Radio Network Tuning and

Optimization for Universal

Mobile Telecommunications
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Mobile Telecommunications
System (UMTS)
Osama Bilal
Thesis Worker
Ericsson Finland
Radio Network Tunning and Optimization for
UMTS
Author: Osama Bilal
Supervisor: Prof. Sven-Gustav Hggman
Instructor: B.Sc. Jukka Mykkynen
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Instructor: B.Sc. Jukka Mykkynen
Carried out for Ericsson Finland
Tuning Activity for a UMTS Operator
AGENDA
Motivation
2G-3G, What is different
Tuning Process Flow
Tools used for Tuning Activity
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Tools used for Tuning Activity
Equipments Configuration
Pilot Tuning
UE Tuning
Final Words
MOTIVATION
3G networks are becoming commercially available all over
the world
To check the functionality of the networks before
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To check the functionality of the networks before
commercial launch
Network designs are based on propagations models and
simulations (coverage verification)
3G technology (WCDMA) is different from 2G
Tools and methods for 3G Networks
Differences compared to 2G
In General
- The Technology is more complicated (Overlapping cells,
soft hand over, power control, cell breathing etc)
- High performance requirements on products (UE & Network
nodes)
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nodes)
- In Particular for Tuning & Optimzation
- Process & tools are under development
- Co-located GSM/3G sites
- Shared Antenna System
- Inter-working with GSM
Tuning or Optimization, What is the difference
During Tuning
No traffic in the network, No subscribers
Network tuned only based on drive test data
Labour intensive with repeated drive test
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All is about Pre-launch activities
During Optimization
Commercial traffic, subscribers using the network
Statistics used widely to monitor network performance
Drive testing just in case
All is about Postlaunch activities
Tuning Process Flow

Radio Network Initial Tuning for WCDMA
Parameter
Drive Testing & Change
Analysis &
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Preparations
Parameter
Audit
Commercial
Launch
Drive Testing &
Post
Processing
Change
Verification
& Reporting
Analysis &
Change
Proposals
Tuning Process Flowchart
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Tools For Tuning/Optimization & Data Post
Processing
Active measurement needed due to lack of statistics
TEMS Investigation for WCDMA (Software)
TEMS Scanner (Software + HW)
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TEMS Scanner (Software + HW)
External GPS
User Equipment (UE)
TEMS DeskCat for post processing
MCOM3g/Mapinfo
MS Access/Excel based tools
USB2
USB1
Short call Long Call
USB1
CS64
USB1
PS
Drive Test Equipments for Voice, CS64 & PS call
Drive test tools configuration
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Com 1
scanner
GPS
Drive Test Routes
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PILOT TUNING
The basic measurements of scanner are
CPICH_RSCP (received signal code power)
CPICH_Ec/No (received energy per chip divided by the
power density in the band)
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power density in the band)
RSSI (received signal strength indicator)
What can you achieve with scanner?
Crossed feeder issues (DL)
Coverage verification
Interference problems (overshooting cell, pilot pollution)
Missing neighbours
COVERAGE VERIFICATION - Primary Common
Pilot Channel
Verify P-CPICH detection to minimize coverage holes
P-CPICH RSCP
P-CPICH Ec/No
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Coverage level RSCP [dBm] E
c
/N
0
[dB]
Sufficient RSCP 100 E
c
/N
0
14
Poor 115 RSCP <100 16 E
c
/N
0
< 14
No coverage RSCP < 115 E
c
/N
0
<16
Best Server Signal Strength (RSCP)
Yellow is
good
Blue can
generate
problems
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problems
Grey is bad
Pilot Ec/No Measurements
Green is
good
Blue can
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Blue can
generate
problems
Orange is
bad
INTERFERNECE
-40
-30
By correlating low Ec/No with high RSCP, areas with high
interference can be detected
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-100
-90
-80
-70
-60
-50
-25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5
Ec/Io [dB]
R
S
C
P

[
d
B
m
]
High interference
INTERFERENCE (RSCP > -90 dBm AND Ec/No < -9 dB)
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Primary Common Pilot Channel (P-CPICH)
OVERSHOOTING
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OVERSHOOTING
Change Proposal: Site-D, Sector-1, Antenna Down-tilt 8 Degrees
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Primary Common Pilot Channel (P-CPICH)
PILOT POLLUTION
P-CPICH RSCP
P-CPICH Ec/No
High CPICH reception levels from many
Cells, (more than MAX_ACTIVE_SET)
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size
serving
c c
AS threshold
N
E
N
E
count Pilot > ) (
0 0
PILOT POLLUTION
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PILOT POLLUTION
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PILOT POLLUTION
Change Proposals
Site
Name
Sector
Number
SC of
Pilot
Height of
Antenna
(meters)
Antenna
Tilts
(degree)
Proposed
Antenna
Tilts
(degree)
A 1 173 38 2 5
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A 2 76 38 2 4
D
1
485 47.3 2 8
C 2 24 39.2 3 5
B 3 79 27 2 3
10
15
20
25
30
35
Numbers of
Samples
PILOT POLLUTION
Verification Drive Test (after tuning)
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0
5
173 76 485 79 24
SC of Pilots
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Number of
Samples
173 76 79 24
SC of Pilots
Initial Drive Test (before tuning)
Verification Drive Test (after tuning)
UE TUNING
Voice /Video/PS calls
Long calls
short calls
Identify problem areas
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Identify problem areas
Blocked calls
Dropped calls
Delay/Throughput
Short Calls Analysis
Set-up a call and maintain it for a pre-defined time duration
(for 15-60 s)
Call set-up failure and drops during short calls can be mainly
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Call set-up failure and drops during short calls can be mainly
used to analysis Accessibility failure due to:
UE Failure
Unsuitable Parameters Setting
Coverage Problem
Interference
Others
Long Calls Analysis
Drops during long call can be used to identify:
Set-up a call and maintain it until it is drop (used for
the analysis of Retainability performace)
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Drops during long call can be used to identify:
Missing Neighbor Relation
Coverage Problem
UE Problems
Network Characteristics
Best Parameter Setting
Others
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Accessability (Call set-up success rate)
Retainability (Dropped calls)
Mobility (Handover success rate)
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Mobility (Handover success rate)
Integrity (BLER and throughput)
Case 1: Drop due to missing neighbor
Problem: Detected Nighbor (DN)
UE sends a Measurement Report that contains an event1a
means adding a new RL (cell) to Active Set
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means adding a new RL (cell) to Active Set
If the reported cell is not in the current neighbor cell list
and the reported Ec/No is better than the best serving cell
Ec/No in AS by some dBs (set by a RNC parameter)
If for any reason the new cell can not be added to AS, call
will be released
Case 1: Drop due to missing neighbor
D L B L E R g e t s w o r s e D L B L E R g e t s w o r s e
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D N c e l l b e t t e r t h a n t h e s e r v i n g c e l l D N c e l l b e t t e r t h a n t h e s e r v i n g c e l l
Case 2: Drop due to Poor Coverage (low RSCP)
Problem: Poor DL coverage
When UE gets to an area with low RSCP ( < -105 dBm)
regardless Ec/No values there is high risk for drop.
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regardless Ec/No values there is high risk for drop.
UE will likely ramp up the transmitted power and reach its
max power. The DL BLER will probably increase and SIR
target cannot maintain anymore, finally the call drops.
Case 2: Drop due to DL Poor Coverage
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Very bad RSCP
UE max Tx power
and
high DL BLER
Very bad RSCP
UE max Tx power
and
high DL BLER
Case 3:
PS: Session Error due to Poor DL Coverage
UE enters a very low coverage area (RSCP < 105 dBm).
The packet connection is carried on a 64/64 DCH Channel
as consequence of the low coverage conditions.
The UE will likely ramp up its power to the maximum, goes
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The UE will likely ramp up its power to the maximum, goes
to Idle Mode and the Application and RLC throughputs go
to zero.
At this point the RAS application will start the Session
Timeout timer, if the throughput is not resumed the Session
Error event is triggered with cause session timeout.
PS: Session Error due to Poor DL Coverage
App throughput ~64kbps App throughput ~64kbps
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Very low RSCP Very low RSCP
FINAL WORDS
For network tuning, we need to relay on field measurements which
require extensive drive tests
Finding the best possible configuration for antenna heights, tilts,
azimuths and parameter setting for all the present cells/sectors in the
network and also for any new sites that might be needed to improve
coverage
Power adjustment can also be used for network tuning but can become
complicated and result in poor network performance
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complicated and result in poor network performance
Use of Remote Electrical Tilt (RET) Antenna is preferred over mechanical
tilt antenna
Neighbour definition is of prime importance in UMTS network (Soft
handover gain and interference reduction). Keep neighbour list upto 20.
Automated tools are needed that could suggest the best possible
neighbour relations, antenna heights and tilts by using both the field
measurements and the propagation models & simulations
Skilled people, right methods and advanced tools are needed to perform
3G tuning and optimisation
Comparison of Mechanical and Electrical Down-tilts
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