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Table of Contents
1 Introduction........................................................................................3
2 Purpose...............................................................................................3
3 Benefits...............................................................................................3
4 Service Description...........................................................................3
5 Exclusions..........................................................................................3
6 Responsibility Matrix.........................................................................3
9 Field Tests..........................................................................................3
10 NW Level Recommendations............................................................3
12 Appendix.............................................................................................3
12.1 Brief descriptions for IRAT Related Features......................................3
12.1.1 WCDMA IRAT Handover, coverage triggered......................3
12.1.2 GERAN Session Continuity, Coverage-Triggered................3
12.1.3 WCDMA Session Continuity, Coverage-Triggered...............3
1 Introduction
Batelco is the first operator to launch LTE services in Bahrain. The rollout is ongoing
with more than 90 sites integrated out of the initial 100 for the first phase, while
preparations for second phase of 100 additional sites are underway. It has been
agreed between Ericsson and Batelco for post Launch optimization service for a 6
months period, to cover basic areas of network optimization ensuring excellent
subscriber perception.
As a part of the service, LTE IRAT interworking optimization has been arranged for
the network. This is necessary to ensure seamless transitions between GSM,
WCDMA and LTE technologies based on pre-defined strategy. Given the complex
architecture of Batelco network, where two carriers exist on WCDMA with selective
deployment and GSM having the strongest coverage, LTE IRAT interworking
optimization is aimed at getting the subscribers to camp at the best technology with
respect to data throughputs while ensuring the requisite quality of service.
2 Purpose
The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines for the LTE IRAT Interworking
Optimizationfor Batelco network. It provides recommendations for deployment
options, key parameters, test methodology and performance metrics.
3 Benefits
As 2G/3G networks evolve to 4G, a key requirement for operators is to provide a
seamless experience for their customers.
As in the case of Batelco, LTE has initially been deployed as an overlay on existing
2G/3G networks. The aim is to provide cost effective services with higher data rates
and capacity in strategic locations.
A well optimized Inter Working (IW) design will enable service continuity for mobile
users moving from LTE to WCDMA coverage areas, whilst maintaining the best
possible service integrity independent of the radio access technology used. This may
also provide an important point of differentiation for operators in a competitive market
environment.
IW can also provide a means to most efficiently leverage the increased capacity of
LTE for higher traffic areas, and alleviate congestion on 2G and 3G networks.
4 Service Description
The LTE IRAT Interworking Optimization is a part of the on-going Optimization
Service for Batelco Network. The LTE Interworking service draws upon Ericsson’s
LTE technical experts to deliver a highly specialized service for the delivery of an
interworking solution that can be tailored to meet the specific requirements of Batelco
Network. The general LTE Network Management Life Cycle and the placement of
IRAT interworking service are shown in Figure 3-1.
The service can be broadly classified into four phases, as shown in figure 2 below.
During the high level design phase, basic data regarding network architecture
and customization of IRAT interworking with regards to Batelco network is
framed.
A test case is developed to apply the settings from finalized strategy before these
changes are rolled out network wide.
Field Tests
Field tests were done to simulate multiple scenarios on the test case for ensuring
comprehensive testing. These scenarios included induced conditions for IRAT
reselections and special focus was paid to subscriber perception.
NW Level Recommendations
5 Exclusions
This document covers RAN considerations for LTE Interworking only, based
onL12.1/W11.1/G12B software releases.
Interworking between LTE and 2G/3G has been limited to session continuity and idle
modecell reselection.
EPC, Packet core and considerations for future software releases are out of scope.
6 Responsibility Matrix
In case of any item not being included in the following table, ad-hoc discussion
between Ericsson and Batelco shall assign the item to one or the other Party.
An item assigned to both Customer and Supplier means that both Parties are
required to allocate the time and the resources needed to meet the requirement.
7.1 Introduction
A well optimized IW design will enable service continuity for mobile users moving
from LTE to WCDMA coverage areas, whilst maintaining the best possible service
integrity independent of the radio access technology (RAT) used. This may also
provide an important point of differentiation for operators in a competitive market
environment.
IW can also provide a means to most efficiently leverage the increased capacity of
LTE for higher traffic areas, and alleviate congestion on 3G and 2G networks.
PRIORITY
• Maximize data throughput for the user – i.e. retain users on LTE service in
locations where it provides superior data service to that which would be provided
by the underlying 2G/3G layer. The WCDMA network is set to a lower priority
than the LTE network to promote the camping of LTE capable devices in the LTE
network.
• Minimize the frequency of inter-RAT handover and improve the user perception
of network stability – i.e. ensure sufficient inter-system hysteresis to prevent Ping-
Pong transitioning.
• To ideally perform the IRAT change in a place where both radio technologies are
sufficiently suitable to support a radio link for this transition.
Since user experience metrics are not included in the set of triggers for user mobility
procedures such as idle mode cell reselection and session continuity, field tests have
been primarily employed to assess the on-ground situation and transitions.
In the latter case, the parameters are tuned to optimize the transition. If the trigger
parameters are set too high, session abnormal drops may increase. On the other
hand if they are set too low, the session may too early be transferred to the legacy
network.
CSFB is currently not included in the scope since it shall be separately considered in
the coming days.
Further details are given in the following sections for each scenario.
LTE system information, SIB6, specifies the frequencies and the parameters used for
absolute priority-based cell reselection to WCDMA. Downlink UARFCN is used as a
representation of the WCDMA frequency carriers. Similarly ARFCN groups can be
defined for GSM BCCHs to be usedwhich are included in the system information
block 7 (SIB7).
As a general strategy, WCDMA cells are set to a lower priority than LTE in order to
maximize the number of devices camping on LTE. This is achieved via the following
WCDMA and LTE cell reselection priority parameters:
EUtranFreqRelation.cellReselectionPriority
UtranFrequencyRelation.cellReselectionPriority
GeranFreqGroupRelation.cellReselectionPriority
LTE technology has been defined as the most preferred throughout the network and
therefore the value of EUtranFreqRelation.cellReselectionPriority is fixed as 7.
Given that WCDMA comprises two carriers on Batelco Network, cell reselection
priorityis kept as 5 (higher) for the first carrier (UARFCN 10638) and is kept as 4
(lower) for the second carrier (UARFCN 10662). This strategy is placed since the first
carrier offers blanket coverage across the network while second carrier has only
been deployed in selective locations and is also kept in reserved status at some
places. GSM has been given a cellreselectionpriority of 1 while 0 for some GSM1800
only cells.
Srxlev of an LTE cell is defined as the signal level above the minimum threshold for
cell camping or:
Where:
Qrxlevmeas is the RSRP level of the LTE cell measured by the UE. qRxLevMin
[EUtranCellFDD] is a parameter that indicates the minimum required RSRP level for
camping on the LTE cell. Currently this is set to -128dBm.
Using the current parameter values, the UE will measure IRAT cells when the UE
measured RSRP on LTE is below -120 [-128+8] dBm.
-128+8=-120dBm
-115+6=-109dBm
-128+6=-122dBm
If more than one WCDMA cell meets the cell reselection criteria above, the UE shall
reselect to the WCDMA cell with the highest measured RSCP level, or more precise
highest Srxlev.
Using the current parameter values, the UE will reselect to WCDMA cell when LTE
RSRP is below -122 (-128+6) dBm AND WCDMA RSCP is above -115(-115+0) dBm
for 2 seconds atleast.
If more than one GSM cell meets the cell reselection criteria above, the UE shall
reselect to the GSM cell with the highest measured RxLev, or more precise highest
Srxlev.
Using the current parameter values, the UE will reselect to GSMcell when LTE
RSRP is below -122 (-128+6) dBm AND WCDMA RSCP is NOT above -109(-
115+6) dBm AND GSM Rxlev is above -98 (-100+2)dBm FOR 2 seconds atleast.
Cell reselection from WCDMA to LTE is supported by E-UTRA capable UEs in idle
mode and in state URA_PCH and Idle. The LTE frequencies and the parameters for
cell reselection are sent on the broadcast channel in System Information Block type
19 (SIB19).
Cell reselection is based on priority, whereby each LTE and WCDMA frequency layer
is assigned a priority from 0 to 7. Where a UE detects a neighboring LTE cell with
higher priority than the serving WCDMA cell it will attempt a cell reselection even if
the measured signal strength is lower for the LTE cell compared to the WCDMA cell.
The signal strength of the neighboring LTE cell must however be above a minimum
threshold.
cellReselectionPriority
Once the UE has detected an LTE cell, it is required to periodically perform LTE cell
measurements. The measurement time interval is determined based on configured
DRX cycle length values. The DRX cycle length value used for idle mode WCDMA to
LTE cell reselection is the lowest value comparing the setting of
cnDrxCycleLengthCs and cnDrxCycleLengthPs. The measurement time interval
used for WCDMA to LTE cell reselection in state URA_PCH is determined by
utranDrxCycleLength. With current WRAN recommended DRX settings,
measurement time interval, TmeasureE-UTRA, is 5.12 s for both idle mode and
URA_PCH.
WCDMA RSCP threshold, below which UE intensifies detection of higher priority LTE
frequency:
Given the current parameter settings, only RSCP criteria is considered for
intensification of LTE measurements. When RSCP goes below -105 (-115+10) dBm,
IRAT measurements are intensified.
Only LTE cells fulfilling the S-criteria, with current default setting that means LTE
cells with Srxlev > 0, are considered as candidates for LTE cell reselection. Srxlev of
the LTE cell for a UE in WCDMA is defined as:-
Qrxlevmeas is the RSRP level of the LTE cell measured by the UE. Parameter
qRxLevMin [EutranFreqRelation] indicates the minimum required RSRP level for
camping on the LTE cell.
If more than one LTE cell meets the criteria for cell reselection, the UE shall reselect
the LTE cell with the highest Srxlev level among the cells meeting the criteria on the
highest absolute priority layer.
Using the current parameter values, the UE will reselect from WCDMA to LTE cell
when LTE RSRP is above -118 (-124+6) dBm FOR 2 seconds atleast.
It is recommended to change qrxlevmin for LTE cells from current value of -124 to -
128 together with a change in threshHigh from 6 to 10. In this way, more LTE cell
options can be available for re-selection as all cells above qrxlevmin (-128dBm) are
reported. Reselection however will still be done at -118dBm as before.
As above, the recommendation in most cases will be to set LTE as the highest
priority, then WCDMA and GSM to the last priority. This way, subscriber perception
with respect to data should always be very good, since wherever available, it will be
camping to LTE or WCDMA.
Technology prioritization handles the camping of UE if more than one technology has
sufficiently good signal quality. By setting the technology priority, operator can define
a strategy for subscribers with regards to directing them more towards a particular
technology.
IRATPRIO
IRATPRIO is defined as 7 for LTE frequencies, 5 for WCDMA first carrier and 0
for GSM cells.
Since IRATPRIO is set higher in the case of LTE/WCDMA, these technologies shall
always be measured when subscribers are camped on Batelco GSM.
For any subscriber on 2G, reselection to LTE is done if LTE RSRP is better than -
128dBm.
HPRIOTHR = 2 (4dB)
A UMTS cell is only selected if the quality measurement CPICH Ec/No is above the
threshold FDDQMIN.
For any subscriber on 2G, reselection to WCDMA is done if WCDMA RSCP is better
than -115dBm and Ec/No is better than -10dB.
7.8.1 Introduction
The WCDMA session continuity function enables a user to move from relatively poor
LTE coverage to improved WCDMA coverage with minimal interruption to data flow
and without the need to re-establish a data session. Where WCDMA session
continuity is not enabled, LTE performance would degrade to a point where session
continuity is lost, and necessitate session re-establishment from idle mode.
WCDMA Session Continuity (FAJ 121 0493) is an optional feature that allows a UE
in RRC_Connected mode in the requisite coverage conditions to be released from
LTE and redirected to WCDMA. When signal strength and/or quality levels are below
the defined thresholds (triggering Event A2), the UE will send a measurement report
to the eNodeB, which will determine if redirection to WCDMA will take place.
No direct connections between LTE and WCDMA networks are required. However,
an improved user experience (i.e. shorter session continuity interruption time) may
be expected where PGW and GGSN functions are served in the same node.
Information about the WCDMA network carrier frequencies must be configured in the
LTE eNodeB.
If neither this feature, nor any of the related Session Continuity features are used, the
UE is configured not to trigger measurements of poor coverage. Instead, the UE
remains connected to the original frequency within the LTE network with poor LTE
coverage. If the UE is eventually released, it is required to perform idle mode cell
reselection to move to a WCDMA network. This interruption time may be long since
the UE may be connected to the LTE frequency with poor coverage for a long period
while the WCDMA network is capable of providing better service.
A higher prioritization of LTE to WCDMA is desired and settable with the following
parameters:
EUtranFreqRelation.connectedModeMobilityPrio
UtranFreqRelation.connectedModeMobilityPrio
7.8.2 Operation
The measurement process used by the UE to evaluate the serving cell uses
parameters sent by the serving eNodeB to the UE. These parameters, sent to the UE
in the RRCConnectionReconfiguration messages, include threshold values,
hysteresis values, measurement filtering, and time-to-trigger parameters.
The eNodeB will configure two Event A2 measurements in the UE to detect poor
coverage, and using the default settings, one of them will be based on RSRP and
one on RSRQ. The eNodeB will consider the UE in poor coverage when at least one
of the measurements has reported poor coverage.
The formula used by the UE for evaluating entry to Event A2 is shown in the
following equation:
The formula used by the UE for evaluating exit from Event A2 is shown in the
following equation:
For Batelco, whenever RSRP is better than -116dBm, the exit from event A2 is
triggered.
Measurement reports are sent to the eNodeB periodically while the Event A2
condition is fulfilled. The time interval between measurement reports is 480 ms.
7.9.1 Introduction
The added benefits of the Coverage-Triggered WCDMA IRAT Handover feature over
the Coverage-Triggered WCDMA Session Continuity, considering also the possibility
to perform incoming handover from WCDMA to LTE, can be summarized as follows:
Session transition to a WCDMA cell and from a WCDMA cell to an LTE cell is
possible with reduced interruptions to data flows during the transition process.
Enhanced control over how UEs are transferred between frequencies and
cells.
7.9.2 Operation
If the highest prioritized frequency that the UE can handle (has capabilities for) is a
WCDMA frequency, the RBS can do one of the following two actions:
When the UE does not have voice bearers established, immediately release
the UE with a redirection indication for this frequency. This is referred to as
"blind release with redirect”.
The Coverage-Triggered WCDMA IRAT Handover feature extends this with the
following two new options:
Regarding incoming WCDMA handover (using only the S1 connection), the LTE RBS
treats such a handover request exactly like it treats an incoming handover from an
LTE cell.
If a target cell was selected for handover, the RBS proceeds to prepare and execute
the handover attempt. This is done in the same way as is described in Intra-LTE
Handover, with the following two differences:
The connection used when communicating with the node (RNC) handling the
target cell is the S1 connection, that is, the communication always goes
through the core network, through the Mobility Management Entity (MME).
The events sent from the RBS during handover preparation and execution will
contain information saying that it is a "WCDMA handover" and whether the handover
was initiated based on a preconfigured target cell (blind handover) or whether an
Event B2 measurement was used to find a target cell (measurement based
handover).
The outcome of the WCDMA Handover is SUCCESS if at least one of the UE's
bearers were accepted and established in the target WCDMA cell.
The outcome of the WCDMA Handover is FAILURE if none of the UE's bearers were
accepted in the target cell or if none of the UE's bearers could be successfully
established in the target WCDMA cell.
The mobilityAction attribute must have the value HANDOVER for the
UtranFreqRelation MO representing the target WCDMA frequency under the
source cell in the MOM.
For every cell that might be reported by the Event B2 measurement and that
should be possible to use as target cells, there must be a UtranCellRelation
below the UtranFreqRelation target where the isHoAllowed attribute has the
value true.
If the received Event B2 measurement report only contains cells that either do not
exist in the MOM, for which there is no cell relation from the source cell, or for which
the isHoAllowed attribute has the value false, the RBS will transfer the UE to the
target frequency using a release with redirect.
Default Proposed
Parameter Name Parameter Description Unit
Value Value
The length of time the eNodeB waits for reports from A5/B2
measurements configured in the UE for mobility reasons.
a5B2MobilityTimer ms 0 3000
If the value 0 is given, the timer will not be started.
The Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) threshold1 value 1
b2Threshold1Rsrp -140 -120
for eventB2. dBm
b2Threshold2RscpUtr Received Signal Code Power in the ThresholdUTRA, threshold2 1
-115 -109
a value for eventB2. dBm
0.1
hysteresisB2 The hysteresis value for the eventB2 measurement 10 20
dB
timeToTriggerB2 The time to trigger value for the eventB2 measurement. 640 640
The quantity for threshold1 (serving EUTRAN cell) that is sent to
triggerQuantityB2 the UE, and is used together with threshold2 to trigger the RSRP RSRP
eventB2.
The quantity for threshold2 (neighbor UTRA cell) that is sent to
triggerQuantityUtraB2 the UE, and is used by the UE together with threshold1 to trigger RSCP RSCP
the eventB2.
The Signal Quality in the ThresholdGERAN, threshold2 value for 1
b2Threshold2Geran -110 -98
eventB2. dBm
7.10.1 Introduction
A higher prioritization of LTE and WCDMA to GERAN is desired and settable with the
following parameters:
EUtranFreqRelation.connectedModeMobilityPrio
UtranFreqRelation.connectedModeMobilityPrio
GeranFreqRelation.connectedModeMobilityPrio
7.10.2 Operation
Default Proposed
Parameter Name Parameter Description Unit
Value Value
The length of time the eNodeB waits for reports from A5/B2
measurements configured in the UE for mobility reasons.
a5B2MobilityTimer ms 0 3000
If the value 0 is given, the timer will not be started.
The Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) threshold1 value 1
b2Threshold1Rsrp -140 -120
for eventB2. dBm
b2Threshold2RscpUtr Received Signal Code Power in the ThresholdUTRA, threshold2 1
-115 -109
a value for eventB2. dBm
0.1
hysteresisB2 The hysteresis value for the eventB2 measurement 10 20
dB
timeToTriggerB2 The time to trigger value for the eventB2 measurement. 640 640
The quantity for threshold1 (serving EUTRAN cell) that is sent to
triggerQuantityB2 the UE, and is used together with threshold2 to trigger the RSRP RSRP
eventB2.
The quantity for threshold2 (neighbor UTRA cell) that is sent to
triggerQuantityUtraB2 the UE, and is used by the UE together with threshold1 to trigger RSCP RSCP
the eventB2.
The Signal Quality in the ThresholdGERAN, threshold2 value for 1
b2Threshold2Geran -110 -98
eventB2. dBm
The benefit of the strategy above is to enable IRAT mobility from LTE to any other
technology when it becomes sufficiently good enough. Also, if WCDMA is not good
enough, GERAN would be given a chance.
Subscriber is camped on LTE in idle mode and starts moving towards WCDMA
coverage.
Subscriber is camped on LTE in idle mode and starts moving towards GSM
coverage.
Subscriber is camped on WCDMA in idle mode and starts moving towards LTE
coverage.
Subscriber is camped on GSM in idle mode and starts moving towards LTE
coverage.
9 Field Tests
Following results have been obtained from field test when the above mentioned
scenarios were tested.
Subscriber is camped on LTE in idle mode and starts moving towards WCDMA
coverage.
Subscriber is camped on LTE in idle mode and starts moving towards GSM
coverage.
(This scenario could not be tested in the field as WCDMA coverage is too strong
to allow IRAT reselection to GSM.)
Subscriber is camped on WCDMA in idle mode and starts moving towards LTE
coverage.
Subscriber is camped on GSM in idle mode and starts moving towards LTE
coverage.
(This scenario could not be tested in the field as WCDMA coverage is too strong
to allow IRAT reselection to GSM.)
10 NW Level Recommendations
Attached file has all the consolidated network level recommendations made in this
document.
Relevant changes have been attached with the document in the last section as
‘Batelco LTE IRAT Interworking Optimization - Consolidated Recommendations rev
A’.
12 Appendix
The Coverage-Triggered WCDMA Session Continuity feature provides the RBS with
the possibility to release User Equipment (UE) and direct it to a WCDMA frequency
(release with redirect) in the event of poor coverage in the serving cell.
The purpose of the Coverage-Triggered WCDMA IRAT Handover feature is, first, to
extend this with the option of initiating a handover to a WCDMA cell, instead of
initiating a release. Second, to handle an incoming handover (to an LTE cell) from a
WCDMA cell.
The added benefits of the Coverage-Triggered WCDMA IRAT Handover feature over
the Coverage-Triggered WCDMA Session Continuity, considering also the possibility
to perform incoming handover from WCDMA to LTE, can be summarized as follows:
Session transition to a WCDMA cell and from a WCDMA cell to an LTE cell is
possible with reduced interruptions to data flows during the transition process.
Enhanced control over how UEs are transferred between frequencies and
cells.
If neither this feature, nor any of the related Session Continuity features are used, the
UE is configured not to trigger measurements of poor coverage. Instead, the UE
remains connected to the original frequency within the LTE network with poor LTE
coverage. If the UE is eventually released, it is required to perform idle mode cell
reselection to move to a GERAN network. This interruption time may be long since
the UE may be connected to the LTE frequency with poor coverage for a long period
while the GERAN network is capable of providing better quality.
If neither this feature, nor any of the related Session Continuity features are used, the
UE is configured not to trigger measurements of poor coverage. Instead, the UE
remains connected to the original frequency within the LTE network with poor LTE
coverage. If the UE is eventually released, it is required to perform idle mode cell
reselection to move to a WCDMA network. This interruption time may be long since
the UE may be connected to the LTE frequency with poor coverage for a long period
while the WCDMA network is capable of providing better quality.