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Contents
4 Test Methods......................................................................30
5 Remarks About the Signaling Analysis of the TCH Call Drop
Rate......................................................................................30
6 Cases for TCH Call Drop Rate Optimization...........................33
6.1 Case 1: Call Drop Due to Interference................................................................................................33
6.2 Case 2: Call Drop Due to Imbalance Between Uplink and Downlink................................................34
6.3 Case 3: Call Drop Due to Repeater Problem.......................................................................................34
6.4 Case 4: Call Drop Due to Coverage....................................................................................................35
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual INTERNAL
Figures
Revision Record
Date Revision Version Change Description Author
2008-6-28 0.8 Draft completed. Su Shi
2008-7-26 1.0 The document is modified according Su Shi
to review comments.
References
S Document Name Author Date
N
1 G-Guide to Eliminating Interference - 20050311-A-1.0 Chen 2005-3-11
Baolin
2 GSM BSS Network KPI (Network Coverage) Optimization Xie Haibin 2008-6-18
Manual
3 GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Baseline Wu Zhen 2007-6-22
4 GSM BSS Network KPI (Uplink and Downlink Balance) Yang 2008-3-26
Optimization Manual Jixiang
5 Guide to Solving Call Drop Problems Yang Bin 2002-3-7
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual INTERNAL
Acronym Expansion
TCH Traffic Channel
MS Mobile Station
BSC Base Station Controller
KPI Key Performance Indicator
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual INTERNAL
1.1 Meaning
The TCH call drop rate refers to the ratio of call drops to successful TCH seizures
after the BSC successfully assigns TCHs to MSs. The TCH call drop rate can be
measured from the following aspects:
TCH call drop rate (including handover)
TCH call drop rate (excluding handover)
The TCH call drop rate, one of the most significant KPIs for telecom operators, is
related to retainability. It indicates the probability of call drops due to various
reasons after MSs access TCHs. A too high TCH call drop rate adversely affects the
user's experience.
100%
TCH call drop rate (excluding handover) = Number of call drops on TCH/Number of
successful TCH seizures (TCH) x 100%
Through the analysis of each pair of formulas, you can find out that the TCH call
drop rate (including handover) is lower than the TCH call drop rate (excluding
handover) irrespective of the BSC model (BSC32 or BSC6000). The following takes
the formulas for the BSC32 as an example. The number of call drops on TCH is
small during the very early assignment procedure. Therefore, the difference between
the numerator of the formula for the TCH call drop rate (including handover) and
that of the formula for the TCH call drop rate (excluding handover) can be omitted.
Including the TCH seizures in the case of handovers, the denominator of the formula
for the TCH call drop rate (including handover) is greater than the denominator of
the formula for the TCH call drop rate (excluding handover). Therefore, the result of
the formula for the TCH call drop rate (including handover) is smaller than that of
the formula for the TCH call drop rate (excluding handover).
For details, refer to the GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Baseline.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual INTERNAL
The meanings of the measurement points in the these figures are as follows:
TCH-SUCC-A: indicates the number of successful TCH seizures.
TCH-SUCC-B: indicates the number of successful incoming internal inter-cell handovers
plus the number of successful internal intra-cell handovers.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual INTERNAL
level in the cell. Therefore, call drops are likely to occur at places far
away from the BTS.
2. If a directional cell has main and diversity antennas, the BCCH and
SDCCH of the cell may be transmitted from different antennas. If the
two antennas have different pitch angles or azimuths, the coverage
areas of the two antennas are different. In this case, the following result
may occur: An MS can receive the BCCH signals from one antenna;
when a call is made, the MS cannot seize the SDCCH transmitted by
the other antenna and thus a call drop occurs.
3. If the feeder is damaged, water leaks in the feeder, or the feeder and
the connector are not securely connected, both the transmit power and
receiver sensitivity of the antenna are reduced. Thus, call drops may
occur.
3 shows the procedures for analyzing high TCH call drop rate.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual INTERNAL
Figure 1.5 Procedures for analyzing high TCH call drop rate
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual INTERNAL
Start
No
No
、
Incorrect data Yes Adjust parameters
configuration? related to handover
and power control
No Solve inter-network
No
interference
problem
Yes Intra-network
Interference?
interference?
Optimize coverage
Yes
according to the
Insufficient coverage?
network coverage
optimization guide
No
Yes
Faulty antenna system? Adjust the
antenna system
No
Yes
Solve the imbalance
Imbalance between uplink problem according to
and downlink? the guide
No
Yes
Solve the
Faulty repeater?
repeater problem
No
Yes
End
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual INTERNAL
The following sections describe the solutions to high TCH call drop rates.
The traffic measurement counters and KPIs in this document are the same
as those in the BSC6000V9R8C01B051 version.
You can check whether hardware is faulty by viewing BTS alarms or viewing the
hardware state on the Site Device Panel of the LMT. 1.1 lists the major BSC
alarms related to hardware failures.
In addition, you can locate the fault by checking the traffic measurement
related to hardware failures.
In addition, you can locate the fault by checking the traffic measurement
related to transmission failures.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual INTERNAL
can set this parameter to a greater value to reduce the TCH call drop rate. It
is recommended that timer T3109 be set to 1–2 seconds longer than timer
Radio Link Timeout.
8. Timer T3111
This parameter specifies the interval between the time that the main signaling
link is disconnected and the time that a channel is deactivated. The purpose is
to reserve a period of time for repeated link disconnections. If this timer is set to a
too small value, a channel may be deactivated too early. Thus, call drops
increase.
9. Timers T305 and T308
Timers T305 and T308 are used on the MSC side. Timer T305 specifies the
period during which the MSC monitors the on-hook procedure. Timer T308
specifies the period during which the MSC monitors the resource release
procedure. You should set the two parameters when adding BSC data. Note
that the modification of the data in the timer table does not take effect. If
timers T305 and T308 are set to invalid or great values, the MSC clears the
call a long time after the MS hangs up. After the T3103 and Radio Link
Timeout timers expire, the number of call drops is increased and thus the
TCH call drop rate is significantly affected.
10. TCH Traffic Busy Threshold
If the current channel seizure ratio exceeds the value of this parameter, the
BSC preferentially assigns a half-rate channel to a dualrate-enabled call.
Otherwise, the BSC assigns a full-rate channel to the dualrate-enabled call.
Compared with a full-rate channel, a half-rate channel has weak anti-
interference capabilities. Therefore, if a large number of half-rate channels
are assigned, the TCH call drop rate increases. It is recommended that this
parameter should not be set to a too small value if congestion is unlikely to
occur.
11. Call Reestablishment Forbidden
This parameter specifies whether to allow call reestablishment. In case of
burst interference or radio link failure due to blind areas caused by high
buildings, call drops occur. In this case, MSs can initiate the call
reestablishment procedure to restore communication. To reduce the TCH call
drop rate, you can set this parameter to No to allow call reestablishment. In
certain conditions, allowing call reestablishment greatly reduces the TCH call
drop rate. Call reestablishment lasts for a long time, and therefore some subscribers
cannot wait and hang up. This affects user experience.
12. Parameters related to edge handover
When the receive level drops greatly, an edge handover cannot be performed
in time in any of the following conditions: The parameter Edge HO UL
RX_LEV Threshold or Edge HO DL RX_LEV Threshold is set to a small
value; the parameter Inter-cell HO Hysteresis is set to a great value; the
parameters Edge HO Watch Time and Edge HO AdjCell Watch Time are
set to great values; the parameters Edge HO Valid Time and Edge HO
AdjCell Valid Time are set to great values. As a result, a call drop occurs. To
reduce the TCH call drop rate, you can appropriately set these parameters so
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual INTERNAL
You can check whether the data configuration is correct by viewing the traffic
measurement results.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual INTERNAL
If a coverage problem exists, you can solve the problem through the
following methods: adjusting the tilt of the antenna, increasing the transmit
power, adding repeaters, or changing the combining mode. For details, refer
to the GSM BSS Network Performance KPI (Coverage) Optimization
Manual.
4 Test Methods
The TCH call drop rate is one of retainability KPIs, which can be obtained
through registration of or reporting of the related traffic measurement
counters. In addition, the TCH call drop rate is one of key drive test counters
and it can be obtained through drive tests.
At present, the formula for the TCH call drop rate varies with device
manufacturer and with telecom operator, thus affecting the value of the TCH
call drop rate. During actual tests, you should register the specific counters
and use an appropriate formula to calculate the value of the TCH call drop
rate.
Trace the RSL signaling on the Abis interface. Then, generate the signaling
tracing file on the LMT or through the Signal Analyze Tool. Obtain the
CONN_FAIL and ERROR_INC signaling from the file. Then, right-click a
piece of signaling and choose Call Trace from the shortcut menu, as shown
in the following figure.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual INTERNAL
Then, right-click the signaling of a call and choose Show Chart from the
shortcut menu, as shown in the following figure.
From the following figure, you can view such information as the uplink and
downlink receive level of the serving cell, uplink and downlink signal quality
of the serving cell, downlink receive level of neighboring cells, TA, MS power,
and BTS power. Based on the information, you can find out the causes of
call drops, such as insufficient downlink coverage and interference.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual INTERNAL
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual INTERNAL
The tracing result (as shown in the previous figure) shows that the uplink
signal level is much lower than the downlink signal level. Therefore, call
drops occur.
volume in daytime is greater than that at night, and thus the probability of
intermodulation is high. It can be concluded that the 904.14 MHz frequency is
the interference source. When a spectrum analyzer is used to perform drive
tests, the interference source cannot be located. When tests are performed
on a rooftop, it is found that the interference is generated by a small antenna
of a repeater. If the signal from the antenna is blocked, all the test results are
normal. Therefore, the interference signal is generated by the antenna.
You can adjust the handover parameters to reduce call drops in the following
ways:
1. If there is no frequent audio discontinuity or ping-pong handover, set the
parameters properly so that PBGT handovers can be easily performed, thus
minimizing the interference and reducing the call drop rate.
2. Set the emergency handover threshold properly so that emergency
handovers are triggered before call drops occur.
After a replacement was performed in Hainan Mobile project, the TCH call
drop rate increased. In urban areas, the TCH call drop rate increased from
0.4% to 0.7%; in suburban areas, it increased from 0.7% to 1.1%.
Cause analysis and handling:
Analyze the A interface signaling and the version change. A version change
is found, that is, timers T305 and T308 must be set during the addition of the
BSC data, and the data modification in the timer table does not take effect.
Timer T305 and T308 are inactive; therefore, the MSC does not initiate the
call release procedure. As a result, the number of call drops increases
greatly. After the settings of the two parameters are modified, the call drop
rate becomes lower than that in the original network. The problem is solved.
If the TCH call drop rate is high and technical support is required, fill in the
following form.