Huawei Technologies

2005.10 8
 HOW TO OPERATE
Refined WiMAX 16e network planning
Refined WiMAX 16e network planning
By Zhang Congling & Xie Guozhu
A strong relationship exists between a high quality WiMAX network and
refined network planning. The key technologies and applications specific
to WiMAX 16e pose a range of new network planning challenges.
W
iMAX technology
attracted considerable
industr y-wide interest
from the moment of
its inception. It effectively combines
broadband data into mobile technologies,
and its flawless integration capability
is able to satisfy strong subscriber
demands rapidly for mobile broadband-
based network access, operators in turn
benefit from a highly efficient platform
through which to deliver competitive
and differentiated services. Subsequently,
identifying methods to achieve cost-
e f f e c t i ve Wi M A X c o n s t r u c t i o n h a s
emerged as a key research area.
31 JUN 2008 . ISSUE 41
The widely and randomly distributed
WiMAX 16e frequency bands are 2.3GHz,
2.5GHz, and 3.5GHz. The frequencies
of traffic channel bandwidth are 5MHz,
7MHz, 10MHz, and 20MHz. Sub-carrier
allocation modes span: Partially Used Sub-
Carrier (PUSC), PUSC with all SC/Fully
Used Sub-Carrier (FUSC), and Fractional
Frequency Reuse (FFR).
Planning a WiMAX 16e network
presents a wide range of challenges in
terms of securing effective implementation
methodologies. Deployment needs to
optimally utilize an operators frequency
re s o u r c e s ; re d u c e BTS n u m b e r s t o
decrease capital expenditure (CAPEX) and
operation expenditure (OPEX); minimize
inter-system interference; and ensure
sufficient indoor and outdoor coverage.
Huaweis rich 2G/3G network planning
experience has proved invaluable in the
development of its WiMAX 16e network
planning solution. The solution features
innovation in frequency planning, multi-
antenna technology, interference control,
and network planning tools. Moreover,
Huawei is able to customize multi-scenario
indoor coverage solutions for operators
specific needs and thus help them
enhance the value of WiMAX 16es core
competitiveness.
Maximizing spectral
efficiency
In a WiMAX 16e network, the
common sub-carrier allocation modes are
PUSC, PUSC with all SC/FUSC and
FFR.
Under PUSC, each sector employs only
a third of the available frequency resources,
and neighboring sectors utilize sub-
channel resources without mutual conflict.
As a result, interference is relatively small.
Limited power resources are centrally
applied to partial sub-carriers, yielding
an extremely high downlink coverage
distance. While the PUSC mode features
good coverage, its spectral efficiency is
lower than that of both the PUSC with
all SC/FUSC and FFR modes.
Under PUSC with all SC/FUSC,
all sub-channel resources are utilized and
BTS and sector throughputs are relatively
high. This mode boasts the least network
interference and is easy to implement, but
it consumes comparatively more frequency
resources.
Un d e r F F R , t h e l e v e l o f s e c t o r
throughput is between that of the other

two modes. The entire network employs
only one frequency point and delivers
the highest spectral efficiency, but system
interference is relatively high.
The three allocation modes all possess
advantages and disadvantages. We need
to select the most suitable sub-carrier
allocation mode based on an operators
specific frequency resources and network
deployment requirements.
Fo r e x a m p l e , i n a 3 . 5 G Wi M A X
project in Georgia, the operator obtained
paired frequency bands, both of which
are 40MHz. According to the existing
frequency resources of the operator,
Huawei has proposed a 10MHz channel
bandwidth + PUSC with all SC 1 x 4 x
4 solution. The entire network adopts
a BTS as a reuse cluster for frequency
planning. Each BTS is configured with
four sectors, and there are four frequencies
for networking. The proportion of uplink
to downlink sub-frames is 31:15.
The solution maximizes the operators
frequency resources. The downlink and
uplink per sector peak rates are above
20Mbit/s and 5Mbit/s respectively. The
sector spectral efficiency is twice or three
times greater than that of other mobile
communications systems. The maximum
throughput per BTS reaches 100Mbit/s,
which meets subscriber requirements for
ultra-broadband mobile access services.
With these features and benefits, the
solution was welcomed by the operator.
Reducing BTS numbers
Multiple Input Multiple Output
(MIMO) technology is the key to reducing
both BTS numbers and CAPEX.
Compared with Single Input Single
Output (SISO), MIMO generates coverage
gains of 4 - 6dB using transmit diversity
technologys Matrix-A 2 x 2, which
significantly extends coverage distance.
When the pre-coding MIMO-Beam
Forming (MIMO-BF) technology is
employed, MIMO generates an additional
coverage gain of 3 - 6dB. With MIMO-
2T4R technology, MIMO extends the
uplink coverage range by an additional 2.5
- 3.5dB, which translates as a radial gain of
25%.
Based on the characteristics of
different scenarios, we can select the most
appropriate multi-antenna technology
solutions. This can considerably extend
network coverage, minimize BTS numbers,
and reduce network CAPEX & OPEX.
In August 2007, Huawei and the
operator, JCOM, jointly performed an
outdoor field test in Tokyo to evaluate
MIMO Matrix-A application. The results
exhibited a 4 - 6dB coverage gain.
Disabling MIMO in an urban area gives
a 1.1km coverage radius when the terminal
is configured with a PCMCIA card. After
enabling MIMO, coverage increases by
45% to 1.6km, and the number of BTS is
reduced by 50%.
Minimizing inter-system
interference
Interference is a major problem in
mobile communications systems. In an
area where different operators WiMAX
T D D s y s t e m s e m p l oy n e i g h b o r i n g
frequencies, inter-system interference is
inevitable, especially if two systems are
not synchronized. The increasing number
of WiMAX commercial sites makes it
more difficult to obtain new site locations.
Therefore, WiMAX needs to be co-located
with other systems such as GSM, CDMA
or UMTS. In such cases, inter-system
interference exists.
Huawei has managed to solve the
issue of coexisting WiMAX systems that
operate in one area and use neighboring
frequencies. Huawei co-location +
synchronization solution mitigates inter-
system interference by synchronizing
WiMAX systems and adopting an identical
proportion of uplink and downlink sub-
frames to eliminate inter-BS interference.
Conjoined deployment can help reduce
negative system impact from the far-
near effect. An operator can optimally
exploit frequency resources to maximize
system throughput without reserving an
additional guard band.
When two operators WiMAX systems
cannot be co-located or synchronized,
Huawei provides a customized BTS
narrowband filter solution. This adopts
closer frequency reuse mode, for example
FFR, and reserves certain guard bands
Huawei Technologies
such as 5MHz. The solution maintains
inter-antenna isolation, reduces inter-
system interference between neighboring
frequencies, and guarantees optimal
equipment and system performance.
To realize WiMAX co-location with
other systems, Huaweis extensive research
and practical tests have culminated
in a solution that isolates vertical
or horizontal space for inter-system
antennae installation. Doing so minimizes
interference between WiMAX and other
systems.
For a 2.5G WiMAX project in Japan,
Huawei proposed a customized medium
n a r r ow b a n d f i l t e r s o l u t i o n f o r t h e
operator. By adopting FFR to obviate the
interference between several operators
n e i g h b o r i n g f r e q u e n c i e s , Hu a w e i
successfully delivered a highly efficient
WiMAX 16e commercial network.
Guaranteeing the
network quality
Comprehensive network planning
tools
Effective network planning tools are
crucial to guaranteeing network quality.
In orientation to customer requirements
for mobile network planning, Huawei
incorporated its 10-plus years network
planning and optimization experience to
develop a GENEX portfolio tools solution.
The series of GENEX tools comprise:
GENEX U-NET (a mobile network
planning platform), GENEX Probe and
GENEX Assistant (drive test systems),
and GENEX Nastar (a mobile network
performance monitoring and optimization
system).
The GENEX U-NET enhances mobile
network planning by implementing
coverage and capacity planning, planning
verification, auto-site selection, and
propagation model self-calibration.
Moreover, U-NET can simultaneously
support several types of networks. It allows
for the impact of multiple factors on
coverage and capacity, including service
requirements, MIMO, the permutation
zone, sub-carrier allocation, modulation
mode, and coding repetition times.
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 HOW TO OPERATE
Refined WiMAX 16e network planning
For a new network, U-NET suggests
h i g h - q u a l i t y n e t w o rk c o n s t r u c t i o n
methods. For an overlay network, it seeks
to optimally utilize existing network
resources and minimize the impact of new
sites on the existing network.
T h e G E N E X Pro b e a n d G E N E X
Assistant are mainly used for network
construction and maintenance. The
GENEX Nastar represents the trump card
in terms of network optimization. The
solution can perform seamless association
analysis by importing GENEX Probe-
derived drive test data into the U-NET for
model calibration. Nastar is also able to
verify U-NET planning results.
To date, GENEX portfolio solutions
have been successfully applied by the
leading global operators worldwide,
including Leap in America, TATA in India,
and BT in the UK.
Multi-scenario indoor coverage
The existing frequency bands used for
WiMAX are higher than those found in
other mobile communication systems,
causing greater space propagation losses.
WiMAX services, meanwhile, are mainly
used indoors. Therefore, appropriate
indoor coverage solutions for diversified
scenarios are crucial to the WiMAX
network quality.
xDSL replacement solution
When WiMAX replaces xDSL, an
operator must focus on identifying low-
cost construction methods, while catering
to the network access requirements of
household users, and small and medium-
sized corporate subscribers.
In these scenarios, outdoor customer
premise equipment (CPE) or window-
mounted CPE are used to facilitate indoor
coverage. Outdoor CPE is equipped
with high-gain outdoor antennae, which
i n c re a s e c ove r a g e r a d i u s by 3 0 0 % .
Window-mounted CPE is an attractive
option for operators due to its ease of
installation and window-against-antenna
design.
The STC WiMAX 16e network forms
Huaweis first Middle Eastern WiMAX
commercial network. It adopts numerous
window-mounted CPEs, and successfully
33 JUN 2008 . ISSUE 41
Commercial WiMAX 16e
networks are being quickly
deployed throughout the
world. Underpinned by
a customer-first ethos,
Huawei is dedicated to
constructing top-grade
WiMAX 16e networks with
its professional, customer-
oriented, and refined
network planning.
elevates the quality of indoor coverage
signals by using the same number of sites.
Small-to-medium capacity solution
We recommend the low-cost Pico BTS
+ Distributed Access System (DAS) indoor
coverage solution for areas characterized
by small-to-medium capacity demands,
such as shopping plazas or residential
areas. Smaller and lighter than a macro
BTS, the Pico BTS is the same size as a
portable computer and is thus applicable
to a variety of indoor environments.
Moreover, several systems can easily share
the antennae system through this indoor
coverage solution.
Large capacity and wide coverage
solution
Our distributed BTS + DAS solution
responds to areas that necessitate large
capacity and wide coverage capabilities,
such as gyms, airports and exhibition
halls. Based on mature HSPA distributed
BTS technology, the WiMAX distributed
BTS describes a compact, high capacity,
multi-band networking unit. It is easy to
install, enables rapid network deployment,
and dramatically reduces costs associated
with site location, equipment rooms, and
auxiliary equipment.
Large capacity and centralized
coverage solution
A luxurious mansion provides an
example of a site that requires large
capacity and centralized coverage. In
such a case, we recommend the indoor
Distributed BS System (iDBS) solution.
The iDBS offers high capacity, wide
coverage, high receiver sensitivity, and
low expenditure in terms of project
implementation and maintenance.
Additionally, it realizes cell splitting,
and facilitates capacity expansion via a
simple data configuration adjustment,
negating the need for costly and complex
engineering reconstruction.
When indoor distribution system
cannot be deployed
In buildings where special regulations
apply, for example in buildings protected
by cultural heritage laws, it may be
impossible to deploy indoor distribution
system if its construction parameters
cannot be satisfied. In this instance, an
outdoor BTS antenna can be sharply
up tilted or down tilted. Mobile signals
directly penetrate the building to achieve
indoor coverage, without the need for a
designated indoor distribution system.
This solution removes project
implementation difficulties, while reducing
the indoor coverage CAPEX.
We are ready
By March 2008, Huawei has held talks
with more than 100 operators worldwide
regarding WiMAX standards, network
planning, and network construction.
In the Asian-Pacific, Middle Eastern,
African, European, North American,
and Latin American regions, Huawei has
already constructed over 30 trial systems
and has been awarded 17 WiMAX 16e
commercial contracts.
With the completion of interoperability
verifications and the sustained decline
in terminal prices, commercial WiMAX
16e networks are being quickly deployed
throughout the world. Underpinned by a
customer-first ethos, Huawei is dedicated
to constructing top-grade WiMAX 16e
networks with its professional, customer-
oriented, and refined network planning.
Editor: Li Xuefeng xuefengli@huawei.com