SOLUTION PAPER

Intelligent Design for Growth Planning

GSM and UMTS Networks

Intelligent Design for Growth Planning

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................... 3 ENABLING TOOLS .................................................................................................... 4 MULTI-VENDOR INTELLIGENT OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM.............................. 4 DATA ENGINE ................................................................................................. 4 DATA MINING.................................................................................................. 5

MOTOROLA NETWORK SERVICES AND APPLICATIONS MANAGEMENT

CELLULAR OFFICE ......................................................................................... 5 DATA ENGINE IN CELLULAR OFFICE ............................................................ 5 NETPLAN ....................................................................................................... 5 BASIC SOLUTIONS FOR GSM NETWORK AUDIT.................................................. 6 ADVANCED SOLUTIONS FOR GSM RE-DESIGN AND GROWTH......................... 6 ADVANCED SOLUTIONS FOR UMTS DESIGN....................................................... 7 FUTURE NETWORK PERFORMANCE NEEDS......................................................... 8 MOTOROLA A LEADER IN NETWORK DESIGN AND OPTIMIZATION .............. 8

Intelligent Design for Growth Planning

Intelligent Design for Growth Planning

GSM and UMTS Networks

INTRODUCTION

With todays typical GSM operators having to effectively manage thousands of sites, it is often impractical to use Continuous Wave (CW) propagation methods to perform cell coverage measurement.
CW propagation methods are beneficial when considering less than a hundred sites within a network, and helpful in performing frequency planning and manual coverage tuning. During the 1990s, when RF network optimization had its early beginnings, modeling and simulation tools were created to perform cell coverage analysis. However, certain limitations within the tools meant that while design planning and modeling could adequately address networks in rural areas, they would likely be unreliable in dense urban areas. recommendations, and generates a new frequency plan to improve network performance. Todays mature operators now need new solutions to re-design and expand their GSM networks, based on their actual subscriber usage profiles. Operators are expected to provide high quality of service, while delivering additional value added services and new applications to their customers. Traditional RF modeling techniques do not deliver the actual subscriber usage pattern in any detail. Additionally, the physical environment changes frequently as new buildings are built and old ones are demolished. Therefore, how can operators best navigate these changes to keep pace with their evolving business models? After years of network growth and city reconstruction, unexpected coverage issues, inefficient system resource utilization and improper Base Station (BTS) planning of traffic locations are common negative side effects experienced by operators. Motorolas Intelligent Design for Growth Planning can provide operators with the required information to generate plans for system expansion, site selection and network resource redistribution based on actual subscriber measurement reports. With this new information, operators can have a better view of their GSM subscriber usage patterns. This valuable information can be further applied as a key input into an initial UMTS network design, especially where an operator plans to overlay UMTS over a commercial GSM network. Motorolas Intelligent Design for Growth Planning can assist the operator in selecting the right UMTS site locations in accordance with subscriber density.

Figure 1 CW Propagation Tool and PC

These limitations were derived from the fact that basic network planning efforts were based upon geographical solutions that did not consider subscriber distribution in detail. As a result of these limitations, Motorola developed its MultiVendor Intelligent Optimization System (MVIOS) tool, which over the years, has improved the performance of numerous GSM networks. MVIOS collects Subscriber Measurement Reports to generate hardware audit reports, neighbor list
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Figure 2: Network Cycle

ENABLING TOOLS

Motorolas Intelligent Design for Growth Planning is based upon several key enabling tools along with Motorolas proven engineering experience. These enabling tools include MVIOS, Data Engine, Cellular Office and NetPlan.
MULTI-VENDOR INTELLIGENT OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM

optimization services deliverables. The quantity of data collected over a seven-day period can be significant and can provide a comprehensive view of subscriber usage behavior. Motorola has developed a way to understand network subscriber distribution by combining IOS measurement report data, in combination with a location estimation algorithm, to create a series of outputs that can assist operators.

Motorolas MVIOS tool forms the basis of Motorolas total GSM RAN Optimization Service. MVIOS performs in conjunction with a hardware solution that features industry-standard, mission-critical standard platforms housing a complex set of patented analysis algorithms, which collect and analyze Measurement Report (MR) data. A set of outputs is then produced that collectively provides integrated network optimization solutions. These outputs are combined with the experience and knowledge of Motorolas engineering teams to provide a compelling set of differentiated RAN
Analysis Platform Discrete Analysis & Collection Management OMC-R Configuration Data xDSL Bridge

Figure 4: Traffic Distribution Map

Collection Manager

DATA ENGINE

Collection Platform (1) Bridge

Collection Platform (n) Bridge

To BSS Network

Figure 3: MVIOS Architecture

Data Engine can run on PC servers and includes Model Tuner, Location Estimation Algorithm and Data Mining modules. Motorola has developed a proprietary location estimation algorithm that addresses neighboring site locations, antenna bore angle, and timing advance. By using the Motorola proprietary path loss algorithm, subscriber location can be estimated.

Intelligent Design for Growth Planning

Figure 5

Figure 5 illustrates the comparison between drive test MR data (blue dot) against estimated MR location data (orange cross) along a highway in a dense urban area. Use of Model Tuner is extremely important to the process, based on different geographical terrain elements, including dense urban, rural and hilly environments. Correct location model tuning can improve estimated accuracy significantly. MR data is key in providing the means of locating actual subscriber usage profile.

Figure 7

CELLULAR OFFICE

The Cellular Office package runs on a personal laptop computer, and can operate in ONLINE and OFFLINE modes.
DATA ENGINE IN CELLULAR OFFICE
Data Engine in Motorola Office ONLINE Cellular Office connects to Data Engine to execute data mining commands OFFLINE Cellular Office to display and analyze result files

ONLINE Cellular Office connects to Data Engine to execute data mining commands. OFFLINE Cellular Office connects to display and analysis result files. In the ONLINE mode, Cellular Office connects to Data Engine via a LAN. Engineers then can input the data mining command to create the required output data. Cellular Office can be run in OFFLINE mode and engineers can open output files, including a network traffic distribution map, and plot single cell coverage anywhere. Figure 7 illustrates the Cellular Office user interface. Also shown are network traffic maps together with street maps and site underlay. The lower half of the picture illustrates a single cell coverage map and the average RxLevel color legend.

Figure 6: Data Engine and Cellular Office Connection

DATA MINING

The Data Mining module analyzes a combined data source such as RxLevel and RxQuality, which can produce multiple outputs for use in the planning process. For example, coverage overlapping and coverage hole identification provide information that is nearly impossible to attain from any other means.

Intelligent Design for Growth Planning

Motorola has developed the capability to provide critical network information...

NETPLAN

NetPlan is Motorolas RF network modeling and simulation tool. It was created to make the complicated task of RF system design faster and easier. This powerful tool provides the ability to configure and manage a sophisticated network, for real world operation, by tapping the research, resources, and vast experience of Motorola. Today, NetPlan has the following simulators: CDMA IS-95 CDMA 2000 1X CDMA EV-DO GSM/GPRS UMTS
BASIC SOLUTIONS FOR GSM NETWORK AUDIT Figure 8: Advanced Solutions for GSM Re-design and Growth ADVANCED SOLUTIONS FOR GSM RE-DESIGN AND GROWTH

There are many technical challenges that need to be addressed when considering the re-design and growth of a network, in conjunction with maintaining high quality of services. Capacity growth at the right location Providing adequate overlapping coverage Having the design location area border in the right place Decommissioning of sites no longer required from little or no traffic carried, or where the lease has expired Optimized coverage of overshooting cells Motorola understands the difficulties in re-design and growth of complex radio networks, and as a result, the following features have been developed within Cellular Office that can address these issues. Growth Planning and Traffic Distribution features assist network growth design from the operators subscriber perspective, not limited by per cell OMC-R Erlang statistics. In addition, traffic growth is able to be performed regionally on top of todays subscriber traffic distribution. Multi-signal feature is able to investigate the level of overlapping coverage within an area where there is high traffic generation. This feature can analyze whether adequate levels of overlapping are available.

Many indicators can help us understand how a network is performing. The most common and easiest methods are to perform drive test and OMC statistical analyses. However, drive testing does not reflect the total subscriber experience. Rather, it captures a sample of the end-user performance experience that is limited to where the drive tests have been performed. In turn, OMC statistics provide cell based information, but lack the geographical information to indicate where subscribers are within the cell. Because of these limitations, Motorola has developed the capability to provide critical network information that is contained within the Intelligent Design for Growth Planning service offering. To understand the attributes of a network or cell site dimensions, it is essential to know where traffic is being generated, how the cells are covering traffic, and where traffic is being handled by the cells. Today, images based on subscriber measurement reports can be generated. The network and single cell traffic distribution, average rx level, poor rx level traffic, uplink/downlink quality and any combined data source plots can be created. These are just a few of the many capabilities available from these services.

Intelligent Design for Growth Planning

Traffic Distribution Base on Weighted Land Use & Building Use Map

OMC Cell Erlang Traffic Distribution Base on Evenly Distributes on Propagated Best Billions of IOS MR reflecting the actual Server Coverage traffic density
Figure 9: UMTS Site Selection and Simulation Process

Dominance Server and Location Area Code (LAC) Partition features help to identify any unnecessary cell overlapping along LAC border. This can improve call setup access and reduce mobiles performing LAC re-selection. This can also have a positive impact on GPRS/EDGE performance. Unique Cell feature is able to report any potential traffic loss due to the unavailability of the next best server. This feature is extremely powerful to support impact analysis of site decommission and site out of service.
ADVANCED SOLUTIONS FOR UMTS DESIGN

Figure 9 illustrates three traffic maps that were generated by different techniques. Traditional methods such as using RF prediction tools in isolation or combined with OMC Cell Traffic do not offer reliable traffic distribution information. Motorolas Intelligent Design for Growth Planning delivers accurate subscriber traffic distribution information. For accurate UMTS planning, it is essential that an accurate traffic map is available. If not, the UMTS design could result in sub-optimal CAPEX investment and reduced quality of service. The Intelligent Design for Growth Planning process can be divided into two main stages. First, the Initial Site Selection uses accurate GSM subscriber traffic distribution maps with the NetPlan dimension 3G tool for initial site selection. The second stage uses Motorolas NetPlan tool to perform load simulation analysis to ensure optimal design with respect to traffic design requirements. Motorola has been investing heavily in this design methodology and capabilities, current industry practice still has the limitation of pure RF network modeling and simulation process (step 5 & 6) without considering todays subscriber information available from all sources.

Motorolas Intelligent Design for Growth Planning for UMTS is an approach to assist with UMTS site selection based on information gathered from an existing GSM network. The solution contains traffic gap, and multi-signal features within Cellular Office to ensure the correct site selection decision is made. When combined with Motorolas NetPlan RF modeling tool to perform loading analysis, a complete view is available to assist in this selection. There are several key aspects in designing a UMTS network: Knowing the traffic distribution, as this directly relates to cell breathing effect Knowing where high data rate and premium subscribers are located Network growth plans are essential - as this will alter size and design of initial deployment Separation of outdoor from indoor coverage design strategies. It is recommended that outdoor cells are not deployed as a standard feature to cover indoor usage requirements Cell breathing (one of the WCDMA radio characteristics) is a result of traffic loading within a cell. It is, therefore, essential to have an accurate traffic density map to ensure correct network configuration and design.
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Figure 10: UMTS Pilot Pollution Issue Reported

Figure 11: UMTS Site Selection and Simulation Process

The Intelligent Design for Growth Planning solution has the ability to analyze measurement reports from existing GSM subscribers to generate potential pilot pollution level information using the Multi-signal feature. In addition, the traffic gap feature is able to report potential traffic loss with different network configurations. Figure 10 illustrates a multi-signal feature example. This shows that a high percentage of subscriber traffic suffers from pilot pollution issues of varying degrees.
FUTURE NETWORK PERFORMANCE NEEDS

network paging is configured correctly, in addition to making sure that the LAC and Mobile Switching Center (MSC) areas are dimensioned adequately. Optimized Growth Planning: This solution addresses growth and optimized configuration planning for WCDMA/CDMA technologies. WCDMA has cell-breathing characteristic due to loading conditions. This makes it very difficult to accurately dimension for existing and future growth. Optimal capacity and quality engineering solutions can grow with real traffic distribution and can use Motorolas proprietary algorithms for best-in-class optimization and address related issues such as antenna tuning and new site location recommendations.
MOTOROLA A LEADER IN NETWORK DESIGN AND OPTIMIZATION

To maintain our leadership in designing and optimizing multi-vendor, multi-technology networks, Motorola has identified the following features for additional research and investigation for introduction into our next generation solution. Mobility Segmentation: This solution provides for segmentation of non-moving (indoor), slow (pedestrian) and fast (vehicular) mobility traffic. This type of data will ensure that the design team has sufficient information to accurately design solutions, including micro-cell layers, indoor cell requirements or high macro-cell coverage. Results can then be imported into the NetPlan tool to allow more accurate UMTS network modeling and simulation. SMS Traffic Distribution Map: SMS data usage is contributing a significant and growing percentage of operator ARPU. It is important to understand where subscribers send/receive SMSs, and ensure that
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Motorola has a wealth of experience in cellular communications, based on deploying hundreds of networks around the world. We are proud to be at the forefront of design and optimization solution capabilities. Motorolas Intelligent Design for Growth Planning and our MVIOS are prime examples of leading-edge technologies that clearly differentiate us from competitors. We strive to ensure that we can provide operators with optimization of both design and network performance. Motorola continues to be committed to innovation by taking these types of critical customer issues as a key input into finding the right solution to address those needs.

Motorola, Inc. www.motorola.com/networkoperators

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their registered owners. Motorola, Inc. 2005 0505networksgms

Intelligent Design for Growth Planning