Get ready for 900MHz refarming

900MHz refarming: A growing trend

A UMTS network can be constructed in the GSM900 frequency band at a
lower cost with better coverage than a UMTS2100 network.
According to radio wave propagation features, radio signals are transmitted
farther at a lower carrier frequency and allow one site to cover a wider area.
This makes the UMTS900 an excellent wide coverage solution. Therefore,
investment for mobile networks goes down as wider coverage per site means
fewer sites.
Second, the UMTS900 network is better for indoor coverage and has better
network coverage performance. Low-frequency carrier signals suffer less loss
when penetrating building walls. Thus, with a UMTS900 network quality of
service (QoS) is improved and better user experience enabled.
When constructing a UMTS900 network, operators can protect their
investment in the original GSM network by reusing infrastructures like the
antenna and site.
However, due to limited spectrum resources on the GSM900 band, most
operators cannot provide a complete 5MHz frequency band to build the
UMTS network. In addition, the existing GSM900 network has accumulated a
large subscriber base and is an important source of profits for operators. This
is why the GSM/UMTS 900MHz refarming solution was proposed in the hope
of constructing low-cost UMTS900 networks with wide coverage and
implementing joint networking between UMTS and GSM networks while
ensuring the continuous capacity expansion and QoS of the GSM network.
Due to the advantages of a UMTS900 network, increasingly more countries
have begun to formulate policies regulating the deployment of 3G networks
on the 900MHz band.

The EU passed a new resolution on July 27, 2009, approving refarming the
900MHz band and requested that its member countries enforce the bill
within six months to drive the development of the 3G mobile
communications industry. 900MHz operators can utilize the frequency for any
technology, at their own discretion, without license restrictions.
SingleRAN based refarming solutions
When performing 900MHz refarming, operators need to address the following
four key issues: 1) The interference between GSM and UMTS networks must
be minimized; 2) Feeder and Antenna sharing to protect existing investment;
3) Guarantee of GSM network capacity enhancement and continuous
development; 4) Unified operation and maintenance of the two networks to
reduce OPEX.
As a leading Next Generation Mobile Network solutions provider, Huawei has
launched innovative SingleRAN solutions based on 4th generation base
stations. Huawei then releases its end-to-end commercial SingleRAN based
refarming solutions, which effectively address the four key issues above.
GSM/UMTS site sharing solution
For GSM/UMTS joint networking, two scenarios can be applied: site sharing
and non-site sharing. As the coverage radius of a UMTS network is larger
than that of a GSM network, in the non-site sharing scenario, the number of
UMTS sites can be reduced and equipment investment thus less.
This also has some disadvantages. First, sites are not shared and network
deployment cannot be performed as per the original cellular structure. The
original GSM site resources cannot be completely utilized, which will give rise
to a large number of new sites and cost more for auxiliary equipment.
Second, when the GSM and UMTS networks do not share sites, the
interference between GSM and UMTS networks will increase.

In the site sharing scenario, interference between GSM and UMTS networks is
reduced, and operators do not have to construct new sites, saving money on
auxiliary equipment. By adjusting the transmitted power of the UMTS
network, the GSM coverage area and that of UMTS networks may be
basically the same. When antennas are not shared, by adjusting the downtilt
angle and azimuth, each network can achieve the best coverage
performance.
The Huawei SingleRAN based 900MHz refarming solutions can effectively
meet the site sharing requirements for GSM/UMTS joint networking. Also, the
GSM and UMTS networks can use the same RF module through software
upgrades and cut equipment costs.
Adjacent frequency guard band solution
Huawei SingleRAN based frequency refarming solutions mainly support two
types of frequency allocation: edge-type and sandwich-type allocation.
Frequency gap (f1) between the GSM band edge and the center of the UMTS
band can be configured based on the gap requirement of the product. For f2,
the frequency gap with other carrier's band must be no less than 2.6MHz. If
less than 2.6MHz, the other carrier's GSM network, given its unknown RF
performance, may interfere with the UMTS network, especially when the
system is used on the Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH) or Packet Data
Channel (PDCH). Since the power control is disabled, more interference will
be generated on the UMTS.
For the frequency gap f1, Huawei SingleRAN based 900MHz refarming
solutions support a minimum bandwidth of 2.4MHz in urban areas and
2.2MHz in rural. For the frequency gap f2, if the adjacent frequency is idle,
the solutions support a minimum bandwidth of 2.5MHz. If the adjacent
frequency is occupied as other carrier's GSM band, the bandwidth spacing
must be no less than 2.6MHz.

Figure 2 (see PDF) shows the sandwich-type GSM/UMTS frequency allocation.

Within the carrier's frequency band, the UMTS frequency is placed in the
middle, with GSM frequency band on its two sides. The frequency gap
between the center of UMTS and the GSM on its two sides, is equal and can
be configured based on the gap requirement of the product.
If f1 and f2 are equal and both are less than 2.6MHz, the frequency bands on
two sides of the UMTS can share spectrum resources with the GSM system.
Compared with edge-type allocation, this method doubles the number of the
GSM carrier spectrums.
According to sandwich-type allocation, the UMTS carrier spectrums can be
placed anywhere within the spectrum of the operators (not necessarily the
center of the spectrum). This can be determined based on the operation
strategies of the operators. For example, the carrier may split some
spectrums in the future to obtain 2 UMTS bands, which can reduce
subsequent UMTS frequency adjustments.
For the frequency gap of f1 and f2, Huawei SingleRAN based 900MHz
refarming solutions support a minimum bandwidth of 2.4MHz in urban areas
and 2.2MHz in rural.
Co-frequency buffer zone solution
When the UMTS and the GSM networks use the same frequency band, the
signal of base stations or terminals in one system falls within the reception
area of the other system. This interference cannot be suppressed by the
receiving filter. Instead, only an appropriate frequency buffer zone can be set
between the two systems within the same frequency band to accelerate
attenuation of the interfering signal and guarantee normal operation of the
two systems.

For this purpose, Huawei has developed an innovative co-frequency buffer

zone solution, resolving co-frequency interference between two systems. The
solution has been put into successful commercial use by Optus in Australia.
Bringing multiple values
Huawei's SingleRAN based 900MHz refarming solutions bring value in four
major ways:
First, they optimize the RF filter of base stations and use an advanced
algorithm to provide frequency refarming solutions for small frequency
spacing in various scenarios minimizing the impact of the UMTS900 on
existing GSM by making full use of scarce 900MHz frequency resources.
Second, by adopting SDR technology, Huawei SingleRAN-based 900MHz
refarming solutions enable the GSM and UMTS to output signal on one power
amplifier and share antennas naturally, reducing the network construction
costs.
Third, with the Huawei SingleRAN based 900MHz frequency refarming
solutions, GSM and the UMTS networks are fully integrated on the same
hardware platform. Co-RRM (co-radio resources management), Co-O&M (Cooperation & maintenance), and Co-RNP/RNO (Co-radio network
planning/radio network optimization) are realized with software,
consolidating the two independent networks to allow users to enjoy high-end
2G and 3G services without a hitch.
By using GSM/UMTS Co-RRM, radio resources of various standards can be
flexibly allocated, with channel allocation, power control and handover policy
under various standards optimized based on service and capacity
requirements to maximize the utilization of radio resources.
With GSM/UMTS Co-O&M, a unified operation & maintenance interface,
configuration control commands, as well as normalized measurement reports

and statistics reports can reduce the complexity and cost of maintenance.
With the GSM/UMTS Co-RNP/RNO tool, planning and optimization of the GSM
and UMTS networks can be carried out in a unified way to improve the
accuracy of network planning, and boost construction of high-quality
networks, while reducing maintenance costs.
Fourth, the improvement of network performance and the sustainable
development of the GSM network can be assured.
Huawei has independently developed a series of technologies for
interference pre-elimination and interference reduction. They can effectively
improve network performance, increase network capacity, enhance spectrum
utilization efficiency, improve user experience and increase revenues.
Consequently, the capacity and quality of the GSM network can be improved
despite limited spectrum resources.
The tight frequency reuse solution from Huawei, together with the optimized
channel allocation policy, can effectively reduce and suppress network
interference, increase system capacity by up to over 200% with limited
frequency resources and guarantee voice quality of the entire network. This
is especially helpful in scenarios with low network capacity, high traffic and
an insignificant improvement from frequency hopping.
Commercially mature environment
Three vendors in the industry, including Huawei, have successfully
developed a commercial UMTS900 network. So far, Huawei has constructed
and released more than three GSM900/UMTS900 SDR commercial networks.
Ten UMTS900 networks in the industry have been put into successful
commercial use and at least 60 UMTS900 networks are being planned or
deployed in 2010.
Terminal vendors are speeding up the R&D and manufacturing of UMTS900
terminals. According to a survey by Global mobile Suppliers Association

(GSA), 34 terminal vendors in the world have released 190 UMTS900-HSPA

terminals, including 118 UMTS900-HSPA mobile terminals and 39 USB
dongles. Routers, PC cards and built-in modules that support the UMTS900
have also been commercially released and all UMTS900 terminals support
GSM/EDGE functions.
In Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Asia Pacific region, the UMTS900 is
becoming a standard terminal frequency.
Growing mobile broadband service demands, deregulation of telecom
policies on 900MHz, as well as the launch of a large number of terminals
means that increasingly more UMTS900 frequency refarming networks will be
operational.
For the frequency gap f1, Huawei SingleRAN based 900MHz refarming
solutions support a minimum bandwidth of 2.4MHz in urban areas and
2.2MHz in rural. For the frequency gap f2, if the adjacent frequency is idle,
the solutions support a minimum bandwidth of 2.5MHz. If the adjacent
frequency is occupied as other carrier's GSM band, the bandwidth spacing
must be no less than 2.6MHz.