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Performance evaluation of inter-band carrier aggregation for low-band and

mid-band in 5G network

Conference Paper in AIP Conference Proceedings · February 2023

DOI: 10.1063/5.0110462

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Performance evaluation of inter-band carrier
aggregation for low-band and mid-band in
5G network
Cite as: AIP Conference Proceedings 2482, 150004 (2023); [Link]
Published Online: 21 February 2023

Dhuja Handika Yondri Pratama, Alfin Hikmaturokhman, Muntaqo Alfin Amanaf, et al.

AIP Conference Proceedings 2482, 150004 (2023); [Link] 2482, 150004

© 2023 Author(s).
 Performance Evaluation of Inter-band Carrier Aggregation
for Low-Band and Mid-Band in 5G Network
Dhuja Handika Yondri Pratama 1, a) , Alfin Hikmaturokhman 1, b) , Muntaqo Alfin
Amanaf 1, c) , Deka Nanda Fadhilah 1, d), and Amir Musa Baharsyah 1, e)

Author Affiliations
1
Department of Telecommunication Engineering, Faculty of Telecommunication and Electronics Engineering,
Institut Teknologi Telkom Purwokerto, Banyumas, Central Java, Indonesia

Author Emails
a)
18101080@[Link]
b)
Corresponding author: alfin@[Link]
c)
muntaqo@[Link]
d)
18201037@[Link]
e)
19101057@[Link]

Abstract. The use of machinery to assist human activities and replace human tasks has become more advanced in the
modern world. Therefore, broad and fast connectivity is needed to support it. 5G provides solutions for industries with
diverse requirements, such as extensive coverage requirements and high network capacities. Inter-band Carrier Aggregation
(CA) can accomplish this in the low-band and mid-band. The low-band provides broad coverage, and the mid-band offers
large bandwidth. In this study, Inter-band Carrier Aggregation (CA) increases the data rate while maintaining broad
coverage. The frequencies used are 700MHz with a 40MHz bandwidth and 3500MHz with a 100MHz bandwidth. This
simulation uses The Mentum Planet Software version 7.3. This research observes The Karawang Industrial Area and uses
an Outdoor-to-Outdoor (O2O) scenario with Line of Sight (LOS). The parameters observed were SS-RSRP, SS-SINR, and
Data Rate. As a result, the SS-RSRP increased by 8.76%, the SS-SINR increased by 0.83%, and the peak data rate increased
from 757.55 Mbps to 1192.26 Mbps.

INTRODUCTION
Wireless communication systems are rapidly evolving due to developments in coding, modulation, multiplexing,
and technology. Fourth Generation (4G) mobile technology is now widely utilized around the world, providing faster
data transfer speeds and higher data capacities than earlier generations of mobile networks [1]. LTE Advanced is now
the focus of LTE standards, and conversations to define 5G directions are already underway. Growth in the number
of wireless devices, service types, and the availability of several coexisting radio access technologies will characterize
the transition to 5G mobile communication networks. In addition, there are investigations about new offload strategies
based on Device-to-Device communication and LTE on unlicensed bands [2].
The fifth-generation mobile communications technology, known as 5G, is expected to launch in 2020. The ITU-R
outlines IMT usage scenarios for 2020 and beyond, included enhanced mobile broadband, ultra-reliable and low
latency communications, enormous machine-type communications. With low latency of less than 1 ms through the
radio access network (RAN), low cost, and low power consumption, the peak data throughput is predicted to be 10
Gbps, with support for up to 20 Gbps under certain scenarios. With the inaugural research item as part of release 14
work items, the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has commenced standardization of 5G. The 5G wireless
access frequency bands will span from less than 6 GHz to more than 100 GHz. In the 5G era of ultra-high system
capacity, efficient usage of higher frequency bands, including the millimeter wave (mmW) spectrum, is a significant
technical problem. To reach the needed data rate, this band allows for exceptionally wide bandwidths [3].

The 3rd International Conference on Engineering, Technology and Innovative Researches

AIP Conf. Proc. 2482, 150004-1–150004-11; [Link]
Published by AIP Publishing. 978-0-7354-4298-6/$30.00

150004-1
 CA is a technology that combines two or more carriers into one data channel to enhance the network data capacity.
Use existing spectrum, and CA helps mobile network operators (MNOs) increase uplink and downlink data rates. CA
has been crucial in increasing user throughput in 4G, and it will be just as important for 5G. For 4G, CA allows MNOs
to increase bandwidth and utilize fragmented frequency resources to provide higher data rates for the user device. It
improves peak data rates up to 2 Gbps and optimizes user throughput at a low load. CA in 5G new radio (NR) will
provide multi-connectivity with asymmetric upload and download, providing even more bandwidth to a single user;
up to 700 MHz is available in millimeter-wave frequencies. In the sub-7 GHz band, up to 400 MHz of instantaneous
bandwidth can be achieved using four 100 MHz channels [4].
The problem that operators often face is the traffic congestion they must handle due to the increasing demand.
Carrier Aggregation is the right solution because it can transmit higher throughput on the transmission line.
This study plans a 5G NR network in the Karawang Industrial Estate at frequencies of 700 MHz and 3500 MHz
using Mentum Planet software and the Carrier Aggregation (CA) method, with a focus on the Downlink Outdoor-to-
Outdoor with Line of Sight (DL O2O LOS) scenario. This study aims to know the performance of 5G NR network
planning using the carrier aggregation technique. Furthermore, this research will compare the network planning results
using carrier aggregation and non-carrier aggregation with the same radio link budget. The paper consists of the
following sections. In section II, we describe the overview of 5G NR. Section III discusses what kind of configuration
that we apply in 5G Network Planning, followed by the method and calculations. Section IV tells us the result of the
simulation and the analysis. Finally, in Section V, we describe the conclusion of the research.

5G OVERVIEW

5G New Radio (NR)

The Third-Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has been working on the fifth generation of wireless access
technology, known as 5G New Radio (5G NR), for the past few years to address several situations that would be
allowed by future upgraded mobile technologies [5].
IMT-2020 refers to 5G mobile communication standards. The goal of 5G is to improve on previous generation
systems. The primary goal of 5G is to integrate various applications and mobile communication systems into a single
network that can perform multiple functions more efficiently [6].
To specify the parameters of 5G mobile communication systems, taking into account the proposed three-part
segmentation of such systems :
x eMBB – enhanced mobile broadband, used for resource-intensive applications and wideband internet
access;
x mMTC – massive machine-type communications, used in the operation of large-scale IoT applications;
x URLLC – ultra-reliable and low latency communications usually for autonomous vehicles and remote
surgery [6].

Stand Alone (SA) and Non-Stand Alone (NSA)

After 4G/LTE, 5G is the next generation of 3GPP technology defined for wireless mobile data communication.
5G will usher in a significant network architectural shift from radio access to the core [7].
The two solutions defined by 3GPP for 5G networks in Release 15 are :
x 5G Non-Standalone (NSA): To add the 5G carrier, the existing LTE radio access and core network (EPC)
is used as an anchor for mobility management and coverage. This solution enables operators to provide
5G services in less time and at a lower cost.
x 5G Standalone (SA): A completely new 5G Packet Core introduced with several new capabilities built-
in. The SA architecture comprises 5G New Radio (5G NR) and 5G Core Network (5GC). Network slicing,
CUPS, virtualization, multi-gigabit support, ultra-low latency, and similar features [7].

150004-2
 Carrier Aggregation
Carrier aggregation (CA) is essential in modern wireless communication systems because it allows for larger
transmission bandwidths (BW) by utilizing multiple concurrent channels across a fragmented spectrum. IEEE
802.11ac, for example, allows the aggregation of several WLAN channels of up to 160 MHz each within the 5 GHz
frequency band. In LTE-Advanced, the aggregation is up to five channels of 20 MHz each, for a total channel BW of
100 MHz in 4G cellular systems [8].
In Release 10, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) introduced Carrier Aggregation (CA), also known as
carrier extension, into the LTE-A to increase uplink and downlink transmission bandwidth. CA will connect several
single carriers to a single User Equipment (UE) for simultaneous data transmission. Because of the linear relationship
between peak data and transmission bandwidth, the peak data rate increases proportionally. Currently, CA is discussed
widely at the 3GPP meeting in the Radio Access Network (RAN) 1 and RAN4 workshops. Below is the list of the
first carrier bands discovered in:
x 450−470 MHz band,
x 698−862 MHz band,
x 790−862 MHz band,
x 2.3−2.4 GHz band,
x 3.4−4.2 GHz band,
x 4.4-4.99 GHz band [9].

The CA technique introduced in the Long Term Evolution-Advance (LTE-A) standard allows multiple LTE
component carriers with different bandwidths in different spectrum bands to be flexibly aggregated to support wider
transmission bandwidth across the available spectrum [10]. CA has three different modes: Intra-band Contiguous CA,
Intra-band Non-contiguous CA, and Inter-band Non-contiguous CA. Intra-band Contiguous CA and Intra-band Non-
contiguous CA modes combine Component Carrier (CC) in the same frequency band, combining contiguous and non-
contiguous CC. Inter-band Non-contiguous CA is supported with CCs placed in different frequency bands [11].

FIGURE 1. Classification of Carrier aggregation [12].

150004-3
 5G NR CA NETWORK PLANNING

Planning Area

FIGURE 2. Planning Area Shown in Mentum Planet [13].

The planning area for this research takes place in the Karawang Industrial Estate. This industrial area has an area
of approximately 137.56 km2 in total. However, we plotted the planning area at around 94.39 km2 because this
industrial area is not centralized, which is a sample that we value the most [14]. In this area, the 5G network is used
for communication between humans and machine-to-machine communication. Besides that, it can also be applied to
V2x-based transportation modes.

Coverage Planning
Coverage planning is a network planning system based on how a network can cover users, producing data in the
form of how many sites are needed to serve a specified area. Coverage planning considers the Radio Link Budget and
the Propagation Model used. Radio Link Budget Calculations are used to estimate the maximum signal attenuation or
path loss between User Terminal (UT) antennas and gNodeB antennas [15].

Radio Link Budget

The radio link budget is a breakdown of transmitter power levels, system losses, and gains. In addition, it can
calculate the downlink and uplink weakening between the mobile and station antenna. This calculation is called
Maximum Allowable Pathloss Value (MAPL). The MAPL value is inserted into the propagation model to find the
cell radius. In this case, the link budget focused on downlinking Outdoor to Outdoor (O2O) with Line of Sight (LOS).
This study uses two linked budget calculations models, RMa for the low band (700 MHz) and UMa for the mid-band
(3500 MHz). Please note that the minimum used SINR is 16QAM. As a result, if the modulation scheme used differs,
the calculation results may differ as well. The main parameters in this simulation are summarized in table 1, while
table 2 below show the link budget parameters.
TABLE 1. Main System Parameters
Key Parameter 700 MHz 3500 MHz
Technology template NR NR
Carrier frequency 700 MHz 3500 MHz
Start frequency 758 MHz 2400 MHz
End frequency 803 MHz 3800 MHz
Bandwidth 40 MHz 100 MHz
Duplex FDD TDD
Antena file Kathrein Kathrein

150004-4
 TABLE 2. Link Budget 5G New Radio [16] [17] [18] [19]
Comment Parameter 700 MHz 3500 MHz
gNodeB Transmiter Power
46 49
(dBm)
Resource block 106 273
Subcarrier quantity 1272 3276
gNodeB antenna gain (dBi) 8 17.5
gNodeB cable loss (dBi) 0 0
Penetration loss (dB) 14.5 24.36
Foliage loss (dB) 8.5 8.5
Body block loss (dB) 3 3
interference margin (dB) 6 6
Rain/ice margin (dB) 0 0
Slow fading margin (dB) 5 7
UT antenna gain (dB) 0 0
-20
Boltzmann Constant (mWs/K) 1.38 x 10 1.38 x 10-20
Temperature (Kelvin) 293ι 293ι
-153.9325329
Thermal noise power (dBm) -157.911933

UT noise figure (dB) 7 9

Demodulation threshold SINR
22.3 22.9
(dB)
Bandwidth (MHz) 40 100
2
Planning area 94.39 km 94.39 km2

Propagation Models
Based on 3GPP 38.901 standardization in network planning. This study used two different frequencies; a low band
for 700 MHz and a mid-band for 3500 MHz. Therefore, this study uses two propagation models: Rural Macro (RMa)
and Urban Macro (UMa). The RMa formula for the LOS scenario is [20]:

PL1 = 20 log10(40ߨd3D fc /3) + min (0.03h1.72,10)

log10(d3D) – min(0.044h1.72,14.77)
+ 0.002log10 (h)d3D (1)

PL2 = PL1 (dBP) + 40 log10 (d3D/dBP) (2)

Pathloss reduces the power density (attenuation) of an electromagnetic wave as it propagates through space. In the
RMa propagation model, there are two path loss values, PL1 and PL2. According to the desired design, both of these
path loss values can be selected [21]. Meanwhile, the RMa formula for the LOS scenario is:

 ܲ‫ = ܮ‬28.0+ 40 log(݀3‫ )ܦ‬+20 log(݂ܿ)

− 9 log((݀′‫ )ܲܤ‬2 + (ℎ′‫ ܵܤ‬− ℎ′ܷܶ)2 (3)
d3D is the distance between ℎ‫ ܵܤ‬and ℎܷܶ, fc is the carrier frequency, and ݀′‫ ܲܤ‬are the breakpoint distance. The
breakpoint distance (݀′‫ܲܤ‬ሻ formula can be determined by:
݀′‫ = ܲܤ‬4 × ℎ′‫ × ܵܤ‬ℎ′ܷܶ × ݂ܿ/ ܿ   (4)

150004-5
 The h’BS value is antenna height on the gNB side, whereas h’UT is on the UT (User Terminal) side. From the
calculated propagation model before, we found the d3D. Then the cell radius value (d2D) can be obtained by using:
݈݈݁ ܴܽ݀݅‫݀( ݏݑ‬2‫݀(√ = )ܦ‬3‫)ܦ‬2 − (ℎ‫ ܵܤ‬−ℎܷܶ)2 (5)
After the Cell Radius is found, the next step is to calculate the Site Coverage Area value. It is an area that can be
covered by one site. The formula used is as follows:
ܵ݅‫ = ܽ݁ݎܽ ݁݃ܽݎ݁ݒ݋ܥ ݁ݐ‬2.6 × ݀2‫ܦ‬2 (6)
From the Site Coverage Area value obtained, the number of sites in the planned area can be calculated by:
୘୭୲ୟ୪୐ୟ୰୥ୣ୭୤୅୰ୣୟ
ܰ‫= ݏ݁ݐ݅ܵ ݂݋ ݎܾ݁݉ݑ‬ (7)
ୗ୧୸ୣେ୭୴ୣ୰ୟ୥ୣ୅୰ୣୟ

The next parameter examined in this study is the Data Rate. The data rate itself measures the speed of data that can
be transmitted over a network. Based on 3GPP TS 38.306, the formula for the 5G data rate is as below [16]:
ಳೈሺೕሻǡഋ
ሺ௝ሻ ሺ௝ሻ ேುೃಳ Ǥଵଶ
Data Rate (in Mbps) = ͳͲି଺ Ǥ σ௃௝ୀଵሺ‫ݒ‬௟௔௬௘௥௦ Ǥ ܳ௠ Ǥ ݂ ሺ௝ሻ Ǥ ܴ௠௔௫ Ǥ ഋ Ǥ ሺͳ െ ܱ‫ ܪ‬ሺ௝ሻ )) (8)
்ೞ

ሺ௝ሻ ሺ௝ሻ
Which J represents the Component Carrier, ‫ݒ‬௟௔௬௘௥௦ represents the number of layers, ܳ௠ represents the Modulation
Order, ݂ ሺ௝ሻ represents the Scaling Factor, ܰ௉ோ஻ represents the number of RB, andܱ‫ ܪ‬ሺ௝ሻ represents the Overhead.

PLANNING RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

Link Budget Calculation Results

This 5G network planning uses two frequency bands from FR1, namely n28 (700MHz) and n78 (3500MHz). Note
that these two frequencies use different propagation models, where 700MHz uses Rural-Macrocell (RMa), and
3500MHz uses the Urban Macro (UMa) propagation model. However, both frequencies use the same scenario:
Downlink Outdoor-to-Outdoor Line of Sight (DL O2O LOS). Table 3 below show the results of link budget
calculations from the two frequencies.
TABLE 3. Link Budget Calculation Results
Parameters 700MHz 3500MHz
Pathloss (dB) 113.96 104.5
d3d (m) 1663.82 754.74
Cell Radius / d2d (m) 1663.48 754.37
Coverage Area (km2) 7.19 1.47
Total Area Measured (km2) 94.39 94.39
Number of sites Required 14 64

This planning would concentrate on coverage, with the CA method being used to increase the data rate further.
The 700MHz frequency is used as the main cell because it has a larger coverage area than the 3500MHz frequency.
In this case, the secondary cell is 3500MHz. As a result, 14 sites were used in this simulation for CA Scenario
Simulation, with two frequencies of 700 MHz and 3500 MHz. It refers to the number of required sites in Table 3 at
the frequency of 700 MHz.

SS-RSRP Results
Synchronization Signal - Reference Signal Received Power (SS-RSRP) is defined as the average power (Watt)
measured at the User Equipment (UE) over a period of time from the secondary synchronization signal (SS) added to
the cell transmitter [22]. SS-RSRP is the equivalent of the RSRP parameter used in LTE systems. Table 4 below shows
the reference range of SS-RSRP.

150004-6
 TABLE 4. SS-RSRP Reference Range [21]
SS-RSRP value (dBm) Category
SS-RSRP ≤ -130 Very Bad
-130 ≤ SS-RSRP ≤ -110 Bad
-110 ≤ SS-RSRP ≤ -90 Normal
-90 ≤ SS-RSRP ≤ -70 Good
SS-RSRP ≥ -70 Very Good

Using Mentum Planet Version 7.3 Planning Software, the results obtained for SS-RSRP are in three ways:
700MHz non-CA, 3500MHz non-CA, and 700MHz plus 3500MHz after CA is applied. Figure 3 below shows the
results.

(a) (b) (c)

FIGURE 3. (a) Graph of SS-RSRP 700MHz non-CA, (b) Graph of SS-RSRP 3500MHz non-CA, (c) Graph of SS-RSRP
700MHz and 3500MHz CA
TABLE 5. SS-RSRP NON-CA and CA Statistics
SS-RSRP value (dBm)
Statistical
Parameters 700MHz non- 3500MHz 700MHz &
CA non-CA 3500MHz CA
Minimum -116.98 -93.28 -116.96
Maximum -44.37 -38.12 -37.97
Average -96.5 -74.39 -88.04

The simulation results are analyzed using the 700MHz frequency as the primary cell and the 3500MHz frequency
as a comparison. Based on the information gathered thus far, the initial SS-RSRP minimum value before CA is -
116.98 dBm at a frequency of 700MHz. The value obtained for 3500MHz is -93.28 dBm. At a frequency of 3500MHz,
the SS-RSRP value is higher, as can be shown. However, the SS-RSRP value obtained after the CA was similar to the
SS-RSRP 700MHz initial value, around -116.96 dBm.
However, the improvements are slightly different at the highest value. The obtained value is -37.97 dBm at the
maximum SS-RSRP value after CA. This value is in the center of the two frequencies’ results, namely -44.37 dBm
for 700MHz and -38.12 dBm for 3500MHz. The same thing happened with the SS-RSRP average value, which was -
88.04 dBm after CA, while it was -96.5 dBm at 700MHz and -74.39 dBm at 3500MHz. As a result, CA raised SS-
RSRP by at least 14.42% at the maximum and 8.76% on average.

SS-SINR Results
Synchronization-Signal Signal-to-Noise and Interference Ratio (SS-SINR) is equal to the linear average of the
power contribution (in Watt) of the secondary synchronization signal-carrying resource elements divided by the linear
average of noise and interference power contribution (in Watt). In 4G LTE, these parameters are known as Signal-to-
Noise and Interference Ratio Power (SINR). This parameter is the same because it indicates the signal power divided
with noise and interference received by the user [23].

150004-7
 TABLE 6. SS-SINR Reference Range [22].
SS-SINR value (dBm) Category
SS-SINR ≤ -10 Very Bad
-10 ≤ SS-SINR ≤ 0 Bad
0 ≤ SS-SINR≤ 15 Normal
15 ≤ SS-SINR ≤ 30 Good
SS-SINR ≥ 30 Very Good

Figure 4 below shows the results of SS-SINR based on the simulation.

(a) (b) (c)

FIGURE 4. (a) Graph of SS-SINR 700MHz non-CA, (b) Graph of SS-SINR 3500MHz non-CA, (c) Graph of SS-SINR 700MHz
and 3500MHz CA
TABLE 7. SS-SINR Non-CA and CA Statistics
SS-SINR value (dB)
Statistical
Parameters 700MHz non- 3500MHz 700MHz &
CA non-CA 3500MHz CA
Minimum -4.77 -5.01 -4.71
Maximum 23.41 21.34 21.48
Average 8.37 6.71 8.44

A curious thing happened during the SS-SINR measurement. The minimum value after CA is similar to the initial
value of 700MHz. The maximum value is similar to the initial 3500MHz, while the average value is close to 700MHz.
Therefore, we may assume that the SS-SINR values obtained after CA have a wider range of results under these
conditions. At the minimum SS-SINR value, it shows an increase of 1.25%, while at the maximum, it shows a decrease
of 8.24%, and at the average, it shows an increase of 0.83%.

Data Rate Results

One of the main characteristics that distinguish 5G from its predecessor network is data rate. Bandwidth has a
significant impact on data rate. Because of bandwidth constraints, a network operating at 700MHz would theoretically
have a lower data rate than one operating at 3500MHz. As a result, CA was used at this 700MHz frequency to achieve
a higher data rate while still increasing the coverage area. Table 8 below shows the data rate calculation results.
The simulation results at the maximum value are significant above the theoretical value, which can be said to be
good, based on the data rate measurement in Table 8 and the simulation results in Table 9. However, the values
obtained from both 700MHz and 3500MHz at the average data rate are lower than their theoretical values.
Furthermore, when it enters the CA value, the result falls short of the theoretical value of 2780 Mbps, which received
only 1192 Mbps.
According to the simulation performance, the network has greatly improved at this data rate. There is a rise of
68.39% at the lowest, 57.38% at the highest, and 67.26% on average. In this case, it appears that the 3500MHz
bandwidth is critical in aggregating the 700MHz bandwidth to provide a higher data rate.

150004-8
 TABLE 8. Data Rate Calculation Based On Theory
Parameters Symbol 700 3500 CA 700
MHz MHz & 3500
MHz
Bandwidth - 40 MHz 100 MHz 140 MHz
Subcarrier - 30 kHz 30 kHz 30 kHz
Spacing
Component J 1 1 2
Carrier
Modulation ܳ௠
ሺ௝ሻ 4 4 4
Order
Number of ሺ௝ሻ
‫ݒ‬௟௔௬௘௥௦ 4 4 4
Layer
Scaling Factor ݂ ሺ௝ሻ 1 1 1
Numerology ߤ 1 1 1
Number of RB ܰ௉ோ஻ 106 273 379
Overhead ܱ‫ܪ‬ ሺ௝ሻ 0.14 0.14 0.14
Data rate (in NRThr 454 1002 2780
Mbps)

Table 9 below shows the planning results.

TABLE 9. Data Rate Non-CA And CA Statistics Based On Software Planning
Data Rate (Mbps)
Statistical
Parameters 700MHz non- 3500MHz 700MHz &
CA non-CA 3500MHz CA
Minimum 19.84 30.94 33.41
Maximum 757.55 1186.98 1192.26
Average 282.23 379.29 472.07

Before and After CA Comparison

Table 10 below summarized the main parameters observed for this simulation. The figures are derived from the
previous results.
TABLE 10. BEFORE AND AFTER CA SUMMARY
Before CA After CA
Observed
700MHz &
Parameters 700MHz 3500MHz
3500MHz
SS-RSRP
Value ≥ 70 0.75 21.92 4.91
dBm (%)
Max SS-RSRP
-44.37 -38.12 -37.97
Value (dBm)
SS-SINR
Value ≥ 15 dB 16.04 7.5 16.55
(%)
Max SS-SINR
23.41 21.34 21.48
Value (dB)
Average Data
282.23 379.29 472.07
Rate (Mbps)
Peak Data Rate
757.55 1186.98 1192.26
(Mbps)
Sites Needed 14 64 14

150004-9
 (a) (b) (c)
FIGURE 5. (a) 700MHz Coverage Map Illustration, (b) 3500MHz Coverage Map Illustration, (c) 700MHz and 3500MHz CA
Coverage Map Illustration

In general, CA has a great deal of influence over network conditions. The influence of the 3500MHz aggregation
increases almost all of the network parameters at 700MHz. The percentage value of SS-RSRP in the “very good”
category increased from 0.75% to 4.91%. The maximum value of SS-RSRP increased from -44.37 dBm to -37.97
dBm. While for SS-SINR, the percentage value in the “good” category increased from 16.04% to 16.55%.
However, at the maximum SS-SINR value, there was a decrease from the initial 23.41 dBm to 21.48 dBm. Then
for the average data rate, there was an increase from 282.23 Mbps to 472.07 Mbps. Furthermore, at its peak value,
there was also an increase from 757.55 Mbps to 1192.26 Mbps. Since 700MHz is used as the primary cell and
3500MHz is used as the secondary cell, the required gNodeB value follows the number of gNodeB at 700MHz, which
is 14 sites. Therefore, looking at the above parameter values, with SS-RSRP, SS-SINR values, and such data rates,
with an area of 94.39 km2 and served by only 14 gNodeB sites, the 700MHz and 3500MHz Carrier Aggregation
schemes produce impressive results.

CONCLUSION
CA 700MHz and 3500MHz results are generally quite good. The sites required in an area of approximately 94.39
km2 could be as many as 14 sites, the same number of sites required at 700MHz, with a slight increase in SS-RSRP
and SS-SINR and a significant increase in Data Rate. As a result, CA is a good way to get more data rates from the
3500MHz while maintaining excellent coverage from the 700MHz. Although 700MHz is sufficient for the Karawang
Industrial Estate, we can enchant more of its limit by using Carrier Aggregation, particularly with 3500MHz in this
case.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author would like to express his gratitude to the Institut Teknologi Telkom Purwokerto and Hexacomm
Research and Development for their continuous encouragement in producing this paper and not forget to mention that
PT. Cahaya Arif Abadi (CAA) provided the Mentum Planet 7.3 software, which the author gratefully acknowledges.
This paper would be impossible to complete without the software provided.

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