GSM RF Optimization Handbook 603G Section: 100

Lucent Technologies Date: 02/18/01

RF Engineering Center Issue: 1.0
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NETWORK WIRELESS SYSTEMS

METHODS AND PROCEDURES FOR

GSM RF OPTIMIZATION

PLANNING

INTRODUCTION

Optimization of a wireless network is an on going
process to provide quality service. The purpose of
this document is to create a guideline on how the
optimization has to be approached and followed
through for all Lucent GSM/GPRS projects globally.
Network optimization must be documented from
problem reports to resolution in the design and
operation in order to avoid confusion. The
documentation based on the problem identified must
circulate between system optimizers and design team.
There are many problems involved in optimizing a
system to achieve high quality of service. These
problems could be related to RF design such as
interference, poor coverage, hardware fault, software
fault, or they could be due to the system parameters.
Starts up system usually start with a set or sets of
defaulted parameters. These defaulted values
specified by Lucent Technologies, which should be
maintained unless these values are the cause of the
problems. Changes of the parameters should be
considered after all counter effects have been
evaluated. As the system grows and more BTSs are
operational, these default values will be changed to
improve network performance and quality.
The challenge for any optimization team is the
deficiency in the accuracy of the RF design. The
wrong site location, height and antenna type and
configurations are difficult problems to fix and they
are source of delay. The large amount of deviation
from the original design in addition to the problems
associated with the design itself may put a
tremendous amount of load on the optimization team.
In addition to that, the very low accuracy in
implementing the changes of the site parameters at
the switch would lead to a delay in the optimization
process.
Another factor that would impact the success of the
optimization process is reliable optimization tools. It
is important to select the most accurate, reliable and
calibrated tools. There is number of good and
reliable tools that Lucent recommends to use.
However, the client might prefer a specific tool that
Lucent needs to approve, also when Lucent is
responsible of the optimization work.
The main objective of optimizing a network is to
maintain the quality of that network and provide a
service that is comparable or exceeds the design
objective and service of competitors. The design
team and optimization team together with the
implementation team should continuously perform
the following tasks:
• Monitor the Network
• Fix forecasted problems
• Prevent outage
• Turn the network parameters for acceptable QoS.
In general, optimization objectives can be
summarized in the following:
• Ensure that calls are handed-off to a valid
neighbor cell at a proper boundary setting and
are not dragged beyond the normal coverage of a
serving cell.
• Ensure the Receive Level (RXLEV) is within
the designed range according to the specific
morphology
• To investigate, record, and report any system
related software and hardware abnormalities.
• To collect, analyze, and document the RF
coverage problems
• To collect, analyze, and document RF
interference problems and provide solution as the
system design and available frequency permit.
• Analyze, document and resolve quality of service
related problems, i.e.,:
Ping-Pong Hand Over

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GSM RF Optimization Handbook 603G
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Handover Failures
Uplink Problems
Interference
Dragged Calls
Etc.
This handbook consists of several sections covering
the whole processes of a GSM/GPRS network
optimization. The optimization team may not need to
spend much time on some processes as they may do
on others. This depends on how accurate the RF
design, implementation, and integration of the system
are. There are technology dependent sections in the
handbook, which deals with the specific technology
parameters. Other sections are technology
independent that highlights the necessary procedures
and steps to be followed in the optimization of
different systems.
The handbook is divided in to three main groups of
processes and procedures:
1. Optimization Planning (100 Series) which
constitute the following:
• 101 Introduction
• 110 Staffing Needs
• 120 Spectrum Clearing/Monitoring
• 130 Optimization HW/SW Requirements and
Vehicle Setup
• 140 Cluster Selection and Drive Routes Planning
• 150 Frequency Planning
• 160 Entrance/Exit Criteria
2. System Analysis and Modification, (200 Series)
which constitute the following:
• 200 Default Parameters setting
• 201 Frequency and Neighbor Planning with
ASSET
• 210 Drive Test Procedures
• 220 Performance Measurement
• 230 System Modification and Trouble Shooting
• 240 OMC Parameters ACCESS
3. Optimization Tools (400 series), which include the
following two sections:
• 410 Data Collection with HP Tool
• 420 Data Processing
In the planning part the steps needed to start the
optimization of a wireless system are explained. In
the staffing Needs (section 110), the basics for
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building the optimization team (s) are explained. The
structure of the optimization team and the role of
each member is carefully discussed and proposed.
The assumption made in this section is that each
member would conduct more than one task. When
necessary, some of these tasks need to run in a
parallel sequence, which require high efficiency and
accuracy in carrying out the different steps and
procedures.
In section 120, the Spectrum Clearing and
Monitoring procedures are discussed. The objective
of the Spectral Monitoring Test is to observe the
received interference and background noise levels in
both the GSM forward and reverse link bands.
Measured interference levels should be compared
against RF Engineering Guidelines for the particular
market. Although this task is the responsibility of the
RF design team, the optimization team should be
knowledgeable of the procedures and results of any
previous tests to clear the spectrum from in-band and
out-of-band interference.
Section 130 discusses the HW/SW requirements and
Vehicle Setup to carry out the optimization
processes. Although there are many hardware and
software tools available the section, consider the HP
tools those Lucent Technologies uses as standard
tools.
In section 140, Cluster Selection and Drive Routes
Planning, the guidelines for dividing the market into
clusters are explained. Cluster testing consists of a
series of procedures to be performed to define groups
of cell sites that are located in a geographical area or
along a road or highway. Typical clusters range in
size from 7 to 12 cell sites, and are loosely coupled to
ensure that they do not become isolated.
Section 150 describes the guidelines Lucent
Technologies follows in planning the frequency reuse
in a GSM system. The section also, explains the main
objective of the RF optimization team in examining
the frequency plan developed by the RF design team.
Channel numbering, radio channel separation are
among the issues this section deal with. The
optimization team might not need to spend long time
preparing a frequency plan depending on the client's
developed plan.
The Entrance/Exit procedures are explained in the
last section of the planning part, section 160, of this
GSM RF Optimization Handbook 603G
Lucent Technologies
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handbook. The Entrance procedure or criteria
describe the steps need to be taken by the RF
optimization team to acquire all information and data
necessary from the design team and/or the client.
This will help the optimization team in developing
clear goals to achieve by the end of the optimization
processes. The section also, describes the steps
required to exit a market such as documentation of
the optimization work, presenting the results to the
client, and final optimization report with any
suggestions and recommendations.
The second part of the handbook is the System
Analysis and Modification. This part consists of six
(6) sections.
Section 200, Default Parameters setting, discuss all
default parameters in a GSM system. These
parameters can be modified to match the needs and
requirements of a specific system. The optimization
team may modify these parameters in all or part
depending on the results of the drive test and data
analysis.
Section 201, Frequency and Neighbor Planning with
ASSET, describes the procedure of frequency,
neighbor list and BSIC planning with help of Asset in
cooperation with Cellgate and the Comparison and
Consistency Checking Tool (CCC). This guideline
should help to automate the frequency and neighbor
planning with these tools, only little additional
manual work is required. This will ease the whole
planning process and avoid mistakes.
In the Drive Test Procedures, section 210, the steps to
be followed by the drive test teams are discussed in
details. Different scenarios, such as, design
verification, site, cluster, and network drive testing
are discussed.
Section 220, Performance Measurement, provides a
strategy guideline to perform an efficient network
performance analysis. The analysis results will be
statistical overviews and an interpretation of the
GSM network performance at different network
element levels. Problem areas will be highlighted and
possible root causes will be elaborated.
The System Modification and Trouble Shooting
procedures are explained in section 230. The main
system parameters and their effect on system
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performance are listed as reference for the
optimization team use. The section also, aims at
providing some aspects of typical optimization needs
and possible solutions that can be considered, where
the optimum solutions can be market dependent e.g.
on the extent of system features available.
In section 240, OMC Parameter ACCESS, channel
classifications, creation and accessing are discussed;
the section is a collection of A Channel represents a
physical timeslot in the air interface. A Radio
Terminal (RT) can contain a maximum of eight
channels (that is, 8 time slots). Before traffic can
flow across the network, the Channels on the Radio
Terminal must be configured. Each channel is
configured with a channel type based on its function.
The section will be modified in later versions.
The third part of the handbook describes the tools
Lucent Technologies recommend to use in the
optimization. In case the client prefers or
recommend using different tool, detailed procedures
will be presented to help the optimization team
proceed. Two sections are explained in this part;
Data Collection with HP tools, section 410, and Data
Processing, section 420.
In section 410, the procedures of using HP
equipment in collecting drive test data are explained
thoroughly, refer to section 130 for installation and
calibration of the tool.
Section 420 describes the method to analyze and
present the drive test results in a graphical way. This
procedure makes use of an application program and
predefined workspaces to generate these plots. The
predefined workspaces can also be customized and
saved as new workspaces are used on different sets of
data of the same kind. A detailed procedure on using
certain hardware tools to collect, post processing data
and monitoring system parameters is presented. The
HB also describes the general procedures used with
different RF tools and tools used to access system
database and monitor system performance.
The optimization process can be summarized in a
flow chart that lists the methodology of optimizing a
GSM system to achieve best quality of services
possible. The flow chart is shown below:
GSM RF Optimization Handbook 603G Section: 100
Lucent Technologies Date: 02/18/01
RF Engineering Center Issue: 1.0
http://rfec.wh.lucent.com/

Market Entrance

RF Design, Installation
Verification & Audit

BTS & OMC Default

Parameters Checking &
Audit

HW, SW, Drive Test

Vehicle Setup and Tool
Calibration

Drive Test Procedure and

Data Collection

Network Measurements

Data Processing and

Parameters Modification

System Trouble
System Performance Meet Shooting &
Objectives? Parameters
NO Modification

YES

Market Exit Procedure

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