Nokia Networks

Optimizing mobile broadband

performance by spectrum
refarming

Contents

1.

Executive summary

2.

Why refarming?

3. Mastering refarming

3.1 Sustain business with users who have

GSM-only phones, serve M2M traffic

3.2 Maximizing mobile broadband

performance through HSPA and LTE

3.2.1 Flexible carrier spacing and

bandwidth for HSPA

10

3.2.2 Narrower carrier spacing for

LTE solutions

10

3.3 Minimize operational expenditure

associated with refarming

11

4.

How to do refarming

13

5.

Nokia solutions

14

5.1

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Committed to spectrum refarming

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1.

Executive summary

Refarming offers operators a unique, cost efficient method to improve

mobile broadband capacity and coverage. As GSM traffic is decreasing,
spectrum can be reallocated to HSPA1 and LTE, ensuring improved
mobile broadband performance. At a later point the LTE capacity can
be increased by refarming frequencies from HSPA to LTE.
Lower frequencies are particularly attractive, as they provide excellent
coverage in rural areas, while also providing indoor coverage in urban
areas. And given the expected growth in mobile broadband traffic
during the coming years, refarming on higher frequencies can provide
the much needed capacity.
Operators can also expect better network quality to help reduce
churn, as well as higher data traffic and revenue from HSPA and LTE
subscribers than from GSM subscribers.
Nokia Networks solutions maximize the opportunity for refarming,
allowing an HSPA carrier to be refarmed within 3.8 MHz and enabling
dual cell HSPA+ service within 7.6 MHz. On the LTE side, through
narrower carrier spacing, a 10 MHz LTE carrier can be provided within
9.2 MHz. In order to maintain good GSM service in less spectrum, a
number of advanced features, such as Orthogonal SubChannels (OSC)
and Smart Dual Beam (SDB) are available.These solutions can be used
to optimise the amount of spectrum given to the different systems
and are further described and discussed in this whitepaper.
Having refarmed over 125 commercial radio networks, Nokia
Networks has gained extensive experience and is a trusted partner.
(September2014).

2.

Why refarming?

It is well known that mobile data traffic is growing fast, alongside the
expectations of mobile users, who want a consistently high quality
experience when it comes to using applications like video streaming,
social media and web browsing, regardless of whether they are
located, indoors or outdoors, in the city or countryside. This growth
in traffic volumes and user expectations force operators to rethink
the use of their spectrum assets and look towards refarming their
GSM spectrum to deploy more spectral efficient HSPA or LTE. With the
introduction of Voice over LTE (VoLTE) operators can evolve their old
circuit-switch (CS) voice network towards LTE and complement VoLTE
with e.g. HD voice and multimedia messaging. This enables further

The term HSPA is used for 3G, also covering WCDMA.

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refarming of GSM and HSPA towards LTE. VoLTE has been commercially
launched in the United States and Asia, while European operators are
expected to follow during 2014. GSM networks will still be utilized
during the next few decades to accommodate voice users and M2M
traffic, which is typically based on long-term contracts. However, the
amount of GSM traffic in mature markets is expected to decline and
can be handled with a GSM system featuring fewer frequencies than
are used today. As GSM is the dominant technology in many cases for
the 850, 900 and 1800/1900 MHz band, this frees-up frequencies in
these bands for HSPA or LTE use.
The quantity of spectrum to be allocated to HSPA and LTE depends
on a number of factors, like the amount of subscriptions in each of the
technologies, the available terminals in the network and the
target QoS per technology. Figure 1 shows the mobile subscription
growth globally per technology over the next years. While LTE
appears to be accelerating, 3G is still the dominant mobile broadband
technology in coming years and. GSM is decreasing rapidly. It should
be noted, however that there are large regional differences as
illustrated in Figure 2.
8

Subscriptions

6
4G

3G
2G

0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Source: Informa, 06/2014

Fig. 1. Mobile subscribers per Technology in the World (Informa June 2014)

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100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
4G

50%
40%

3G

30%

2G

20%
10%
0%
World

North America

Middle East
and Africa

Asia and Pacic

Asia and Pacic

Latin America

Fig. 2. Estimated global distribution of 2G, 3G and 4G subscribers for 2017

(Informa June 2014)
Operators may want to offer differentiated service on HSPA and LTE
by offering different throughputs, for instance. This may be done
directly in the subscription offering or indirectly to ensure that users
experience the 4G effect, and insist on upgrading from their 3G
connections. This should to be taken into account when deciding how
much spectrum is set aside for each technology.
A typical band allocation of the different technologies can be seen
in Figure 3. The 900 and 1800 MHz bands are traditionally used
by GSM, whereas in order to benefit from the low frequencies the
900 MHz band is being refarmed to 3G (further details provided in
our 3G refarming white paper) and for that reason will likely be the
last GSM and HSPA carrier to be refarmed towards HSPA and LTE
respectively. Likewise, the 800 MHz band is also typically used for LTE.
The 2100 MHz and 2600 MHz bands are typically used by HSPA and
LTE respectively, whereas we see signs of the 2100 MHz band now
being refarmed towards LTE for capacity reasons. In networks where
GSM traffic is on a steep decline, the 1800 MHz band is an obvious
candidate for refarming to LTE as it leads to OPEXand CAPEX savings
compared to having LTE in the 2600 MHz band.

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LTE

2600 MHz

LTE

HSPA

2100 MHz
1800 MHz

GSM

LTE

900 MHz

GSM

HSPA

800 MHz

LTE

Fig. 3. Typical band allocations across different technologies over time

Other bands are also available or becoming available in many
countries, such as the 700 and 3500 MHz band, which is targeted
to LTE.
Low frequencies provide good coverage: the lower the carrier
frequency, the further radio signals can travel. This means it takes
fewer radio cells to cover the same area, making it the perfect
solution for extending mobile network coverage. Whats more: a
radio signal traveling through the walls of a building at a lower carrier
frequency is less susceptible to signal attenuation (penetration loss).
With the benefit of this property, the usage of lower frequencies
can extend indoor coverage and improve service in metro areas (see
Figure 4). Perhaps most important to operators, it can do all this at
remarkably low cost and with compelling efficiency. Measurements and
experiences with a multitude of commercial HSPA 900 networks have
demonstrated these advantages in practice.

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700 MHz
800 MHz
900 MHz
1800 MHz
2100 MHz
2600 MHz
0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

Cell area (km )

2

Fig. 4. Typical 3 sector site LTE coverage area in urban environment, including indoor
coverage, at different frequencies acheiving a minimum data rate of 1 Mbps

3. Mastering refarming
Operators seeking to capitalize on the potential of refarming must
protect legacy business interests, sustain current operations and find
a way to contain rollout costs. In other words, operators aiming to
refarm frequencies must resolve three major issues:
1. Sustain business with users who have GSM-only phones, and serve
Machine Type Traffic (MTC) traffic.
2. Maximize mobile broadband performance through HSPA and LTE.
3. Minimize operational expenditure associated with refarming.

3.1 Sustain business with users who

have GSM-only phones, serve
M2M traffic
Using GSM spectrum more efficiently is a way of creating more
spectrum for mobile broadband and making the most of the
remaining GSM carriers capacity, such that it can take care of

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the traffic of the remaining GSM-only phones and serve M2M

traffic. Frequency hopping techniques, dynamic power control and
discontinuous transmission are three well-known methods of boosting
GSM spectral efficiency. Other advanced methods to further increase
GSM spectral efficiency include:
Orthogonal Sub Channel (OSC) can provide up to double the number
of radio channels for circuit switched voice traffic. With OSC, fewer
GSM hardware radio timeslot resources are needed for voice and
data services.
Smart Resource Adaptation (SRA) allocates downlink radio timeslot
resources as needed. In conventional networks, radio resources are
allocated by mobile device multi-slot class. Today, however, most
transferred packets are small, meaning that multi-slot allocation is
inefficient, as one user may reserve five resources. With SRA, shallow
packet inspection (SPI) is used to allocate only one timeslot for small
packets, allowing for up to five times more users, or fewer radio
resources to be used, which is particularly relevant for MTC traffic.
Precise paging a network will page all cells to alert the base station
for incoming voice, data calls and text messages. Conventionally,
common control signaling channels are added if there are enough
frequencies. However, the Precise Paging feature will page only the cell
where the mobile station was last known, as well as adjacent cells. The
feature also increases paging capacity by up to 70% in both Air and
Abis interfaces, raising paging success for a better perceived quality
for the subscriber.
Dynamic Frequency and Channel Allocation doubles base station
site traffic capacity using a powerful base station controller (BSC)
algorithm that optimizes the call quality in radio channel allocation
for every new call and incoming handover. Dynamic allocation
allows a more comprehensive re-use of GSM channels, helping
operators to add more hardware capacity per MHz. This enables GSM
implementation in less spectrum, or more traffic to run within the
existing spectrum.
Flexible MCPA Tx power pooling - conventionally, Multi Carrier Power
Amplifier (MCPA) power is shared equally between carriers. This GSM
Software Suite feature allows output power to be shared dynamically
between GSM carriers. This cuts the RF power needed for GSM,
reducing energy consumption and providing more power for HSPA
and LTE.
Energy Efficient Coverage (EEC) similar in operation to Multiple Input
Multiple Output (MIMO) in LTE networks, EEC can up to double the
amount of traffic carried at the cell level using existing GSM spectrum.

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It can also achieve the same GSM performance using less spectrum,
thus freeing up more spectrum and transmitter power for spectrum
refarming. In addition, the feature can improve coverage by
typically 4 dB.
Smart Dual Beam (SDB) Smart Dual Beam introduces a method of
realizing higher order sectorization without the need to increase the
number of BCCH frequencies employed. This way it enables operators
to benefit either from 50% more GSM capacity in their existing
spectrum and base station sites, or by refarming 20% spectrum for
HSPA and LTE deployments.

3.2 Maximizing mobile broadband

performance through HSPA
and LTE
Spectrum comes in defined blocks and it may be challenging to fit
the different systems into those blocks, for instance HSPA comes
in carriers of 5MHz. LTE is more flexible as it comes in multiple
bandwidths as illustrated in Figure 5, where the bandwidths and the
peak data rates are shown. Release 10 specifies carrier aggregation for
LTE, enabling aggregation across different carriers, whereas for HSPA,
3GPP has specified dual cell aggregation in release 8 and aggregation
across 8 carriers in release 112 .

1.4 MHz

9 Mbps

3.0 MHz

22 Mbps

5 MHz

37 Mbps

10 MHz

74 Mbps

15 MHz

110 Mbps

20 MHz

150 Mbps

Fig. 5. Various LTE bandwidths and peak data rates

 ote that not all bandwidths and band combinations can be aggregated. 3GPP adds new combinations in every release
N
of the specifications.

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In order to provide the best possible fit to the available spectrum,

Nokia Networks offers solutions to deploy HSPA and LTE carriers with
narrower bandwidth by means of flexible/narrower carrier spacing.

3.2.1 Flexible carrier spacing and

bandwidth for HSPA
3GPP calls for a carrier spacing of 5.4 MHz between HSPA and GSM
carriers. 3GPPs assumption is based on the performance of typical
radio frequency (RF) filters in base stations and, on a worst case power
level scenario, in adjacent carriers. 3GPPs recommended carrier
spacing poses a challenge for a 2G/3G operator wishing to introduce
HSPA 900. The easy solution is to save bandwidth by condensing
carrier spacing. Nokia Networks Configurable Carrier Bandwidth
technology allows operators to use software to configure HSPA
bandwidth in 3.8 MHz or 4.2 MHz.
When refarming to HSPA, this flexibility allows operators to keep
more spectrum in GSM and maintain service to GSM customers or to
leave more spectrum for LTE. In fact, the 3.8 MHz HSPA bandwidth
allows many operators with restricted GSM frequency allocation to
start providing HSPA or LTE services while continuing to deliver
GSM services.
Configurable carrier bandwidth allows operators to deploy Dual Cell
HSPA+ refarming services on the 7.6 MHz (2 x 3.8 MHz) bandwidth,
which is substantially less than the 10 MHz conventionally needed
by networks for two-carrier solutions. Such industry-leading spectral
efficiency allows many operators to offer Dual Cell HSPA+ for the first
time, while still continuing to provide GSM services. Alternatively this
solution may be used to provide more spectrum to LTE. In 2012, the
worlds first commercial re-farmed Dual Cell HSPA+ 900 network was
by provided by Nokia Networks in New Zealand.

3.2.2 Narrower carrier spacing for

LTE solutions
LTE already offers more flexibility through the different available
bandwidth solutions. Additionally, Nokia Networks offers narrower
carrier to carrier spacing for refarming in the 1800 MHz layer. This is
illustrated in Figure 6. The concept consists of two elements:
1. Narrow LTE carrier bandwidth for allowing additional GSM carriers
within the LTE nominal bandwidth in RF sharing mode.

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2. Nearest Offset BTS (NOB) is required for maximum performance:

minimizes the mutual inter-system interference and optimizes
GSM and LTE performance. NOB allows only strong GSM users on
overlapping channels, thus minimizing impact of GSM transmissions
on HSPA/LTE.
15.4 MHz
2.7 MHz

2.7 MHz

GSM

GSM

10 MHz LTE
13 MHz
1.9 MHz

1.9 MHz
GSM

GSM

9.2 MHz LTE

4.7 MHz carrier spacing instead

of 5.1 MHz

4+4+4 GSM capacity delivered in less

spectrum due to usage of advanced
GSM features like SDB, DFCA, NOB.

Fig. 6. Example of a narrower carrier spacing solution

This feature allows LTE and GSM to coexist within smaller bandwidth.
When combined with earlier mentioned features such as SDB and
DFCA, considerable bandwidth savings can be achieved.

3.3  Minimize operational expenditure

associated with refarming
Introducing another radio access layer adds to the operational effort.
This extra effort may be minimized by making intelligent use of
synergies at all levels. Nokia Single RAN offers an excellent opportunity
to save costs, operating different radio technologies on a single multipurpose hardware platform.
Single RAN is already helping many operators to achieve substantial
benefits but the coming years will see the technology evolve

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significantly. One of the benefits of Nokia Single RAN-Advanced

solution today is that legacy base station equipment can be re-used.
An existing GSM RF module, for example, can be re-used in re-farming
by GSM-LTE RF sharing, which enables operators to avoid adding LTE
RF modules. This RF sharing is enabled by Flexi Multiradio 10 Base
Station hardware, in practice changing from Single Carrier Power
Amplifiers (SCPA) in GSM to Multi Carrier Power Amplifiers (MCPA) as
used in LTE and HSPA networks. This positions re-farming as a simple
software upgrade, and the existing base station RF can now be used
simultaneously for both GSM and LTE, or GSM and HSPA, depending
on the frequency band. HSPA and LTE RF sharing is commercially
available today.
Current products also support triple sharing, but this has not yet
materialized in commercial networks. When the same spectrum is
shared, RF power and front haul transport can be shared by different
change
the capabilities
document information
RF technologies and we can To
expect
these
to develop in the footer, press [Alt + F8] and use the FORM
further in future product generations.

RF sharing
Two dedicated RF

One shared RF

LTE RF
LTE-GSM RF
GSM RF

WCDMA RF
WCDMA-GSM RF
GSM RF

WCDMA RF
LTE-WCDMA RF
GSM RF

Fig. 7. Examples of RF sharing

3
10/10/2014 Nokia 2014 - File Name - Version - Creator - DocID
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Core and background colors:
R 18
G 65
B 145

R0
G 201
B 255

R 104
G 113
B 122

R 168
G 187
B 192

R 216
G 217
B 218

Today, all vendors baseband products support one RF technology at

a time, but baseband miniaturization will enable baseband module
sharing to further reduce the number of modules and simplifying
networks even more.
Nokia Networks multicontroller platform allows for step-by-step
refarming with the possibility of re-using a hardware module between
GSM/EDGE and HSPA controllers. However, the current understanding
for LTE is that centralized LTE scheduling and a new controller network
element could be beneficial in the small cells layer, but not in the
macro base station layer though this requires further investigation.

4.

How to do refarming

The previous section described the different building blocks used in

refarming, but the question of when and how much still remains.
Figure 8 offers a simplified diagram of the refarming process.
Prior to starting, its necessary to consider which technologies are
the candidates for each band in addition to the currently deployed
technology. Key factors include the band support in the network
terminals, available site locations and coverage requirements. In
the candidate selection, its important to consider future
developments such as expected growth in subscriber and data
traffic for each technology.
The second step is checking every radio access technology to
determine whether the spectrum needs are fulfilled or whether some
adjustments are required. For GSM, this can be based on the amount
of voice traffic and MTC traffic in the existing GSM network in addition
to MTC traffic growth expectations. Spectrum can thus be adjusted,
taking into account the coverage needs. This typically means utilizing
a part of the 900 MHz band for GSM to ensure indoor voice coverage
as well as meters, which are often a large part of the indoor GSM
MTC traffic.
For HSPA and LTE, data throughputs can also be taken into account.
Operators targets typically include the number of satisfied users on
HSPA and LTE, e.g. 95% of users must experience throughput above
a certain level. Different target throughputs can be used for 3G/HSPA
and LTE as the end user expectation is usually that LTE is better than
3G. Based on the current data throughputs and predictions, it can be
estimated whether the spectrum of HSPA and LTE should be adjusted.
If both HSPA and LTE require more spectrum, and there are no
additional frequencies available, the target throughputs or thresholds

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should be adjusted to the most optimal configuration. If the number

of unsatisfied users exceeds the threshold on only one technology,
then the option to move some spectrum towards this technology
can be considered, bearing in mind the overall benefit, the future
proofness of the decision, and the cost of refarming, etc.

Decide candidate technologies for each frequency band

Evaluate for each radio access

technology the specrum needs
versus the current spectrum

Adjust the spectrum in order to

fulll the spectrum needs or
adjust the requirements

Fig. 8. Simplified diagram of the refarming process

5.

Nokia solution

Nokia Networks considers refarming as an excellent opportunity

to boost the mobile broadband performance for the mobile users,
through better rural and indoor coverage. Nokia Networks has
developed network planning services as well as the Single RAN
Advanced solution for stepwise refarming.
Planning services are based on a methodology proven in projects
around the world, helping operators to maximize the returns from
spectrum refarming, make the most of legacy assets, and mitigate
any technical risks. Nokia Networks engineers tailor the best refarming
solution for a given scenario, selecting the appropriate spectrum
allocation and spectral efficiency features to satisfy the operators
needs. Powerful tools then help to optimize performance across all
technologies and layers in the network.

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Nokia Networks offers solutions to facilitate refarming by reducing

the HSPA bandwidth from 5.4 MHz to 3.8 MHz and narrowing the
LTE carrier bandwidth to allow additional GSM carriers within the
LTE nominal bandwidth in RF sharing mode. Packaged with several
unique GSM features, operators can ensure good GSM performance
while offering mobile broadband through HSPA and LTE.
Compact, modular, and engineered to consume less power, the Flexi
Base Station enables effective site acquisition and re-use.
Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Station is the latest generation of the
market-leading Flexi Base Station family. It is based on the latest,
third generation platform developed to support higher GSM,
HSPA+, LTE and LTE-A capacities and a wider variety of base station
site configurations with a minimum of equipment and lower
power consumption.
Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Station is the worlds smallest softwaredefined, multi-technology, high-capacity base station. No additional
cabinet or shelter is needed as the base station is perfectly suited
for indoor and outdoor use. Thanks to its modular design, operators
can begin with small configurations and scale up as markets grow.
Expansions are easy, starting with remote software upgrades, adding
capacity sub-modules and chaining additional modules.
Nokia Networks was the first company to provide radio frequency
sharing, offering this facility in 2008 with Flexi Multiradio Base Station.
With a simple software upgrade, the existing base station RF can
be used simultaneously for both GSM and LTE, or GSM and HSPA,
depending on the frequency band. Nokia RF sharing has opened
the door to refarming for many operators, as it is a cost-efficient
configuration one less RF module is needed, while it also offers fast
rollout and re-use of assets.

5.1 Committed to spectrum refarming

Confident in the validity of frequency re-allocation, Nokia Networks
has made a strong commitment to refarming and is successful in
commercializing it. Having refarmed over 125 commercial radio
networks, Nokia Networks has gained extensive experience and is a
trusted partner (September 2014).

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Public
Nokia is a registered trademark of Nokia Corporation. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks or trade names of their
respective owners.
Nokia
Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy
P.O. Box 1
FI-02022
Finland
Visiting address:
Karaportti 3,
ESPOO,
Finland
Switchboard +358 71 400 4000
Product code C401-01090-WP-201410-1-EN
Nokia Solutions and Networks 2014

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