GSM Handover Problems & Solutions

ZTE university
Training goals

To master different types of handover

and their signaling flows;
To master handover statistical signaling
point and MR tasks;
To know common handover problems
and the handling procedures.
Contents

Overview of handover
Flow of handover signaling
Handover statistics
Handover problem analysis
Aims of handovers
 Why there are handovers?
 To keep calls going on during movement;
 To improve network service quality;
 To decrease call drop rate;
 To decrease congestion rate.
Handover classification

Intra-cell

Handover
Inter-MSC Intra-BSC
classification

Inter-BSC
Contents

Overview of handover
Flow of handover signaling
Handover statistics
Handover problem analysis
Intra-cell handover
Air A

BSC TC
BTS
Signaling flow of intra-cell handover
Inter-cell handover within one BSC

A ir A

BTS BSC TC

BTS

O ld C e ll / B T S N e w C e ll / B T S
Signaling flow of inter-cell handover within one BSC
Inter-BSC handover

N e w C e ll / B T S
A ir A

B SC TC
BTS

M SC VLR

B SC TC
BTS

O ld C e ll / B T S
Signaling flow of inter-BSC handover
Inter-MSC handover

N e w C e ll / B T S
A ir A

BSC TC
BTS
M SC VLR

B SC TC
BTS
M SC VLR

O ld C e ll / B T S
Basic signaling flow of Inter-MSC handover
MS/BSS-A BSS-B/MS

MSC-A MSC-B VLR-B

A-HO-REQUIRED
MAP-Prep-Handover req. MAP-Allocate-Handover-Number req.
MAP-Send-Handover-Report req.

MAP-Send-Handover-Report resp.
A-HO-REQUEST
MAP-Prep-Handover resp. A-HO-REQUEST-ACK
IAM
A-HO-COMMAND ACM

MAP-Process-Access-Sig req. A-HO-DETECT

A-CLR-CMD/COM MAP-Send-End-Signal req. A-HO-COMPLETE

ANSWER

RELEASE
End of call
MAP-Send-End-Signal resp.
Signaling flow of inter-MSC back-handover

MS/BSS-B BSS-A/MS

MSC-A MSC-B VLR-B

A-HO-REQUIRED
MAP-Prep-Sub-Handover req.

A-HO-REQUEST

A-HO-REQUEST-ACK
MAP-Prep-Sub-Handover resp. A-HO-COMMAND
A-HO-DETECT

A-HO-COMPLETE
MAP-Send-End-Signal resp. A-CLR-CMD/COM
Release
Signaling flow of inter-MSC handover to a third MSC
MS/BSS
MSC-B’ VLR-B’

MSC-A MSC-B VLR-B

A-HO-REQUIRED
MAP-Prep-Sub-Handover req.

MAP-Prepare-Handover req. MAP-Allocate-Handover-Number req.

MAP-Prepare-Handover resp. MAP-Send-Handover-Report req.

IAM
MAP-Send-Handover-Rep. resp. (1)
ACM

MAP-Prep-Sub-Ho resp.
A-HO-COMMAND
A-HO-DETECT

MAP-Process-Access-Signalling req.

A-HO-COMPLETE

MAP-Send-End-Signal req.

Answer

Release

MAP-Send-End-Signal resp.
A-CLR-CMD/COM

(end of call)
Release

MAP-Send-End-Signal resp.
Basic flow of handover signaling
There is no “HO-Request” message for intra-BSC handover; all
Inter-cell handover
within BSC information is analyzed within BSC; Once a target cell in the BSC
fulfilling handover conditions is found, send “Channel activation”
message directly;

BSC reports CGI and handover cause of original cell and target cell to
MSC through “HO-Request”;
Inter-BSC handover
within MSC After MSC finds target cell LAC, it sends “HO-Request” to the BSC
which the target cell belongs to;
Target BSC activates channel in target cell, and executes the
following flow.
Basic flow of handover signaling

MSC inquires “REMOTLAC sheet” (including LAC and

route address of adjacent MSC);
Inter-MSC handover MSC sends （ Prepare-HO ） message to the target MSC-
B according to the route address;
According to the （ Prepare-HO ） message, target MSC-
B requests for Handover number from VLR-B, then sends
“HO-Request” message to BSC-B;
After the target BSC-B receives “HO-Request ACK”, it
sends （ Prepare-HO ACK ） message to the original
MSC, and executes the following flow.”
Main differences between intra-BSC handover and
inter-BSC handover
MSC transmits “HO-REQ” message,
and CGI of original cell and target Inter-
Inter-
MSCparticipates
MSC participates BSC
ornot
not cell is carried in the message; BSC
or handove
handove
As for inter-BSC handover, MSC rr
participates in it since “HO-
Request”;
As for intra-BSC handover, “HO-
CGIisiscarried
CGI carried Performed” message is sent to MSC
ornot
not Intra-
Intra-
or only after the handover is BSC
BSC
completed; MSC doesn’t participate handove
handove
before that; rr
For intra-BSC handover, CGI isn’t
carried in any message, it’s handled
within BSC.
Flow of handover algorithm List of cells
under one LAC

MS BTS BSC MSC Target BSC Target MSC

HO request
BCCH

HO request
frequency Process of MR
point, BSIC
and level UL MR Intra-MSC
Confirmation of handover
values of adjacent cell CGI
the six

HO request
adjacent Execution of
cells (with handover decision
strongest
level) and
Selection of
serving cell;
target cell

Yes
BA2 sheet External cell?

No

Channel activation
Common timers at BSC

T3107 T3103

Suitable for: intra-cell handover  Suitable for: inter-cell handover

Start-up: BSC sends “assignment
Start-up: BSC sends “handover
command” command”
Stop counting: when “assignment

completed” or “assignment failure” is

Stop counting: when “handover
received; completed” or “handover failure” is
received;

T7 T8

Suitable for: inter-BSC handover Suitable for: inter-BSC handover

Start-up: original BSC sends “HO- Start-up: original BSC receives “HO
Request” to MSC command” from MSC
Stop counting: when “handover Stop counting: when “clear instruction”
command” is received from target command is received from MSC
BSC (or when there’s no idle channel
available in target cell, a “HO-
Request rejected” message is
returned.)
Contents

Overview of handover
Flow of handover signaling
Handover statistics
Handover problem analysis
Information contained in MR

UL MR
1. DL DTX performance
2. UL receive level/quality
3. BS Power
4. MS power level
5. TA
6. DL dynamic power control

DL MR
1. UL DTX performance
2. DL receive level/quality
3. Adjacent cell level
4. UL dynamic power control
MR cycle
 MR is sent to BTS in SACCH UL direction;
 When MS is in SDCCH, MR cycle is 470ms/time;

 When MS is in TCH, MR cycle is 480ms/time.

26 multi-
480ms frames of 4
TCHs

12TCH 1SACCH 12TCH 1 idle

Indicator definition of handover success rate

KPI name Handover success rate

Indicator （ busy hour number of handover success times /busy hour total
definition number of handover request times ） *100%

V6.20 (C900060098+C900060102+C900060120+C900060094
+C900060096)*100/
(C900060097+C900060213+C900060214+C900060215
+C900060099+C900060100+C900060101+C900060216
+C900060119+C900060093+C900060095)
Signaling statistical point of handover success

 C900060098  C900060102

BSC-controlled inter-cell incoming handover success MSC-controlled incoming handover success

 C900060120  C900060097

Intra-cell handover success No. of MSC-controlled outgoing handover success times

Signaling statistical point of handover success

 C900060094

BSC-controlled inter-cell outgoing handover success

Signaling statistical point of handover request

 C900060097  C900060213

BSC-controlled inter-cell incoming handover execution

Execution of forced release

 C900060215
 C900060214

Execution of cell queuing Execution of force handover

Signaling statistical point of handover request

 C900060099  C900060100

Execution of forced release

MSC BSC-controlled incoming handover execution

 C900060101  C900060119

Execution of intra-cell handover

Execution of queuing
Signaling statistical point of handover request

 C900060216  C900060095

Execution of force handover

No. of MSC-controlled outgoing handover execution times

 C900060093

No. of BSC-controlled inter-cell outgoing handover execution times

Handover-related measurement tasks

Handover Measure the frequency of MS handovers caused by various kinds of

causes
reasons, so as to examine radio environment of a cell;
measurement

Common  Measure the process of MS handover to inspect handover success or

handover failure and abnormal situations causing failures, so as to improve the
measurement cell’s radio configuration and observe traffic dispersion, etc.;

 Measure the number of times of incoming/outgoing handover

Measurement
attempt/success/failure from/to certain cells, and number of times of
of adjacent cell
handover caused by different reasons, so as to get the handover
handover
situations of the serving cell and its adjacent cells and to optimize their
radio configurations correspondingly;

Subcell
statistical Focus on traffic load of the second subcell.
measurement
Contents

Overview of handover
Flow of handover signaling
Handover statistics
Handover problem analysis
Analysis handover problems
 Analysis of handover problems
 Location method of handover problems
Common handover problems

Common handover problems Possible influences

Handover • Result in call drop;

nonoccurance

Handover failure • Affect call quality and result in call

drop;

Frequent handover • Affect call quality, and increase

system load;

Handover hysteresis • Affect call quality and result in

call drop;
Discovery of handover problems
TOPN
TOPNanalysis
analysis
Traffic statistics
analysis Abnormal
Abnormalnumber
numberof
ofhandover
handovertimes
times

Call
Calldrop
drop
Customer complaints

Bad
Badcoverage
coverage
Handover to best cell
inhibited
DT/CQT tests Poor
Poorspeech
speechquality
quality

Slow handover
Handover
Handoverproblem
problem

No handover
Meters at A interface
Handover failure

Frequent handover
Flow of handover problem checking
Location methods of handover problems
 Analyze traffic statistics
 Conduct handover statistics measurement, identify problem

range:

If just some cells fail to make handovers to the cell, check
handover data, check if co-channel and co-BSIC exist;

If the cell fails to take handovers from all other cells, check its
data.
 Check warnings: single board malfunction, transmission and
clock malfunctions, etc.;
 Check if radio parameters are set reasonably
 If co-channel or co-BSIC exist among adjacent cells;
 If handover parameters are set reasonably;
 If data configuration of external cells is correct.
Location methods of handover problems
 Interference checking
 DT analysis
 Signaling analysis: Um interface 、 Abis interface 、 A
interface;
 Hardware checking: like DCU, transceiver, clock generator,
RF connection lines between boards;
 Antenna system checking
Analysis of handover problems
 Coverage & interference
 Antenna system
 BTS software & hardware
 transmission
 BSC software & hardware
 A interface malfunction
 Busy target cell
 Connection & adaptation to equipment from different suppliers
Coverage & interference
 Coverage:
 Poor coverage: due to influence from forest, complex
landforms, houses, indoor coverage, etc.;
 Isolated site: no adjacent cells around;
 Skip-zone coverage: no adjacent cells available due to
isolated-island effect;

 Interference:
 It makes MS unable to access in UL, or DL signal
receiving problem will be resulted.
Handover nonoccurance due to isolated-island
effect

Handover can’t
happen due to
lack of adjacent Non-adjacent
cells. cell
adjacent cell N1
Serving cell
Non-adjacent
cell
adjacent cell N2

Non-adjacent
Adjacent cell N3
cell
Skip-zone
coverage leads to
isolated island.
Antenna system problems
 Too large VSWR
 Reversed installation of antenna
 Non-standard antenna installation
 Unreasonable azimuth, down-tilt
 Below-standard antenna insulation
 Twisted cables, loosened connectors and wrong
connections;
BTS software/hardware
 Problems about CDU 、 TRM, etc.
 Clock generator malfunction
 Internal communication cable malfunction
 BTS software malfunction
Transmission and BSC problems
 Transmission fault
 Unstable transmission
 Too high transmission error rate

 BSC hardware/software malfunctions

 Clock generator malfunction: unconformity among clocks in
different BTSs due to clock generator malfunction;
 Problem about single board
 Wrong data configuration
 Unreasonable setting of handover threshold
 CGI, BCCH and BSIC values in “external cell data sheet” do not
match up to those in the corresponding BSC;
 Wrong BSC signaling point in “list of cell under a LAC” in MSC; co-
channel& co-BSIC adjacent cells exist.
A interface malfunction, busy target cell, handover
between equipment from different suppliers
 A interface malfunction
 Abnormal handover due to lack of link resource, abnormal
calls;
 Busy target cell
 Abnormal handover due to lack of link resource, abnormal
calls;
 handover between equipment from different suppliers
 Difference in signaling at interface A and interface E
between ZTE and other suppliers’ equipment, causing
non-recognition or non-support problem, including speech
version, handover code and addressing mode (CGI or
LAI) etc., which will result in handover failure.
Typical case 1- carrier malfunction
 malfunction description:
 Performance indicators at OMCR show that handover

success rate of Cell 2 (3carriers) in the flood prevention

center is lower, and number of handover cause of DL
interference is higher.
Typical case 1- carrier malfunction
 Problem description:
 Through analysis of the cell’s signaling trace data at OMCR,
it’s discovered that the cell’s BCCH carrier suffers from
frequent Assignment failure, while TCH carrier is in normal
condition, as shown in the figure:
Typical case 1- carrier malfunction
 Problem analysis
 From inspection of the calls with “Assignment Failure”
problem, it’s discovered that the problem is caused by intra-
cell handover (assignment flow is adopted in intra-cell
handover), as shown in the figure:

 Signaling statistics show strong DL level, but RX quality is

low, which results in a lot failed intra-cell handovers on the
same carrier due to DL interference. Check TCH carrier
and it is confirmed normal.
Typical case 1- carrier malfunction
 Problem checking
 Exchange BCCH frequency point with that of TCH;

 Through observation of signaling statistics, it’s discovered

that the original BCCH carrier still suffers from problem, which
the original TCH carrier is still in normal condition;
 Eliminate frequency interference;

 Confirm that the problem is caused by high DL error rate due

to malfunction of BCCH carrier.

 Problem handling
 Change the carrier with fault, number of times of handover

caused by DL interference reduces greatly, and the cell’s

handover success rate increases a lot.
Typical case 2- frequency interference
 Problem description:
 The data in performance report shows that Cell 1 under a
BTS suffers from low handover success rate.
 Problem analysis
 Examine the problem cell, discover that 2 cells under a
BTS co-channel and co-BSIC, and close to each other,
which results in low handover success rate in the cell.
 Problem handling
 After adjustment of frequency point, handover success
rate obviously increases, and number of handover times
reduces.
Typical case 2- frequency interference
Typical case 3- clock malfunction
 Problem description
 For a newly-commissioned BTS, handover nonoccurance
appears during DT: the MS occupies a channel in cell A; during
DT from cell A to cell B, cell B can’t be observed in the adjacent
cell list, and it doesn’t start normal handovers.
 Problem analysis
 It’s a common network problem that handover nonoccurance
appears in many cells;
 It’s a newly-commissioned BTS; handover parameters are as
default in the system;
 Check adjacent cells relation, no problem found;
 Observe from test MS, find out that adjacent cell frequency
appears in the adjacent cell, but BSIC can’t be decoded.
Since adjacent cell is searched through BA2 table during a call, and BA2
relies on BCCH and BSIC to confirm an adjacent cell, when the adjacent cell’s
BSIC is unobtainable, BSC is unable to locate it, thus handover won’t be
started.
Typical case 3- clock malfunction
 Problem analysis
 Process of MS deciphering on DL channel

Decipher FCCH decipher SCH （ SCH comprises
MS frame synchronous information and BSIC.
 MS can show adjacent cell frequency point, but not BSIC.
It’s suspected that adjacent cell’s SCH information can’t be
deciphered by MS due to clock or transmission fault.
 Check clock and transmission

BTS adopts network clock

BSC traces superior clock

MSC traces superior GPS clock through long-distance
satellite link
 The long-distance satellite link is found unstable, which
leads to high error rate on the meter, and warning of clock
deterioration appears on MSC.
Typical case 3- clock malfunction
 Problem handling
 Decide that it’s handover

problem caused by poor

clock quality.
 Bring new GPS clock

device and adopt the local

one, thoroughly solve clock
malfunction.
 Problem of handover

nonoccurance is solved.
 Experience conclusion
 If no high accuracy clock

available, clock in BTS can

be used; calibration of each
BTS must be made by
using frequency meter and
LMT to ensure that
frequency deviation meets
precision requirement.
Typical case 4-problem about other
suppliers’parameter setting
 Problem description
 At a marginal network, success rate of handovers between our
equipment and that of other suppliers is rather low.
 From the OMCR statistics, there are more inter-BSC handovers,
but success rate is low. After DT, we find that there are
unnecessary handovers started from other suppliers’ equipment
during normal calls.
Typical case 4-problem about other
suppliers’parameter setting
 Problem analysis
 Observe settings of other suppliers’ OMCR parameters, we

discover that each adjacent cell has its own property;

 The max transmission power of the cell with problem is set

as 5dBm.
 Problem handling
 The problem is solved after the value is changed to 33dBm.

 Handover success rates of ZTE and other suppliers’

equipment are all improve to normal level.

Typical case 5-HO parameter setting problem
 Problem description
 During DT at a BTS, we find slow handover problem is

common (>10S), which affects speech quality and even causes

call drops.
 Problem: level of cell 2 is higher than that of cell 3 by 20dB,

total handover time is 15s.

Typical case 5-HO parameter setting problem
 Problem analysis and handling
 Slow handover seriously affects network quality. Make adjustment of
handover parameters accordingly:

Change adjacent cell handover threshold to improve timeliness of
handover trigger;

Adjust the whole network’s handover window to be 2, so as to
accelerate handover speed;

Adjust the whole network’s handover preprocess to 2, so as to
accelerate handover speed.

Parameter Before After adjustment

adjustment
Level threshold 30 28
(HOMARGINRXLEV)
Quality threshold 30 26
(HOMARGINRXQUAL)
 Result
 Test after adjustment shows that handover time is reduced to 5s;
the slow handover problem is solved and speech quality is
improve.
Questions for thinking
 Please simply illustrate effects on handover due to
changing T3103 、 T3107.
 Suggestions on parameter settings of handovers on
highway.