ZTE’s 2G/3G Inter-working Solution

Lecturer：Dr.
Lecturer：Dr.Xie
XieXiaoxuan
Xiaoxuan(Harry)
(Harry)
International
Internationalmarketing
marketingDepartment,
Department,
Mobile
MobileDivision
Divisionof
ofZTE
ZTECorporation
Corporation
Tel:
Tel: 84-4-9350704
84-4-9350704
E-mail:
E-mail: xie.xiaoxuan@zte.com.cn
xie.xiaoxuan@zte.com.cn
xie_xiaoxuan@hotmail.com
xie_xiaoxuan@hotmail.com

1
 Agenda

ÓReview of ZTE WCDMA Total

Solution
Ó2G/3G inter-working policy
Ó 2G/3G access and network
selection policy
Ó 2G/3G cell re-selection policy
Ó 2G/3G handover policy
Ó 2G/3G service planning policy

ZTE’s WCDMA Total Solution (R4)

SCP Billing Billing

SMC MMSC CG OMC
HLR Center
NO.7

NMS
MSC MGW SGSN GGSN
Server
CS PS
WAP
GW APP
Server
BSC RNC
RNC
PSTN RNS Internet
PCU

BSS Node B Node B

BTS

2G/2.5G
MS 3G UE

2
 ZTE WCDMA CN Evolution to R5
SCP Billing
SMC MMSC CG OMC Billing
Server
Center
NO.7
NMS

GMSCS MSCS CSCF MGCF

HSS
IMS
CS MGW
PS
Other
GMGW MGW
SGSN Network
GGSN

PSTN RNC
BSC
RNC Internet
RNS
Node B Node B
BSS
BTS

2G/2.5G
MS 3G UE

Agenda
ÓReview of ZTE WCDMA Total
Solution
Ò 2G/3G inter-working policy
Ó 2G/3G access and network
selection policy
Ó 2G/3G cell re-selection policy
Ó 2G/3G handover policy
Ó 2G/3G service planning policy

3
 Why need 2G/3G inter-working?
Use 2G network to make up for 3G network coverage
Network Construction Rule: Phased construction rule.
Customer Service Rule: Seamless service anywhere and anytime.

At very start. 3g network BTS

can only cover some BTS BTS
center urban areas
Node B GSM GSM
BTS BTS GSM
Node B BTS
Node B BTS
BTS
WCDMA
GSM
GSM GSM
BTS
BTS

Solution is needed to help 3g user

enjoy seamlessly service at any
Dual mode
2g/3g network
3G UE

Assumption

‰ 3G network is WCDMA system, 2G GSM.

‰ 2G includes GSM 900MHz/1800MHz, etc.
‰ 3G terminal is dual mode (WCDMA/GSM).

GSM/GPRS network WCDMA network

Dual mode
3G UE

4
 2G/3G inter-working policy
Policy 1 Policy 2 Policy 3
(inter-connection ) (half-amalgamation ) (full-amalgamation)
Feature Support 3G->2G Support 3G -> 2G handover, Support 3G<-->2G
handover and cell re- 3G<->2G cell re-selection handover and cell re-
selection, and doesn’t selection
support vise versa
2G Equipment No upgrade Little software upgrade in BSS. Complicated upgrade in
upgrade and Modify SI2ter, SI3 and add both BSS and MSS
modification system message S12quater

Networking Risk No risk Some risks of the BSC The massive upgrade
software upgrade. work of BSS and MSC
and great risks.

Modification No extra cost on 2G Simple 2G software upgrade Complex 2G upgrade.

Cost on 2G cost（system message Massive work
modification and adding）
Little work

Analysis of 2G/3G inter-working policy

Policy 1 Policy 2 Policy 3
Advantage No any modification in the It can support
existing 2G network and cell reselect time handover from 2G
no any upgrade risk. +-10s. to 3G

Disadvantage PLMN re-selection to BSC requires the BSS and MSS need
return to 3G network. software upgrade. complicated
Different PLMN ID : upgrade risks, but not upgrade. It is a
Long time to re-login a big project. bigger job with
Identical PLMN ID: higher risk.
Reboot UE or selects the
3G network manually
ZTE ZTE supports all policies above. ZTE recommends policy 2.
Suggestion

5
 Agenda
Ó Review of ZTE WCDMA Total
Solution
Ó 2G/3G inter-working policy
Ò 2G/3G access and network
selection policy
Ó 2G/3G cell re-selection policy
Ó 2G/3G handover policy
Ó 2G/3G service planning policy

2G/3G Network Access Policy

‰ Principle：
3G user can access 3G & 2G network; 2G user can only
access 2G network
‰ Issue：
Dual mode 2G user access into 3G network.
‰ Solution
Identical PLMN ID: Use CN rejecting the dual mode 2G user
access request.
Different PLMN ID: PLMN not allowed .
‰ Suggestion：
Use different PLMN IDs for 3G and 2G network.

6
 2G/3G network selection policy
‰ Automatic & manual selection
‰ Principle: 3G user first selects 3G network; 2G user first selects 2G
network.
‰ If 2G and 3G have same PLMN ID, set the 3G prior in USIM card
of 3G user.
‰ If 2G and 3G are different in PLMN ID，appoint 3G PLMN to
HPLMN in USIM card.

PLMN Priority Order

‰ RPLMN: Register PLMN

‰ HPLMN: Home PLMN
‰ UPLMN: User control PLMN
‰ OPLMN: Operating control PLMN
‰ FPLMN: Forbidden PLMN

7
 Switch Off

Null Switch on, no SIM

Switch on with SIM

SIM inserted SIM removed
Is or invalid SIM
Select Yes there a
registered No SIM
PLMN RPLMN
?
No
User reselection

C Trying A B
RPLMN
Registration Registration
success failure

Indicate
Automatic mode
selected Select first * Select next *
PLMN in list F PLMN in list
PLMN
LU response
"Roaming
PLMN selection
not allowed"

E On PLMN A Trying
PLMN
Registration
Registration failure, more in list
successful
On VPLMN of
home country Loss of radio Registration
and timeout coverage of C failure, no moreB
occurs selected PLMN ** User D
in list
D re-selection

Any Move last Any

Yes allowable selected PLMN PLMNs No Select RPLMN Initiate HPLMN
A PLMNs temporarily into available or HPLMN if search
available (d) on list & Allowable none
? ?
No Yes

Select first HPLMN

Wait for G search in
G PLMNs A available and
allowable PLMN progress
to appear
in list
HPLMN
HPLMN found
Registered PLMN available not found
PLMN available and allowable,
which is not Select
and allowable RPLMN E HPLMN
E A C

Switch Off Null

Switch on (with SIM)

Switch on (no SIM)

Yes is there SIM inserted SIM removed

an RPLMN No SIM
on SIM

No

Select
registered D
PLMN

Trying selected
E PLMN

Manual mode
Registration Registration
success failure

Invalid
SIM

Indicate
selected
PLMN
D
Display
PLMNs C
PLMN selection

A B
previously selected PLMN
becomes available again
On PLMN Not on PLMN E

user chooses
User PLMN
LUresponse
"Roaming not Invalid reselection
allowed" SIM

Select user
chosen PLMN
C C
D

Trying PLMN

Registration Registration
success Invalid failure
SIM

A D B

8
 Agenda
Ó Review of ZTE WCDMA Total
Solution
Ó 2G/3G inter-working policy
Ó 2G/3G access and network
selection policy
Ò 2G/3G cell re-selection policy
Ó 2G/3G handover policy
Ó 2G/3G service planning policy

Why need cell re-selection?

‰ 3G user needs 2G network coverage and
returning to 3G network;
BTS
BTS

Node B GSM GSM

BTS BTS GSM
Node b BTS
Node B BTS
BTS
WCDMA
GSM
GSM GSM
BTS BTS

Return to 3G network

9
 2G/3G Cell Re-selection Policy

‰ Cell re-selection policy is based on the policy 2

‰ Cell re-selection Based on 3G network QoS
‰ Cell-Reselection threshold set principle
‰ Threshold self-adaptive adjusting ability

2G/3G Cell Re-selection Message

‰ Parameters for cell re-selection between 3G and 2G
network are delivered in WCDMA system messages SIB3,
SIB11,etc;

‰ Parameters for cell re-selection between 3G and 2G

network are delivered in the GSM system message SI2ter,
SI3, SI2quater, etc.

10
 Typical parameters configuration for cell
reselection (3G->2G)
Name Value Range Typical Description
value
SIB3/SIB4 (Cell Reselection Parameters in WCDMA SIB3/SIB4 )
Cell selection CPICH Ec/N0 or CPICH Value measured in cell reselection and reselection measuring
and reselection CPICH RSCP Ec/N0 value Q (CPICH Ec/N0 or CPICH RSCP)
quality measure

RAT identifier GSM or cdma2000 GSM Label of different system

Search RAT Integer 6 Launching threshold of inter-system cell measurement. Start
(-32..20 by step of threshold for inter-system cell measurement. When the QoS
2) db of the current cell is lower than this threshold, inter-system
cell search is started.

Qrxlevmin Integer (-115..-25 -95 The minimal receiving level. Only when CPICH RSCP
by step of 2)dbm measured by the UE is greater than this threshold, the UE is
possible to reside in this cell.

Qqualmin Integer -16 The minimal quality standard. Only when CPICH Ec/No
(-24..0)db measured by the UE is greater than this threshold, the UE is
possible to reside in this cell.

Typical parameters configuration for cell

reselection (3G->2G) --- II
Name Value Range Typical Description
value
SIB11/SIB12 (Cell Reselection Parameters in WCDMA SIB11/SIB12 )

Qhyst1s Integer (0..40 by 0 CPICH RSCP measurement offset of service

step of 2)db cell. Specified according to “CPICH RSCP
measurement offset”.
Qhyst2s Integer (0..40 by 0 CPICH Ec/No
Ec/No measurement offset of service
step of 2)db cell. Specified according to “CPICH Ec/No
Ec/No
measurement offset”
offset”.
Treselections Integer (0..31)s 3 Cell reselection timer value: When the signal
quality of other cells is always better than the
current cell within the period of Treselections,
cell reselection takes place.
Qoffset1s,n Integer(-
Integer(- 10 Cell offset in CPICH RSCP measurement.
50..50)db

Qoffset2s,n Integer(-
Integer(- 10 Cell offset in CPICH Ec/No measurement.
50..50)db

11
 Cell typical parameters configuration (2G->3G)
Name Value Typical Description
Range value
Qsearch_I (0…15) 7 When the value ranges between [0..6], they are respectively
(GSM corresponding to - 98, - 94, … , - 74 dbm. It means the quality
SI2quater) of the service cell is worse than the corresponding value, the mobile
phone begins to search 3G cell;
When this value ranges between [8..14], they are respectively
corresponding to - 78, - 74, … , - 54 dBm. It means the quality of
the service cell is better than the corresponding value, the mobile phone
will start searching 3G cells. 7 means always；15 means never；
Qsearch_C_I 0 = use 1 The value is used as the threshold for cell search in the connection mode
nitial Qsearch_I, before the cell search threshold becomes available.
(GSM 1 = ∞
SI2quater ) (always).
FDD_Qoffset (0…15) 6 Cell reselection offset: The average receiving level of 3G cells must be
(GSM FDD_Qoffset greater than the receiving level of the current service cell.
SI2quater ) Only at this time, 3G cell reselection becomes possible ，0 = - ∞
(always select a cell if acceptable), 1 = -28 dB, 2 = -24
dB, … , 15 = 28 dB
FDD_Qmin (0…7) 3 Quality threshold for 3G cell reselection: Only when its receiving quality
(GSM Ec/No is greater than FDD_Qmin will a 3G cell possibly become a
SI2quater ) candidate cell for reselection. This field ranges between [0..7],
corresponding to [-20..-13]dB.

Modification of SI2ter (2G->3G)

Field Name Meaning Contents
After the system message is modified, when this message is being
Whether 3G sent, this bit contained in the first instance is turned into its
SI2ter_MP_CH
measuring opposite value at the time SI2ter was last sent. In other situations,
ANGE_MA
parameters the value of this bit is the same as that when SI2ter was last sent.
RK
change In any event, this bit in subsequent instances has the same value
as used in the first instance.

After adjacency is altered, when this message is being sent, this bit
Whether the
contained in the first instance is turned into its opposite value at
SI2ter_3G_CH description of
the time SI2ter was last sent. In other situations, the value of this
ANGE_MA UTRAN cell
bit is the same as that when SI2ter was last sent. In any event,
RK frequency
this bit in subsequent instances has the same value as used in
changes
the first instance.

SI2ter_INDEX Instance No. The first instance is 0, and the second is 1, and so on.
If m SI2ter messages are needed to send all 3G cell reselection
Total number of
SI2ter_COUNT parameters and measuring information, the instance count is
instances
numbered m-1.
UTRAN FDD
3G cell frequency Only 14-bit frequencies are sent (scrambling and diversity indication
DESCRIPT
description are sent in SI2quater)
ION

12
 The test result 1of policy II
——the cell reselection time from 2G to 3G in idle mode (identical PLMN )

‰ 2G PLMN ID：460 13； 3G PLMN ID：460 13； 2G、3G in common

MSC
‰ Time starts from UE entering 3G cell and ends when UE indicates the 3G cell
selection success.
‰ 2G Cell parameters are set the typical values given ahead

counter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

UE Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual
type mode mode mode mode mode mode mode mode mode mode
A A A A A A A A A A
Cell
resel 12 s 13s 14s 13 s 14 s 13 s 13 s 12 s 14 s 11 s
time

Mean time of cell reselection : 12.9s

The test result 2 of policy II

——the cell reselection time from 3G to 2G in idle mode (identical PLMN )

‰ 2G PLMN ID：460 13； 3G PLMN ID：460 13； 2G、3G in common

MSC
‰ Time starts from UE entering 2G cell and ends when UE indicates the 2G cell re-
selection success.
‰ 3G Cell parameters are set typical values given ahead

counter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

UE Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual
type mode mode mode mode mode mode mode mode mode mode
A A A A A A A A A A
Cell
resel 12 s 9s 11s 7s 8s 9s 8s 10 s 10 s 8s
time

Mean time of cell re-selection : 9.2s

13
 The test result 3 of policy II
——the cell reselection time from 2G to 3G in idle mode (different PLMN )
‰ 2G PLMN ID：460 13； 3G PLMN ID：460 03； 2G、3G in common
MSC
‰ Time starts from UE entering 3G cell and ends when UE indicates the 3G cell
selection success.
‰ 2G Cell parameters are set typical values given ahead
counte 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
r
UE Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual
type mode mode mode mode modeA mode mode mode mode mode
A A A A A A A A A
Cell
re-
re-sel 12 s 18s 14s 15 s 13 s 16 s 13 s 13 s 14 s 10 s
time

Mean time of cell re-selection : 13.8s

The test result 4 of policy II

——the cell reselection time from 3G to 2G in idle mode (different PLMN )

‰ 2G PLMN ID：460 13； 3G PLMN ID：460 03； 2G、3G in common MSC

‰ Time starts from UE entering 2G cell and ends when UE indicates the 2G cell re-
selection success.
‰ 3G Cell parameters are set typical values given ahead

counte 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
r

UE Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual Dual
type mode mode mode mode mode mode mode mode mode mode
A A A A A A A A A A
Cell
resel 9s 11s 10s 11 s 13 s 10 s 10s 8s 12 s 8s
time

Mean time of cell re-selection : 10.2s

14
Test result analysis and cell-re-selection policy
Test result analysis
‰ 3G->2G cell re-selection is faster than 2G->3G
(9.7s : 13s).
‰ Identical PLMN and different PLMN make a little
difference in cell reselection result (11.5:12.5).

Cell re-selection policy

‰ 3G<->2G bi-direction cell re-selection is

suggested
‰ 2G/3G networks use different PLMN IDs to
forbid dual mode 2G user login in 3G network.

Agenda
Ó Review of ZTE WCDMA Total
Solution
Ó 2G/3G inter-working policy
Ó 2g/3g access and network
selection policy
Ó 2G/3G cell re-selection policy
Ò 2G/3G handover policy
Ó 2G/3G service planning policy

15
Why need Handover between 3G and 2G ?
Hold the ongoing service

BTS
BTS BTS

Node GSM GSM

BTS B BTS GSM
Node B Node BTS
b BTS
BTS
WCDMA
GSM GSM
BTS GSM
BTS

Dual mode
3G UE

WCDMA Uni-direction WCDMA

handover to GSM
cell

GSM 3G
GSM

Primary principle of 2G/3G Handover

‰ The handover solution is based on the policy 2

‰ The handover from WCDMA to GSM will be
limited in certain service supported by 2G.
‰ Handover based on the QoS.
‰ Handover based on the service load.

16
 2G/3G Handover Strategy
‰ Handover in CS domain: Voice service
 3GÆ2G;
 Main focus：handover success ratio;
 Strategy: Events 3A .
‰ Handover in PS domain
 Bi-directional handover;
 Main focus : QoS
 3G user: self-adaptively adjust speed according to
registered information;
 Strategy: Events 3A .

The test result 1 for inter-system handover

CS 3G->2G handover success ratio and delay (coverage trigger)

‰ 2G network ID：460 13； 3G network ID：460 03； 2G、3G in the same MSC
‰ Inter-system communication time is the time from RNC triggering Relocation Required to
Relocation Command received.
‰ Handover delay is the time from RNC triggering Relocation Command to IuRelease Command
received
Counter Terminal type Success or not Inter-
Inter-system Handover delay
communication time(ms) time (ms)

1 Dual mode terminal A Success 202 480

2 Dual mode terminal A Success 186 690

3 Dual mode terminal A Success 212 632

4 Dual mode terminal B Success 190 610

5 Dual mode terminal B Success 228 802

6 Dual mode terminal B Success 174 619

Mean 198.7 638.8

17
 The test result 2 for inter-system handover
CS 3G->2G handover success ratio and delay (load trigger)

‰ 2G network ID：460 13； 3G network ID：460 03； 2G、3G in the same MSC。
‰ Inter-system communication time is the time from RNC triggering Relocation Required to
Relocation Command received
‰ Handover delay is the time from RNC triggering Relocation Command to IuRelease Command
received

Counter Terminal type Success or Inter-

Inter-system Handover
not communication delay time (ms)
time(ms)
1 Dual mode terminal A Success 185 621
2 Dual mode terminal A Success 177 469
3 Dual mode terminal A Success 199 690
4 Dual mode terminal B Success 209 709
5 Dual mode terminal B Success 207 621
6 Dual mode terminal B Success 217 702
Mean 199 635.3

Spanish test case

‰ Background introduction
location：Madrid Spain
 Testing location：
Operator：Telefonica
 Operator：
‰ Relative equipment suppliers
equipment：ZTE
 3G equipment：
equipment：Ericsson
 2G equipment：

WCDMA GSM
ZTE Ericsson

18
 Spanish test system architecture
PSTN

2G/3G
SMSC HLR TUP/ISUP
SCP MAP MAP
TDM
CAP

MSCSERVER TUP/ISUP

Mc
TDM MSC/VLR
MGW
A
IuCS

RNC1 BSC
Iub
Abis

NodeB1 Um BTS
Uu

UE

Spanish test result

‰ Test result
3G->2G
Test items Success ratio
CELL re-selection 100%
Inter-RAT handover from UMTS to GSM 94%

2G->3G
CELL re-selection 100%
Inter-RAT handover from GSM to UMTS 89%

19
 Agenda
Ó Review of ZTE WCDMA Total
Solution
Ó 2G/3G inter-working policy
Ó 2G/3G access and network
selection policy
Ó 2G/3G cell re-selection policy
Ó 2G/2G handover policy
Ò 2G/3G service planning policy

Realize 2G users smoothly transfer into 3G

‰ The main function difference between R99/R4 HLR and GSM HLR：
 user data change (authentication parameter, CAMEL PHASE3, location
services)；
 MAP protocol change; (MAP 2+, MAP3)
 MAP signaling bearer change；(TDM, ATM, IP)
‰ The main consideration factors of newly building and upgrading HLR：
 user number and services migration and upgrade；
 effect on HLR capacity and process ability；
 project feasibility；(2G provider support ?)
 effect on number planning；
‰ HLR construction strategy
Upgrade HLR plan：preserve existing network resources, realize GSM users
smoothly transferring into 3G
Newly building HLR plan：reduce pressure on existing HLR capacity；simplify
HLR project implementation.

20
 Scheme for 3G-HLR building
－－Upgrade 2G-HLR

‰ Advantages: flexible
 Users need not change MSISDN number
and USIM card；
 Preserve existing network equipments， 2G/3G HLR
smoothly upgrade ；
‰ Disadvantages：massive project
 The whole network upgrades
simultaneously, massive project 2G MSC 3G MSC

 Project risks
HLR upgrade scheme

Scheme for newly built 3G-HLR

——Portable number scheme

2G-HLR 3G-HLR

Store all users’ IMSI and

Send users’ MSISDN to SRF MSISDN mapping table，and
for analyzing whether it is a according to this table to
transferred network user or not. SRF server decide whether this user is
transferred network user or not.

SRF indicates MSC to address

routing from right HLR.
MSC

21
 3G intelligent network platform construction
scheme
LAN Switch
Intelligent
network
platform SCP
IVR SMAP Web Server

SS7
WCDMA
GSM network
network +
P2 MAP3
MA

MSC/SSP MSC/SSP Node B UE

BS

‰GSM mobile intelligent network adopts CAMEL2 protocol

‰3G intelligent network adopts CAMEL3 protocol；
‰By upgrading protocol version of GSM intelligent network, 3G intelligent
network service can be deployed based on GSM IN instantly.

3G short message center construction scheme

LAN Switch
SC center

Email Server SC Voice mailbox Web Server

SS7
WCDMA
GSM network
network +
P2 MAP3
MA

MSC/SSP MSC/SSP Node B UE

BS

‰ GSM short message center adopts MAP2＋protocol

‰ 3G network short message service adopts MAP3 protocol；
‰ By upgrading protocol version of GSM short message center,3G short message can
be deployed based on GSM SMC instantly.

22
 Review

‰ Inter-working of 2G/3G is best choice for a 2G

operator to construct 3G network.
‰ Bi-direction cell reselection and uni-direction handover is
best solution for 2G/3G inter-working.
‰ ZTE can provide customized solution for 2G/3G inter-
working.

Question is welcome！

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