5 Optimisation

Radio Network Optimisation
ICN PLM CA NP
SIEMENS Limited 1999
Main Topics
What is network optimisation?
Why optimisation?
Aim of network optimisation
Advantages for the customer
Planning vs. optimising
Major problem areas
Radio optimisation related processes
Tuning
Test types
Measurement analysis
Change request and action
Acceptance tests
Ongoing optimising
Pre-analysis: general network check
Customer complaints analysis
Collect/analyse OMC statistics
Collect/analyse drive test measurements
Implement changes
Test mobile
Repeated call setups
Continuous call
Statistics
ICN PLM CA NP
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Concept for optimisation

Analysis programs
Problem symptoms
Coverage analysis
Test mobile measurements
Possible problem areas
Antenna configuration
Antenna types - typical beam patterns
Antenna fine tuning
Omni vs. sectorised
Vertical antenna beam
Tilting
Antennadiversity type
Verification of RF network design
Site check
Antenna isolation
Site physical configuration
Site-to-site distances and distribution
Special features for improving coverage
Cell splitting, sectorisation
DTM check
Propagation model verification
Link budget analysis
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Main Topics (continued)

Dropped call analysis
Call setup analysis
MAXRETR
Handover performance analysis
Handover parameters
Consequence of missing neighbours
Consequence of many neighbour definitions
Handover measurements
Handover parameters
Radio link measurements
Handover algorithm
Handover criteria - quality
Handover decision
Intracell handover
Level handovers
Distance handover
Power budget handover
Cell reselection
Speech quality analysis
Downlink interference measurement
Frequency changes
BSIC optimisation
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Call setup/handover mechanisms

Location area codes
Interference reduction
Power control
Frequency hopping
DTX
Channel configuration
Capacity enhancements
Adding TRX
Interference reduction features
Traffic load distribution
Call setup/handover mechanisms
Hierarchical cell structures
Concentric cells
Overlaid micro-and picocells
Microcell frequency planning
Speed sensitive handovers
Half rate coding/dual rate operation
Cell parameter optimisation
Performance measurements
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What is Network Optimisation?

Improving Capacity, Quality and General Performance of the
existing Network Infrastructure
ICN PLM CA NP
Why Optimisation?
Coverage holes
Performance degradation by interference

Different subscriber distribution compared to that assumed for
the network design

Unexpectedly high subscriber growth
Extensive network expansions ongoing
Frequency resources at the limit
Unexpected mobility profile of
subscribers
ICN PLM CA NP
Aim of Network Optimisation

Improved Network Quality
Speech quality, Call success rate, Call setup time
Improved Network Availability
Service area , Radio Coverage
Optimised utilisation of installed equipment
Increase in subscriber potential
ICN PLM CA NP
Advantages for the Customer

Optimum utilization of the system
Reduced subscriber complaints
resources
Minimized costs
Optimised subscriber satisfaction
Increased Profit
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One step ahead of the

Competitors
Planning vs. Optimising

Thorough network planning from start can reduce the optimisation effort
significantly!
In a poorly planned network, achievable optimisation effects without
major re-design are rather marginal
A close link between the two activities is necessary
Be involved
Feedback result
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Major Problem Areas

no coverage
interference
blocking
handover not working
HW/SW failures
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Radio Optimisation Related Processes

Tuning
Acceptance
Tests
Ongoing
Optimisation
The following processes involve optimisation related activities
Tuning Process
drive tests
adjustment of network parameters
Acceptance tests
Ongoing Optimisation
ICN PLM CA NP
Repeated quality control and improvement as network grows / matures
Tuning
Test
Measurement
Measurement
Analyzing
Change Request
Action
Repeat Process
until
Agreed Quality
Objectives :
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Verify network configuration against current planning status

Identify and eliminate equipment faults (HW/SW) and installation
errors
Ensure that the network is ready for acceptance testing
Test Types
Continuous drive test
setup a test call and drive over an area for detecting lack of coverage,
missing handovers, interferences etc.
Spot test
detail measurement to be taken at dedicated problem spots for detail

analyzing of specific problem
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Measurement Analysis
Antenna Installation check
height, orientation and tilt
Basic cell parameters and functions
OMC
BCCH, BSIC, CI, LAC

Neighbour List, consistency
HO and power parameters
Call Setup on all timeslots and speech quality check
HO to other sectors or other neighbours
Test measurement (TEMS etc. together with a GPS)
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Signal Strength
Co-channel and adjacent interference
Handover relations
Change Request and Action

SBS System Database
Change BCCH to avoid interference

Change HO-Margin
Add neighbour relations (Mutual)
Site Hardware
Antenna tilt etc.
System error
Software bugs
Transmission sync. (ADPCM)
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Acceptance Tests
Setup Test
Scenario
Performing
Test
Setup Test Scenario

Test Purpose
Test Definitions
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Coverage Criteria
Coverage Area
Successful Call
Test Result
Test Analysis
Acceptance Criteria
Test Results
Test Condition
Test Equipment
Test Methodology
Test Routes
Test Procedure
Test Duration
Signal Level
Signal Quality
Handover
Call Success Rate
Ongoing Optimising
For improvement of the network after it is launched and filled
up by subscribers
Pre-analysis:
General
network
check
Collect /
analyse
complaints
Collect /
analyse
OMC
statistics
Repeat
process until
agreed quality
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Collect /
analyse
drive test
measuremts
Propose /
implement
changes
Pre-analysis: General Network Check

Steps to be carried out:
Kick-off meeting
Determine original network planning objectives
Collect information about network status
Determine functional network structure, e.g.
- BTS / BSC locations., antenna direction etc.
- services and features used
- network structure (macrocell, microcell etc.)
Determine the network element configuration, e.g.

- number of TRX per cell
- sector / omni config.
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Visit selected sites (if necessary)

Database analysis
Customer Complaints Analysis

Additional source of information, but difficult to handle
Customer service desk must collect all relevant information
Caller and Called No. (PSTN->MS, etc.)

What is the problem? (Voice Quality, Cant make a call, etc.)
MS is moving or fixed while make call
Where did the problem occur?
When?
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Collect / Analyse OMC Statistics

OMC Measurement
Handled traffic (congestion on TCH, SDCCH)

dropped calls
Interference
Handover reason (due to UL_QUAL, Powerbudget, distance)
Advantages over test drives:
Less labor intensive and time consuming

More comprehensive, based on large number of users
not limited to time of test drive
Uplink and Downlink analysis possible
Subscriber behavior mix of outdoor, indoor, incar use
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Collect / Analyse OMC Statistics

Disadvantages, limitations:
Limited geographical resolution (Where does the problem occur?)

Cannot separate problems due to coverage from other
Call attempts in uncovered areas are not counted

Call drop due to lack of coverage
Network must have minimum load for reliable statistics
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Collect / Analyse Drive Test Measurements

Test types
Continuos drive test (Trace mode)
Spot test
Network performance test (Statistical mode)
Test Measurement
Collect MS measurement report data (Downlink only!!)
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Serving signal level

BER (Rxqual)
Channel Number
CI and LAI
Timing Advance
Layer 3 messages
BSICs
Signal and power levels of neighbouring cells
Implement Changes
Changes related to database parameters
Actions related to site hardware
Problems to be solved by Normal Roll-out activities
Problems to be solved by other system experts
ICN PLM CA NP
Test Mobile
Various modes, e.g.
Repeated call setups
Continuous call
Scanning mode
check for spectrum
occupancy
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check for BCCH

with no neighbour
relations
Repeated Call Setups

UmInterface
AbisInterface
Base
Transceiver
Station
Method
Base
Station
Controller
Measuremt
Software
predefined time = mean holding time

call may be dropped earlier
repeat call setup after predefined waiting time (typical 15 s)
Purpose
Mobile
Switching
Center
call setup
hold for predefined time period and then release
Serial
Interface
A-Interface
simulate subscriber behavior

wide area quality assessment and trend identification
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PSTNInterface
Repeated Call Setups

Typical parameters
call setup success rate, setup time, dropped call rate

statistics can be generated in Tornado / Planet, e.g.
Call Diagnostics
RxQual Full Threshold:
RxQual Full Threshold (%): 90
RxLev Full Threshold:
RxLev Full Threshold (%): 90
Maximum Setup Time (s):
Call
1
2
3
4
5
6
ICN PLM CA NP
Time
21:38.8
23:53.1
26:08.7
28:23.9
30:38.8
32:54.4
Setup
6.5
FAIL
5.7
6.4
5.8
12
4
14
10
Clear Down RxQual (%) RxLev (%) Category

OK
100
100
GOOD
FAIL
FAIL
FAIL
NO SETUP
OK
98
85.3
LOW SIGNAL
OK
79.5
100
NOISY
FAIL
FAIL
FAIL
DROPPED
OK
100
100
DELAYED
Continuous Call
Method
call setup
hold continuously until drive test route complete
in case of call drops re-establish
Purpose
Wide area quality trace

Locating individual problem areas
Detailed analysis in problem areas
Quality assessment on rural highways etc.
BS Testing and Functional Testing
ICN PLM CA NP
Continuous Call
Typical parameters
RxLev, RxQual, BCCH, BSIC,
handover, Layer 3 messages etc.
Import into planning tool
Terrain or clutter background
Comparison of measured
network performance vs.
prediction
Statistics:
RxLev, RxQual, handover
success rate
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Statistics
Combine from both modes
Measurement
RxLev > -85 dBm
RxQual < 4
Handover success rate
Call setup success rate
Mean setup time
Dropped call rate
Test sample unit

Measurement bin (Tornado)
Measurement bin (Tornado)
Handover attempt
Call attempt
Call successfully setup
Call successfully setup
No. of samples Measured value

8,432
8,432
61
115
106
106
Typical measurements also used for acceptance tests
ICN PLM CA NP
99.90%
99.20%
93.50%
90.30%
5.3 s
1.00%
Performance Measurements
Provide an overview of network performance (statistics)
uplink analysis also possible

validity depends on sufficient samples
Examples:
blocking rate
BTS ID LAC
6
2
5
22
1
4
4
4
4
4
BTS ID LAC
25
6
26
3
ICN PLM CA NP
4
4
4
4
CI
BSIC
4052
4083
4051
4183
4082
2
2
2
2
2
CI
BSIC
4052
4052
4171
4041
2
2
2
2
4
2
6
0
1
4
4
6
7
f1
f2
83
76
79
77
84
69
67
66
f1
f2
f3
f4
80
f3
f4
83 69
83 69
63
87
Busy hour
TCH Blocking Rate
16:00:00
16:00:00
16:00:00
12:00:00
13:00:00
66.53%
30.16%
7.91%
3.96%
3.81%
Busy hour SDCCH Blocking Rate

15:00:00
16:00:00
13:00:00
13:00:00
32.99%
5.99%
2.83%
2.06%
Performance Measurements
Call setup success rate

BTS ID
LAC
CI
Busy Hour
Call Set-up Success Rate
25
29
15
5
26
11
4
4
4
4
4
4
4152
4131
4032
4051
4171
4071
15:00:00
15:00:00
18:00:00
16:00:00
13:00:00
12:00:00
28.4%
68.0%
81.3%
92.1%
94.1%
94.7%
Dropped call rate

BTS ID LAC
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15
22
25
7
26
29
27
19
ICN PLM CA NP
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4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
CI
4192
4032
4183
4152
4011
4171
4131
4172
4212
TCH
RF Loss Inter Cell HO
Connections
Loss
19730
12740
10993
24748
8849
15922
5712
10421
9192
1526
723
485
755
240
219
77
156
130
23
6
18
12
16
28
8
4
9
Intra Cell
HO Loss
Call Drop
Rate
153
58
13
29
23
12
6
4
5
9%
6%
5%
3%
3%
2%
2%
2%
2%
Concept for Optimisation

Alternatives
Status of the
Network
Decide further
Analysis Program
Analyzing
Programs
Coverage
Dropped Calls
Network
Snapshot
Call Setup Success

Handover Perf.
Speech Quality
Quick
Check
ICN PLM CA NP
General Check
Analysis Programs
Coverage:
Analysis for Fulfilment of Coverage

Requirements (Urban, rural ...
areas, outdoor, in-car, indoor)
Dropped Call:
Analysis for Dropped Calls due to

Interference, SW/HW failures,
Transmission Network Failures
Call Setup:
Analysis for Blocking and Capacity

Limitations, Analysis for Resource
Allocation Procedures
Handover:
Analysis for Efficient Handover

Performance
Speech Quality:
Analysis for Interference
ICN PLM CA NP
Problem Symptoms
No service
High call drop rate

No coverage
RF Network
No System Availability
No coverage
Network Element Failures
Interference
Transmission Network Failures
Handover failure
Fixed Network BSS, SSS
Network Element Failure
Low call setup success rate
Transmission Failures
RF Network
Other networks
No coverage
Mobile terminal
Interference
Blocking
Poor speech quality
RF Network
Blocking
No coverage
Overload
Interference
Other
Poor handover performance
Network element failure
Transmission network failure
Other networks
Mobile Phone
ICN PLM CA NP
Coverage Analysis
Test mobile measurements
Antenna configuration check

Verification of RF network design
DTM check
Propagation model verification
Link budget analysis
ICN PLM CA NP
Test Mobile Measurements

Collect RxLev measurements together with GPS co-ordinates
Analyse on planning tool

Reasons for poor coverage:
serving cell not best server
handover problems
best server signal low
check site / network design
Analyse in terms of relevant
thresholds:
indoor level
in-car level
outdoor level
ICN PLM CA NP
Test Mobile Measurements

Consequences of
poor RxLev:
low RxQual
vulnerable
to interference
Limitation with
drive tests:
downlink only
Another method:
statistical
analysis
OMC or drive
tests
ICN PLM CA NP
Possible Problem Areas

Downlink
Output power low
Obstruction of Tx antenna
Antennae not aligned properly
Broken / wrongly connected
cables
Database parameters controlling
output power
ICN PLM CA NP
Uplink
Receive sensitivity degraded due
to hardware problems
Obstruction of Rx antennae
Antennae not aligned properly
Broken / wrongly connected
cables
Lack of diversity gain
Antenna Configuration
General points to check
antenna type, e.g.
antenna azimuth angle (for directional antennae)
coverage targets
antenna tilt angle
omni
directional 60, 90 or 120 degrees
electrical downtilt
cross-polarised
electrical + mechanical
diversity & isolation
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e.g. space diversity,

polarisation diversity
Antenna Types - Typical Beam Patterns

Directional antenna
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Antenna Types - Typical Beam Patterns

Omni antenna with electrical downtilt
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Antenna Fine Tuning

Horizontal Plane:
Possible coverage weakness between sectors

Vertical Plane:
Possible coverage weakness in the short to medium distance range
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Omni vs. Sectorised

OMNI cells - more difficult to optimise
Electrical downtilt possible, however
same for entire cell
Parameters same for entire cell
Directional antennae
narrower beam easier to control interference

tilting less efficient with wider beams
Sectorised cell site with different
downtilt angles
ICN PLM CA NP
Vertical Antenna Beam

High gain antennae with sharp vertical lobe
shadow under antenna
Ant. Effective
height
60 m
City
400 m
Solution:
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Add mechanical downtilt
In practice:
For cluttered
environments
reflections often
compensate
Tilting
Antenna downtilt often used to minimise interference
Minimum: Vertical mail lobe pointing at cell edge
hBS
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Maximum: First null angle pointing at cell edge
Tilting
Electrical vs. Mechanical downtilt
0
Mechanical
Electrical
Advantages:
Better back lobe characteristics

Better lower side lobe characteristics
Disadvantages:
ICN PLM CA NP
Antennas are more expensive
A combination of
mechanical / electrical
downtilt may be used
Tilting
No Tilt
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Down Tilted 4 degrees
Antenna Diversity Type

Rx ant.
Typical > 10l
Dual polarisation
Rx ant. 2
Rx ant. 1
Space diversity
Horisontal /
vertical
vertical polarisation
in general good performance
requires extra antenna for
diversity
mobile antenna normally not held

vertically
when signals are reflected
polarisation change (vertical
normally dominates)
cross polarised preferred
good performance in urban areas
save one antenna
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Cross
polarised
easier installation
Verification of RF Network Design

Site check
Site physical configuration evaluation

Site-to-site distances and distribution
Special features for improving coverage
Site database configuration evaluation
Tx power
power control settings
etc.
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BTS
Site Check
Verify that site is implemented according to plan
Check installation e.g.
antenna spacing (diversity, isolation)

antennae in one sector are installed in the same plane
antennae alignment
omni antenna installation
cable installation
Horisontal spacing
Vertical spacing
Rx
Tx
Antennas mounted in different planes
Omni
Tx
k1
k2
k2
Rxd
Rx
Alignment of antennas
Rx
Tx
a= max 15
a
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Rx
Tx
Rxd
Antenna Isolation
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Horizontal
Horizontal
A
2250
2000
1750
1500
1250
1000
750
Vertical
500
Isolation /dB
Isolation by vertical or horizontal separation

between two antennas K73316..
Spacing A/ mm
Vertical
Source: Kathrein
ICN PLM CA NP
Antenna Isolation
60
40
Horizontal
20
Vertical
Horizontal
A
1250
1150
1000
900
750
650
500
0
400
Isolation /dB
Isolation by vertical or horizontal separation

between two antennas K73416..
Spacing A/mm
Vertical
Source: Kathrein
ICN PLM CA NP
Site Physical Configuration

Antenna height
ideally sites within a given area classification should have similar

heights if traffic distribution is uniform
evaluate site height in terms of objective
macrocell / minicell / microcell

limitation of interference
clear obstructions
Antenna tilt / directions
avoid coverage gaps

target priority areas
limit interference
Appropriate antenna types
sectorise omni cells?
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Site-to-Site Distances and Distribution

For an area of uniform structure / terrain / traffic
site-to-site distance should be uniform (assuming uniform site design)
Site distribution should reflect
coverage characteristics / requirements

capacity requirements
Typical case
Downtown: High site density

Suburban area: less dense
Roads: Sites located along a line
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Special Features for Improving Coverage

Microcell
for indoor coverage
outdoor coverage in high
capacity areas
Other indoor coverage solutions

distributed anteanne
fibre optic repeater
leaky cable
Repeaters
alternative to microcell where the
traffic needs are low
indoor
outdoor
road coverage
coverage hole fill solution
HCS, e.g.
large cells for car-coverage
small cells for pedestrians
Micro - Cell Site -Location
Macro - Cell Site -Location
Building
Outlines
Building
Outlines
Scale = 0.5 Km
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Cell splitting, Sectorisation

Change from large cells to small cells
Difficult , Expensive
Mainly driven by capacity requirements
Result: Improved indoor coverage
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DTM Check
DTM resolution
horisontal
macrocell (typical 50-100 m for roads, 50 m for small cities, 20 - 40 m for

large cities)
microcell (very high resolution, down to building level)
vertical - should be high
Source data
heights and clutter derived from paper maps

clutter and / or vector updates by satellite photographs / aerial photos
for metropolitan areas
ICN PLM CA NP
Propagation Model Verification

Wrong model wrong coverage prediction
In general, standard models have high performance

Highly specialised model may only be valid for a small area
Model performance depends on accuracy of DTM
To tune the model
field strength measurements

check existing model against measurements
modify model parameters
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Link Budget Analysis

Check for link budget imbalance
downlink
uplink
Coverage Problem - Unbalanced Up- and Downlink

Uplink Power Budget - Downlink Power Budget = 0!
Link Power Budget is balanced!
P A o u tp u t p o w e r
d o w n lin k
c o m b in e r lo s s
c a b le lo s s d o w n lin k
R x S e n sitiv ity M S
nc
a la
ed
Bu
er
ow
dg
et
R x S e n sitiv ity B S
c a b le lo s s u p lin k
a n te n n a d iv e rs ity g a in
u p lin k
M S Peak Pow er
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BTS

Coverage Problem - Unbalanced Up- and Downlink
Uplink Power Budget - Downlink Power Budget 0!
Link Power Budget is unbalanced!
RxLev/dBm
-55,00
Caused by wrong assumption for

35% Coverage Loss @ 3dB!
-65,00
RxLev for Indoor
Coverage(90%)
Links balanced
-75,00
3dB unbalanced
55% Coverage Loss @ 6 dB! 6dB unbalanced
Receiver Sensitivity
Diversity Gain
Propagation Environment
Link Balancing via
Optimization of Diversity
Tower mounted amplifier
High power amplifier
-85,00
0,20
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0,40
0,60
Distance from BTS in km
0,80

Increasing BS Output?
Unbalanced link budget
Better BS Rx sensitivity or pre-amplifier
Must be matched by higher BS TX power for balanced link budget

-110 dBm
Uplink -107 dBm
Downlink
40 dBm
37 dBm
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Dropped Call Analysis

How to measure
drive tests
repeated call setups (preferred)

continuous calls
OMC measurements
Reasons for dropped calls
lack of coverage
interference problems
handover problems
lack of synchronisation in network
problems with other parts of the network
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Call Setup Analysis

How to measure
drive tests
repeated call setups
OMC measurements
Reasons for failed call setups
lack of coverage
database problems
database inconsistencies
parameter settings, e.g.
RXLEV_ACCESS_MIN, RACHBT, RACH_MAX_RETRANS
cell reselection related parameters
network congestion
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MAXRETR
Slotted ALOHA mechanism: Several users may attempt to
access channel simultaneously
in case of collision new attempts are made

MAXRETR: Maximum no. of retries allowed
BTS
MS
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E.g: MAXRETR = 2
Handover Performance Analysis

When moving from one cell to another (neighbour cells) handovers are
necessary
SIEMENS AG
MON MAR15 15:18:41
Too many neighbours
SCALE 1:2500
Inaccurate handover
decision
EqualPowerBoundary
Mutual Neighbour
Non-Mutual Neighbour
Missing Neighbour
Too many Neighbours
Handover Failure &

Dropped Call
Missing Neighbour
definition
Handover Failure
Dropped Call
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Handover Parameters
Objectives:
mobile should be connected to the

bestcell
avoid unnecessary handovers
Consequence
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good speech quality

less dropped calls
Consequence of Missing Neighbours

Defined neighbours
Server
Missing neighbour
Interferer
f1
Missing neighbour cells
f1
Cell dragging
Cell dragging
Poor RxQual
Poor RxLev
Interference
Dropped Calls
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Congestion
Exceeded distance
Poor PBGT
Consequence of Many Neighbour Definitions

Only about 100 measurement samples are possible during one
measurement period for all defined neighbour cells

Number of BCCH carriers
In BCCH Allocation
32
16
10
8
:
Number of samples per

Carrier in SACCH multiframe
3-4
6-7
10-11
12-13
:
(Rec. GSM 0508)
Too many neighbour cells

Inaccurate signal level measurement
False handover decisions
Dropped Calls
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Problem:
Sites with too
large coverage
area
Handover Measurements
Handover due to a better
cell
(RxLev_1 >
RxLev_Full)
Handover due to bad
quality
Can also be analysed
by statistics
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Handover Parameters
Fine-tuning of handover parameters
Moving cell boundaries in order to
Enhance success rate for critical handovers

Minimise local interference at the cell edge
Traffic load sharing between cells
Compared to other opimisation measures improvement potential is

limited
Affected by
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Measurement averaging
Power control parameters
PS! Neighbours
should in general
be mutual
Radio Link Measurements

BTS measurements (Uplink):
Signal level
Quality
BS-MS distance
(Interference levels in idle time slots)
BSC
UL
DL
Neighbour
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MS
BTS

MS measurements (Downlink)
Signal Level
Quality
Signal levels of neighbouring cells (BCCH)
BSC
Strongest 6 are reported to the Network
UL
DL
Neighbour
ICN PLM CA NP
MS
BTS

BSC (In general)
Collects all data
BTS and MS send measurement reports every 480 ms

Makes handover decisions
BSC
Siemens Network, BTS makes HO decisions
UL
DL
Neighbour
ICN PLM CA NP
MS
BTS

Radio link measurements averaging
BTS (BSC) receives measurement samples from BTS + MS
every SACCH-Multiframe (480ms,104 TDMA frames)
Gliding Window
averaging Window size (max.31)

Window is cleared after call setup or handover
32 27 23 29 29 21 19 22 23 21
Average value = 24
ICN PLM CA NP

F
32 27 23 29 29 21 19 22 23 21
Measurement Values each

SACCH Multiframe (0.48s)
32 32 27 27 23 29 29 29 21 21
Average value = 27
W_Lev_Full = 2
W_Lev_SUB = 1
Gliding Window = 5
ICN PLM CA NP
Handover Algorithm
Handover
Decision
IRQUAL
yes
Inter-cell HO
due to Quality
no
LEV
yes
Inter-cell HO
due to Level
yes
IAQUAL
no
yes
Inter-cell HO
due to Distance
no
ICN PLM CA NP
PBGT
Inter-cell HO
Power Budget
no
no
DIST
yes
No handover
action
Intra-cell HO
due to Quality
Handover Criteria
Handover Region (due to quality and level)
Rx_Qual
L_Rx_Lev_XX_IH
7
Intracell HO
due to Quality
Intercell HO
due to quality
L_Rx_Qual_XX_H
No handover
action due to
quality or level
Intercell HO
due to level
0
ICN PLM CA NP
L_Rx_Lev_XX_H
63
Rx_Lev
Handover Decision
Handover Types
Intercell HO
due to Quality
Decision Criteria
1. RXQUAL_XX > L_RXQUAL_XX_H
2. RXLEV_XX < L_RXLEV_XX_IH
3. XX_TXPWR = Min (XX_TXPWR_Max,P)
HO due to Level
1. RXLEV_XX > L_RXLEV_XX_H
2. XX_TXPWR = Min(XX_TXPWR_Max,P)
HO due to Distance 1. MS_BS_DIST > MS_Range_Max
HO due to
1. RXLEV_NCELL(n) > RXLEV_MIN(n)
Power Budget
+ Max (0,MS_TXPWR_MAX(n)-P)
2. PBGT(n) > HO_MARGIN(n)
Intracell HO
1. RXQUAL_XX > L_RXQUAL_XX_H
due to Quality
2. RXLEV_XX > L_RXLEV_XX_IH
ICN PLM CA NP
Intracell Handover
Stay within cell, change frequency / time slot situation
in general interference different on different timeslots

change to a different cell may be unnecessary
Interferer: f1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Sever: f1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
higher traffic load higher likelihood on other timeslots

not effective with frequency hopping
ICN PLM CA NP
parameter settings for intracell handover should be set to reduce such

handovers
Intracell Handover
Check for simultaneous occurrence of:
Poor quality (high Rx_Qual)

Sufficient signal level
L_Rx_Lev_XX_IH
Rx_Qual
L_Rx_Lev_XX_IH
Intracell HO
due to Quality
L_Rx_Qual_XX_H
L_Rx_Lev_XX_H
ICN PLM CA NP
Rx_Lev
Level Handovers
Adjacent cell not stronger than current cell + HO margin
Serving cell has insufficient coverage

emergency handover to cell with better coverage
Rx_Lev
Server
HOMARGIN
HO_Threshold_Lev
neighbour
MinHOReqInt
ICN PLM CA NP
Driven route
Level Handovers
Receiver limit sensitivity
L_RXLEV_XX_H (outgoing level HO)
L_RXLEV_XX_IH (inter HO
/ intracell quality HO)
RXLEV_MIN (incoming HO)
BTS
RXLEV_MIN
threshold for cell to accept incoming handover
L_RXLEV_XX_H
threshold for initiating outgoing handover due to signal level
relation with RXLEV_MIN will determine hysteresis
L_RXLEV_XX_IH
threshold for initiating inter / intracell quality HO
ICN PLM CA NP
Distance Handover
Maximum allowable BS-MS distance
Default: MS_Range_Max=61 (bits Timing Advance,TA)
Maximum value: 63, corresponding to 35 km
Enhanced by
Extended Cell
Normally used in combination with other criteria, e.g.
ICN PLM CA NP
cross-water propagation,
elevated bridges etc.
Power Budget Handover

Select cell with better signal level at given location
HO margin
Large enough to avoid ping-pong HO

small enough to allow fast HO
BTS2
BTS1
Ping-Pong HO
1. RXLEV_NCELL(n) > RXLEV_MIN(n) + Max(0,MS_TXPWR_MAX(n)-P)

2. PBGT(n) = RXLEV_NCELL(n)-(RXLEV_DL+PWR_C_D)
+Min(MS_TWPWR_MAX(n),P)-Min(MS_TXPWR_MAX(n),P)
> HO_MARGIN(n)
ICN PLM CA NP
Cell Reselection
C1-criterion for cell access:
C1 = AV_RXLEV - RXLEV_ACCESS_MIN - MAX(0,MS_TXPWR_MAX_CCH-P) > 0
MS takes 5 samples of the received level on each RF carrier which
are averaged
AV_RXLEV = 1/5 * (RXLEV1+RXLEV2++RXLEV5)
ICN PLM CA NP
Cell Reselection
DL
For example:
BTS
MS
MS class 5 (GSM900)
AV_RXLEV=-97 dBm
RXLEV_ACCESS_MIN = -100 dBm

MS_TXPWR_MAX_CCH = 29 dBm (0.8W)
C1 = -97 - (-100) - Max(0,33-29)
= -1
ICN PLM CA NP
Cell Reselection
For example:
DL
MS class 5 (GSM900)
Operator B
BTS
DL
Operator A
BTS
MS

MS_TXPWR_MAX_CCH = 33 dBm (2W)

MS_TXPWR_MAX_CCH = 33 dBm (2W)
MS receives signal from Operator A and B = -90 dBm

Operator A
Operator B
C1 = -90 - (-110) - Max(0,33-29)
= +16
ICN PLM CA NP
C1 = -90 - (-100) - Max(0,33-29)
= +6
Cell Reselection
C1 criteria
Same Location Area
C1 (neighbour cell) > C1 (serving cell)
Different Location Area
C1
C1 (neighbour cell) > C1 (serving cell) + Cell_Reselect_Hysteresis

High power class MS
Low power class MS
Cell_Reselect_Hysteresis
BTS1
ICN PLM CA NP
BTS2
Speech Quality Analysis

Parameters
RxQual
Frame Erasure Rate (FER)
Speech Quality Index (SQI)
Measurements
Drive test
Causes of interference
co-channel interference
adjacent channel interference
intermodulation
mainly on one link only
multipath interference
preferably continuous call
OMC statistics
Cause for poor quality

low signal strength (coverage
related
interference
low signal strength and
interference
ICN PLM CA NP
Interfering cell of base

station within GSM network
Base station within GSM

Network
Downlink Interference Measurement

Typical requirement
speech: RxQual 4
data: RxQual 3
BER %
0.0 - 0.2
0.2 - 0.4
0.4 - 0.8
0.8 - 1.6
1.6 - 3.2
3.2 - 6.4
6.4 - 12.8
> 12.8
RxQual
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
With frequency hopping:

RxQual not a valid parameter
ICN PLM CA NP
Frequency Changes
Sometimes necessary to minimise interference
As network reaches capacity limit this becomes difficult
Other frequencies may be affected by the change
Can be done at either interfering cell or victim cell
Choice: Whichever happens to be easier to change
Existing plan may be entered into planning tool as
constraints
search for optimum frequency allocation for a given cell
At a certain point the whole network e.g. in a city may have to
be re-planned
ICN PLM CA NP
Frequency Changes
BCCH/TCH swapping
Method sometimes used: Alternate between clusters
BCCH: 794
TCH:797
BCCH: 794
after
before
Effectiveness depends on TCH traffic load

BCCH / TCH sub-bands are mixed
Could be used as a temporary measure
ICN PLM CA NP
BCCH: 797
TCH:794
BCCH: 794
while traffic load is low
BSIC Optimisation
Base Station Identity Codes
Used by the MS to distinguish between cells

using the same frequency
Co-Channel cells must have different

BSICs
f9
f9
f9
ICN PLM CA NP
Call Setup/Handover Mechanisms

20-25 dB street corner loss: Fast handovers required
Micro-micro
Micro-macro
Fast measurement averaging

Carefully tuned handover thresholds
Small handover margins
Short penalty timers
ICN PLM CA NP
Location Area Codes

Purpose
identify location area

in incoming call is paged to all BTSs within LA
Large location area
advantage: less location updates (reduced SDCCH load)

disadvantage: more paging traffic
Boundaries should not cross high traffic areas

Cell reselection across LA boundaries
Parameter Cell_Reselect_Hysteresis (typ. 4 dB) used to avoid

unnecessary signalling due to ping-pong cell reselections
ICN PLM CA NP
Interference Reduction
Power Control
Frequency Hopping
Discontinuous Transmission DTX
ICN PLM CA NP
Power Control
Quality-triggered PC
e.g. L_RXQUAL_XX_P = 4
Triggers a power increase at poor quality
e.g. U_RXQUAL_XX_P = 1
Triggers a power reduction at good quality

Virtually disabled by setting to highest RXQUAL value
Level criterion is more suitable for power reduction
Level-triggered PC
e.g. L_RXLEV_XX_P = 25 (-85 dBm)
e.g. U_RXQUAL_XX_P = 35 (-75 dBm)
ICN PLM CA NP
Triggers a power increase at bad level

Triggers a power reduction at good level
Power Control
RXQUAL
Power Increase
(bad quality)
L_RXQUAL_XX_P
Power Decrease
(Good Level)
Power Increase
(bad level)
L_RXQUAL_XX_P
Power Decrease
(good quality)
RXLEV
L_RXLEV_XX_P
U_RXLEV_XX_P
2*POW_RED_STEP_SIZE
ICN PLM CA NP
Frequency Hopping
Cyclic / Pseudo Random hopping
0 BCCH
Baseband / Synthesized hopping
SDCCH
Call 1
Call 2
f1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
f2
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
f3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
TDMA frame
(8 time slots)
ICN PLM CA NP
Frequency Hopping
0 BCCH
SDCCH
Call 1
Call 2
f1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
f2
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
f3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
TDMA frame
(8 time slots)
ICN PLM CA NP
Frequency Hopping
0 BCCH
SDCCH
Call 1
Call 2
f1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
f2,f3,f4,f5,f6,f7
f6
f3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
f2,f3,f4,f5,f6,f7
f4
f7
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
TDMA frame
(8 time slots)
ICN PLM CA NP
DTX
Goal: Reduce speech data rate from 13 kbps (user speaking) to
500 bps (enough to encode background noise)
reduce MS power consumption

reduce the interference in a cell
SBS parameter for DTX / VAS administration
DTXUL ->
DTXDL ->
0 : MS may use DTX (If possible)

1 : MS shall use DTX
2 : MS shall not use DTX
FALSE : downlink DTX disabled at BTS
TRUE : downlink DTX enabled at BTS
PS! No gain for data communications

ICN PLM CA NP
Channel Configuration
Channel Type
TCHFULL
MAINBCCH
MBCCHC
SDCCH
TCHF&HLF*
BCBCH*
SCBCH*
CCCH*
Channel Combination
TCH/F + FACCH/F + SACCH/F
FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH (AGCH+PCH+RACH)
FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH + 4 (SDCCH+SACCH)
8 (SDCCH + SACCH)
TCH/H(0) + FACCH/H (0) + SACCH/H(0) + TCH/H(1)
FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH + 3 (SDCCH+SACCH) + CBCH
7 (SDCCH + SACCH) + CBCH
BCCH + CCCH
For example,
Note: * in SBS BR 3.0
1TRX : TS0 -> BCBCH

TS1-7 -> TCHFULL
2 TRXs : TRX0, TS0 -> MAINBCCH
TRX0, TS1 -> SCBCH
TRX0, TS2-7 -> TCHFULL
TRX1, TS0-7 -> TCHFULL
ICN PLM CA NP
Capacity Enhancements
Easy approach: Add TRXs
Problem: No more frequencies:
Options

Interference optimisation features: FH, PC, DTX
Sectorisation: Increasing cell density
Cell splitting: Increasing site density
HCS
ICN PLM CA NP
Dual band operation (e.g. GSM900/DCS1800)

Dual mode operation (e.g. GSM900/DECT)
Underlay / Overlay
Overlaid micro- and picocells
Half rate coding

Migration to 3rd Generation Systems
Adding TRX
Congested cells found by OMC measurements
Sec TRX GOS 2% Week1 Week2 Week3 Week4 Week5 Week6 Week7
BTS1
1
3
14.9 10.53
9.66 10.21
9.88 10.54
9.97 10.37
BTS2
2
2
8.2
7.43
7.26
7.59
6.98
7.55
8.02
8.33
BTS3
3
3
14.9 11.92
11.4 12.12 11.82 11.75 12.02 12.15
Sector 2 will experience congestion

Sometimes percentage limit, e.g. 80%, of full load defined
Sector 3 is near that limit
Possible limitations of TRX extensions:
Need for changed hardware configuration costly
ICN PLM CA NP
e.g. new BTS rack needed
Frequency Spectrum limited

Interference Reduction Features

Frequency Hopping (FH)
Dynamic Power Control (PC)
Discontinuous Transmission (DTX)
allow tighter frequency re-us

(already considered for 40-60 Erl./km2 in macrocell layer with 5 to 10 MHz)
3No additional sites or frequencies required

3Available, stable
3Implementation causes no disturbance of
network operation
7Little or no effect if available spectrum is very

limited (BCCH limitations)
ICN PLM CA NP
Traffic Load Distribution

Traffic in a cell related to cell coverage area
If sufficient overlap between cells:
reduce traffic by changing cell boundary
antenna downtilt
reduce power (PWRRED)
alter handover boundaries
Usually a temporary solution only
Default HO boundaries
Changed HO boundaries
ICN PLM CA NP
Call Setup/handover mechanisms

Relieve macrocells from traffic
Umbrella type handover into microcells

Directed retry
ICN PLM CA NP
Allows call setup In second-best server, shares traffic resources between

layers
Hierarchical Cell Structures

Underlay/Overlay
Umbrella cells: Dominant site with large coverage area
low traffic - fast mobiles
Macrocells: Antenna above average rooftop level
normal traffic
Microcell: Antenna below average rooftop level
cover small high traffic areas
Picocell: Antenna
usually indoors
coverage to building
or parts thereof - e.g.
Business users
ICN PLM CA NP
Ls
Indoor coverage
Outdoor Installation
Hotspot
Parking lot
Contiguous M icrocellular Coverage
Subway Coverage Extension
Concentric cells
C/I = 17 dB
C/I = 17 dB
C/I = 0 dB
f3
f1
f2
f3
Inner cell can use 1 x 3 reuse pattern

Special handover mechanisms between layers
Limited gains for uniform traffic distribution
ICN PLM CA NP
Overlaid Micro- and Picocells

The smallest cells should absorb most of the traffic in their
coverage area
Larger cells for fast moving mobiles / areas not covered by
small cells
Macrocells
Microcells
Picocells
ICN PLM CA NP
Microcell Frequency Planning

Different resolutions required for different layers
flexibility of planning tool needed
Dedicated frequency bands for different layers
Reduce complexity of frequency optimisation task

Guard band may be needed to avoid adjacent channel interference
Call Setup/handover strategy
Serving
BTS
reduce macrocell traffic

determine mobile speed
Fast handovers
Loss around street corner: 20 dB!

Micro BTS
ICN PLM CA NP
Speed Sensitive Handovers

Mechanisms to separate fast from slow mobiles
mobile class
measurement of the timing advance delta
only works for direction away from site
cell type
today mostly same class is used (e.g. GSM900 class 4)
try to keep handovers within same layer unless speed change
mean time between handovers
ICN PLM CA NP
Half Rate Coding / Dual Rate Operation

Has potential to double network capacity
Advantages:
No additional sites / frequencies required

Minimum investment for infrastructure upgrade
Disadvantage:
Speech quality degradation (reduction of speech bit rate from 13 kb/s to

6.5 kb/s)
Especially mobile-to-mobile calls
Gain depends on ratio full rate users / half rate users / data traffic
ICN PLM CA NP
Cell Parameter Optimisation

Default parameter sets:
PS! Standard setting suitable for most cases

Starting point for possible optimisation, however
more relevant after other optimisation activities
Different parameter standards may be used for
different area types

BTS types
etc.
Danger
many parameters easy to lose overview
ICN PLM CA NP
inconsistencies
deterioration of quality
Effect
Possible Network Optimisation Measures
Dual mode
Fine tuning of antenna

orientation and tilt
Adding
TRX
Repeaters
Preamps
Frequency
Changes
Sectorisation
HR
Cell parameter
setting
Underlay/
Overlay
FH, PC, DTX
Dual band
Cost, Effort
ICN PLM CA NP
Cell spiltting
Overlaid
microcells
Increasing Network Capacity

The relationship between quality and capacity
In a congested network, quality can deteriorate very quickly:

Congestion
Poor speech
quality
Extended call
setup times
Interference/
Noise
Dropped
call
Unavailability
of service
Violation of all 4 basic quality criteria

ICN PLM CA NP

5 Optimisation

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5 Optimisation

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Radio Network Optimisation

SIEMENS Limited 1999

Concept for optimisation

SIEMENS Limited 1999

Main Topics (continued)

Call setup/handover mechanisms

SIEMENS Limited 1999

What is Network Optimisation?

existing Network Infrastructure

SIEMENS Limited 1999

Performance degradation by interference

the network design

SIEMENS Limited 1999

Aim of Network Optimisation

Speech quality, Call success rate, Call setup time

Improved Network Availability

Service area , Radio Coverage

Optimised utilisation of installed equipment

Increase in subscriber potential

SIEMENS Limited 1999

Advantages for the Customer

Reduced subscriber complaints

Optimised subscriber satisfaction

One step ahead of the

SIEMENS Limited 1999

Planning vs. Optimising

SIEMENS Limited 1999

Major Problem Areas

SIEMENS Limited 1999

Radio Optimisation Related Processes

The following processes involve optimisation related activities

Repeated quality control and improvement as network grows / matures

SIEMENS Limited 1999

Verify network configuration against current planning status

SIEMENS Limited 1999

detail measurement to be taken at dedicated problem spots for detail

SIEMENS Limited 1999

height, orientation and tilt

Basic cell parameters and functions

BCCH, BSIC, CI, LAC

Test measurement (TEMS etc. together with a GPS)

Change Request and Action

Change BCCH to avoid interference

Antenna tilt etc.

SIEMENS Limited 1999

Setup Test Scenario

SIEMENS Limited 1999

SIEMENS Limited 1999

Pre-analysis: General Network Check

Determine the network element configuration, e.g.

Visit selected sites (if necessary)

Customer Complaints Analysis

Caller and Called No. (PSTN->MS, etc.)

SIEMENS Limited 1999

Collect / Analyse OMC Statistics

Handled traffic (congestion on TCH, SDCCH)

Advantages over test drives:

Less labor intensive and time consuming

SIEMENS Limited 1999

Collect / Analyse OMC Statistics

Limited geographical resolution (Where does the problem occur?)

Call attempts in uncovered areas are not counted