Radio Interference Optimization

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What is Interference

Electronic 'noise' caused by radio waves when they interfere with the transmission of other waves of same wavelength passing through the same path One major challenge when optimizing GSM network is the detection of cells suffering from interference as interference is limiting the capacity and harming the quality of the network This problem occurred due to

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Types of Interference

There are two categories of interference source that are: -Internal Interference: Co-channel or Adjacent channel interference causing internal interference. -External Interference: Exists when there is another transmitter or something else acting as a transmitter outside the network such as TV transmission, Railway Station 7/29/12 frequency, and microwave links.

Interference Identification
1. using Radio Network Statistic

Radio network statistic (RNS) can be used to analyze if specific cells suffer from interference and which frequency channels are involved. A cell in GSM can suffer from interference either in the uplink or downlink or in both directions. As the interference is related to the 7/29/12 frequency or a set of frequencies in

There are several indicators from Radio Network Statistics that can be used to identify the interference in the network

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An indication for interference will be that the receive level is good but at the same time the receive quality is poor This can be analyzed for both directions (uplink and downlink) separately It is better to have this figure for BCCH TRX and hopping TRX so we 7/29/12 identify whether interference can

1. The correlation between RxLevel to RxQual

1. The correlation between RxLevel to RxQual

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2. Drop Call Performance

Usually when the cell has interference problem, the drop call will be higher than usual, but it depends on severity of interference level

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3. Handover Performance

Intra Cell Handover indicates that cell suffers from bad quality at good level The HO performance to neighbor relation that has interference will look bad The other indicator is a lot of reversion to old channel activity due to target frequency might be interfered
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4.Scanning frequency at idle mode

Another ways to identify internal interference in GSM network is by scanning frequency at idle mode. At this case, GSM recommendation introduces reference value of interference level (GSM Recommendation. 05.05). The actual interference ratio shall be less than a specified limit, called the 7/29/12 reference interference ratio.

The following figure shows sample of result of scanning frequency using Tems Investigation

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C/Ia calculation shows that carrier to interference level of first adjacent (200KHz spacing) and second adjacent (400 KHz spacing) exceeds minimum value of interference level (-9 dB for first adjacent and -41 dB for second adjacent). So, we can conclude that there is no interference to channel 512.
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Distribution C/I from drive test with

External Interference

External interference cant be detected using drive test tool. As instead, scanning frequency using spectrum analyzer is used to observe the source of external frequency.

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How to Solve Interference Problem in GSM Network

The solution for interference problem depends on the following factors 1. Whether interferer comes from internal or external source 2. What is the cause of internal interference, whether it were caused by bad frequency planning, site location, coverage problem or implementation problem.

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The following flow chart shows how to overcome interference problem in the network

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The potential interferer can be identified by displaying the cells using the same or adjacent frequency (frequencies) geographically.

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The other solution to reduce interference level in the network is activation radio network features. The following radio features are proposed to be activated to reduce interference level in the network: 1. Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) 2. BTS and MS Power Control 3. Frequency Hopping 4. Multiband Cell can be an 7/29/12 alternative for operator who has

Thank You
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