
TOTALCELLS
* 100[%]
 1
NLOCOLDTOT  NLOCNRGTOT