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GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
Acronym Expansion
TCH Traffic Channel
MS Mobile Station
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.
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
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.
TCH-SUCC-C: indicates the number of successful incoming external inter-cell
handovers.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
TCH-SUCC: indicates the number of successful TCH seizures during the very early
assignment procedure.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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.
Figure 3-1 shows the procedures for analyzing high TCH call drop rate.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
Figure 3-1 Procedures for analyzing high TCH call drop rate
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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
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. Table 3-1 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
This parameter determines whether a downlink radio link is faulty. Each time
the BTS fails to decode the measurement report sent over the SACCH by the
MS, the counter decreases by 1. Each time the BTS successfully decodes
the measurement report sent over the SACCH, the counter increases by 2.
When the value of this parameter is 0, the BTS regards the radio link as faulty.
In the traffic measurement, if there are many call drops (M3101A) related to
radio link failure, you can infer that the radio propagation conditions are poor.
In this case, you can set this parameter to a greater value.
3. RXLEV_ACCESS_MIN
This parameter specifies the minimum receive level of an MS to access the BSS. If
this parameter is set to a too small value, some MSs with low receive levels
may access the network and call drops are likely to occur. You can set this
parameter to a great value to reduce the TCH call drop rate. The counters
such as call setup success rate and the counters related to traffic volume,
however, are accordingly affected.
4. RACH Min.Access Level
This parameter determines whether an MS can access the network over the RACH. If
this parameter is set to a too small value, some MSs with low signal levels
may access the network and call drops are likely to occur. You can set this
parameter to a great value to reduce the TCH call drop rate. The counters
such as call setup success rate and paging success rate, however, are
affected.
5. Min DL Power on HO Candidate Cell and Min Access Level Offset
The sum of the values of the two parameters specifies the minimum downlink
receive level of a candidate neighboring cell for a handover. If this parameter
is set to a too great value, some desired cells may be excluded from the
candidate cells; if this parameter is set to a too small value, an unwanted cell may
become the candidate cell. Both conditions may lead to the increase of call drops.
6. Timer T3103 series
Timer T3101 series consists of T3103A, T3103C, and T8. These timers are
started to wait for a handover complete message. If the lengths of the timers
are set to small values, probably no message is received when timer T3103
series expires. In this case, the BSC considers that the radio link in the
originating cell is faulty. Then, the BSC releases the channel in the originating
cell. Thus, call drops occur. In the traffic measurement, if many call drops are
related to handovers (CM331: Call Drops on Radio Interface in Handover
State), you can set this parameter to a greater value. If this parameter is set to
a too great value, channel resources are wasted and TCH congestion occurs.
7. Timer T3109
This parameter specifies the period for waiting for a Release Indication
message after the BSC sends a Channel Release message to the BTS. If this
parameter is set to a too small value, the link may be released before the
Release Indication message is received. As a result, a call drop occurs. You
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
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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 that edge
handovers can be performed in time to avoid call drops.
13. Parameters related to BQ handover
When the signal quality deteriorates, a BQ handover cannot be performed in
time in any of the following conditions: The parameters ULQuaLimitAMRFR,
ULQuaLimitAMRHR, UL Qual. Threshold, DLQuaLimitAMRFR,
DLQuaLimitAMRHR, and DL Qual. Threshold are set to great values; the
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
You can check whether the data configuration is correct by viewing the traffic
measurement results.
The following table lists the traffic measurement counters related to
repeaters.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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.
result, call drops may occur at the edge of the BTS coverage area. See Case
2: Call Drop Due to Imbalance Between Uplink and Downlink.
To analyze the balance between the uplink and the downlink, check whether
the transmit power of the BTS is too high. Then, you should check whether
such components as the TMA, BTS amplifier, and antenna port that affect
downlink receive level have problems. For details, refer to the GSM BSS
Network Performance KPI (Uplink and Downlink Balance) Optimization
Manual.
If the uplink and downlink are imbalanced, the following conditions may
occur: The difference between the mean uplink receive level and the mean
downlink receive level is great; the uplink and downlink balance level is high;
the immediate assignment success rate and the assignment success rate
are low. The following table lists the traffic measurement counters related to
the balance between the uplink and the downlink.
the coverage area of the BTS changes. Thus, the TCH call drop rate
increases. See Case 3: Call Drop Due to Repeater Problem.
If repeater problems exist in a cell, the TA distribution varies greatly in the
traffic measurement results. The following table lists the traffic measurement
counters related to repeaters.
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.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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.
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
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
drops occurred frequently at a certain distance from the antenna; a call drop
occurred after frequent handovers.
Cause analysis and handling:
The cause may be the uplink signal level is much lower than downlink signal
level. During drive tests, move the test MS towards the edge of the cell, and
use the MA10 signaling analysis tool to trace the signaling on the BTS side.
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.
3. Change the frequency of cell 3 so that the spacing between the frequency
and the original one is at least 1 MHz. The interference, however, persists.
Therefore, the probability of co-channel interference and adjacent-channel
interference is eliminated.
4. Ensure that the devices are not faulty.
5. Find the external interference.
6. Use a spectrum analyzer to perform frequency scan tests. The signal
from a certain frequency (the central frequency is 904.14 MHz and the
spectrum bandwidth is 300 kHz) exists continuously and it is similar to the
signal from an analog spectrum. The strength of the signal at the divider port
of cell 3, cell 2, and cell 1 is –27 dBm, –40 dBm, and –60 dBm respectively,
and the signal strength is consistent with the interference level. The traffic
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.
PBGT HO Threshold 72 68
UL Qual. Threshold 70 60
Min DL Power on HO 10 15
Candidate Cell
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.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
If the TCH call drop rate is high and technical support is required, fill in the
following form.
Software version BSC and BTS software Check whether the software
versions version is faulty.
Drive test data *.log (*.cell site) or *.ant Based on the drive test data,
file determine whether interference or
coverage problems exist.
Others Engineering parameter The NASTAR software can be
table and electronic used to import the electronic map
map to facilitate the geographical
information check.