MIT International Journal of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Vol. 5, No. 1, January 2015, pp.

01–04 1
ISSN 2230-7672 © MIT Publications

Initial Tuning Methodology of

LTE Network
Ekta Gujral
Amity University
Employee of Ericsson Global India Pvt. Ltd
Noida, U.P., INDIA
E-mail: ekta12gujral@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Initial tuning is subpart of the Radio Design. It is comes into picture when all nodes in a area are ON Air but not yet in launched
for external world.When the radio network has been launched and there are sufficient subscribers stared using the network, the
live network can be optimized in order to identify and solve possible issues. The Drive test is performed to find the effectiveness
of RF conditions in wireless and mobile environment. In real “drive-test” these conditions are more appropriate with focus on
different environment. This helps to check the actual coverage and quality of the network for the user. Through this paper we
will learn that how effectively we can perform initial tuning optimization and what the various recommendations on tilt help to
improve the network. So that before commercial launch at least 90% of the coverage and quality requirements has been met.
Keywords: LTE, Initial Tuning Methodology, Rollout phase.

I. INTRODUCTION LTE RAN is the Radio Access Network for LTE that provides
This paper is aimed at network engineer who need to resolve the connection between the Core network and the user.
the coverage and quality issues in initial tuning of LTE radio
network. It explained the different steps needed to achieve this
from an engineer prospective. Common radio related problems
are presented and analyzed and purpose is to create a deeper
understanding of radio performance and network tuning,
resulting in improvement in radio network performance. The
main purpose of initial tuning is to ensure that any service
affecting faults related to radio planning, remaining in the
network after integration process, are corrected.

Section 2 describes the Concept of RAN tuning and RAN

optimization for LTE network. The Initial tuning methodology
is explained in Sector 3. Conclusion and future scope is in
section 4.

II. RAN TUNING AND RAN OPTIMIZATION

This paper is aimed at network engineer who need to understand
the main issues in initial tuning of LTE radio network. It
explained the different steps and tools needed to achieve this
from an engineer prospective. Common radio related problems
are presented and analyzed and purpose is to create a deeper
understanding of radio performance and network tuning,
resulting in improvement in radio network performance.
Fig. 1: LTE Radio Access Network
The LTE Radio Access Network, called EUTRAN consists of:
• Radio Base Station
• Operation Support System for Radio and Core
• TEMS Tools-TEMS Cell planner for LTE
MIT International Journal of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Vol. 5, No. 1, January 2015, pp. 01–04 2
ISSN 2230-7672 © MIT Publications

There are two service which help to improve the RAN: • High level radio design review
• RAN Tuning • Define clusters, Select Golden cluster
• RAN Optimization • Drive Test Routes and Hot spots
RAN tuning is done to provide operators with a detailed under- • Setup of Test Tools
standing of the underlying problems to address, such as network • Agree key performance indicators
design, UEs and system. It is performed when all eNodeB in
the area are installed and operational and when the network Test phase: The next tuning phase is Mobility (drive test) and
is stable and not yet commercially used. It is also performed Hot Spot (stationary) Testing. Once the drive routes and the hot
when new sites are installed in already commercially launched spots are been defined and the drive test tools are set up, it’s time
areas. RAN tuning is required to ensure good network quality to start testing! You should do both drive tests and stationary tests.
and identifiers and solves radio network problems after network For practical reasons it is necessary to divide the radio network
has been deployed. into a number of clusters. Each cluster contains a number of
sites that are easy to handle. The following criteria should be
RAN Optimization is performed after the radio network has considered when defining clusters and planning drive test routes.
been tuned and it identifies and solved radio network problem in
live networks. When there are sufficient subscribers generating • Plan clusters with maximum 10-20 sites, depending on
traffic, data from various system sources can be collected. RAN the cluster type.
Optimization can results in changes in parameter setting for the • Each cluster must include sites from area with similar
different functionalities such as idle mode, radio connection coverage requirement.
supervision, power control, capacity management and handover. • Define which site should belong to which cluster.
• Identify which cluster belongs to which TA.
• Drive through all cells and important areas within the
cluster.
• Handover should be tested in representation and important
area.
• Major area where “outdoor” coverage is predicted and
important roads must be included.
• As little overlap as possible.
• Estimate drive time.
• Drive routes for testing are signed by the customer.
Given the nature of the services offered in LTE, it is very likely
that the majority of the subscribers will be stationary. It may be
a customer requirement to evaluate the performance on specific
hot spots hot spots. Hot spots are characterized by a high number
of subscribers in a concentrated area that are expected to create
very high load. Types of traffic hot spots include:
Fig. 2: RAN Services • Special Events, e.g. sports events
• Indoor Hot spots, e.g. retail outlets
III. INITIAL TUNING METHODOLOGY • Outdoor Hot spots, e.g. outdoor cafes with high use
In this section we will discuss the various phases of initial tuning
Some operators deploy LTE in hot spot areas, and if available,
in brief. It has total five phases as discussed below: with a High Speed Packet Access underlay. As more capacity
Preparation phase: The first phase of LTE Tuning includes is required, more areas can be higher degree of planning and
making necessary preparations and perform specific checks tuning is required is required, so users can move between radio
of the network. Many errors are found during the prepara - accesses technologies using session continuity without major
tion phase so you are advised to perform these tasks very service degradation. Other operators use a full scale deployment
thoroughly. The purpose of preparation phase is to make from the start, where only edge-of-network fallback or roaming
necessary checks, gather necessary information and plan for is considered.
drive and stationary test activities. This will normally start Analysis Phase: The next phase is to post process the log files
with meeting with cell planners and operational personnel in you collected and create plots to identify problem areas. It is
order to discuss the content of the tuning and time plan. The recommended to treat each problem area separately, and identify
following steps should be specified and agreed upon. area specific problems such as lack of coverage, high interfer-
• Audits and consistency checks ence problems and missing neighbors. Proposed changes such
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ISSN 2230-7672 © MIT Publications

as antenna tilt, azimuth, or parameter changes are documented appears, a schematic map could be created where the problem
in the tuning report. Normally the suggested changes are in- areas are depicted (LTE Interferer plot). Then the coverage plot
cluded in simulations, and if they bring the wanted result they of one PCI should be examined and the interferers could be
are implemented in the network. The measurement made for the identified. The solution coverage holes due to lack of coverage
verification of the network is: RSRP, RSRQ and RSSI. is to increase the received signal level. This can be done with
RSRP = Reference signal received power (RSRP), is defined as the following ways:
the linear average over the power contribution (in [W]) of the • Change antenna down tilt and antenna azimuth. This can
resource elements that carry the cell specific reference signals improve the coverage for both uplink and downlink.
within the considered measurement frequency bandwidth. • Increasing the antenna tower height, this process increases
RSSI = EUTRAN Carrier Received Signal Strength Indicator, the cost. So not effective in practice.
comprises the linear average of the total received power observed • Increase the reference power.
only in OFDM symbols containing reference symbols for antenna
port 0, in the measurement bandwidth, over N number of resource So to remove coverage holes in cluster we will recommend
blocks by the UE from all sources, interference, thermal noise etc. changing the electric tilt. Implementation of this is very cheap
if RET is installed on site.
RSRQ = Reference Signal Received Quality is defined as
In order to find swapped feeders, a test should be performed by
RSRQ = 10 Log (N) +10 Log RSRP-10 Log RSSI [dB] walking/driving round the site. This is to secure that the planned
Where N is the number of resources blocks of the EUTRAN physical cell identity is in the right cell.
carrier RSSI measurement bandwidth. The measurements in
Usually for overshooting cell, solution is to change the antenna
the numerator and denominator shall make over the same set of
configuration e.g. tilting down the antenna, redirecting the an-
resources blocks.
tenna orientation. With this solution, uplink/downlink coverage
This measure was introduced because it was noticed that all imbalance problem will not occur in the interferer because
existing measure for inter cell interference RSRQ, CINR and both uplink/downlink pathloss is modified simultaneously. The
number if inter-cell interferers has serious drawback These are recommendation is implemented on the network and impact is
the actions that should be taken for coverage verification: captured in form of various DT kpis aggressed with customer.
• Analyze coverage per cluster Cluster Report Submission phase: The final phase is report
• Use RSRP, F Interference, Best Server PCI plot etc. submission. The report includes all the maps, stats and histo-
• Compare expected to actual coverage grams of various network DT parameters like RSRP, RSRQ,
SINR, MCS, DL throughput etc. All DT kpis has been captured
• Identify problem areas
to check the behavior of Cluster in network.
• Poor coverage
Now the customer reviews all the findings and start implementing
• High interference the changes or recommendation suggested. Now again Redrive
Suggested plots for this task are: is conducted and all five phases of tuning are revisited. Finally
Coverage Plots: Cell Coverage Plot, RSRP Plot, Best Server a comparison report will be submitted to customer.
PCI Plot, TX power, 3 dB, 6dB and F Ratio plots.
IV. CONCLUSION
Quality Plots: RSRQ plots, SINR plots and BLER plot.
It is very important to understand the LTE RAN tuning and
Throughput plots: DL throughput plot, UL throughput plot, CQI,
optimization process in order to improve the radio network
MCS, RI and Modulation.
performance and the perceived end user quality. So it should
Other: Overshooting plot, Swap feeder plots be very important for us to have the methodology for the
These plots give indication of coverage holes, PCI-clashes, initial tuning. Target of tuning is to prepare the air interface
swapped feeders, cell not transmitting, or overshooting cells etc. and troubleshoot system issues to achieve the best end user
The result of this analysis should lead to suggestion for correc- experience. The aim is to maximize SINR and highest modulation
tive action like physical or parameter changes that will improve in order to achieve the best throughput per resources block.
cell performance.
Reviewing phase: After collecting all the information from REFERENCES
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ISSN 2230-7672 © MIT Publications

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