PCI Planning

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 PCI Planning

Contents

PCI Planning
 Initial Access Procedure
 Cell Search Procedures
 Physical layer Cell Identity
 Minimising Groups/Codes

Graham Whyley
Technical Master Trainer

2
 Initial Access Procedure
UE Power
ON

Cell Search Read SIB’s Cell Random

Selection access

Step 1 – Primary Synchronization Signal

· CodeID =code (0,1,2)
Step 2 – Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS)-Group
· Find Physical Layer Cell ID
· Cyclic Prefix Length detection
· FDD or TDD Detection
Step 3 – Reference Signal Detection / PBCH Detection
(Receiving System Information)

3
 Synchronization signals
There are 2 synchronization signals in LTE
downlink,
Primary synchronization signal – PSS
Secondary synchronization signal – SSS

3 PRB
6 x 180kHz
=1.080Mhz
3 PRB
The PSS and SSS are both mapped
always in Subframe 0 and 5 for FDD

4
 PSS/SSS detection

The PSS/SSS detection is a very early procedure that the UE

should do, to get the cell ID of the system

There are 3 different sequences of PSS

168 different sequences of SSS

Physical layer Cell Identity = (3 × Group(0 to 167)) + Code 0-2

5
 Cell Search Procedures

Cell Random
Cell Search Read SIB’s
Selection access

There are two different types of synchronization procedures. The first one is when
the UE is not connected to LTE cell and wants to access LTE network. This
happens when the UE is switched on or when the reception is restored after being
in an area with no connection.

The second type of synchronization procedure happens when

the UE is already connected to LTE cell and detects a new cell.
This means the UE will prepare for a handover to a new cell
and will report this to the old cell.
• (P-SCH): for cell search and identification

Both these procedures use two types of

synchronization signals, that is the primary
synchronization signal (PSS) and the • S-SCH): for cell search and identification
secondary synchronization signal (SSS)
which are broadcasted in each cell. 6
 Cell Acquisition
After a mobile switches on, it runs a low-level acquisition procedure so as to
identify the nearby LTE cells and discover how they are configured. In doing
so, it receives the primary and secondary synchronization signals, reads the
master information block from the physical broadcast channel and reads the
remaining system information blocks from the physical downlink shared
channel.

Physical Cell layer identity

• (P-SCH): for cell search and identification

• (P-SCH): for cell search and identification

• S-SCH): for cell search and identification

• S-SCH): for cell search and identification

Physical Cell layer identity

The mobile starts by receiving the synchronization signals from all the nearby cells.
From the primarysynchronization signal (PSS), it discovers the symbol timing and
gets some incomplete information about the physical cell identity. From the
secondary synchronization signal (SSS), it discovers the frame timing, the physical
7
cell identity,
 Initial Access Procedure

Cell Search Read SIB’s Cell Random

Selection access

UE reads Channel Bandwidth

the MIB

UE reads Scheduling Information

the SIB 1 Value Tag

SIB2, SIB3, SIB4, SIB5,

UE reads
SIB6, SIB7, SIB8, SIB9,
the SIB
SIB10, SIB11, SIB12, SIB13

8
 Initial Access Procedure

Cell Search Read SIB’s Cell Random

Selection access

SIB1 contains cell access related information (e.g. a PLMN

identity list, tracking area code, cell identity, etc.), information
for cell selection (e.g. minimum required Rx level in the
cell and offset), p-Max, frequency band indicator, scheduling
information, TDD configuration, SI-window length and system
information value tag etc...

9
 Initial Access Procedure

Cell Search Read SIB’s Cell Random

Selection access

The SystemInformationBlockType3 (SIB3)

contains cell re-selection information common for intra-

frequency, inter-frequency and/or inter-RAT cell re-selection
(i.e. applicable for more than one type of cell re-selection but
not necessarily all)

SIB3 also contains cell reselection priority information for the

concerned carrier frequency or a set of frequencies
... 10
 Initial Access Procedure

Cell Search Read SIB’s Cell Random

Selection access

The SystemInformationBlockType4 (SIB4)

contains intra-frequency neighboring cell information for

intra-LTE intra-frequency cell reselection, such as
neighbour cell list, and black listed Cell list...

11
 Initial Access Procedure

Cell Search Read SIB’s Cell Random

Selection access

The SystemInformationBlockType5 (SIB5)

contains neighbour cell related information for inter-
frequency cell-reselection i.e. the information about
neighbor E-UTRA frequencies

12
 Initial Access Procedure

Cell Search Read SIB’s Cell Random

Selection access

The SystemInformationBlockType6 (SIB6)

contains information relevant only for inter-RAT cell re-

selection i.e. information about UTRA frequencies and
UTRA neighbouring cells relevant for cell re-selection

13
 Initial Access Procedure

Cell Search Read SIB’s Cell Random

Selection access

The SystemInformationBlockType7 (SIB7)

contains inter-RAT cell re-selection information only for

GERAN. It includes cell re-selection parameters for each
frequency. SIB7 also contains cell reselection priority
information

14
 Initial Access Procedure

Cell Search Read SIB’s Cell Random

Selection access

Random Access Preamble

Random Access Preamble

Random Access Response

Timing Advance/ C-RNTI

RRC Connection Request

15
 Introduction to PCI planning
• Physical layer Cell Identity (PCI) identifies a cell within a network
 equivalent of UMTS scrambling code
• There are 504 Physical Layer Cell Identities
 compared to 512 UMTS scrambling codes
 PCI are organised in 168 groups of 3 codes
 compared to 64 groups of 8 for UMTS scrambling codes

 Physical layer Cell Identity = (3 × Group(0 to 167)) + Code 0-2

Id = 0 Id = 6
Id = 2 Id = 8
Cluster Group
Id = 1 Id = 7
Id = 3 Id = 9
Id = 5 Id =
11
Id = 4 Id =
10

16
 Cell Search
Physical layer Cell Identity = (3 × Group(0 to 167)) + Code 0-2

PSS

Id = 0 Id = 6
Id = 2 Id = 8
SSS
Id = 1 Id = 7
Id = 3 Id = 9
Id = 5 Id =
11
Id = 4 Id = Read SIB’s
10 Frequency Shift

17
 Physical layer Cell Identity

Physical layer Cell Identity = (3 × Group(0 to 167)) + Code 0-2

= (3 x 2) + 2 =8

Group(0 to 167)

Code (0-2)

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 Physical layer Cell Identity

Physical layer Cell Identity = (3 × Group(145)) + Code 2

= 437

Physical layer Cell Identity = (3 × Group(145)) + Code 1

= 436

Id = 0 Id = 6
• (P-SCH): for cell search and identification
Id = 2 Id = 8

Id = 1 Id = 7
Id = 3 Id = 9
• S-SCH): for cell search and identification
Id = 5 Id =
11
Id = 4 Id =
10 Physical Cell layer identity

19
 Minimising Groups.

Physical layer Cell Identity = (3 × Group(0 to 167)) + Code 0-2

PCI=0 PCI=1 PCI=2 PCI=3 PCI= 4 PCI= 5

ONLY TWO
Group =0 Group =0 Group =0 Group =1 Group =1 Group =1
GROUPS USED
Code =0 Code =1 Code =2 Code =0 Code =1 Code =2

Carrier
1 PCI=0 Carrier
1 PCI=3

Carrier 1 Carrier 1
PCI=1 Carrier 1 Carrier 1
PCI=2 PCI=5
PCI=4

20
 Minimising Codes.

Physical layer Cell Identity = (3 × Group(0 to 167)) + Code 0-2

PCI=0 PCI=6 PCI=9 PCI=12 PCI= 15 PCI= 18

ONLY ONE CODE
Group =0 Group =2 Group =3 Group =4 Group =5 Group =6
USED
Code =0 Code =0 Code =0 Code =0 Code =0 Code =0

Carrier
1 PCI=0 Carrier
1 PCI=12

Carrier 1 Carrier 1
PCI=6 Carrier 1 Carrier 1
PCI=9 PCI=18
PCI=15

21
 Planning Overview
• PCI planning is analogous to scrambling code planning in UMTS:
• a UE should never simultaneously receive the same PCI from more than 1 cell
• the isolation between cells using the same PCI should be maximised
• neighbour cells should not have the same PCI (collision free planning)
• neighbours of neighbours cell should not have the same PCI (confusion free planning)

 Additionally, PCI planning should account for Frequency Shift

• There should be some level of co-ordination across international borders when

allocating PCI
• avoids operators allocating the same PCI to cells on the same RF carrier and in
neighbouring geographic areas

22
 Cell Specific Reference Signals - ports 0 to 3

• Reference signals similar to CPICH in WCDMA

• Reference signals are distributed in both the time and frequency domains
– allows the propagation channel to be estimated across both domains
• Used for cell search, channel estimation and neighbour cell monitoring

• Reference signals reduce the maximum achievable user plane bit rate by
occupying a subset of the resource block symbol locations

Same PCI Same PCI

Antenna 1 Antenna 1
Without MIMO

12 sub-carriers

12 sub-carriers

1 ms 1 ms

23
 Reference Signal Receive Power

RSRP (Reference Signal Receive Power) is the average power of Resource

Elements (RE) that carry cell specific Reference Signals (RS) over the entire
bandwidth, so RSRP is only measured in the symbols carrying RS
Reference signals similar to CPICH in
WCDMA Antenna 1

Reference signals are distributed in

Without MIMO

12 sub-carriers
both the time and frequency domains

Used for cell search, channel estimation

and neighbour cell monitoring

Reference signals reduce the maximum 1 ms

achievable user plane bit rate by
occupying a subset of the resource Reference Signals occupy
block symbol locations 8 out of 168 symbols

RSRP measures signal power from a specific sector while excluding noise and
interference from other sectors 24
Sub
channel

RSRP (Reference Signal Receive Power)

is the average power of Resource
Elements (RE) that carry cell specific
Reference Signals (RS) over the entire
bandwidth, so RSRP is only measured in
the symbols carrying Reference Signals

25
Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP)

26
 Received Signal Strength Indicator

RSSI is effectively a measurement of all of the power contained in the

applicable spectrum (1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15 or 20MHz).

This could be signals, control channels, data channels, adjacent cell power,
background noise, everything.

RSSI varies with LTE downlink bandwidth

Point of interest
27
 Reference Signal Receive Quality

RSRP provides information about signal strength and RSSI helps in

determining interference and noise information.

This is the reason, RSRQ (Reference Signal Receive Quality)

measurement and calculation is based on both RSRP and RSSI

RSRQ is defined
as the ratio
N×RSRP / (E-
UTRA carrier
RSSI)

28
 Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ)

LOADED
UNLOADED
RSRQ affected by cell loads.

29
 Reference Signal Receive Quality
Bandwidth 1.4 3 5 10 15 20
(MHz)
# of RBs 6 15 25 50 75 100

Subcarrier 72 180 300 600 900 1200

s

Point of interest
RSRQ = n x RSRP/RSSI

RSRQ = 10 log 25 + (-102.77 –(- 82 .71)

=13.97 + (-20.06)
=-6.09

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 Cell Specific Reference Signals (ports 0 to 3)
Antenna 1 Antenna 2
2+2 MIMO

Antenna 1 Antenna 2 Antenna 3 Antenna 4

4+4 MIMO

31
Down Link Reference Signals SNR & SINR

32
 DLRS SNR

DLRS SNR
+40.3
DLRS SINR +33.7

POWER

33
 DLRS SNR

DLRS SINR

34
Frequency shifts

35
 Frequency shifts
The PCI determines the position of the Cell specific Reference Signal
in the frequency domain
There are six possible frequency shifts of RSs

Different ν shift, should be used in adjacent cells

Shift= 0

Shift= 1

Shift= 2

36
Frequency shifts
PCI GROUP CODE CELL SPECIFIC FREQ
SHIFT

0 0 0 0
1 0 1 1
2 0 2 2
3 1 0 3
4 1 1 4
5 1 2 5
6 2 0 0
CELL SPECIFIC FREQ SHIFT
This determines the DLRS pattern (time frequency positions)

37
 PCI GRO CO CELL
Frequency shifts UP DE SPECIFIC
FREQ SHIFT

PCI =0 PCI =0 0 0 0 0
1 0 1 1
2 0 2 2
3 1 0 3
PCI =6 4 1 1 4
PCI =0
5 1 2 5
6 2 0 0
CELL SPECIFIC FREQ SHIFT
This determines the DLRS pattern (time frequency
positions)

PCI =1 PCI =7

PCI PCI
=0 =0

38
 Minimising Groups.

Physical layer Cell Identity = (3 × Group(0 to 167)) + Code 0-2

PCI GRO CO CELL
UP DE SPECIFIC
FREQ SHIFT

PCI=0 PCI=1 PCI=2 PCI=3 PCI= 4 PCI= 5 0 0 0 0

Group Group Group Group Group Group 1 0 1 1
=0 =0 =0 =1 =1 =1
Code =0 Code =1 Code =2 Code =0 Code =1 Code =2
2 0 2 2
FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT
=0 =1 =2 =3 =4 =5
3 1 0 3
4 1 1 4
Carrier 5 1 2 5
1 PCI=0 Carrier
1 PCI=3 6 2 0 0
CELL SPECIFIC FREQ SHIFT
This determines the DLRS pattern (time frequency
Carrier positions)
Carrier 1
1PCI=2 PCI=1 Carrier Carrier 1
1PCI=4 PCI=5

39
 PCI GRO CO CELL
Minimising Codes. UP DE SPECIFIC
FREQ SHIFT
0 0 0 0
1 0 1 1
2 0 2 2
3 1 0 3
4 1 1 4
PCI=0 PCI=6 PCI=9 PCI=12 PCI= 15 PCI= 18
5 1 2 5
Group Group Group Group Group Group 6 2 0 0
=0 =2 =3 =4 =5 =6
Code Code Code Code Code Code 7 2 1 1
=0 =0 =0 =0 =0 =0
8 2 2 2
FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT
=3
9 3 0 3
=0 =0 =0 =4 =0
10 3 1 4
11 3 2 5
Carrier 1 12 4 0 0
Carrier 1
PCI=0
PCI=12 13 4 1 1
14 4 2 2
15 5 0 3
Carrier 1 Carrier 1
Carrier 1 Carrier 1 16 5 1 4
PCI=6
PCI=9 PCI=18
PCI=15 17 5 2 5
18 6 0 0

Very poor PCI planning

40
Using a planning tool
Very poor DLRS SINR

41
MIMO

42
 LTE Reference Symbols
Antenna 1
Without MIMO

Antenna 1 Antenna 2
2+2 MIMO

Antenna 1 Antenna 2 Antenna 3 Antenna 4

4+4 MIMO

43
 PCI mod 3’

• When using 2x2 or 4x4 MIMO, the

Resource Elements allocated to the
Cell specific Reference Signal
coincide every 3rd PCI value

• In practice, it is not possible to ensure

that all neighbours have different ‘PCI
mod 3’ results so compromise is to
allocate:

– 1 PCI group per 3 sector eNode B

– 2 PCI groups per 6 sector eNode B Signal coincide every 3rd

PCI value

44
 Best Planning Practice
• In practice, it is not possible to Group =0
ensure that all neighbours have PCI=0 Code =0
FS =0
different ‘PCI mod 3’ results so
compromise is to allocate: Group =0
PCI=1 Code = 1
FS =0
– 1 PCI group per 3 sector
Group =0
eNode B
PCI=2 Code = 2
FS =0
– 2 PCI groups per 6 sector
eNode B
PCI=0 PCI=1 PCI=2

Group =0 Group =0 Group =0

Code =0 Code = 1 Code =2

FS =0 FS =1 FS =2

• When using 3-sector sites, neighbouring eNode B should use adjacent

PCI groups
45
Using a planning tool
Very poor DLRS SINR

46
Using a planning tool

47
Using a planning tool

48
Questions

49
 Questions
1. When PCI planning is it best to:
A. Minimising Codes.
B. Minimising Groups.
PCI=0 PCI=6 PCI=9 PCI=12 PCI= 15 PCI= 18

Group Group Group Group Group Group

=0 =2 =3 =4 =5 =6
Code Code Code Code Code Code
=0 =0 =0 =0 =0 =0

FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT
=0 =0 =3 =0 =4 =0

PCI=0 PCI=1 PCI=2 PCI=3 PCI= 4 PCI= 5

Group Group Group Group Group Group

=0 =0 =0 =1 =1 =1
Code =0 Code =1 Code =2 Code =0 Code =1 Code =2
FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT
=0 =1 =2 =3 =4 =5

50
 Questions
2. When using 2x2 or 4x4 MIMO, the
Resource Elements allocated to the
Cell specific Reference Signal
coincide every 3rd PCI value

TRUE
FALSE

51
 Questions
3. The group = 3 and the code =2. What is the PCI?

a. 5
b. 3
c. 9
d. 11
e. None of the above

Physical layer Cell Identity = (3 × Group(0 to 167)) + Code 0-2

= 3x3 + 2 = 11

52
 Questions
4. Connected mode means the UE does cell selection and reselection,
location registration, reception of system information and enable the UE to
establish an RRC connection for signalling or data transfer (including CSFB
and VoLTE) as well as be able to receive possible incoming connections (via
paging).

TRUE
FALSE

53
 Questions

5. From the primary synchronization signal (PSS), it discovers the symbol

timing and gets some incomplete information about the physical cell identity.
From the secondary synchronization signal (SSS), it discovers the frame
timing, the physical cell identity,.

TRUE
FALSE

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 In Closing
 Thank you for attending

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