Design and Optimisation of 3G

Networks

Payam Taaghol
Managing Director of Mycom - EMEA

Mycom International Confidential 1

 End-to-End Network Deployment

Management
Programme Management
Business
Objectives
and High Site
Preliminary
Preliminary Acquisition, Detailed Site Design
Permitting Site
Permitting Design
Level Equipment
Equipment Pre-launch Performance
Pre-launch Performance
Network
Network Town and Network Procurement
Procurement &
&
Design Design
Design
I&C
I&C Optimisation
Optimisation Acceptance
Acceptance
Country Design Contracting Construction
Contracting Construction
Planning

Design site
Find Ideal Site Refine Site Locations Drive testing
Construction
Location Order transmission Network statistics
Rigging

Find willing landlord Select subcontractors Install all equipment Meeting Key Performance
Obtain planning permit Select suppliers Connect to network Indicators
Sign a rental agreement Order material Configure and test
And manage delivery

Mycom International Confidential 2

 Step-1, Business Requirements and HLD

Theory Practice
• Expected Services and Data Rates • We do not really know what services
• Demand Models • We do not know the demand
• Mobility Models • We do know exactly know 3g user
• Traffic Models distribution
• Staged Rollout Plan • We need coverage in big cities
• Why not go 384kbps and assume 60%
loading?
• How many sites? How much?
• Too expensive, so lets go for 64kbps
• How many sites? How much?
• OK this is better, but our competition
may go for 384kbps, why not 384kbps
for?
• How many sites? How much?
• central business districts?
• OK lets go!

Mycom International Confidential 3

 Step-1, Business Requirements and HLD

“Spreadsheet” Analysis

UMTS Network Planning for

y
tar a Particular or a Mixed Bearer rate
rie
op
Pr

Coverage Capacity

Uplink, Link Traffic Prediction HW Capacity

Budgets
Interference Mixed Service Erlangs/Site or
Cell Radius Margin Traffic Model Sector

Total Req. Er.

B A
B/A

Capacity
No of Required Sites/Sectors No of Required Sites/Sectors Enhancement
for Coverage for Capacity Options
C D

Coverage Limited Yes C>D No Capacity Limited

Mycom International Confidential 4

 Step-1, Business Requirements and HLD

Variable Rate Coverage

9 Dimensioning for 12.2kbps, 144 kbps or 384kbps?
9 The true demand for high data rate uplink access is not know
9 Variable rate coverage is reality
9 Multirate applications and services are envisaged in UMTS allowing rate
changes during an active session

Higher uplink rates Lower uplink rates

9 This will avoid over engineering the network and helps reduce the
infrastructure costs

Mycom International Confidential 5

 Step-2, Preliminary Network Planning

Programme Management
Business
Objectives
and High Site
Preliminary Acquisition, Detailed Permitting Site Design
Level Equipment Pre-launch Performance
Network Town and Network Procurement &
Design Design
I&C Optimisation Acceptance
Country Design Contracting Construction
Planning

Mycom International Confidential 6

 Step-2, Preliminary Network Planning

• Carried out by radio planners

commonly known as “RF
Engineers”
• Using planning tools
• Propagation predictions
based on, available, existing
and ideal new site locations

• WE NEED A SITE HERE

Mycom International Confidential 7

 Step-2, Preliminary Network Planning

• Detailed planning
Consolidation of Requirements
tool based Friendly
Sites
analysis
Market Data
• Propagation Model Shared RF
Preliminary RF Plan
CW Testing
and Model
Collection
Sites Databases
Tuning Tuning

• Digital Terrain Map Other Preliminary RF

RF Design
Specifications
Design Review
• Clutter Maps Viable
Structure (per city)
• Design guidelines iPlanner
Radio Planning
Guidelines
Preliminary RF
Stage-1: Design Acceptance
• OUTPUT-Search Preliminary Design
SARFs, Site Visits,
Rings or Search RF Design Candidate Selection,
Acceptance
Area Request Procedure
Design Tuning,
Initial Data Fill
Forms (SARFs)
X% of sites No
selected Operator/Contractor

Yes

Final RF Design Operator

Review (by cluster)

Jointly
Stage-2: Final RF
Final Design Design Acceptance
(by cluster)

Mycom International Confidential 8

 Step-2, Preliminary Network Planning

“Detailed” Analysis Re
qu
ire
sP
lan
 Define
Define system
system requirements
nin
requirements g T
Capacity,
Capacity, coverage,
coverage, services
services and
and schedule
schedule oo
ls
 Acquire
Acquire Data
Data sets
sets
Digital
Digital terrain,
terrain, streets,
streets, highways,
highways, railways,
railways, boundaries.
boundaries. Subscriber
Subscriber
distribution.
distribution. Friendly
Friendly sites.
sites.
 Detailed
Detailed coverage
coverage requirements.
requirements.
Quality,
Quality, probability
probability of
of coverage
coverage & & specific
specific coverage
coverage goals.
goals.
 Detailed
Detailed capacity
capacity requirements.
requirements.
User
User services
services and
and traffic,
traffic, GoS
GoS requirements
requirements // blocking
blocking prob.
prob.
 Design
Design analysis.
analysis.
Reverse
Reverse andand Forward
Forward links,
links, capacity,
capacity, coverage,
coverage, best
best server,
server,
polluter
polluter and
and HOHO analysis.
analysis.

9
 Step-2, Preliminary Network Planning

DTM
• Typically 20m-
100m horizontal
resolution
• 0.5m-5m resolution

Mycom International Confidential 10

 Step-2, Preliminary Network Planning

Clutter Maps
• Typically between
10-100 clutter
types
• Resolution of 5m-
100m

Mycom International Confidential 11

 Step-4, Detailed Network Plan

Programme Management
Business
Objectives
and High Site
Preliminary Acquisition, Detailed Permitting Site Design
Level Equipment Pre-launch Performance
Network Town and Network Procurement &
Design Design
I&C Optimisation Acceptance
Country Design Contracting Construction
Planning

Mycom International Confidential 12

 Step-4, Detailed Network Plan

• Site locations Consolidation of Requirements

almost fixed Friendly
Sites
• Every site has Market Data
RF CW Testing
been visited and Shared
Sites Databases Preliminary RF Plan and Model
Collection
Tuning
evaluated RF Design
• More radio Other
Viable
Preliminary RF
Design Review
Specifications

analysis Structure (per city)

Radio Planning
• Normally done iPlanner
Preliminary RF
Guidelines
per cluster of site Stage-1: Design Acceptance
Preliminary Design
(10-30 sites) SARFs, Site Visits,
RF Design Candidate Selection,
Acceptance Design Tuning,
• OUTPUT- A Procedure Initial Data Fill

design that meets

the requirements, X% of sites No

final site selected Operator/Contractor

locations and Yes

Final RF Design Operator

type (site mix) Review (by cluster)

Jointly
Stage-2: Final RF
Final Design Design Acceptance
(by cluster)

Mycom International Confidential 13

 Step-2, Preliminary Network Planning

Planning Similarity and Differences

Traffic Forecasting Traffic Forecasting

Capacity Planning System Coverage &

Capacity Planning

Coverage Planning
Design Optimization

Deployment
Deployment

Pre-launch
Optimization Pre Launch
Optimization
Into Service
Into Service
Post-Launch
Optimization Post-Launch
Optimization

2G TDMA Process Overview 3G W-CDMA Process Overview

Mycom International Confidential 14
 Step-8 and 9, Pre Launch Optimization
and Acceptance

Ec/Io vs. Signal Strength

Ec/Io Plots Signal Strength Plots

Mycom International Confidential 15

 Step-8 and 9, Pre Launch Optimization
and Acceptance

Before optimisation After optimisation

× Areas with pilot quality Ec/Io > -12dB from 67% to 86%
× 19% increase in coverage area for the same loading (60%)
Mycom International Confidential 16
 Step-8 and 9, Pre Launch Optimization
and Acceptance

CDMA Analysis
Cluster of Interest
1. Include at least 2 tiers around First Tier
the cluster of interest in all
predictions and simulations.
Second Tier
2. Ensure that the traffic maps
and mobility models have
correctly captured the client’s
needs.
3. Carry out pilot dominance
analysis to identify
problematic areas.
4. Focus on improving the pilot
quality in problematic areas
though design adjustments
(tilt, azimuth, power).
5. Carry out forward and reverse
link Eb/(No+Io) analysis to
ensure traffic channel quality.
Mycom International Confidential 17
 Step-8 and 9, Pre Launch Optimization
and Acceptance

CDMA Analysis
Clutter Traffic Service Area
Dense Urban High 100%
6. Analyse handover regions.
Medium 100%
7. Analyse and minimise pilot Low 98%
pollution. Urban High 100%
Medium 98%
8. Increase system load in steps Low 95%
to identify capacity limits. Suburban High 100%
9. Push the interference out of Medium 95%
the dense and high traffic Low 85%
Rural High 100%
areas into rural areas. Medium 95%
Low 75%
Roads High 100%
Medium 100%
Low 95%
Area percentage Ec/Io > min Ec/Io

Mycom International Confidential 18

 Step-8 and 9, Pre Launch Optimization
and Acceptance

Dominance

9 Ec/Io dominance
provides an overview of
the design quality.

9 It also provides an
indication as to where to
focus design
optimisation effort.

Mycom International Confidential 19

 Step-8 and 9, Pre Launch Optimization
and Acceptance

Pilot Quality
9 A stronger signal does
not necessarily mean
better quality.

9 Pilot Ec/Io is effectively

determines the cell
boundaries.

9 Facing sectors should be

avoided.

9 Sites above 20m should

be carefully investigated.

9 Typical target Ec/Io

values range between –
16 to –12.

Mycom International Confidential 20

 Step-8 and 9, Pre Launch Optimization
and Acceptance

Pilot of Polluters
9 A polluter transmitter is a
transmitter that meets all
criteria to enter in active-
set but is not admitted
due to the active-set limit
size.

9 If there are more cells in

the active set than the
available RAKE fingers,
slipover cells will act as
interferes and are
referred to as polluters.

9 1-2 pilot polluters are

deemed acceptable.

Mycom International Confidential 21

 Step-4, Detailed Network Plan

Soft Handover Plots

Ec/Io

Pilot Pollution
Eb/No

Mycom International Confidential 22

 Step-8 and 9, Pre Launch Optimization
and Acceptance

Programme Management
Business
Objectives
and High Site
Preliminary Acquisition, Detailed Permitting Site Design
Level Equipment Pre-launch Performance
Network Town and Network Procurement &
Design Design
I&C Optimisation Acceptance
Country Design Contracting Construction
Planning

Mycom International Confidential 23

 Step-8 and 9, Pre Launch Optimization
and Acceptance

• Bring a site live Site Integrated and

Cluster Performance
• Test live site Commissioned
+ Shakedown Cluster Testing

Evaluation
against plans
• Drive test and

Antenna and

Optimisation
Procedures
Data Processing and

Parameter
Changes

Azimuth
Analysis
make test calls x% of the
No
sites in
• Analyze test calls cluster
Ready?
• Make changes Modification
Request
Yes

(SW/HW)
• Drive test again Yes Change

• Carry out Code Plan (CP) Stage-2

No
acceptance Neighbour List (NL)
etc.
Default Parameter

Acceptance Testing
testing
Settings

Generate Datafill or Acceptance

Acceptance Report
Data Transcript Procedures

• OUTPUT- Tuned Review & Verify Cluster Acceptance

Stage-3
network that Datafill

meets the set Datafill Upload Operator/Contractor

performance Cluster in Commercial
targets for launch Site on Air (Barred) Service
Performance Monitoring
Operator

and Performance
Management Operator/Contractor

Commercial Procedures/Guidelines
Stage-1 Service

Mycom International Confidential 24

Step-8 and 9, Pre Launch Optimization
and Acceptance

What do we optimize?

Mycom International Confidential 25

 Step-8 and 9, Pre Launch Optimization
and Acceptance
Some Optimization parameters

9 Coverage probability (based on Ec/Io [correlated signal

strength of pilot channel])
9 Call blocking probability
9 Call drop rate
9 Call completion success rate
9 Variable data rate performance
9 Throughput at the edge of the cell (PS and CS bearers)
9 End-to-end packet delay transfers
9 Cell search time
9 Inter-cell handover success rate
9 Intersystem (UMTS–GSM and UMTS–GPRS [general packet
radio service]) handover/cell reselection success rate

Mycom International Confidential 26

 Step-8 and 9, Pre Launch Optimization
and Acceptance

Not all parameters have the same

importance with different
operators.

Mycom International Confidential 27

 Step-8 and 9, Pre Launch Optimization
and Acceptance
Artificial Loading Conditions

9 In the absence of a large subscriber base, how would we optimize

UMTS?
¾ The truth is that most optimisation issues will not be evident in early
UMTS life until the subscriber base grows.
¾ This does not mean we have to wait until we hit a problem.
¾ Artificial loading in the form of noise can be generated at the receiver
(both Node-B and UE) to emulate increased interference.

Mycom International Confidential 28

 Step-8 and 9, Pre Launch Optimization
and Acceptance
Ongoing Optimization Issues

9 Better designs require less optimisation.

9 With all the uncertainties in respect to the mix of services and
loading UMTS would require a long an on-going optimisation
period.
9 CDMA optimisation is more exhaustive as it happens as cell,
cluster and inter-cluster level.
9 With significantly smaller cell radii than GSM, controlling the
interference becomes an important issue.
9 Advanced interference management algorithm using the outer
loop power control provisions of UMTS would be in great
demand.
9 Cell breathing has to be controlled in order to avoid an increased
handover failure rate or an increased other-cell interference.
9 Optimisation tools are in β release- correct operation to be
confirmed.
Mycom International Confidential 29
9 QoS is an end-to-end measure. Tools that can analyse access,
“Dead
“Dead Zone”
Zone” size
size depend
depend on:
on:
-- Geometry
Geometry of
of the
the cells.
cells.
-- Minimum
Minimum Coupling
Coupling Loss
Loss (MCL
(MCL dependant
dependant on
on antenna
antenna radiation
radiation pattern)
pattern)
-- Adjacent
Adjacent Channel
Channel Selectivity
Selectivity (UE
(UE ACS
ACS >=
>= 33dB)
33dB)
-- Adjacent
Adjacent Channel
Channel Leakage
Leakage power
power Ratio
Ratio (UE(UE ACLR
ACLR >=
>= 33@5
33@5 & & 43@10
43@10 MHz)
MHz)
(BS
(BS ACLR
ACLR >=
>= 45@5
45@5 &
& 50@10
50@10 MHz)
MHz)

Operator “A”
Operator “A” Operator “B”
Subscriber

Operator “A” “Dead Zone”

Coverage ~ 100m for 1Km cell
Mycom International Confidential 30
 Step-8 and 9, Pre Launch Optimization
and Acceptance

9 TEMS Investigation-WCDMA tool

with Qualcomm UE
¾ real-time air-interface test tool
¾ Ability to tune and optimize WCDMA
networks
¾ UE-based measurements for
verification of true terminal behavior
¾ Verification of cell coverage, capacity,
accessibility, etc.
¾ Troubleshooting capabilities
¾ System verification of trial systems
9 TEMS Scanner-system verification
and troubleshooting
¾ CPICH scanner-Scanning received
power of Scrambling code
¾ SCH scanner-scanning received power
of SCH

Mycom International Confidential 31

 Step-8 and 9, Pre Launch Optimization
and Acceptance

Drive Test Set up

9 Equipment
9 Anritsu Scanner
9 2 x Samsung Z105 mobile
phones with Qualcom Chipset
9 CF29 Tough book PC.

Mycom International Confidential 32

Mycom International Confidential 33
Step-8 and 9, Pre Launch Optimization
and Acceptance

Mycom International Confidential 34

 Step-8 and 9, Pre Launch Optimization
and Acceptance
Capacity Growth

9Increased Sectorisation
¾Antenna patterns are not perfect and will
result in increased interference

9Reduced cell radius

¾Increased number of sites / equipment
hence increased infrastructure cost

9Use of enhanced technologies

¾Transmit diversity: Fairly easy, planned for phase-1
¾Intelligent antenna: Technology not mature enough
¾Multiuser Detectors: Technology not mature enough

Mycom International Confidential 35

 Performance Management

Breaking through the silos

E2E Optimization Site Transmission

Example
Tasks
(user experience) Expansion Rationalization Rationalization

Corrective Decision Recommendation Report

Analysis and Recommendation

OPEX Trade off

CAPEX Trade off Trade off Analysis- Advanced

Performance Management Tools
Features and Upgrades

Performance Requirement

Customer Feedback End user Views

Core Network
Transport
Network Performance
Network Statistics & Call Trace Monitoring & Analysis

Drive Testing & Benchmarking

Mycom International Confidential 36

Thank You

Mycom International Confidential 37