UMTS High-Speed Railway (HSR)

Coverage Solution
ZTE University

Contents

Challenge of HSR Coverage

Strategy of HSR Coverage
ZTE UMTS HSR Coverage Solution
Success Stories

The HSR Era is Coming

By 2025, the total length of HSR will reach 37,000km

in the world

Train running on the current HSR with speed of over

Fast
development of HSR, more requirement for HSR
200km/h
coverage

High Speed Influence the Communication

Performance
High
speed Higher penetration
loss
Doppler effect
Longer overlap
region
Worse
KPI
Higher call drop rate
Lower access success
rate
Lower handover
Poor user
rate
experience Call success
drop
Worse voice quality
Worse profit
Instable data
Worse brand
connection
Lower traffic
Higher user
complaint

HSR Coverage Face Challenge

In the high speed
railway coverage, the
main challenge
include:

Evident Doppler
Effect

Higher carriage
penetration loss

Influenced
communication
process

High Speed Introduces Doppler Offset

Doppler Effect

is the change in frequency of a wave for an

observer moving relative to the source of the wave.

Calculation
Formula

V: train speed;
C: velocity of light;
f: system working frequency.

f1+2fd

f1-2fd

f0-fd

f0+fd

Compared
Compared with
with the
the frequency
frequency offset
offset in
in UE,
UE, there
there is
is
twice
twice in
in Node
Node B.
B.

Doppler Effect Influence on Node B Performance

Doppler Effect Influence on UE Performance

scene

Two RRU facing each other and merging

UE at the middle of two sites

Logical
cell
At the middle of logical cell, UE will receive two different direction
signal with plus-minus frequency offset of one cell, and the
performance will be affected except Qualcomm UE.

For
For UMTS
UMTS network
network with
with 2.1GHz,
2.1GHz, UE
UE performance
performance result
result
in
in the
the limited
limited application
application of
of multi
multi RRU
RRU of
of one
one cell
cell in
in
open
open place
place scenario
scenario of
of HSR,
HSR, only
only 2RRU
2RRU back
back to
to back
back
can
can be
be used.
used.

Higher Penetration Loss with New Train

Different train, different penetration loss

Better carriage tightness, higher penetration loss

Overcoming the most penetration loss is the target of

coverage design

24dB
14dB
12dB

T-type train

K-type train
CRH2 train

Bombardier train
CRH3 train

Communication Procedure is Affected

For faster movement, UE
resident time in single cell is
less than cell selection time.

ll n
e
C tio
c
le ll
e
S Ce tion
lecer
e
s v
Rendo
Ha
ll re
a
C du
ce
o
Pr

With the same cell reselection

delay, faster mobile speed,
larger reselection overlap area.
With the same handover delay,
faster mobile speed, larger
handover overlap area.
For longer each procedure
delay, call procedure may be
managed in the different cell.

Contents

Challenge of HSR Coverage

Strategy of HSR Coverage
ZTE UMTS HSR Coverage Solution
Success Stories

Introduction of Network Deployment Strategy

Public Coverage

Definition
Utilize public RNC and Node B

Cover HSR area and other

areas synchronously
Same frequency
Same parameters

Dedicated
Coverage

Definition
Independent RNC , Node B,
transmission and feeder
system
Cover area along the HSR
only
Independent frequency
Independent parameters

The Problem of Public Coverage

CN

LAC
1

RNC
1

LAC
2

RNC
2

RNC
n

LAC
n

Statio
n

RNC border may be at high

speed area, lower handover
successful ratio

Too many LACs, Too

many location update

Traffic and data peak moving

with train

Too many neighbor cells, lower

mobile performance

Adjusted existing sites RF

parameter, influenced living
public coverage and capacity

Solution for Problem 1

LAN
LAC
2

CN
RNC
1

RNC
2

LAC
1

RNC
3

Reduce RNC/LAC
Number
Configure high speed scenario coverage cells under the
same RNC/LAC
Build new RNC for HSR by administrative region
respectively, and set a single LAC

Solution for Problem 2

LAC
2
LAC
1

Set Rational RNC/LAC

Border
For a long time delay of Inter-RNC handover, handover
in RNC border cell may not complete when UE is at a
high speed.
Set RNC/LAC border at the low speed area , like as
station.

Solution for Problem 3 Larger Waiting

Room
Set handover or
reselection
overlap at waiting
room only

HSR Cell, F2
Larger

waiting room, covered by many cells

Entrance:

F1/F2 dual frequency cell

Higher priority of indoor F2 cell

Outdoor F1 cell <-> indoor F1 cell, bi-directional

reselection/handover

Indoor F1 cell -> indoor F2 cell, uni-directional

reselection/handover

Indoor F1 cell is used for transition from outdoor to indoor

only

Common Network Cell, F1

Dual Frequency Cell, F1/F2
Intra-frequency Bi-directional
Re-selection/Handover
Inter-frequency Bi-directional Reselection/Handover
Inter-frequency Uni-directional
Re-selection/Handover
Entrance passenger flow
Exit passenger flow

Solution for Problem 3 Smaller Waiting

Room
Set handover or
reselection
overlap at waiting
room only

HSR Cell, F2
Common Network Cell, F1
Smaller

waiting room, covered by one cell

Entrance:

F1/F2 dual frequency cell

Higher priority of indoor F2 cell

Outdoor F1 cell <-> indoor F1 cell, bi-directional

reselection/handover
Indoor F1 cell -> indoor F2 cell, uni-directional

reselection/handover
Indoor F1 cell is used for transition from outdoor to indoor

only

Dual Frequency Cell,

F1/F2
Intra-frequency Bi-directional
Re-selection/Handover
Inter-frequency Bi-directional Reselection/Handover
Inter-frequency Uni-directional
Re-selection/Handover
Entrance passenger flow
Exit passenger flow

Solution for Problem 4

Dedicated Coverage Absorb all HSR

Services
Dont influence
public network performance

Overcoming the most penetration loss is the target of coverage

design

Inside the train, the pilot signal strength is -95dBm generally

Adjusting the pilot signal strength for different HSR grade

Solution for Problem 5 - Network Planning

Strategy
Cell Radius
Vertical Distance
Distance between Sites

Site Selection

Three
principles
Exploit existing
site
Antenna height
higher

than target
coverage area
visible distance

Vertical distance
less

than 300m

Overlap Area

Antenna Selection

Vertical distance
Less than 100m
33antenna

preferably

Less than 300m

65antenna

preferably

Longer tunnel
Leak

cable
preferably

Distance between
Sites
Rational
planning
The shortest
distance
link estimation
propagation

model

Rational overlap
area
Reselection area
Handover area

Solution for Problem 5 - Site Selection Strategy

Exploit existing site
Share site resource
New equipment: BBU + RRU
New antenna
New cell

Target
Exploit

Build new site

existing

1RRU: power

site efficiently
Build

splitting

new site

rationally
Optimizing

the

selection of HSR
site

cell2

cell1

2RRU: back to
back

BBU

BBU

Dedicated Coverage, Better Selection

Public Coverage Area

Dedicated Coverage Area

ZTE Suggest: dedicated coverage

for HSR area

Dedicated coverage, dedicated application for HSR users

Sententious signal distribution, easier network optimization, better
coverage quality
Exclusive reselection/handover sequence, smoother
reselection/handover
Lesser RNC/LAC number, lesser signaling interactive, better network
performance

Blind Area influence User Experience

Complex environment and difficult construction

condition may be bring in blind area in the HSR
coverage.

Repeater Cover Blind Area

Radio Repeater Theory: a radio signal
amplifier actually

Defect
Capacity

Coverage

Reliability

Raise background
Higher fault rate
noise
Lower reliability
Unbalance
Quality bottleneck
forward/back
of system
coverage
Lower
transmission
Repeater is only
used
for unimportant and
power
smaller area now

Coupling signal from

donor Node B
No Capacity variation

RRU Cover Blind Area

RRU

BBU

Distributed Node B supports fast deployment and flexible networking

BBU aggregated, RRU distributed, Infrastructure & equipment room

shared, saving cost

RRU close to antenna, reduce feeder loss and zero room space

Same Resource Requirement, Higher

Performance
Higher performance:
Fiber
Repeater

capacity, coverage
radius

Remote
Radio
Unit

Same resource
requirement:
Site, fiber, power

Remote RRU is more suitable for the high speed

scenario of less site space , weak ground load, or
antenna far from site.

Contents

Challenge of HSR Coverage

Strategy of HSR Coverage
ZTE UMTS HSR Coverage Solution
Success Stories

End to End HSR Coverage Solution

HSPA data card

SDR Series Node

Bs

Iub

UTRAN
Node B

MSC

IuCS

Iu
r

Service platform

IP based RNC Mobile soft-switch

CN

IuPS

RNC

GGSN
Gn

IuCS
IuPS

Iub

SGSN

ZTE SDR Based Series BTSs Family

Outdoor Micro
ZXSDR BS8908

Outdoor Micro
ZXSDR BS8906

Indoor Macro
ZXSDR BS8800

Radio Unit
Baseband Unit

Outdoor Macro
ZXSDR BS8900A

RSU40
RSU60E
RSU82

B8200

RSU40
RSU60E
RSU82

Embedded Indoor Macro

ZXSDR BS8800
R8840
R8860E
R8880A
R8882

Distributed Macro
ZXSDR BS8700

Multi-Mode Supported
GSM/UMTS/HSPA
HSPA+/LTE
Multi-Band Supported
G/U900M, G/U1800M
U/L2100M,
U/L2600M
Long term TCO
Saving
50% HPA
Technology

Smooth
Smart Evolution
Carrier
64QAM
On/Off HSPA+
MIMO HSPA+
LTE

Based on SDR hardware platform, all IP and multiple carriers capable

All base stations share same components, higher integration and less sp

ZTE Advanced High Speed Data Terminal

Film download from

internet
Average:39.1Mbps

In March, 2009, Hong Kong

CSL HSPA+ actual test result
in the street

3G Modem(HSPA<>WiFi)

UDP download from

the intranet PDN
server,
Average:41.6Mbps

In June, 2010, DC-HSDPA service

testing & demo based on CSL
commercial network

HSPA+ Data Card

Core Technology of ZTE HSR Solution

Networking
Technology in
High Speed
Scenario
MRRU Combination
based on Baseband
combination
Patent Frequency
Offset Compensation
Algorithm
(Doppler frequency offset)

)1

)2

Patent Frequency Offset Compensation

Algorithm
Support all the high speed
railway
coverage requirement
Theory
Trace frequency offset variety
rapidly
Compensate efficiently
Guarantee the network
performance

Effect
The compensation range:
1800Hz
Node B support: 450km/h

Theory of MRRU Combination Based on Baseband

Uplink Baseband Combination

Uplink Radio Combination

RRU

RRU

RRU

RRU

RRU

RRU

BBU
BBU

32

Dont raise the noise and dont decrease uplink

receive sensitivity
Provide better handling ability than radio
combination

MRRU Combination Mode

1RRU
Power Splitting

2RRU
Back to Back

MRRU
Combination
Enhance single RRUs
coverage
Scenario: urban areas
Site resources: abundant

6RRU Combination

Enhance sites coverage

further
Scenario: open place
Site resource: lesser

Scenario: longer tunnel

Tunnel face:
RRU close to tunnel
face
Dont set handover
overlap
Inside tunnel
1RRU power splitting
antenna - leak cable

MRRU Combination Converge with Other

Technology

Adapt to
different scene Flexible Mode
200km/h - 2RRU
200km/h - MRRU
Inside tunnel - MRRU
1RRU Power Splitting
Carrier added by
software
Enlarge capacity
Reduce feeder loss : 3dB
smoothly
(typical)
Enlarge coverage radius:
30%

Improve UL/DL RRU Top Tower

coverage
synchronously

Enlarge DL
Providecoverage
enough DL power

40w / 1Carrier

to support HSDPA
throughput
Improve DL pilot signal
coverage obviously

Improve 45% comparing

with 20m

Higher AntennaImprove 18% comparing

with 30m
Height
Improve
DL than
Suggestion:
higher
coverage
40m

Enlarge single cell coverage and distance between sites,

reduce investment
Reduce handover, raise the network performance

Networking Technology at High Speed Scene

Target

3.
Zigzag site
layout
2.
Cooperation with
public network

1.
Antenna
selection

Broaden the dedicated

network coverage area
by antenna and site
selection
Configure better
coverage and chain
network by cooperation
with public network
Guarantee fast and
smooth transition along
high speed railway with
optimized RRM
algorithm

4.
Optimized
RRM
algorithm

Antenna selection

General area
65antenna
Wide horizontal
beam
Broaden the
coverage area
along HSR
Scenario:
urban, hill,
open country

Narrow area
33antenna

tunnel
Leak cable

Narrow
horizontal
beam, higher
gain

Coverage
ability decided
by leak cable
type

Guarantee the
radial coverage

Lesser loss,
longer
coverage
distance

Scenario:
bridge,
mountain area
or area with
shelter forest

2m high,
flushed with
train window,
20cm spacing
at least

Zigzag Site Layout

Coverage
Generally,
pilot strength
Standard
-95dBm
Adjusted with different line
grade

Site Layout
Interleaving

layout along line,

balance coverage
Vertical distance decided by
penetration loss
Suggestion:
14dB(penetration loss):
600m
24dB(penetration loss):
300m
other train decided by
actual

Associated
factor
line grade, train type,
coverage standard

Distance
between
Sites
Decided
by propagation
model and link estimation
Suggestion:
250km/h (train speed):
3.5km
350km/h (train speed):
2km
other train decided by
actual

Cooperation with Public Network

Waiting room
Indoor: F1, F2 dual frequency
coverage
Indoor F1 cell is used for
transition while users move
from outdoor to indoor
Indoor F2 cell absorbs service
of waiting room/station

Along the HSR line

Dont configure
reselection/handover relationship
between public cell and HSR cell.
Public network users cant engross
dedicated network resource.
HSR users reside in dedicated
network always and enjoy better
QoS service.

Fast Directional Handover Algorithm

Fast cell
reselection
Quicken reselection at high
speed
guarantee call success
solution
ratio
HSR
Default Value

SintraSearchP
re
yes
QHyst2S
2dB
Qoffset2SNSib
11
0dB
QHyst1S
Total 1.8s 10dB
Qoffset1SNSib
Treselection :
11
0dB

no
2dB
0dB
4dB

1s
0dB
Identify new
cell:
0.8s
Reselection
overlap
(360km/h)
Uni-direction: 180m
Bi-direction: 360m

Fast handover
Enhance handover speed
Guarantee handover success
ratio

solution

HSR
Default
Value
Cpihc
Cpihc
MeasQuantity EcNo
EcNo
RptRange for
1A
3dB
4dB
RptRange for
1B
5dB
7dB
Hysteresis for
1CHandover parameter:
4dB
2dB
Trig Time
addforeasily and delete
1A
100ms
hardly200ms
Trig Time for
1BHandover 640ms
overlap
1280ms

(360km/h):
Normal handover: 0.8s,
80m
Signalling
handover:

Directional
handover
Directional
parameter
handover
Improve
handover
directionality
switch to target cell
solution
exactly
Neighbor cell
Defaul HSR
priority
t
Value
0
adjacent HSR cell
1 or 2
1
other HSR cell
1 or 2
common cell

Chain network
Improve neighbour cell
priority of adjacent cell to
achieve directional
handover

Contents

Challenge of HSR Coverage

Strategy of HSR Coverage
ZTE UMTS HSR Coverage Solution
Success Stories

China Hefei Nanjing HSR TEST (250km/h)

In Dec 2009, China Unicom
arranged test on the HefeiNanjing HSR

Servic
e

RSCP>95dBm

Ec/Io>12dB

Direction
Type
Hefei to
Nanjing
VC Holding 98.55%
94.65%
Hefei to
Nanjing
VP Holding 92.71%
93.98%
Nanjing to
Calling86.57%Handover
Hefei
VC Holding
93.04%

Number
Number
Nanjing to
Try/Success
Hefei CS ServiceVP Holding
97.83%Try/Success
96.43%
CS 12.2K holding
test
1/1
122/122
CS 12.2K dialing
test
7/7
70/70
CS64K holding
test
1/1
91/91
Clear
voice
and
video
CS 64K dialing
test average 7/7
77/77
HSDPA
rate:

2.45Mbps

HSUPA average
rate:1.2Mbps

China Zhengzhou Xian HSR (350km/h)

Longer
Tunnel
Tunnel
face:
smooth
transition
Inside
tunnel:
reduce
solution
handover

Tunnel face: no handover

RRU close to tunnel face
1RRU power splitting
Coverage: 1km
single hole, dual rail
Low loss leak cable
6RRU cell, coverage 6km

By multi technology,

Large-span
Bridge
Build site at every end of
bridge
Achieve bridge coverage

solution

Open
Country
Enlarge site distance
Save investment

solution

2.4km bridge
2RRU: back to back
Enhance antenna
Antenna height: 45m
height
Antenna gain: 20dBi
33narrow beam
RRU top tower
antenna
Site distance: 2km
2.9km bridge
Vertical distance: 300m
Pilot strength:
-97.5dBm
Balance coverage and
achieve
the balance among coverage, site
quality

distance and quality

Summary

Requirement
1 . Evident Doppler Frequency
Offset
2. Higher Penetration Loss
3. Affected Communication
Process

Solution

1.SDR based BBU + RRU solution

2. Patent Algorithm
3.MRRU Combination based on
Baseband
4. Special Networking Technology

Case
1. China Hefei-Nanjing
HSR
2. China Zhengzhou-Xian
HSR

Benefit

1. Fast delivery, smooth capacity

expansion
2. Higher performance
3. Cost saving
4. simple O&M