OPTIMIZATION TOOLS & BASIC

TECHNIQUES

M
KUWAIT GSM PROJECT

PROJECT DONE BY: FARAH ALBELUSHI

Mentors: Engrs. Ishtiyaq & Shiras

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To
¾ My family whose is supporting me always.
¾ All the nice people I have met in both Oman & Kuwait
who are really a nice family.

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Abstract
The training aims to get the GSM knowledge and apply this
knowledge in the optimization filed. Furthermore it includes site visiting and
dealing with the network data to understand how the network is acting & to
find the solution for different cases. Finally, I found the training very
interesting & full of information besides feeling the how the real
employment life is.

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Introduction
This report contains mainly 7 chapters, which represent the full details of
what was achieved through the two months and half as I join MOTOROLA
Company in both Oman & Kuwait, which was my pleasure. Here is an
overview of those chapters:

Chapter 1: GSM (Global System for Mobile communications).

Where we got a full manual about this topic also I depend also on the
Internet information.

Chapter 2: Optimization Tools.

Here was a huge practical part since they start to introduce the different tools
and their usage to me. After that, the real enjoyment started where I had my
daily work with the different tools to analyze the daily & weekly data to help
the optimizers in the company to get an overview of the network health and
performance. This includes 5 different tools, as they will be described in the
chapter.

Chapter 3: Optimization Techniques.

In this chapter the databases part come out where the usage of both EXCEL
& ACESS is required because the optimizer should get the full overview of
the network to solve any problems that accrue. Those data came periodically
from the OMC-R. For example this chapter includes 2 techniques:
1-Updating the network outage.
2- Check the lost TCHs.

Chapter 4: Statistics.
The statistics of the network are different in the type such as the row and the
key statistics. The optimizer should be involved in these statistics to get the
reason of the bad quality service of the network beside other important
features of the network as it is explain din this chapter. Thus I was involved
in this branch also to give me the complete picture for the different network
features this with the help of a very good manual besides the great
explanation I got for the engineers.

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 Chapter 5: RF Configuration.
From the beginning I was told that the optimizer is the network doctor who
takes care of the network body as well as its health and performance.
Therefore I was involved in the studying the BTSs (Base Transceiver
Stations) which includes the RF (Radio Frequency) parts. It was amazing
since both the theory and practical visiting for the BTSs achieved it.

Chapter 6: Field experience.

Here all my dreams became true where I visit different sites since I felt that I
am a real engineer who’s learning, trying to solve problem and discussing
the suggestions with expert engineers. So thanks for MOTOROLA.

Chapter 7: Social experience.

The most important experience in the life is the social and the culture one.
Thus I include this chapter to show that we got both of them.

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 Chapter 1:
GSM (Global System for Mobile communications)

1- GSM History

2- Cellular systems
- The cellular structure.
- Cluster.
- Types of cells.

3- The transition from analog to digital technology

- The capacity of the system of the system.
- Compatibility with other systems.
- Aspects of quality.

4- The GSM network

- GSM network Architecture
• Mobile Station (MS)
• The Base Station Subsystem (BSS)
• The Network and Switching Subsystem (NSS)
• The Operation and Support Subsystem (OSS)
- The geographical areas of the GSM network
- The GSM functions
• Transmission
• Radio Resources management (RR)
• Mobility Management (MM)
• Communication Management (CM)
• Operation, Administration and Maintenance (OAM)

5- The GSM radio interface

- Frequency allocation.
- Multiple access scheme
• FDMA and TDMA
• Channel structure
• Burst structure
• Frequency hopping

6- Discontinuous transmission (DTX)

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7- Timing advance(TA)

8- Power control

9- Discontinuous reception(DRX)

10- Multipath and equalization

11- The GSM functional layering

12- Different GSM module frequency ranges

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The Global System for Mobile communications is a digital cellular communications
system. It was developed in order to create a common European mobile telephone
standard but it has been rapidly accepted worldwide. GSM was designed to be compatible
with ISDN services.

1- GSM History

The events in the development of GSM can be summarized in the following table.

Table.1: The development of GSM.

Year Events
CEPT establishes a GSM group in order to develop the standards for a pan-
1982
European cellular mobile system
1985 Adoption of a list of recommendations to be generated by the group
Field tests were performed in order to test the different radio techniques
1986
proposed for the air interface
TDMA is chosen as access method (in fact, it will be used with FDMA) Initial
1987 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by telecommunication operators
(representing 12 countries)
1988 Validation of the GSM system
1989 The responsability of the GSM specifications is passed to the ETSI
1990 Appearance of the phase 1 of the GSM specifications
1991 Commercial launch of the GSM service
Enlargement of the countries that signed the GSM- MoU> Coverage of larger
1992
cities/airports
1993 Coverage of main roads GSM services start outside Europe
1995 Phase 2 of the GSM specifications Coverage of rural areas

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2- Cellular systems

2.1- The cellular structure

In a cellular system, the covering area of an operator is divided into cells. A cell
corresponds to the covering area of one transmitter or a small collection of transmitters.
The size of a cell is determined by the transmitter's power.
The concept of cellular systems is the use of low power transmitters in order to enable the
efficient reuse of the frequencies. In fact, if the transmitters used are very powerful, the
frequencies can not be reused for hundred of kilometers as they are limited to the
covering area of the transmitter.
The frequency band allocated to a cellular mobile radio system is distributed over a group
of cells and this distribution is repeated in all the covering area of an operator. The whole
number of radio channels available can then be used in each group of cells that form the
covering area of an operator. Frequencies used in a cell will be reused several cells away.
The distance between the cells using the same frequency must be sufficient to avoid
interference. The frequency reuse will increase considerably the capacity in number of
users. In order to work properly, a cellular system must verify the following two main
conditions:

¾ The power level of a transmitter within a single cell must be limited in order to
reduce the interference with the transmitters of neighboring cells. The interference
will not produce any damage to the system if a distance of about 2.5 to 3 times the
diameter of a cell is reserved between transmitters. The receiver filters must also
be very preferment.

¾ Neighboring cells can not share the same channels. In order to reduce the
interference, the frequencies must be reused only within a certain pattern.

In order to exchange the information needed to maintain the communication links within
the cellular network, several radio channels are reserved for the signaling information.

2.2- Cluster
The cells are grouped into clusters. The number of cells in a cluster must be determined
so that the cluster can be repeated continuously within the covering area of an operator.
The typical clusters contain 4, 7, 12 or 21 cells. The number of cells in each cluster is
very important. The smaller the number of cells per cluster is, the bigger the number of
channels per cell will be. The capacity of each cell will be therefore increased. However a
balance must be found in order to avoid the interference that could occur between
neighboring clusters. This interference is produced by the small size of the clusters (the
size of the cluster is defined by the number of cells per cluster). The total number of
channels per cell depends on the number of available channels and the type of cluster
used.

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 2.3- Types of cells
The density of population in a country is so varied that different types of cells are used:

• Macrocells
• Microcells
• Selective cells
• Umbrella cells

1- Macrocells
The macrocells are large cells for remote and sparsely populated areas.

2- Microcells
These cells are used for densely populated areas. By splitting the existing areas into
smaller cells, the number of channels available is increased as well as the capacity of the
cells. The power level of the transmitters used in these cells is then decreased, reducing
the possibility of interference between neighboring cells.

3- Selective cells
It is not always useful to define a cell with a full coverage of 360 degrees. In some cases,
cells with a particular shape and coverage are needed. These cells are called selective
cells. A typical example of selective cells is the cells that may be located at the entrances
of tunnels where coverage of 360 degrees is not needed. In this case, a selective cell with
coverage of 120 degrees is used.

4- Umbrella cells
A freeway crossing very small cells produces an important number of handovers among
the different small neighboring cells. In order to solve this problem, the concept of
umbrella cells is introduced. An umbrella cell covers several microcells. The power level
inside an umbrella cell is increased comparing to the power levels used in the microcells
that form the umbrella cell. When the speed of the mobile is too high, the mobile is
handed off to the umbrella cell. The mobile will then stay longer in the same cell (in this
case the umbrella cell). This will reduce the number of handovers and the work of the
network. A too important number of handover demands and the propagation
characteristics of a mobile can help to detect its high speed.

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 Fig.1: Umbrella Cell.

3-The transition from analog to digital technology

In the 1980s most mobile cellular systems were based on analog systems. The GSM
system can be considered as the first digital cellular system. The different reasons that
explain this transition from analog to digital technology are presented in this section.

3.1- The capacity of the system

As cellular systems have experienced a very important growth. Analog systems were not
able to cope with this increasing demand. In order to overcome this problem, new
frequency bands and new technologies were proposed. But the possibility of using new
frequency bands was rejected by a big number of countries because of the restricted
spectrum (even if later on, other frequency bands have been allocated for the
development of mobile cellular radio). The new analog technologies proposed were able
to overcome the problem to a certain degree but the costs were too important.
The digital radio was, therefore, the best option (but not the perfect one) to handle the
capacity needs in a cost-efficiency way.

3.2- Compatibility with other systems such as ISDN

The decision of adopting a digital technology for GSM was made in the course of
developing the standard. During the development of GSM, the telecommunications
industry converted to digital methods. The ISDN network is an example of this evolution.
In order to make GSM compatible with the services offered by ISDN, it was decide that
the digital technology was the best option. Additionally, a digital system allows, easily
than an analog one, the implementation of future improvements and the change of its own
characteristics.

3.3- Aspects of quality

The quality of the service can be considerably improved using a digital technology rather
than an analog one. In fact, analog systems pass the physical disturbances in radio
transmission (such as fades, multipath reception, spurious signals or interferences) to the
receiver. These disturbances decrease the quality of the communication because they
produce effects such as fadeouts, crosstalks, hisses, etc. On the other hand, digital
systems avoid these effects transforming the signal into bits. This transformation
combined with other techniques, such as digital coding, improves the quality of the
transmission. The improvement of digital systems comparing to analog systems is more
noticeable under difficult reception conditions than under good reception conditions.

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 4- The GSM network

4.1- GSM network Architecture

The GSM technical specifications define the different entities that form the GSM network
by defining their functions and interface requirements.
The GSM network can be divided into four main parts:

1-The Mobile Station (MS).

2- The Base Station Subsystem (BSS).
3- The Network and Switching Subsystem (NSS).
4- The Operation and Support Subsystem (OSS).

Fig.2: Architecture of the GSM network.

• Mobile Station(MS)
A Mobile Station consists of two main elements:

¾ The mobile equipment or terminal(ME)

There are different types of terminals distinguished principally by their
power and application:
* The `fixed' terminals are the ones installed in cars. Their
maximum allowed output power is 20 W.
* The GSM portable terminals can also be installed in vehicles.
Their maximum allowed output power is 8W.
* The handhelds terminals have experienced the biggest success thanks to the
weight and volume, which are continuously decreasing. These terminals can emit up to

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2 W. The evolution of technologies allows decreasing the maximum allowed power to
0.8 W.

¾ The Subscriber Identity Module (SIM).

The SIM is a smart card that identifies the terminal. By inserting
the SIM card into the terminal, the user can have access to all the
subscribed services. Without the SIM card, the terminal is not
operational. The SIM card is protected by a four-digit Personal
Identification Number (PIN). In order to identify the subscriber to the system, the SIM
card contains some parameters of the user such as its International Mobile Subscriber
Identity (IMSI).
Another advantage of the SIM card is the mobility of the users. In fact, the only element
that personalizes a terminal is the SIM card. Therefore, the user can have access to its
subscribed services in any terminal using its SIM card.

• The Base Station Subsystem(BSS)

The BSS connects the Mobile Station and the NSS. It is in charge of the transmission and
reception. The BSS can be divided into two parts:

¾ The Base Transceiver Station (BTS) or Base Station.

The BTS corresponds to the transceivers and antennas used in each
cell of the network. A BTS is usually placed in the center of a cell.
Its transmitting power defines the size of a cell. Each BTS has
between one and sixteen transceivers depending on the density of
users in the cell.

¾ The Base Station Controller (BSC).

The BSC controls a group of BTS and manages their radio
resources. A BSC is principally in charge of handovers, frequency
hopping, exchange functions and control of the radio frequency
power levels of the BTSs.

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 • The Network and Switching Subsystem (NSS)
Its main role is to manage the communications between the mobile users and other users,
such as mobile users, ISDN users, fixed telephony users, etc. It also includes data bases
needed in order to store information about the subscribers and to manage their mobility.
The different components of the NSS are described below.

¾ The Mobile services Switching Center (MSC)

It is the central component of the NSS. The MSC performs the
switching functions of the network. It also provides connection to other networks.
¾ The Gateway Mobile services Switching Center (GMSC)
A gateway is a node interconnecting two networks. The GMSC is the interface between
the mobile cellular network and the PSTN. It is in charge of routing calls from the fixed
network towards a GSM user. The GMSC is often implemented in the same machines as
the MSC.

¾ Home Location Register (HLR)

The HLR is considered as a very important database that stores
information of the subscribers belonging to the covering area of
a MSC. It also stores the current location of these subscribers and
the services to which they have access. The location of the subscriber corresponds to the
SS7 address of the Visitor Location Register (VLR) associated to the terminal.

¾ Visitor Location Register (VLR)

The VLR contains information from a subscriber's HLR necessary
in order to provide the subscribed services to visiting users.
When a subscriber enters the covering area of a new MSC,
the VLR associated to this MSC will request information about
the new subscriber to its corresponding HLR. The VLR will then have enough
information in order to assure the subscribed services without needing to ask the HLR
each time a communication is established. The VLR is always implemented together with
a MSC; so the area under control of the MSC is also the area under control of the VLR.

¾ The Authentication Center (AuC)

The AuC register is used for security purposes. It provides the parameters needed for
authentication and encryption functions. These parameters help to verify the user's
identity.

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 ¾ The Equipment Identity Register (EIR)
The EIR is also used for security purposes. It is a register containing
information about the mobile equipments. Like the HLR or the VLR,
the EIR basically consists of a database, which maintains three lists:
ƒ The white list contains all the approved types of mobile stations.
ƒ The black list contains those IMEIs known to be stolen to or be barred for
technical reasons.
ƒ The gray list allows tracing of the related mobile stations.

Fig.3: Contents of EIR.

¾ The GSM Interworking Unit (GIWU)

The GIWU corresponds to an interface to various networks for data communications.
During these communications, the transmission of speech and data can be alternated.

• The Operation and Support Subsystem (OSS)

The OSS is connected to the different components of the NSS and to the BSC, in order to
control and monitor the GSM system. It is also in charge of controlling the traffic load of
the BSS. However, the increasing number of base stations, due to the development of
cellular radio networks, has provoked that some of the maintenance tasks are transferred
to the BTS. This transfer decreases considerably the costs of the maintenance of the
system.

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 4.2- The geographical areas of the GSM network
As the cell is identified by its Cell Global Identity number (CGI), corresponds to the
radio coverage of a base transceiver station. A Location Area (LA), identified by its
Location Area Identity (LAI) number, is a group of cells served by a single MSC/VLR. A
group of location areas under the control of the same MSC/VLR defines the MSC/VLR
area. A Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) is the area served by one network
operator.

Fig.4: GSM network areas.

4.3- The GSM functions

In this paragraph, the description of the GSM network is focused on the different
functions to fulfill by the network and not on its physical components. In GSM, five main
functions can be defined:

• Transmission.
• Radio Resources management (RR).
• Mobility Management (MM).
• Communication Management (CM).
• Operation, Administration and Maintenance (OAM).

• Transmission
The transmission function includes two sub-functions:

¾ The first one is related to the means needed for the transmission of user
information.

¾ The second one is related to the means needed for the transmission of signaling
information.

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Not all the components of the GSM network are strongly related with the transmission
functions. The MS, the BTS and the BSC, among others, are deeply concerned with
transmission.

• Radio Resources management (RR)

The role of the RR function is to establish, maintain and release communication links
between mobile stations and the MSC. The elements that are mainly concerned with the
RR function are the mobile station and the base station. However, as the RR function is
also in charge of maintaining a connection even if the user moves from one cell to
another, the MSC, in charge of handovers, is also concerned with the RR functions.
The RR is also responsible for the management of the frequency spectrum and the
reaction of the network to changing radio environment conditions. Some of the main RR
procedures that assure its responsibilities are:

¾ Channel assignment, change and release.

¾ Handover.
¾ Frequency hopping.
¾ Power-level control.
¾ Discontinuous transmission and reception.
¾ Timing advance.

Handover
The user movements can produce the need to change the channel or cell, especially when
the quality of the communication is decreasing. This procedure of changing the resources
is called handover. Four different types of handovers can be distinguished:

¾ Handover of channels in the same cell.

¾ Handover of cells controlled by the same BSC.
¾ Handover of cells belonging to the same MSC but controlled by different BSCs.
¾ Handover of cells controlled by different MSCs.

Handovers are mainly controlled by the MSC. However in order to avoid unnecessary
signaling information, the first two types of handovers are managed by the concerned
BSC (in this case, the MSC is only notified of the handover).
The mobile station is the active participant in this procedure. In order to perform the
handover, the mobile station controls continuously its own signal strength and the signal
strength of the neighboring cells. The list of cells that must be monitored by the mobile
station is given by the base station. The power measurements allow to decide which is the
best cell in order to maintain the quality of the communication link.
Two basic algorithms are used for the handover:

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 1. The `minimum acceptable performance' algorithm. When the quality of the
transmission decreases (i.e the signal is deteriorated), the power level of the
mobile is increased. This is done until the increase of the power level has no

effect on the quality of the signal. When this happens, a handover is performed.

2. The `power budget' algorithm. This algorithm performs a handover, instead of

continuously increasing the power level, in order to obtain a good
communication quality.
• Mobility Management(MM)
The MM function is in charge of all the aspects related with the mobility of the user,
specially the location management and the authentication and security.

¾ Location management
When a mobile station is powered on, it performs a location update procedure by
indicating its IMSI to the network. The first location update procedure is called the IMSI
attach procedure.
The mobile station also performs location updating, in order to indicate its current
location, when it moves to a new Location Area or a different PLMN. This location
updating message is sent to the new MSC/VLR, which gives the location information to
the subscriber's HLR. If the mobile station is authorized in the new MSC/VLR, the
subscriber's HLR cancels the registration of the mobile station with the old MSC/VLR.
A location updating is also performed periodically. If after the updating time period, the
mobile station has not registered, it is then deregistered.
When a mobile station is powered off, it performs an IMSI detach procedure in order to
tell the network that it is no longer connected.

¾ Authentication and security

The authentication procedure involves the SIM card and the Authentication Center. A
secret key, stored in the SIM card and the AuC, and a ciphering algorithm called A3 are
used in order to verify the authenticity of the user. The mobile station and the AuC
compute a SRES using the secret key, the algorithm A3 and a random number generated
by the AuC. If the two computed SRES are the same, the subscriber is authenticated. The
different services to which the subscriber has access are also checked.
Another security procedure is to check the equipment identity. If the IMEI number of the
mobile is authorized in the EIR, the mobile station is allowed to connect the network.
In order to assure user confidentiality, the user is registered with a Temporary Mobile
Subscriber Identity (TMSI) after its first location update procedure. A list of IMEIs in the
network is stored in the Equipment Identity Register (EIR). The status returned in
response to an IMEI query to the EIR is one of the following:
White-listed: The terminal is allowed to connect to the network.
Grey-listed: The terminal is under observation from the network for possible problems.

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Black-listed: The terminal has either been reported stolen, or is not type approved (the
correct type of terminal for a GSM network). The terminal is not allowed to connect to
the network.

• Communication Management (CM)

The CM function is responsible for:

1. Call control.
2. Supplementary Services management.
3. Short Message Services management.

- Call Control (CC)

The CC is responsible for call establishing, maintaining and releasing as well as for
selecting the type of service. One of the most important functions of the CC is the call
routing. In order to reach a mobile subscriber, a user diales the Mobile Subscriber ISDN
(MSISDN) number which includes:

ƒ A country code.
ƒ A national destination code identifying the subscriber's operator.
ƒ A code corresponding to the subscriber's HLR .

The call is then passed to the GMSC (if the call is originated from a fixed network) which
knows the HLR corresponding to a certain MISDN number. The GMSC asks the HLR
for information helping to the call routing. The HLR requests this information from the
subscriber's current VLR. This VLR allocates temporarily a Mobile Station Roaming
Number (MSRN) for the call. The MSRN number is the information returned by the HLR
to the GMSC. Thanks to the MSRN number, the call is routed to subscriber's current
MSC/VLR. In the subscriber's current LA, the mobile is paged:

- Supplementary Services management

The mobile station and the HLR are the only components of the GSM network involved
with this function.

- Short Message Services management

In order to support these services, a GSM network is in contact with a Short Message
Service Center through the two following interfaces:

¾ The SMS-GMSC for Mobile Terminating Short Messages (SMS-MT/PP).

It has the same role as the GMSC.
¾ The SMS-IWMSC for Mobile Originating Short Messages (SMS-
MO/PP).

• Operation, Administration and Maintenance (OAM)

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The OAM function allows the operator to monitor and control the system as well as to
modify the configuration of the elements of the system. Not only the OSS is part of the
OAM, also the BSS and NSS participate in its functions as it is shown in the following
examples:

¾ The components of the BSS and NSS provide the operator with all the
information it needs. This information is then passed to the OSS which is in
charge of analyzing it and control the network.
¾ The self test tasks, usually incorporated in the components of the BSS and NSS,
also contribute to the OAM functions.
¾ The BSC, in charge of controlling several BTSs, is another example of an OAM
function performed outside the OSS.

5- The GSM radio interface

The radio interface is the interface between the mobile stations and the fixed
infrastructure. It is one of the most important interfaces of the GSM system. One of the
main objectives of GSM is roaming. Therefore, in order to obtain a complete
compatibility between mobile stations and networks of different manufacturers and
operators, the radio interface must be completely defined. The spectrum efficiency
depends on the radio interface and the transmission, more particularly in aspects such as
the capacity of the system and the techniques used in order to decrease the interference
and to improve the frequency reuse scheme. The specification of the radio interface has
then an important influence on the spectrum efficiency.

5.1-Frequency allocation
Two frequency bands, of 25 MHz each one, have been allocated for the GSM system:

¾ The band 890-915 MHz has been allocated for the uplink direction (transmitting
from the mobile station to the base station).
¾ The band 935-960 MHz has been allocated for the downlink direction
(transmitting from the base station to the mobile station).

* Note:
ƒ Then an increase by 10 MHz happened for EGSM as follows:
UL (880-915 MHz)
DL (925-960 MHz)
ƒ But not all the countries can use the whole GSM frequency bands. This is
due principally to military reasons and to the existence of previous analog
systems using part of the two 25 MHz frequency bands.

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 5.2-Multiple access scheme
The multiple access scheme defines how different simultaneous communications,
between different mobile stations situated in different cells, share the GSM radio
spectrum. A mix of Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) and Time Division
Multiple Access (TDMA), combined with frequency hopping, has been adopted as the
multiple access schemes for GSM.

• FDMA and TDMA

Using FDMA, a frequency is assigned to a user. So the larger the number of users in a
FDMA system, the larger the number of available frequencies must be. The limited
available radio spectrum and the fact that a user will not free its assigned frequency until
he does not need it anymore, explain why the number of users in a FDMA system can be
"quickly" limited.
On the other hand, TDMA allows several users to share the same channel. Each of the
users, sharing the common channel, are assigned their own burst within a group of bursts
called a frame. Usually TDMA is used with a FDMA structure.
In GSM, a 25 MHz frequency band is divided, using a FDMA scheme, into 124 carrier
frequencies spaced one from each other by a 200 KHz frequency band.
Normally a 25 MHHz frequency band can provide 125 carrier frequencies but the first
carrier frequency is used as a guard band between GSM and other services working on
lower frequencies. Each carrier frequency is then divided in time using a TDMA scheme.
This scheme splits the radio channel, with a width of 200 KHz, into 8 bursts. A burst is
the unit of time in a TDMA system, and it lasts approximately 0.577 ms. A TDMA frame
is formed with 8 bursts and lasts, consequently, 4.615 ms. Each of the eight bursts, that
form a TDMA frame, are then assigned to a single user.

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 Fig.5: FDMA/TDMA structure of GSM.

• Channel structure
A channel corresponds to the recurrence of one burst every frame. It is defined by its
frequency and the position of its corresponding burst within a TDMA frame. In GSM
there are two types of channels:

¾ The traffic channels used to transport speech and data information.

¾ The control channels used for network management messages and some channel
maintenance tasks.

ƒ Traffic channels (TCH)

Full-rate traffic channels (TCH/F) are defined using a group of 26 TDMA frames called a
26-Multiframe. The 26-Multiframe lasts consequently 120 ms. In this 26-Multiframe
structure, the traffic channels for the downlink and uplink are separated by 3 bursts. As a
consequence, the mobiles will not need to transmit and receive at the same time which
simplifies considerably the electronics of the system.
The frames that form the 26-Multiframe structure have different functions:

ƒ 24 frames are reserved to traffic.

ƒ 1 frame is used for the Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH).
ƒ The last frame is unused. This idle frame allows the mobile station to perform
other functions, such as measuring the signal strength of neighboring cells.
Half-rate traffic channels (TCH/H), which double the capacity of the system, are
also grouped in a 26-Multiframe but the internal structure is different.

ƒ Control channels
According to their functions, four different classes of control channels are defined:

1. Broadcast channels.
2. Common control channels.
3. Dedicated control channels.
4. Associated control channels.

1. Broadcast channels (BCH)

The BCH channels are used, by the base station, to provide the mobile station with the
sufficient information it needs to synchronize with the network. Three different types of
BCHs can be distinguished:

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 ¾ The Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH), which gives to the mobile station the
parameters needed in order to identify and access the network.

¾ The Synchronization Channel (SCH), which gives to the mobile station the
training sequence needed in order to demodulate the information transmitted by
the base station
¾ The Frequency-Correction Channel (FCCH), which supplies the mobile station
with the frequency reference of the system in order to synchronize it with the
network.

2. Common Control Channels (CCCH)

The CCCH channels help to establish the calls from the mobile station or the network.
Three different types of CCCH can be defined:

¾ The Paging Channel (PCH). It is used to alert the mobile station of an incoming
call.
¾ The Random Access Channel (RACH), which is used by the mobile station to
request access to the network.
¾ The Access Grant Channel (AGCH). It is used, by the base station, to inform the
mobile station about which channel it should use. This channel is the answer of a
base station to a RACH from the mobile station.

3. Dedicated Control Channels (DCCH)

The DCCH channels are used for message exchange between several mobiles or a mobile
and the network. Two different types of DCCH can be defined:

¾ The Standalone Dedicated Control Channel (SDCCH), which is used in order to

exchange signaling information in the downlink and uplink directions.
¾ The Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH). It is used for channel
maintenance and channel control.

4. Associated Control Channels

The Fast Associated Control Channels (FACCH) replaces all or part of a traffic channel
when urgent signaling information must be transmitted. The FACCH channels carry the
same information as the SDCCH channels.

• Burst structure
As it has been stated before, the burst is the unit in time of a TDMA system. Four
different types of bursts can be distinguished in GSM:

¾ The frequency-correction burst is used on the FCCH. It has the same length as the
normal burst but a different structure.

23
 ¾ The synchronization burst is used on the SCH. It has the same length as the
normal burst but a different structure.

¾ The random access burst is used on the RACH and is shorter than the normal
burst.
¾ The normal burst is used to carry speech or data information. It lasts
approximately 0.577 ms and has a length of 156.25 bits.

Fig.6: Structure of the 26-Multiframe, the TDMA frame and the normal burst.

In the previous figure

¾ The tail bits (T) are a group of three bits set to zero and placed at the beginning and
the end of a burst. They are used to cover the periods of ramping up and down of
the mobile's power.
¾ The coded data bits correspond to two groups, of 57 bits each, containing
signaling or user data.
¾ The stealing flags (S) indicate, to the receiver, whether the information carried by
a burst corresponds to traffic or signaling data.
¾ The training sequence has a length of 26 bits. It is used to synchronize the
receiver with the incoming information, avoiding then the negative effects
produced by a multipath propagation.
¾ The guard period (GP), with a length of 8.25 bits, is used to avoid a possible
overlap of two mobiles during the ramping time.

• Frequency hopping

24
The propagation conditions and therefore the multipath fading depend on the radio
frequency. In order to avoid important differences in the quality of the channels, the slow
frequency hopping is introduced. The slow frequency hopping changes the frequency
with every TDMA frame. A fast frequency hopping changes the frequency many times

per frame but it is not used in GSM. The frequency hopping also reduces the effects of
co-channel interference.
There are different types of frequency hopping algorithms. The algorithm selected is sent
through the Broadcast Control Channels. Even if frequency hopping can be very useful
for the system, a base station does not have to support it necessarily. On the other hand, a
mobile station has to accept frequency hopping when a base station decides to use it.

6- Discontinuous transmission (DTX)

This is another aspect of GSM that could have been included as one of the requirements
of the GSM speech codec. The function of the DTX is to suspend the radio transmission
during the silence periods. This can become quite interesting if we take into consideration
the fact that a person speaks less than 40 or 50 percent during a conversation. The DTX
helps then to reduce interference between different cells and to increase the capacity of
the system. It also extends the life of a mobile's battery. The DTX function is performed
thanks to two main features:
• The Voice Activity Detection (VAD), which has to determine whether the sound
represents speech or noise, even if the background noise is very important. If the
voice signal is considered as noise, the transmitter is turned off producing then, an
unpleasant effect called clipping.
• The comfort noise. An inconvenient of the DTX function is that when the signal
is considered as noise, the transmitter is turned off and therefore, a total silence is
heard at the receiver. This can be very annoying to the user at the reception
because it seems that the connection is dead. In order to overcome this problem,
the receiver creates a minimum of background noise called comfort noise. The
comfort noise eliminates the impression that the connection is dead.

25
7- Discontinuous reception (DRX)

It is a method used to conserve the mobile station's power. The paging channel is divided
into subchannels corresponding to single mobile stations. Each mobile station will then
only 'listen' to its subchannel and will stay in the sleep mode during the other subchannels
of the paging channel.

8- Multipath and equalization

At the GSM frequency bands, radio waves reflect from buildings, cars, hills, etc. So not
only the 'right' signal (the output signal of the emitter) is received by an antenna, but also
many reflected signals, which corrupt the information, with different phases.
An equalizer is in charge of extracting the 'right' signal from the received signal. It
estimates the channel impulse response of the GSM system and then constructs an
inverse filter. The receiver knows which training sequence it must wait for. The equalizer
will then, comparing the received training sequence with the training sequence it was
expecting, compute the coefficients of the channel impulse response. In order to extract
the 'right' signal, the received signal is passed through the inverse filter.

7- Timing advance (TA)

The timing of the bursts transmissions is very important. Mobiles are at different
distances from the base stations. Their delay depends, consequently, on their distance.
The aim of the timing advance is that the signals coming from the different mobile
stations arrive to the base station at the right time. The base station measures the timing
delay of the mobile stations. If the bursts corresponding to a mobile station arrive too late
and overlap with other bursts, the base station tells, this mobile, to advance the
transmission of its bursts.
For technical reasons, it is necessary that the MS and the BTS do not transmit simultaneously.
Therefore, the MS is transmitting three timeslots after the BTS. The time between sending and
receiving data is used by the MS to perform various measurements on the signal quality of the
receivable neighbor cells. As shown in the figure below, the MS actually does not send
exactly three timeslots after receiving data from the BTS. Depending on the distance
between the two, a considerable propagation delay needs to be taken into account. That
propagation delay, known as timing advance (TA), requires the MS to transmit its data a
little earlier as determined by the three timeslots delay rule.

26
 Fig.7.The uplink & downlink shift.

10- Power control

At the same time the base stations perform the timing measurements, they also perform
measurements on the power level of the different mobile stations. These power levels are
adjusted so that the power is nearly the same for each burst.
A base station also controls its power level. The mobile station measures the strength and
the quality of the signal between itself and the base station. If the mobile station does not
receive correctly the signal, the base station changes its power level.

11-The GSM functional layering

The layering of GSM functions is partially based on the seven layer model for open
systems interconnection suggested by the ISO. Each layer performs a specific set of
functions that are isolated and enhances those performed by the lower layers. This
philosophy facilitates a modular approach to implementation. The functions occurring at
one layer have only limited interaction with those at another. This provides a degree of
flexibility for future improvements without redesigning the entire system.

27
 Fig.8: GSM functional layering.

- Physical layer
Layer 1 comprises the physical channel layer and is concerned with transmitting and
receiving coded information symbols over the radio link. Layer 1 features include the
TDMA frame structure and frequency hopping.

- Transport layer
Layer 2 features include the multiplexing and demultiplexing of logical channels.

- Management layer
Layer 3 provides for the three major management functions as can be seen from the
following tables.

28
 Table.2: Radio Resource Management Messages.

Name Direction Description

CHANnel REQuest CHAN_REQ is a request of an MS for a

channel when in the idle state. Although
only 1 byte long this message already
contains the reason for the connection
request (answer to PAGING, Emergency
Call, etc.) and an identifier for the
channel type that the MS prefers. The
CHAN_REQ has no hexadecimal
message type, because the message does
not conform to the regular format and is
sent via an access burst.

HaNDover ACCess The MS sends consecutive HND_ACC

messages on a new traffic channel for
every handover (synchronized and
nonsynchronized). The only exception is
the intra-BTS handover via ASS_CMD.
Like the CHAN_REQ, the HND_ACC
does not follow the standard format and
is sent in an access burst to the BTS. The
handover reference is the only
information that HND_ACC contains and
is assigned with the HND_CMD message
to allow for identification of the correct
MS during BTS access.

PARTial RELease When an MS has activated two radio

channels at the same time, and CC wants
to release one channel, a PART_REL
message is sent. For the time being, this
is defined only for two halfrate channels.

CHANnel RELease The CHAN_REL message is used when a

connection is disconnected, to release the
radio resources on the air interface. Cause
0 is used for normal clearing; for
abnormal clearing, for instance, cause 1 is
used.

PARTial RELease COMplete With this message, the MS confirms

receipt and processing of a PART_REL
message.

29
MEASurement REPort MEAS_REP transfers the current
measurement results of the MS to the
BTS (uplink measurements). These
measurements contain the sending levels
of the serving cell and of the neighboring
cells. In the case of an active connection,
a MEAS_REP is sent to the BTS every
480 ms via the SACCH. The BTS
forwards the MEAS_REP to the BSC,
embedded in its own measurement results

CLASSmark CHANGE The MS sends this message when the

classmark changes (e.g., when a handheld
phone is connected to a booster in a car)
or when a request is made by the
network(CLASS_ENQ) It contains the
current technical capabilities of the MS.

CHANnel MODe MODify The MS confirms with

ACKnowledge CHAN_MOD_MOD_ACK the change to
another transmission mode that was
requested with CHAN_MOD_MOD.

PAGing RE-Quest Type 1 Three different PAG_REQ messages

were defined for activation of the MS in
the case of an MTC. The difference
PAGing REQuest Type 2 between the messages lies simply in the
number of MSs that can be paged
simultaneously with one message
PAGing REQuest Type 3 (PAG_REQ 1 allows paging of two MSs,
PAG_REQ 2 allows paging of three MSs,
PAG_REQ 3 allows paging of four MSs).
Consequently, the according number of
IMSIs/TMSIs are contained in a
PAG_REQ. Note that the IMSI is not
contained in the PAG_REQ if a TMSI is
assigned, even though the PAGING
message contains both parameters.

PAGing Re-SPonse PAG_RSP is the first message sent by the

MS on the SDCCH to the BTS in an
MTC. PAG_RSP corresponds to the
CM_SERV_REQ message of a MOC.

HaNDover FAIlure After an unsuccessful handover initiated

by a HND_CMD, the MS sends a
HND_FAI over the still existing
connection to the old BTS.

30
ASSignment COMplete The MS confirms that it successfully
changed to the (new) traffic channel,
that is, the one previously assigned by
as ASS_CM message.

HaNDover CoMmanD Channel assignment for a handover in

which the BTS changes is always
performed with HND_CMD; in an
intra-BTS handover, the HND_CMD can
be used. The message contains a
description of the new traffic channel
and the handover reference.

HaNDover COMplete After successful handover initiated by a

HND_CMD, the MS responds to the BTS
with a HND_COM.

ASSignment CoMmanD Assignment of a traffic channel in case of

an intra-cell handover or during call
setup.

ASSignment FAIlure The MS was not successful in changing

to the channel specified in the ASS_CMD
message. It has, therefore, changed back
to the previously used channel and
reports the failed access in a ASS_FAI
message.

CIPHering MODe COMplete The MS confirms that a

CIPH_MOD_CMD was received and that
it has changed to the cipher mode.

CIPHering MODe CoMmanD The content of the CIPH_MOD_CMD

message originates from the VLR. It is
part of the ENCR_CMD message on the
Abis-interface. The BTS informs the MS
with CIPH_MOD_CMD that all data in
both, uplink, and downlink are to be
encrypted. The only content is the
information as to which encryption
algorithm A5/X shall be used.

31
IMMediate ASSignment The BSC may answer a CHAN_REQ
REJect message with IMM_ASS_REJ if no
SDCCHs are available. In this case, no
channel is assigned and the MS is
informed about a waiting period, during
which it may not send a subsequent
CHAN_REQ.

IMMediate ASSignmnent The BSC uses the IMM_ASS_CMD to

CoMmanD assign an SDCCH to the MS after a
CHAN_REQ message was received.
IMM_ASS_CMD is always sent on an
AGCH. The message has to be
distinguished from ASS_CMD, which is
used to assign a traffic channel.

Table.3: Mobility Management Messages.

Name Direction Description

IMSI DETach If IMSI attach/detach is allowed in the

INDication PLMN, then every time the MS is
switched off the MS sends a
IMSI_DET_IND to the MSC/VLR.
This allows to more quickly reject an
incoming call, or apply secondary call
treatment, i.e., without sending
PAG_REQ first.

LOCation UPDating The MSC/VLR confirms a successful

ACCept Location Update with a
LOC_UPD_ACC. In some cases the
LOC_UPD_ACC is used to assign a
new TMSI as well.

LOCation UPDating If a Location Update is not successful,

REJect (e.g., HLR is not reachable, IMSI or
TMSI are unknown, etc.), then the
MSC/VLR terminates the process with
a LOC_UPD_REJ.

LOCation UPDating The MS sends the LOC_UPD_REQ to

REQuest the MSC/VLR when it changes the
Location Area, when Periodic Location
Update is active, and when the MS is
switched on again (with active IMSI
attach/detach). LOC_UPD_REQ is part
of the Location Update procedure.

32
AUTHentication REJect The AUTH_REJ message is used to
inform the MS that authentication was
not successful if the MSC/VLR found
that the result for SRES from the MS
was incorrect.

AUTHentication REQuest The MSC/VLR sends an AUTH_REQ

message during connection setup, in
order to authenticate the MS. The only
parameter is RAND.

AUTHentication ReSPonse Answer to AUTH_REQ. It contains the

authentication result SRES, which was
determined by applying the values of Ki
and RAND to the algorithm A3.

IDENTity REQest Although IDENT_REQ generally

allows to request all three identification
numbers from the MS, (IMSI, TMSI,
and IMEI,) it is typically used by the
Equipment Identity Register to request
the IMEI only.

IDENTity ReSPonse IDENT_RSP is the answer to

IDENT_REQ. The MS provides the
network with the requested
identification numbers (IMSI, TMSI,
IMEI), which were requested in the
IDENT_REQ message.

CM SERVice ACCept Is used by the MSC if ciphering is not

active or after the establishment of a
second simultaneous CC connection.
CM_SERV_ACC confirms to the MS
that the service request, sent to the MSC
in a CM_SERV_REQ message, was
processed and accepted.

CM SERVice REJect The service request in which the MS

has sent in a CM_SERV_REQ message
is rejected by the MSC. The reason
(e.g., overload) is provided.

CM SERVice ABOrt Is sent if a MS wants to terminate a MM

connection. The CM_SERV_ABO can
only be sent during a very narrow time
window, because this message can only
be used prior to the fist CC message
sent.

33
CM SERVice REQuest The MS sends a CM_SERV_REQ at the
beginning of every mobile originated
connection in order to provide its
identity (IMSI/TMSI) to the NSS, and
to specify the service request in more
detail (activation SS, MOC, Emergency
Call, and SMS).

MM STATUS If one side receives a message for

Mobility Management, which contains a
protocol error in Layer 3, then an MM
STATUS message with the respective
error cause is sent. This kind of protocol
error may be caused by bit errors on the
Air-interface.

Table.4: Call Control Messages.

Name Direction Description

ALERTing The MSC sends this message in case of

a Mobile Originating Call to the MS. In
case of a Mobile Terminating Call, the
MS sends an ALERT to the MSC.
ALERT corresponds to the Address
Complete Message (ACM) of ISUP and
is responsible for the generation of a
ring back tone at the receiving end.
ALERT is always sent to that side of
the call, which initiated it. This is
important for protocol analysis.

CALL PROCeeding Is sent by the MSC in case of a Mobile

Originating Call, in order to inform the
MS that the address information which
the MS has sent to the MSC in the
SETUP message was received and
processed. From the perspective of the
MSC, CALL_PROC can be regarded as
a confirmation that the ISUP Initial
Address Message (IAM) was sent. The
consequence for the MS is that the MSC
does not need, or is not even able to
process additional address information.

34
SETUP When initiating a Mobile Originating
Call, this message is sent by the MS to
the MSC. The most important
information are the address information
of the called party and the type of
connection, which is requested (Bearer
Capabilities). In case of a Mobile
Terminating Call, the MSC sends a
SETUP message to the MS. When CLIP
(Calling Line Identification
Presentation) is active for the called
party and is not restricted by the calling
party, then the SETUP message also
contains the directory number of the
caller. The SETUP message is,
furthermore, used to activate the Call
Waiting tone (Supplementary Service)
at the MS.

CONnect The MSC sends this message during a

Mobile Originating Call to the MS, to
indicate that the connection was
successfully established. The MS
receiving the CON message
corresponds to the MSC receiving the
ISUP Answer Message (ANM). The
MS sends a CON message to the MSC
in case of a mobile terminating call, as
soon as the called party accepts the call.

CALL CONFirmed After receiving a SETUP message

during a Mobile Terminating Call
scenario, the MS confirms to the MSC
in a CALL_CONF that it is able to
establish the requested connection
(Bearer Service, halfrate/fullrate, baud
rate, etc.).

CONnect ACKnowledge CON_ACK is acknowledgment for a

CON message. A call set up is regarded
to be successful only after the message
was sent. In particular charging starts
typically with the CON_ACK message.

DISConnect Is used either by the MSC or the MS, to

terminate an existing CC connection.
The DISC message always contains a
cause value, which indicates the reason
why the connection was disconnected.

35
RELease COMplete REL_COM is the answer to a REL
message and the acknowledgment that
the CC resources have been released.
REL_COM is always sent by that side,
which had previously sent the DISC
message. Like for REL, also for
REL_COM there exists an ISUP
message with the same name.

RELease Because of the fact that signaling in

GSM is related to ISDN, there are some
similarities in the CC protocol between
the two. The REL message corresponds
directly to an ISUP message with the
same name, which in the case of ISDN
is responsible for terminating a
connection. The same functionality
provides this message in GSM, namely
to release the CC resources.

12-Different GSM module frequency ranges

• Primary GSM900 frequencies

This section lists all the frequencies used in Primary GSM (PGSM), with their channel
numbers in both decimal and hexadecimal notation.GSM900 systems use radio
frequencies between 890-915 MHz for receive and between 935-960 MHz for transmit,
as shown in Figure 2-21. RF carriers are spaced every 200 kHz, allowing a total of 124
carriers for use. Other frequencies between 917 MHz and 935 MHz are available for use
by other (non-GSM) cellular systems. A guard band of 2 MHz of unused frequencies
between 915 and 917 MHz protects against interference between the transmitted and
received frequencies. Guard bands between GSM and non-GSM frequencies depend on
the prevailing standards in the country concerned and on agreements reached by network
operators. Any such guard bands are likely to be quite small; for example, the last carrier
of the frequency range may be left unused. Transmit and receive frequencies are
separated by 45 MHz, and this fixed frequency gap reduces the possibility of
interference.

36
 Fig.9: GSM900 frequency range.

• EGSM frequencies
This section lists all the extra frequencies used in Extended GSM (EGSM), with their
channel numbers in both decimal and hexadecimal notation. EGSM also uses all
frequencies listed in PGSM frequencies and PGSM channels. Figure. 10 shows that
further 10MHz of bandwidth on both transmit and receive allocations have now extended
the GSM900 bandwidth.

Fig.10: EGSM frequency range.

• DCS1800 frequencies
This section lists the frequencies used in Digital Cellular System (DCS) 1800, with their
channel numbers in both decimal and hexadecimal notation. DCS1800 systems use radio
frequencies between 1710-1785 MHz for receive and between 1805-1880 MHz for
transmit, as shown in Figure.11. RF carriers are spaced every 200 kHz, allowing a total
of 373 carriers for use, with one used as a guard band. A guard band of 20 MHz of
unused frequencies between 1785 and 1805 MHz protects against interference between
the transmitted and received frequencies. There is a 100 kHz guard band between 1710.0

37
MHz and 1710.1 MHz and between 1784.9 MHz and 1785.0 MHz for receive, and
between 1805.0 MHz and 1805.1 MHz and between 1879.9 MHz and 1880.0 MHz for
transmit. Transmit and receive frequencies are separated by 95 MHz, and this fixed
frequency gap reduces the possibility of interference.

Fig.11: DCS1800 frequency range.

• PCS1900 frequencies
This section lists the frequencies used in PCS1900, with their channel numbers in both
decimal and hexadecimal notation. PCS1900 systems use radio frequencies between
1850-1910 MHz for receive and between 1930-1990 MHz for transmit, as shown in
Figure.12. RF carriers are spaced every 200 kHz, allowing a total of 299 carriers for use.
A guard band of 20 MHz of unused frequencies between 1910 and 1930 MHz protects
against interference between the transmitted and received frequencies. There is a 100
kHz guard band between 1850.0 MHz and 1850.1 MHz and between 1909.9 MHz and
1910.0 MHz for receive, and between 1930.0 MHz and 1930.1 MHz and between 1989.9
MHz and 1990.0 MHz for transmit. Transmit and receive frequencies are separated by 80
MHz, and this fixed frequency gap reduces the possibility of interference.

Fig.12: PCS1900 frequency range.

38
 Chapter 2:
OPTIMIZATION TOOLS

1- TEMS (Test Mobile System).

- TEMS over view.
- TEMS menu tab.
- Generating Logfiles Report.
- Exporting Logfiles.
- Drive test analysis.

2- MARS (Motorola Reporting and Analyzing System).

- Introduction.
- MARS main features.
- Scheduling a data load.
- Introduction to scheduled reports.

3- CTP (Call Trace Platform).

- Introduction.
- CTP analysis.

4- Actix (Analyzer).
- An over view.

5- MapInfo.
- Introduction.
- MapInfo usage.
- Thematic Mapping.

39
 1- TEMS (Test Mobile System)

1.1- TEMS overview

• Hardware:
TEMS phone.
GPS (Global Positioning System) unit.
PC with 2 Serial ports.
DC-AC Power Inverter.

• Software:
TEMS R4.1.
TEMS 98(DUAL BAND 900/1800).
TEMS 2.0(EGSM, MapInfo, License File for individual user).
TEMS 4.0(Lisence is in TEMS Phone hardware).
TEMS 4.1.1 ( New ver. With fix of bugs in ver. 4.0 ).
TEMS 5.0 (EDGE Enhanced Data Rates For Global Evaluation).

It is an air interface test tool for real-time diagnostics. It lets you monitor voice channels
as well as data transfer over GPRS.
In GSM it can be run into two different modes:
• Drive testing mode. Information is read from one or several mobile stations
and a GPS unit.
• Analysis mode. Information is read from a logfiles.

The two modes are mutually exclusive. At the beginning of a session, the application is in
analysis mode. As soon as you connect external equipment, however, it switches to drive
testing mode and remains in this mode as long as some external device is connected.
Disconnecting all external devices returns the application to analysis mode.

40
1.2- TEMS menu tab
The Menu tab lists most types of windows that are available in TEMS Investigation.
They are divided into three categories as can be seen from the figure below.

Menu Tab

Presentation Folder Configuration Control Folder

Folder

•GSM. •Cell Definition. •Command Control.

• Data Services. • General. • Handset Control.
• Signaling. • Port Configuration. • Layer 3 Control.
• Positioning. • Audio Indications for • Channel Verification.
Events.

Fig.13: TEMS menu tab.

• Presentation Folder
Here are some examples of this folder

* GSM Status Windows

1- Serving + Neighbors
Shows BSIC, ARFCN, RxLev, and some further parameters for the serving cell and its
neighboring cells, with the serving cell on top and the neighbors below it, sorted by
signal strength in descending order.

2- Radio Parameters

41
Presents a collection of vital facts about the status of the radio link (current BCCH, signal
strength, speech quality, and so on).

3- Current Channel
Shows information elements relating to the channel currently used. It also shows current
time.

4- Hopping Channels
Shows ARFCN, RxLev and C/I for all channels currently in the hopping list.

5- Line Chart
This is the standard line chart for ordinary GSM information elements.

Fig.14. GSM status window.

Note:

42
 ¾ In the line chart SQI is better than RxQual

Traditionally, speech quality in GSM networks is measured by means of the RxQual

parameter (which is also available in TEMS Investigation). RxQual, however, suffers
from a number of drawbacks which make it an unreliable indicator of speech quality. SQI
is a more sophisticated measure which is dedicated to reflecting the quality of the speech
(as opposed to radio environment conditions). This means that when optimizing the
speech quality in your network, SQI is the best criterion to use.

RxQual is obtained by transforming the bit error rate (BER) into a scale from 0 to 7 (see
GSM 05.08). In other words, RxQual is a very basic measure: it simply reflects the
average BER over a certain period of time (0.5 s). By contrast, a listener's assessment of
speech quality is a complex process which is influenced by many factors. Some of these,
all of which RxQual fails to take into account, are the following:

ƒ The distribution of bit errors over time. For a given BER, if the BER fluctuates
very much, the perceived quality is lower than if the BER remains rather constant
most of the time. Different channel conditions give rise to radically different BER
distributions. However, since RxQual just measures the average BER, it cannot
capture this
ƒ Frame erasures. When entire speech frames are lost, this affects the perceived
quality in a very negative way.
ƒ Handovers. Handovers always cause some frames to be lost, which generally
gives rise to audible disturbances. This does not show at all in RxQual, however,
since during handovers BER measurements are suppressed.
ƒ The choice of speech codec. The general quality level and the highest attainable
quality vary widely between speech codecs. Moreover, each codec has its own
strengths and weaknesses as regards types of input and channel conditions.

In short, RxQual fails to capture many phenomena that have a decisive influence on a
listener's judgment of speech quality. Using RxQual for optimization of speech quality in
the network thus leads to suboptimal results.

43
* Interference Status Windows

1- C/A
Shows the interference from adjacent channels.

2- C/I
Shows the carrier-over-interference ratio, i.e. the ratio between the signal strength of the
current serving cell and the signal strength of interfering signal components. If frequency
hopping is used, the window shows the entire hopping list sorted by ascending C/I: the
currently worst channel is at the top.

3- Interference Line Chart

The advantage of the line chart is that it maintains a history and allows you to study
interference patterns over a period of time. To the Interference Line Chart has also been
added a pane with RxLev and C/I, which are instructive to correlate with the result of the
interference scan, especially if you have been moving around while performing it.

Fig.15. Interference status window.

44
* Signaling status window

1- Events.
This window lists all events that occur, both predefined and user-defined.

2- Layer 3 Messages.
This window lists Layer 3 messages, including those pertaining to GPRS.

3- Mode Reports
This window lists (TEMS-specific) reports from the mobile station concerning its status.

Fig.16. Signaling status window.

45
* Positioning

1- Map
The Map window is used to display a map of your test area and present your drive test
route graphically on this map. Data on cells, events, and information elements are shown
along the route in symbolic form; numerical values can also be easily accessed. Like the
other presentation windows, the Map window is fully user-configurable.
Map files used in TEMS Investigation must be in either MapInfo, bitmap, or TIF format.
Note also that to be able to plot measurements on a map, TEMS Investigation must have
access to positioning data.

2-GPS
This window shows information from the GPS unit. Exactly what information is shown
depends on the type of GPS. If GPS coverage is temporarily lost, for instance when
driving through a tunnel, TEMS Investigation will reconstruct the missing route segment
by representing it as a straight line. The accumulated measurements are distributed along
this line according to their time stamps.

Fig.17. Positioning status window.

46
On the map you have:
- A layer which is a set of data from a particular category that is displayed in the map
window. There are two types of layers: map layers, which build up the map itself, and
presentation layers, which contain information relating to the cellular network.
A map layer may, for example, consist of all the roads or all the water areas on the map.
A presentation layer contains one or several themes, all of the same main type. One
presentation layer is predefined for each main type of theme; additional layers can be
defined by the user.
Them: A theme is a component of a presentation layer. There are three main types of
theme: information element (IE) themes, consisting of a package of settings that describe
how to present a set of information elements (at most three); event themes, presenting an
event; and cell themes (of which there are three subtypes), presenting cell site
information.
- A label is a text string that belongs to a map and can be displayed on it.

- A GeoSet (file extension .gst) is a special type of workspace used for map layers. A
GeoSet contains settings regarding layer order, projections, zoom levels, labels, colors,
etc.

Fig.18: adding map layers.

47
 • Configuration Folder

1- Cell Definition
TEMS Investigation can present information about individual cells in the GSM network.
In particular, it is possible to draw cells on maps and to display cell names in various
windows. Cell information is also made use of in logfile reports.
Cell information can be provided in two ways:
- In a plain-text XML file (*.xml) whose format is common to TEMS Investigation
and TEMS Cell Planner.
- In a file with a plain-text, TEMS Investigation GSM specific format (*.cel).

2- General
To make a cell definition file active, it must be loaded in the General window. On loading
the cell definition file, its contents are automatically displayed in the Cell Definition
window.

3- Audio Indications for Events

For each event you can specify an audio signal to be played when the event occurs. This
is useful if you are performing a drive test on your own and need to keep your eyes on the
road.

Fig.19: Configuration Folder.

48
 • Control Folder

1- Command Sequences
Command sequences are used to automate testing. They allow you to prerecord all the
commands to be given to the mobile stations during a drive test. The command sequence
can govern both voice calls and data transfer sessions.
- The voice call functionality includes control of cell reselection and handover
behavior, as well as C/A and C/I measurements. If you are using several mobiles,
you can make them call each other automatically.
- The data service testing functionality supports FTP, HTTP, e-mail, and Ping
sessions involving one or several TEMS mobiles (T68, T62u, or R520m).
2- Manual Handset Control
By opening a Handset Control window from the Navigator, you get a clickable image
mirroring the user interface of the mobile station. This window can be used for giving
input to the mobile in exactly the same way as when using the real keypad.
3- Control of Layer 3 Messages
TEMS Investigation provides a function for monitoring and manipulating Layer 3
messages exchanged between the mobile station and the network. This is accomplished
by: - Applying operations to individual Layer 3 messages.
- Arranging these operations in an operation sequence.
4- Channel Verification
The Channel Verification utility allows you to check the availability of a set of traffic
channels, typically those used in one cell or a set of cells. TEMS Investigation lets one or
several TEMS mobiles make calls repeatedly on the chosen channels until all timeslots of
interest have been tested.

Fig.19.Control Folder.

49
 1.3 - Generating Logfiles Report
From one or several logfiles you can generate a report in HTML format which
summarizes the data in the logfiles. The overall structure of the HTML file appears from
the following figure.

Fig.20. Logfile overall structure.

Fig.21. Generating Logfile Report.

50
The Report

In the report is an important feature of the TEMS since it gives the optimizer a full
overview of the drive test for a big number of logfiles as he can find the summerized
information for the logfiles such as:
• Logfile information table.
• There is also the events table.
• Distribution graphs of all logfiles.
As can be seen from the figures below.

Fig.22: Logfile information table.

51
 Fig.23: The events table.

Fig.24: Two Distribution graphs of all logfiles.

52
 1.4-Exporting Logfiles
Logfiles can be exported in the following formats:
Text file with tab delimited data (suitable for processing in, for example, a
spreadsheet application). TEMS Automatic logfiles, too, can be exported in this
format. The text export format for logfiles uses an ASCII representation with tab
delimited data. The default file extension is .fmt.

Fig.25. Exporting logfiles.

53
 1.5-Drive test analysis

In the drive testing there are many problems come out which can be observed easily
using TEMS applications. As can be seen from the discussed cases.

- Undecoded BCCH

Description:
ƒ BSICs can’t be decoded in 5s
ƒ Usually consider 3 strongest neighbors
Reason:
ƒ GCLK shift, only decode same site BSICs
ƒ Channel interference.
ƒ Non-BCCH carrier, no dedicated spectrum for BCCH.

Fig.26. Undecodd BCCH.

54
 - No Handover

Description:
ƒ Neighbor BSIC is decoded and COMMON handover requirement is
fulfilled but there is never a handover.
Reason:
ƒ Missing neighbor
• No such neighbor in CM database

ƒ Incorrect external neighbor

• Target cell’s LAC/BCCH/BSIC in add neighbor is different from
those in equip_rtf.
• Engineer modifies external neighbor at MMI, not through GUI.

Fig.27. No Handover.

55
 - Delay Handover

Description:
ƒ Neighbor BSIC is decoded but handover occurs in much later time.
Reason:
ƒ All possible neighbors suffer blocking.
ƒ Large hreqt * hreqave( the time required to take HO decision).
ƒ qual_power_flag is enabled, full BTS/MS power must be reached
before handover.
ƒ Large handover_recognized_period.

Fig.28. Delay Handover.

56
 - Ping Pong Handover

Description:
ƒ Lot of handovers between cells.
ƒ “Time between Handover” is around hreqt*hreqave of such HO
cause.
Reason:
ƒ Improper hardware calibration.
ƒ Hardware fault.
ƒ UL/DL interference.
ƒ Negative handover.
ƒ Different coverage footprint for antennas of a cell.

Fig.29. Ping Pong Handover.

57
 - Negative Handover

Description:
ƒ Serving cell hands over to a weaker neighbor.
Reason:
ƒ ho_only_max_power is enabled.
ƒ qual_margin_flag is disabled.
ƒ ho_margin_usage_flag is enabled with negative
ho_margin_rxqual/rxlev.
ƒ Negative HO_MARGIN.
ƒ Micro-cellular algorithms are enabled, especially type 5.

-59dBm -66dBm
before after
HO HO

Fig.30. Negative Handover.

58
 - Over Shooting

Description:
ƒ Cell shoots at far distance but that location has closer cells around.
Reason:
ƒ Overshooting cell has small downtilt, 0 degree!
ƒ Overshooting cell has too high altitude.
ƒ Closer cells have overshooting as well.
ƒ BSIC of closer cells can’t be decoded.

Fig.31. Over shooting cell.

59
 - High Overlapping

Description:
ƒ Cells have major RxLev difference within ±5dB.
Reason:
ƒ Overshooting.
ƒ Too many cells in that area.
ƒ Poor antenna downtilt.

Fig.32. High overlapping.

- Unreasonable Serving Area

Description:
ƒ Coverage area of the cell is incoherent to the antenna direction.
Reason:
ƒ Wrong cable connection to antennas.
ƒ Incorrect record of antenna orientation.
ƒ Incorrect ANTENNA_SELECT.

Fig.33. Unreasonable Serving Area.

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 - No Dominant Server

Description:
ƒ RxLev of best neighbors are close to that of serving cell.
Reason:
ƒ Poor antenna downtilt.
ƒ Lack of near-by site.

Fig.34. No Dominant Server.

61
 - Poor Coverage

Description:
ƒ Low RxLev with RxQual.
ƒ In rural area, RxLev is less than 15 (-95dBm).
RxLev = 15 – 110 = - 95dBm
ƒ In city center, RxLev is less than 35 (-85dBm).
ƒ Different location has different threshold, noise level is the key point.
Reason:
ƒ Lack of cell site.
ƒ BSIC of dominant server can’t be decoded.
ƒ Dominant server has blocking or cell-bar.
ƒ Handover problem. E.g. missing & incorrect neighbor, negative
handover, no & delay handover.

Fig.35. Poor coverage.

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- Interference

Description:
ƒ High RxLev with RxQual.
Reason:
ƒ Channel interference.
ƒ Not using dominant server.
ƒ No handover.
ƒ Turn the corner with delay handover.

Fig.36: The interference.

63
-Handover Failure

Description:
ƒ MS fails to reach target cell, so return to source cell.
ƒ MS sends HO FAILURE and UL-SABM to source cell and there is a
response.
Reason:
ƒ Channel interference.
ƒ Poor coverage.
ƒ External interference at UL, like wideband repeater.

Fig.37: Handover Failure.

64
- Handover Loss

Description:
ƒ MS fails to reach target cell, but can’t return to source cell.
ƒ MS sends HO FAILURE and UL-SABM to source cell but no
response.
Reason:
ƒ Channel interference.
ƒ Poor coverage.
ƒ External interference at UL, like wideband repeater.

Fig.38: Handover Loss.

65
- UL Drop
Description:
ƒ BSS doesn’t receive UL SACCH for link_fail times.
ƒ BSS stops transmitting DL power.
Reason:
ƒ External interference.
ƒ Channel interference.
ƒ Faulty ancillary. UL path loss >>> DL path loss.

Fig.39: UL drop.

66
 - Drop Call

Description:

ƒ DL case: Radio_link_timeout counter decreases to 0

ƒ UL case: link_fail counter decreases to 0
ƒ Layer 2: BSS/MS send SABM/DISC in every T200 for N200+1 times, and no
response from recipient
Reason:
– All the cases.

Fig.40: Drop Call.

67
- Sudden Power Drop

Description:
ƒ Dedicated ARFCN has significant non-power control RxLev
difference from RxLev of BCCH.
Reason:
ƒ No/improper TX power calibration.
ƒ Faulty ancillary. E.g. combiner, filter.
ƒ Different cable lengths from BTS to antennas.
ƒ Due to air combing, so antennas have different coverage footprints.

Fig.41: Sudden power drop.

68
- MS Power Rapid Increase

Description:
ƒ MS rapidly increases its TX power due to
¾ Optimised Power Control.
¾ UL SACCH multiframes aren’t received for link_fail -
link_about_to_fail times.
Reason:
ƒ Sudden UL interference, e.g. wideband repeator, channel interference.
ƒ Too much rapid power down.
ƒ l_rxlev_ul_p is too small.

UL power rapid
increase from 19 to
5 suddenly

Fig.42: MS power sudden increase.

69
 2- MARS (Motorola Analysis and Reporting System)

2.1- Introduction:

The Motorola Analysis and Reporting System (MARS) is a tool for the exploration,
reporting and analysis of performance management statistics from a Motorola GSM
network, and has the ability to store long term statistics, limited only by the available disk
space. MARS has a graphical user interface (GUI), which leads the user through its
functions in a logical and intuitive sequence.

2.2- MARS main features

ƒ Long term statistics data storage

MARS makes statistics available indefinitely, from specified networks and OMCs, for
detailed selection, analysis and reporting in both tabular and graphical formats.
MARS reporting can be scheduled to happen at a specific time and on a regular basis, for
example daily at 1500 hours.

ƒ Tables

MARS produces tables of selected statistics, within user defined time limits, for the
entities specified by the user, in chosen formats. Comprehensive facilities are provided
for instant subsetting of data in tables by where ... clause setting from an interactive
window. MARS provides comprehensive printing and display formatting.

ƒ Reports

MARS produces reports of selected statistics within user defined time limits for the
entities specified by the user, in chosen formats. Comprehensive facilities are provided
for instant subsetting of data in reports by where ... clause setting from an interactive
window. MARS provides comprehensive printing and display formatting.

ƒ Graphs

MARS produces graphs of selected statistics within user defined time limits for the
entities specified by the user, in chosen formats. MARS provides comprehensive printing
and display formatting.

ƒ Explore

In addition to the features provided by the MARS Graph, Table and Report facilities, the
Explore option provides extended data analysis and exploration facilities. It includes

70
histograms, two-dimensional and three-dimensional scatter plots and advanced statistical
analysis capabilities.

ƒ Templates
MARS enables the user to save and retrieve previously defined templates for table,
report and graph presentation.

ƒ Cell Groups
Cell Groups can be created that contain cells from one or more Sites from one or more
BSCs. Saved Cell Groups are available for future selection and analysis using the
MARS reporting and analysis functions.

Fig.43. The GUI of MARS.

71
 ƒ User Statistics
By the use of formulae, which are comprised of selected statistic types, statistical
analysis can be generated from the database. User defined formula (statistics) can be
saved and are then available for future selection, to be used as the basis of analysis
using the Table, Report, Graph, and Explore functions.

Fig.44: User statistics formulas.

72
 4.3- Scheduling a data load

When MARS is loaded from more than one OMC, the data load for each OMC must be
completed before the next OMC load starts. The scheduled data load may take
significantly longer than the same load performed manually. It is recommended that users
perform a scheduled data load on a representative large OMC and note the time taken.
This time, with an added margin, should be allowed as the interval between scheduled
data loads.

ƒ MARS Loading Data process over view

OMC-R Platform MARS Platform

Read
Data MARS &
OMC-R MARS Load Application MARS
tape Write
stats stats data
unload unload directory
directory directory

Fig.45: Loading processes of MARS data .

Fig.46: Loading processes using telnet.exe.

73
2.4-Introduction to scheduled reports
The MARS Scheduled Report function produces table reports on a scheduled
(unattended) basis. Report scheduling is handled by the built in facilities of the
operating system in which MARS is running. In the UNIX environment it is the Cron
facility and in Windows environment it is the AT facility.
Each Scheduled Report is controlled by the following:
ƒ Table template, which defines the layout of the report columns.
ƒ Cell group, which defines the population of the rows.
ƒ Fields that define the output, date range, and frequency of report generation.
Currently only a table template may be selected and the only output available is to a
user specified file in comma-separated format that is a .CSV file. The .CSV file can be
used in other spreadsheet software.
Once a report name and the Template and Cell Groups to be used for a report have been
defined, a report can be run on a regular basis.

*Introduction to making selections

The MARS Main window enables selection of statistics as follows:
ƒ Cells.
ƒ Time period.
ƒ Summary level (Cell, Site, BSC, OMC or Network).
ƒ Intervals to use.

When data has been loaded as above, the entities for which statistics are required, the
time interval, and start and end times must be selected.

*Defining intervals
To select the time interval at which MARS should sum statistics, click the drop down
menu in the Interval field, to display and select a preset option.
The interval options offered are:
ƒ On a per interval basis of 15, 30 or 60 minutes (Quarter Hour, Half-hour, or
Hour).
ƒ Rolled up to:
Day.
Week.
Month.
Year.
Total (over the whole time period selected).

2.5-An example of MARS report using the table

This report shows the statistics of certain BSC, cells and sites as can be configured
from table_D.

74
3-CTP (Call Trace Product)

3.1- Introduction:
It is an advanced cell optimization and diagnostics tool that uses call trace data for
analysis purposes. It gets its data form BSS equipment which has the ability to trace
normal subscriber calls and to store that data on the OMC.

Using the call trace database allows:

ƒ Statistical analysis of measurement report data for individual cells or arbitrary

groupings of cells.
ƒ Call analysis in which measurement report data and Layer3 messages may be
viewed on a call by call basis.
ƒ Filtering of call trace files by any combination of network elements, date and
time range, message type, call type, BSC and MSC trace references, and SCCP
reference. Filtering can also be applied to MR Distributions reports.
ƒ Generation of pre-defined CTP reports which can be run over the Call Trace
database.
ƒ Exporting of tabular and graphical data to other MS Office applications.

3.2- CTP analysis

ƒ Importing the data files which comes for the OMC-R.
ƒ Using call trace explorer.
ƒ Using call decode.
ƒ Using MR.

75
Fig.47: Importing the call traces.

Fig.48: Call trace explorer.

76
 Fig.49: Call decode.

Fig.50: Call trace filter.

77
4-Actix (Analyzer)

It is a tool for post-processing cellular network data, and runs under Microsoft
Windows on a PC. It can load network performance data from many different sources,
including:
* TEMS Logfiles.
* HP Databases.
* CTP / UL Files.
Once the data is loaded, a variety of analysis tools provide a clear image of overall
network performance for the optimizer as:
* Statistics per File.
* Displaying the data on Maps.
* Layer 3 Databases.

Fig.51: Exporting logfile, creating a superstream and display it on the map.

78
Fig.52: Display event of the logfiles on the chart.

Fig53: Statistics per file.

79
 Fig.54: Layer 3 databases.

Fig.55: Replaying logfiles and displaying the state form.

80
5- MapInfo

5.1- Introduction
It is a comprehensive desktop mapping tool that enables you to perform complex
geographic analysis such as redistricting, accessing your remote data, dragging and
dropping map objects into your applications, creating thematic maps that emphasize
patterns in your data, and much more.

5.2- MapInfo usage

You want to include a map in your presentation or report that lets you convey statistical
information in a more graphic and appropriate manner.
MapInfo Map provides a variety of map display, viewing and editing capabilities,
including;
ƒ Opening multiple tables at once.
ƒ Controlling individual layer properties like display and labeling.
ƒ Creating and modifying thematic maps.
ƒ Manipulating the Map window view.
ƒ Finding information associated with a map layer.
ƒ Controlling map projection and units.
Because MapInfo Map provides a subset of MapInfo features, using them in MapInfo
map is the same as using them in MapInfo. So, Layer Control and Thematic Mapping
work the same whether you are creating a map in MapInfo or in your word processor.

Fig.56: layer control & label option.

81
5.4- Thematic Mapping
Thematic mapping is the process of enhancing your map according to a particular theme.
At the cornerstone of the theme is the data in your table. Themes represent your data with
shades of color, fill patterns, symbols, or bar and pie charts. With MapInfo Professional,
you create different thematic maps by assigning these colors, patterns, or symbols to map
objects according to specific values in your table.

Fig.57: Creating a thematic map.

82
 Chapter 3:
OPTIMIZATION TECHNIQUES

1-Updating the network outage

Every day data are received from the OMC-R which is used to do the following analysis
- Zero call test (low volume).
0 =<volume<= 3
- Lost call test (link failure).
Check the call volumes for different periods (last & present week).
- Missing TCH/Radio test.
Compare the expected & available TCHs.
- Trend analysis.
Check the BSC performance (e.g. HO success, call success, drop call rate…).
- Bad BSC analysis (e.g. bad performance for HO success, call success or drop call
rate…).
- Bad cell generation.
Sometimes the overall performance of the BSC is good but there is a cell which
performing badly thus this technique is used.
It is equal to Assignment TCH * drop call.
- Report for bad cell.
The optimization team tries to get this information from users.
- Abnormal behavior analysis (e.g. Drop call, HO failure,….).
- CSSR (call setup success rate) analysis.
CSSR = Call volume / Assignments.

This update is done thought the following figures:

Fig.58: The data from OMC-R.

83
Fig.59: Importing the text data to Access.

Fig.60: Daily alarm database in access.

84
Fig.61: The BTS alarm table.

85
2- Check the lost TCHs

This process can be done following the next steps:

1- Get the number of SDCCH time slots from table_A also get the GPRS time slots
number from table_B (tables come periodically from the OMC-R.
2- Those columns should be added to another table_C(which also comes
periodically from the OMC-R
3- In table_C the SD, GPRS, TCH time and total number of time slots are counted
then the expected TCH are counted (expec tch = total ts - sd ts – gprs ts - 1).
4- Then the lost TCH are found by comparing the expected TCHs from above table
& available TCH from daily as in table missing ts cell and comments.
5- There is a Microsoft access that compare those TCH and run comments as
follows:
• Less 4 TCHs missing as a GPRS issue.
• More 4 TCHs missing as a radio issue.
• More 10 TCHs missing as what happened?
Note: less than 4 are chosen because of GPRS reserved & switched time slots.

86
 Chapter 4:
STATISTICS

1-Statistic usages

1.1- Quality of service monitoring

Quality of service is determined by statistics related to service accessibility, integrity, and
retainability.
- Service accessibility
Statistics associated with the following processes are used to determine service
accessibility:

* Mobile registration & paging.

Cells are grouped in location areas, and a mobile station (MS) is typically paged only in
the cells of one location area when an incoming call arrives. Therefore, the MS must
inform the MSC of the location area in which the subscriber should be paged. It does so
by a location updating procedure. The best outcome of the procedure is when the network
indicates normal service is available.
Several outcomes are possible when the registration is not successful, either due to the
procedure running correctly and the network providing a meaningful answer, possibly
denying service or the procedure running incorrectly and the network providing an
answer that is meaningless.
If the MS satisfactorily updates its location, it can then be paged by the MSC when an
incoming call arrives. The MSC provides the concerned BSC with the ID of the MS to
be paged and the list of cells in which the paging should be issued. The BSC is in charge
of managing the grouping and scheduling of paging messages and initial assignment of
messages.

* Network accessibility.
A registered MS should be able to access the network. Access denial is divided into three
main categories:
1- Call blocking.
- No signaling channel (SDCCH) is available.
- No Traffic Channel (TCH) is available.
2- Failure to maintain a signaling channel or traffic channel.
- Mobile is moving out of range.
- Mobile is being switched off.
- A hardware failure (MS or BSS).
3- Refusal by the MSC for network access.
Failure to gain access to the network is pegged in BSS statistics, but for a more detailed
picture MSC statistics would have to be investigated, as it is an MSC process.

* Call set up time.

Call set-up time is affected by post-selection delay and answer signal delay.
- Post-selection delay.

87
Post-selection delay is the time from dialing the last digit on the fixed network, or
pressing the .send. button on a MS, to receiving the appropriate tone. One possible
reason for this delay is that all resources have been allocated to other calls, which may
result in a queuing delay.
- Answer signal delay.
Answer signal delay is the time taken in connecting the called terminal through to the
calling terminal, once the called terminal has gone off hook.
The raw statistics TCH_DELAY and CALLS_QUEUED are associated with call set-up
time and answer signal delay.

* Call release time.

Call release time is the time taken to release the call from the moment the end button is
pressed (or after the handset is replaced on the fixed network).

* Call release delay.

Call release delay is the time between releasing one call and being able to originate
another. The only aspect of concern to the BSS is queuing. All other areas are transparent
to the BSS.

- Service integrity
Statistics associated with the following processes are used to determine service integrity:

* Call clarity.
Call clarity is measured by the uplink/downlink path loss difference on the air interface.
The raw statistic PATH_BALANCE is the only measurement associated with call
clarity.

* Lack of interference.
The lack of interference is measured by the bit error rate and the interference level on
monitored idle channels. The raw statistics BER and INTF_ON_IDLE are the only
measurements associated with lack of interference.

* Correct tones and announcements.

Subscriber perceptions of service integrity are influenced by the delivery of correct tones
and announcements when using the system. No statistics are available to measure correct
tones and announcements.

- Service retainability
Service retainability is determined by the lack of premature releases. A premature release
may be affected by one of the following factors:
*The base ceases to detect the RF signaling from the mobile.
*The MS fails to reach the target channel on handover.
* The call releases due to equipment failure (MSC, base site, or MS).
* The call is lost due to emergency call preemption.
A subscriber perceives a premature release as a dropped call.

88
1.2- Fault finding
GSM statistics can be used to find certain classes of faults in the cellular system. A set of
statistics which may be used to perform this function is identified in this section.
Monitoring Faults
Hard failures are normally identified via alarm surveillance. However, it is possible for a
system component to deteriorate over time, while still continuing to function. The
deterioration may manifest itself in a number of ways such as an increase in dropped call
rate, or a lower call completion rate. Monitoring of these system parameters over time
can provide the operator with an early indication of performance degradation due to
deterioration in hardware components.
Types of faults
Examples of the types of faults that may be identified using statistics include:
* Damaged antennas.
* Frequency drift.
* Electromechanical problems.
- Problems with remote combiners.
- Noisy channels.

1.3- Optimization
Optimization of system parameters is necessary to ensure that the installed cellular
infrastructure is utilized as efficiently as possible. Statistics can be used to monitor and
verify the effects of optimization activities. For example, if handover thresholds are
adjusted, statistics may be used to verify that the new threshold results in an improved
handover success rate. Optimization of a GSM network is a process whereby several BSS
database parameters are fine-tuned from their default values and antenna installations are
adjusted to improve call success rate and quality. By optimizing a network, the
performance of the cellular equipment is verified and a benchmark obtained for the
system that may be used for subsequent expansion. The results may also be used to
modify the original data used in the frequency planning tool.

1.4- Network planning

It is possible to determine whether or not the network is correctly dimensioned for the
offered traffic load. Statistics that monitor resource utilization and congestion can be used
to determine when the network needs to be expanded, (or contracted, if resources are
being under utilized).

1.5- Installation and commissioning

Installation and commissioning of cellular equipment is a complex procedure that must
be verified after completion. Part of the verification procedure uses statistics to ensure
that the system is operational.
Drive testing is currently one of the means used to verify installation of the network.
Statistics can be used to verify the data collected during drive testing, in order to ensure
that all components of the system are operational.

89
2- Statistics types
There are different types of statistics such as:

2.1-Raw statistics
The BSS generates raw statistics for reporting individual network performance. The
OMC-R processes raw statistics to create key, network health and custom statistics.
These statistics include call processing, interface, and processor utilization
measurements.
*Call statistics: Call processing functions and features generate statistics that
show how the system is performing.
*Interface statistics: Terrestrial interface activities generate interface statistics
that show the activity on and condition of the interface links. The interface links are the
physical connections between the MS, BSS, and MSC network elements.
*Processor utilization statistics: Processor utilization statistics show the
percentage of GPROC utilization.

2.2- Key statistics

Key statistics are generated at the OMC-R by processing raw statistics generated by the
BSS, using predefined algorithms. These statistics are designed to give an overall
indication of the condition of the system and allow comparisons of similar time period
over a span of time, to help detect congestion trends and possible performance
degradation. Key statistics are also provided to facilitate the monitoring of the most
important network parameters. For example, various handover failure statistics may be
combined and averaged over the total number of calls, to produce a handover failure rate
key statistic. The following are the key statistics groupings:
* Call Summary.
* Channel Usage.
* Connection Establishment.
* RF Loss Summary.
* MTL Utilization.

Network health statistics

Network health statistics are calculated at the OMC-R using a combination of raw and
key statistics. These statistics are used to create BSS network performance reports.
These reports provide an indication of the networks health from the subscribers
perspective. The following are the network health report groupings:
*Health check.
*GPRS performance.
*Handover performance.
*TCH congestion.
*SDCCH congestion.
*Paging performance.
*Radio performance.

90
3- Examples of key statistics

3.1- CALL_SETUP_SUCCESS_RATE

Description
The CALL_SETUP_SUCCESS_RATE statistic tracks the percentage of call attempts
that result in a successful TCH access. Network accesses which do not require a TCH are
excluded; for example, location updates, SMS, and Supplementary Service attempts.

Formula

In the above formula the numerator is the call volume which is equal to the
TOTAL_CALLS statistic, this tracks the total number of calls originated for each cell on
the BSS plus ASSIGNMENT_REDIRECTION statistic. This tracks the number of
times a call assignment is redirected to another cell. The denominator contains the setup
request count.

3.2- HANDOVER_FAILURE_RATE
Description
The HANDOVER_FAILURE_RATE statistic tracks the percentage of handovers that
were attempted from the source cell (the cell for which the statistic is presented) that
failed to successfully reach the target cell and failed to successfully recover to the source
cell, that is, the handover failed and the call dropped. A handover attempt is counted
when a handover command is sent to the MS. Congestion on the target cell does not
result in the BSS sending a handover command to the mobile therefore this measurement
is not impacted by target cell congestion.

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Formula

In the above formula the numerator contains all call lost during handovers and the
denominator contains all handover attempts for the call.

3.4- HANDOVER_SUCCESS_RATE

Description
The HANDOVER_SUCCESS_RATE statistic tracks the percentage of handovers that
were attempted from the source cell (cell for which the statistic is presented) that
successfully reached the target cell. A handover attempt is counted when a handover
command is sent to the MS. This key statistic includes inter-BSS Handovers. Congestion
on the target cell does not result in the BSS sending a handover command to the mobile
therefore this measurement is not impacted by target cell congestion.

Formula

This formula is representing the percentage of the successful handovers for both out_inter
and out_intra BSS plus the handover success in the intra_cell over the handover attempts.

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3.5- SDCCH_BLOCKING_RATE

Description
The SDCCH_BLOCKING_RATE statistic tracks the percentage of attempts to allocate
an SDCCH that were blocked due to no available SDCCH resources. This statistic
includes incoming SDCCH handover attempts.

Formula

The above formula the numerator is equals to the ALLOC_TCH_FAIL statistic, which
tracks the number of unsuccessful allocations of a TCH within a cell for both call
origination and hand in. the denominator is equal to the numerator subtracted from the
CHAN_REQ_MS_FAIL, which represent the number of times that the BSS times out
waiting for the MS to establish on the SDCCH that was assigned to it during the
immediate assignment procedure.

3.6- SDCCH_RF_LOSS_RATE

Description
The SDCCH_RF_LOSS_RATE statistic compares the total number of RF losses (while
using an SDCCH), as a percentage of the total number of call attempts for SDCCH
channels. T his statistic is intended to give an indication of how good the cell/system is at
preserving calls.

Formula

This formula is derived by the division of the RF_LOSSES_SD statistic that tracks the
number of calls lost while using a SDCCH over the subtraction of the ALLOC_SDCCH
statistic which is the sum of the number of times a SDCCH is successfully seized and
CHAN_REQ_MS_FAIL which represent the number of times that the BSS times out

93
waiting for the MS to establish on the SDCCH that was assigned to it during the
immediate assignment procedure.

3.7- TCH_BLOCKING_RATE

Description
The TCH_BLOCKING_RATE statistic provides the percentage of all requests for TCH resources which
fail due to no available TCH resources.

Formula

The above formula is equals to the subtraction of the ALLOC_TCH_FAIL statistic

,which tracks the number of unsuccessful allocations of a TCH within a cell for both call
origination and hand in, form the TCH_Q_REMOVED statistic ,that tracks when a
queued call is assigned to a Traffic Channel (TCH). Over the ALLOC_TCH statistic
which tracks the number of successful TCH allocations within a cell for both call
originations and hand in.

3.8- TCH_RF_LOSS_RATE
Description
The TCH_RF_LOSS_RATE statistic tracks the percentage of TCH resources that are
abnormally released due to a failure on the radio interface.

Formula

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In the three previous formulas the change is in the denominator according to level which
the rate of the TCH_RF_LOSS is considered.

3.9- SDCCH _BLOCKING_RATE

Description
The SDCCH_BLOCKING_RATE statistic tracks the percentage of attempts to allocate
an SDCCH that were blocked due to no available SDCCH resources. This statistic
includes incoming SDCCH handover attempts.

Formulas

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 Chapter 5:

RF CONFIGURATIONS

Overview of:

1- Configuration diagrams

The following series of RF configuration diagrams show suggested ways of connecting

together Horizonmacro SURF and Tx blocks to meet different operational requirements.
The series of diagrams is by no means exhaustive, and numerous alternative
configurations may be adopted to achieve the same aim. Each Horizonmacro cabinet is
represented by a SURF module and three Tx blocks. Interconnecting cables are identified
by a label; N01, 2, 3 or 4. Antenna connecting cables, not supplied as part of the
Horizonmacro equipment, are shown as dotted lines.

2- De-populated site configurations

The purpose of a depopulated site configuration is to allow customers to provide a future

expansion capability, at the time of installation. The diagram showing the final target
configuration is to be used to connect Tx blocks, SURF and antennas. Depopulated site
configurations are supplied with fully equipped RF section to achieve the target
configuration, with CTUs only fitted to alternate slots. CTUs are fitted in slots 0, 2 and 4.
Unused Tx block SMA connectors must be fitted with 50 ohm terminating loads.

96
• SURF Module

• Single Unified Receiver Front-end.

• MCell equivalent: IADU+3xDLNBs.
• Six antenna connections (3 sectors, diversity receive).
• Two extension ports.
• Extension ports permanently connected to Rx0A and Rx0B.

Fig.62: SURF module.

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• DCF Block

• Duplexed Combining Filter.

• MCell equivalent: CBF+Duplexer.
• Combines two transmit outputs and duplexes with one receive input.
• Most flexible block for 1-4 radio sectors.
• Transmit loss approx. 4.5dB.

Fig.63: DCF block.

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• DDF Block

• Dual-stage Duplexed Filter.

• MCell equivalent: 3-input CBF+Duplexer.
• Combines three transmit outputs and duplexes one receive input.
• Most flexible block for 3-8 radio sectors.
• Transmit loss approx. 7.5dB.

Fig.63: DDF block.

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• HCU Block

• Hybrid Combiner Unit.

• MCell equivalent: 900 Hybrid.
• Combines two transmit outputs.
• Must be used with DDF block.
• Transmit loss approx. 3dB.

Fig.64: HCU block.

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• TDF Block

• Twin Duplexed Filter.

• MCell equivalent: TBF+2xDuplexer.
• Two completely separate transmit/receive paths.
• Permits very low loss single-radio sectors to be configured.
• Transmit loss approx. 1.5dB.

Fig.65: TDF block.

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 ¾ Configuration for omni 1
The figure blow shows a suggested configuration, using one Horizonmacro cabinet, for
omni 1 with twin duplexed filter.

Fig.66: Single cabinet omni 1 with TDF.

¾ Configuration for omni 1 or 2(with and without diversity)

The following figure shows suggested single Horizonmacro cabinet configurations, with
and without diversity, for omni 1 or omni 2 with duplexed combining bandpass filter.
NOTE If a single antenna (non-diversity) is required, the duplex antenna RF receive
cable from the transmit block must be connected to the RxA path at the SURF. Simply
switching off diversity at the OMC-R without the correct SURF configuration will cause
a loss of reception.

Fig.67: single cabinet omni 1 or omni2 with DCF.

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 ¾ Configuration for omni 3 or 4
The figure below shows a suggested configuration, using a single Horizonmacro cabinet,
for omni 3 or omni 4 with duplexed combining bandpass filter.

Fig.68: single cabinet with omni 3 or 4with DCF.

¾ Configuration for omni 3

The following figure shows a suggested configuration, using one Horizonmacro cabinet,
for omni 3 with dual stage duplexed combining filter.

Fig.69: single cabinet omni 3 with DDF.

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 ¾ Configuration for omni 4
The figure below shows a suggested configuration, using a single Horizonmacro cabinet,
for omni 4 with dual stage duplexed combining filter and hybrid combining unit.

Fig.70: single cabinet omni 4 with DDF and HCU.

¾ Configuration for omni 5 or 6

The following figure shows a suggested configuration, using one Horizonmacro cabinet,
for omni 5 or 6 with dual stage duplexed combining filter and air combining.

104
 Fig.71: single cabinet omni 5 or 6 with DDF.

¾ Configuration for sector 1/1 or 2/2

The figure below shows a suggested configuration, using a single Horizonmacro cabinet,
for sector 1/1 or 2/2 with duplexed combining bandpass filter.

Fig.72: single cabinet sector 1/1 or 2/2 with DCF.

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 ¾ Configuration for sector 1/1
The following figure shows a suggested configuration, using one Horizonmacro cabinet,
for sector 1/1 with twin duplexed filter.

Fig.73: single cabinet sector 1/1 with TDF.

¾ Configuration for single cabinet sector 3/3

The figure below shows a suggested configuration, using one Horizonmacro cabinet,
for sector 3/3 with dual stage duplexed combining filter.

Fig.74: single cabinet sector 3/3 with DDF.

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 ¾ Configuration for 2 cabinet sector 3/3
The following figure shows a suggested configuration, using two Horizonmacro cabinets,
for sector 3/3 with dual stage duplexed combining filter.

Fig.75: two cabinet sector 3/3 with DDF.

¾ Configuration for 2 cabinet sector 4/4

The figure below shows a suggested configuration, using two Horizonmacro cabinets,
for sector 4/4 with dual stage duplexed combining filter and hybrid combining
unit.

Fig.76: Two cabinet sector 4/4 with DDF and HCU.

107
 ¾ Configuration for 2 cabinet sector 5/5 or 6/6
The following figure shows a suggested configuration, using two Horizonmacro cabinets,
for sector 5/5 or 6/6 with dual stage duplexed combining filter and air combining.

Fig.77: Two cabinet sector 5/5 or 6/6 with DDF and air combining.

¾ Configuration for single cabinet sector 1/1/1, 1/1/2, 1/2/2 or 2/2/2

The figure below shows a suggested configuration, using a single Horizonmacro
cabinet, for sector 1/1/1, 1/1/2, 1/2/2 or 2/2/2 with duplexed combining bandpass filter.

Fig.78: single cabinet sector 1/1/1, 1/1/2, 1/2/2 or 2/2/2 with DCF.

108
 ¾ Configuration for 2 cabinet sector 2/2/2
The following figure shows a suggested configuration, using two Horizonmacro cabinets,
for sector 2/2/2 with duplexed combining bandpass filter.

Fig.79: two cabinet sector 2/2/2 with DCF.

¾ Configuration for 2 cabinet sector 3/3/3 or 4/4/4

The figure below shows a suggested configuration, using two Horizonmacro cabinets, for
sector 3/3/3 or sector 4/4/4 with duplexed combining bandpass filter and air combining.

Fig.80: two cabinet sector 3/3/3 or sector 4/4/4 with DCF and air combining.

109
 ¾ Configuration for 2 cabinet sector 4/4/4
Figure shows a suggested configuration, using two Horizonmacro cabinets,
for sector 4/4/4 with dual stage duplexed combining filter and hybrid combining
unit.

Fig.81: Two cabinet sector 4/4/4 with DDF and HCU.

¾ Configuration for 3 cabinet sector 4/4/4

The figure shows a suggested configuration, using three Horizonmacro cabinets, for
sector 4/4/4 with dual stage duplexed combining filter and hybrid combining unit.

Fig.82: three cabinet sector 4/4/4 with DDF and HCU.

110
 ¾ Configuration for sector 5/5/5 or 6/6/6
The following figure shows a suggested configuration, using three Horizonmacro
cabinets, for sector 5/5/5 or sector 6/6/6 with dual stage duplexed combining filter and air
combining.

Fig.83: Sector 5/5/5 or sector 6/6/6 with DDF and air combining.

111
 Chapter 6:

FIELD EXPERIENCE

Visiting different sites where:

1. The cabinet which support GSM using CTU I (OMAN).
2. The cabinet which support both GSM & EDGE both
3. CTU I & CTU II (KUWAIT).
4. Changing the tilt which is used to:
ƒ Control coverage.
ƒ Reduce Interference.
There is two methods for tilting:
ƒ Mechanical.
ƒ Electrical.
& and changing the orientation of the antenna for Optimization.
As can be seen from the following figures.

Fig.84: Downtilting the antenna.

112
Fig.85: The Handheld Controller used for tilting.

Fig.86: The coverage without tilting.

Fig.87: The coverage with downtilting.

113
 Fig.88: No downtilte & equal path links in feed network.

Fig.89: No downtilte & unequal path links in feed network.

5. Re-location of a new site since the old site was on a small height & a new
construction caused antenna/coverage blocking.
6. Site integration where Each radios were tested for Tx / Rx performance
individually & the neighbors using TEMS. As can be seen from the table_E.

114
 Chapter 7:
SOCIAL EXPERIENCE

The training period was not just for studying & working but the social life was an
important part where we met a lot of people with different personalities and cultures,
which really was such an interesting and incredible experience. Honestly, in
MOTOROLA I personally felt the respect & the hardworking styles. Thus, I tried to learn
from the whole team over there. Finally, we tried to return a little from the more that
MOTOROLA gave it to us, me myself & my colleges, by giving them a gift which is a
shield as can be seen from the picture below, which represent really our appreciating for
their love & respect.

115
ANNEXURES /REFERENCES

116
117
118
References:

1. GSM Protocols (text book) by Guner Heine.

2. Motorola Documentation CD- GSR6 and 7.
3. Respective Tools manuals- Actix, CTP, Mars, TEMS & MapInfo.
4. http://www.comms.eee.strath.ac.uk/~gozalvez/gsm/gsm.html

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END

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