ASSIGNMENT ON DESIGNING A CELLULAR

NETWORK

Course Title: cellular network

Course Code: ETE-6225

Submitted BY:

Submitted TO:

Osman Nur Addawe

MD.Taslim Arefin

163-31-216

Assistant Professor

Department of ETE
Daffodil International University

December, 2016

DESIGNING A CELLULAR NETWORK

Introduction
The developments in mobile communication networks over the past couple of decades have
been enormous and have become ubiquitous in modern days. The design objective of early
mobile radio systems was to achieve a large coverage area by using a single, high powered
transmitter with an antenna mounted on a tall tower While this approach achieved very good
coverage, it also meant that it was impossible to reuse those same frequencies throughout the
system, since any attempts to achieve frequency reuse would result in interference [1]. For
example, the Bell mobile system in New York City in the 1970s could only support a maximum of
twelve simultaneous calls over a thousand square miles. Faced with the fact that government
regulatory agencies could not make spectrum allocations in proportion to the increasing demand
for mobile services, it became imperative to re-structure the radio telephone system to achieve
high capacity with limited radio spectrum while at the same time covering very large areas [2].
The idea of cellular network goes back as early as 1947, and its a mobile network that provides
services by using a large number of base stations with limited power, each covering only a limited
area. This area is called a cell. The limited power makes it possible to re-use the same frequency
a few cells away from the base station without causing interference. In this way a geographic
large area can be covered with only a limited set of frequencies. A cellular network is a very
efficient manner of using the scarce frequency resources.
Whats interesting about mobile phone networks is their cellular design. (Hence the terms
cellular network and cellular phone.) By that, I mean that a mobile phone network is divided
into thousands of overlapping geographic areas, or cells. A typical cellular network can be
envisioned as a mesh of hexagonal cells, as shown in Figure 1, each with its own base station at
the center. The cells slightly overlap at the edges to ensure that users always remain within range
of a base station. The cells in a cellular network vary in size, depending on how many calls are
conducted within that geographic area. The smallest cells, which might cover only a few city
blocks, are those where theres the heaviest population density, and thus the largest demand for
service. The largest cells are most often in rural areas with a smaller population per square mile.

Figure 1. Cells in a cellular network

The base station at the center of each group of cells functions as the hub for those cellsnot of
the entire network, but of that individual piece of the network. RF signals are transmitted by an
individual phone and received by the base station, where they are then re-transmitted from the
base station to another mobile phone. Transmitting and receiving are done over two slightly
different frequencies.
Base stations are connected to one another via central switching centers which track calls and
transfer them from one base station to another as callers move between cells; the handoff is
(ideally) seamless and unnoticeable. Each base station is also connected to the main telephone
network, and can thus relay mobile calls to landline phones. In figure show that the element of
GSM architecture

Network design criterion

Cellular network design for greater profits and better quality of service. Initially, cellular networks
were designed for maximum coverage at minimum cost. Every design decision is based on six
criteria:
1. Coverage: - how much area is served (km2). How much area will be covered by the
network is called the coverage area in square kilometer.
2. Capacity: - the ability to carry traffic (Erlang today, bits tomorrow). How much traffic
channel will be carried by the network is called the Capacity of the network.

3. C/I:- a commonly used term that references the carrier-to-interference ratio, in

other word we can say the ratio of the signal you want to the signals you don't want
(dB).
4. Subscribes: How much people will be served under the network, is called number of
users or subscribers. The subscriber is depend on areas your covered if areas is urban
there areas more populated than areas like rural and suburban areas.
5. Technologies: which type of cellular technology you used in your network. Different
types of mobile technologies are used to provide mobile network services to users.
Most common among them are GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication),
GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), EDGE
(Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution), iDEN (Integrated Digital Enhanced
Network) and EV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized).
6. Cost: - is defined by $. How much cost you need to implement your network designs?

Coverage Planning
We can calculation of number of sites required in a whole region by using coverage area 50000
km2 and in the BTS 3-sectored k-factor will be 1.95. The base stations to be used are 3-sectored
(each sector covers 1200).
A network is to be designed to cover Hiran Region, Somalia. The area of Hiran region is
approximately 50000 km2. We can divide this area into three category: Urban area (density of
human structures such as houses, commercial buildings, roads, bridges, and railways), Suburban
areas (a residential district located on the outskirts of a city) and Rural Area (low population
density and small settlements).
My network Urban Area is approximately: 126 km2
Each sector (cell) covers a range of 1.25 km (radius of Cell)
Thus, area covered by each site = k * R2
Where: k = 1.95
=> Area covered by each site 1.95 * 1.252 3.0 km
Thus: total number of sites = 126/3.0 = 42 sites
In the region of Sub-Urban Area, my network will cover roughly: 180 km2
Each sector (cell) covers a range of 2.5 km
Thus, area covered by each site = k * R2
Where: k = 1.95
=> Area covered by each site 1.95 * 2.52 12.0 km
Thus: total number of sites = 180/12= 15 sites

In the Rural Area, my coverage area will be: 49694 km2

Each sector (cell) covers a range of 4 km
Thus, area covered by each site = k * R2
Where: k = 1.95
=> Area covered by each site 1.95 * 42 31 km
Thus: total number of sites = 49694/31 = 1603 sites

Capacity Planning
Frequency Reuse
The frequency band I used in my network the uplink range will be 892-912MHz and downlink
range is 937-957MHz. the bandwidth between uplink ranges and also downlink ranges is 20MHz,
this is my Total Bandwidth (BW) of my network. There is carrier space between each channel to
separate channel, the GSM carrier space is 200 KHz.
Total available channel = 20MHz/ (200 kHz) =100 channels
I manage these channels in best way to get high capacity and also to reduce channel interference
by using best frequency reuse techniques. Using frequency reuse is not easy task there are a lot
of obstructs, keep in your mind these question to build best design, what is minimum distance
between very two same channel , what is size of the cluster and also what types of interference
your dealing with?. There are tradeoff between capacity of system and interference which mean
small number of cluster size your system became more capacity and high interference.
In
channel There are two major types of interference:1. Adjacent Channel Interference: is caused due to the signals that are adjacent in
frequency. Adjacent channel interference can be reduced or minimized:
Careful filtering and
Careful channel assignment.
2. Co-channel Interference (CCI): is caused due to the cells that reuse the same frequency
set. These cells using the same frequency set are called co-channel cells. My networks the
maximum co-channel interference that allowed is S/N=15dB. The cluster size controlled
by areas of the networks: I use suitable approximations Path loss for urban and suburban
[1].
Urban area: path loss is equal to n=4
First try N=4
D

3.46

S 1

I 6

3N

1
4
3.46 24.0 13.80 dB
6

Since this is less than the desired 15 dB, we must move to the next higher reuse distance.
First try N=7
D

4.58

S
1

I
6

3N

1
4
4.58 73.5 18.66 dB
6

This is greater than the desired 15 dB, the required reuse factor N=7.
Sub-Urban and Rural area: path loss is equal to n=3
First try N=12
D

S
1

I
6

3N

1
3
6 36 15.56 dB
6

This is greater than the desired 15 dB, the required reuse factor N=12.

Figure 2. Cluster 12

Figure 1. Cluster 7

Channel Assignment:
In Urban areas, my control channel will be 14 channels and for voice or traffic channel will be
84 channel and last channel I used as grant channel.
Total number of traffic channels available per cell = 84/7 = 12 channels.
In Sub-Urban and rural areas, my control channel will be 24 channels and for voice or traffic
channel will be 72 channel and last channel I used as grant channel.
Total number of traffic channels available per cell = 72/12 = 6 channels.

BTS in Urban Areas

Figure 3: Base station Design

BTS in sub-urban and Rural Areas

Table 1: Channel Assignment

Urban Area ( TRX Configuration S4/4/4)

Base station

Sector 1

Sector 2

Sector 3

1,3,5,7

9,11,13,15

17,19,21,23

2,4,6,8

10,12,14,16

18,20,22,24

31,33,27,29

35,39,41,37

43,45,47,49

28,30,32,34

36,38,40,42

44,46,48,50

53,55,57,59

61,63,65,67

69,71,73,75

54,56,58,60

62,64,66,68

70,72,74,76

79,81,83,85

87,89,91,93

95,97,99,25

Sub-Urban & rural Area (TRX Configuration S2/2/2)

Base station

Sector 1

Sector 2

Sector 3

1,3

9,11,

17,19

5,7

13,15

21,23

2,4

10,12

18,20

6,8

14,16

22,24

31,33

35,39

43,45

27,29

41,37

47,49

28,30

36,38

44,46

32,34

40,42

48,50

53,55

61,63

69,71

10

57,59

65,67

73,75

11

54,56

62,64

70,72

12

58,60

66,68

74,76

Table 1 and Figure 3 show that how base station are interconnection together in different areas
and How many channels are assigned in each base station and also each sector. In urban areas
its more populated than rural and sub-urban areas we can use difference cluster size. In my
network GSM, I uses re-use patterns of 4/12(4/4/4 configuration) and 2/6 (2/2/2 configuration)

in urban and rural areas as respectively. 4/12 refers to 12 channels and each of BTS sector has 4
channels, it same 3/6 refer to 6 channels and each sector has 2 channel. Furthermore frequency
reuse in control channel is twice greater than frequency in traffic channel because the co-channel
interference in control channel is high impact than traffic channels.
In default GSM all TCH channel are in full rate so to increase capacity of the channel we can use
GSM allowed half rate 75%, if and only if the full rate channel are occupied.in urban areas, The
first 63 TCH out of 84 TCH full rate will change into half rate. The result of this 63*2 = 126 TCH in
term of half rate but the total TCH will be 126 + 21 is equal to 147 TCH channel. In addition rural
areas its some procedure like we do in urban areas, the total TCH will be 126 TCH channels.
LINK Budget
Link budget calculations give the loss in the signal strength on the path between the mobile
station antenna and base station antenna at radio wave or two microwave antenna. There are
two types of Link budget 1. Radio wave link budget 2. Microwave link budget.
In Radio wave Link budget: These calculations help in defining the cell ranges along with the
coverage thresholds. Coverage threshold is a downlink power budget that gives the signal
strength at the cell edge (border of the cell) for a given location probability. Link budget
calculations are done for both the uplink and downlink [3].
Uplink Parameter
As the power transmitted by the mobile station antenna is less than the power transmitted by
the base station antenna, the uplink power budget is more critical than the downlink power
budget.
Thus, the sensitivity of the base station in the uplink direction becomes one of the critical
factors as it is related to reception of the power transmitted by the mobile station antenna. In
my Uplink calculation will be:
PLU= EIRPm Prb =[Ptm Lcm Lom +Gm] - [BS Gb Lcb - Lob]
=[37 - 0 - 0 - 0] - [(-102) - 16 - 2 - 0]=157dB
Downlink parameter
In the downlink direction, transmitted power and the gains of the antennas are important
parameters. Combiner loss comes only in the downlink calculations while the cable loss
has to be incorporated in both directions. This downlink calculation is my network it helps me to
get path loss of the system [3].
PLD= EIRPm Prb =[Ptb Lcb Lob +Gb] - [MS Gm Lcm - Lom]

= [43 - 2 - 2 + 16] - [(-106) - 0 - 0 - 0]=161dB

Antenna gain: 16dBi
39dBm
m
Cable Loss: 2dB

55dBm
m

Path Loss: 161dB

Combiner Loss: 2dB

TR Power: 43dBm

RX Sensitivity: -106dBm

Downlink Link Budget

Microwave Link budget: The purpose of this link budget calculations is to find out what path
length would be suitable for getting the desired signal level. This received signal level is then used
for calculation of the fade margin. Fade margin can be defined as the margin required for
countering the effects of a decrease in the signal level (also known as 'fading') due to atmospheric
conditions
The fade margin of a microwave link of my network design would be following:
Hop length = 17 km

Extra attenuation = 0.8 dB

Frequency =13 MHz

Atmospheric attenuation = 0.3 dB

Antenna diameter = 1.2 m

Receiver threshold = -71 dB

Transmit power = 31dBm

Free-Space Loss (FSL)

FSL (Lfs) = 92.5 + 20 log (17) + 20 log (13) = 139.4dB

Gain of antenna (Gt and Gr) = 20 log (1.2) + 20 log (13) + 17.5 = 41.35 dB
Hop loss (Lh) = 139.4 41.35 - 41.35 0.8 0.3 = 55.58 dB
Received signal level (Prx) = 31- 55.58 = - 24.58 dB
Thus, fade margin (FM) = -24.58 - (-71) = 46.42 dB
Capacity Requirement
Capacity requirements on the Ater interface (BSC and MSC). My design of radio, I have decided
that there are ten sites of 2 + 2 configuration under a single BSC. Ater 10 sites of 2 + 2

configuration = 20 cells, each having 12 TCH Air interface blocking = 3%. Using Erlang B tables,
12 TCH support = 7.14 Erl of traffic.
Traffic offered to the BSC = 20 x 7.14 = 142 Erl.
If Ater blocking probability is 0.2%, then the number of traffic channels supported =116.3
If the number of traffic channels that can be multiplexed on the Ater = 120
Then Ater interface capacity would be = 116.3/120=0.97 ~ 1 El
System capacity
In Urban areas, Consider my network each cluster (7 BTS) has 147 Traffic channel. During busy
hour 80% user is active. If the average call holding time is 1.5 minutes with call blocking rate 1.3%.
Maximum Number load the cluster can support at time
From Erlang Table, A =130.5 Erlang
Maximum capacity during busy time
Au=th = 1.5 min * (1/ (60)) = 25mErlang
Active user: U = A/ (Au) = 130.5/ (25m) = 5220 users
Total number user in each cluster will be 6525 users
Utilization the cell tower
= /c = 130.5/ (147) = 0.887=88.7%

Conclusion
In conclusion, I design cellular network that can be used in home town Hiran region-Somalia.
Designing is not easy task especially GSM Network because there a lot of parameter that
influence your network. Path loss effect your coverage planning, interference effect your
capacity planning and cost is another parameter you must consider in your network. In this
design, its easy to implement because its only needs the implementation cost, I make it my
network to implement and also improve minimum cost as soon as possible. If I had chance to
implement this design I will implement to my home town Hiran region-Somalia.

Reference
1. Theodore S.Rappaport, Wireless Communications: Principles and Practice, Pearson
Education LTD.
2. Sara Bavarian, Symbol by Symbol Soft-input Soft-output Multiuser Detection for
Frequency Selective MIMO Channels, Simon Fraser University fall, 2008
3. Ajay R. Mishra , Fundamentals of Cellular Network Planning and Optimisation, John Wiley
& Sons, Ltd