Ericsson 5G Optimization Best Practices

– Global, US, India & MTN South Africa

Ericsson 5G Optimization – Global Best Practices (Q1–Q30)

Q1. What is the optimal RSRP range for Ericsson 5G in dense urban areas?
A:

 Target RSRP: ≥ -90 dBm (urban), -100 dBm (suburban), -105 dBm (rural)

 Used by: Vodafone, AT&T, Jio

 Tool: Ericsson Cell Shaper rApp, Tilt optimization using ENM

Q2. What SINR thresholds are recommended for high throughput?

A:

 SINR ≥ 10 dB preferred, >15 dB ideal for mmWave

 SoftBank, Optus aim for ≥ 18 dB

 Beam refinement via SRS-based feedback

Q3. What is the standard SSB beam configuration for Ericsson 5G?
A:

 Beam width: 30° (macro), 60° (small cells)

 SSB beams: 4–8 (NSA), 8–12 (SA)

 AT&T uses dynamic beam refinement for interference mitigation

Q4. What are the ideal TDD configurations in n78/n41 band?

A:

 DL:UL = 4:1 (heavy downlink), 7:2 (moderate uplink)

 Verizon uses DL-heavy config during peak hours

  MTN SA automates based on traffic analytics

Q5. What CQI levels are ideal for scheduling and modulation?
A:

 CQI: 10–15 preferred

 <7 triggers fallback (e.g. 64QAM → QPSK)

 Jio uses CQI-based prioritization in traffic congestion

Q6. How is Massive MIMO configured?

A:

 64T64R panels (e.g., AIR 6419), gain ~27 dBi

 MU-MIMO with >4 layers

 Used by SoftBank, T-Mobile, Jio for dense capacity

Q7. What BLER thresholds are ideal?

A:

 DL BLER < 10%, UL BLER < 5%

 HARQ feedback every 8–15 ms

 Vodafone resets outer loop power control based on BLER

Q8. What are ideal HO success rate KPIs?

A:

 Intra-gNB HO SR ≥ 99%

 Inter-gNB HO SR ≥ 97%

 T-Mobile and MTN use ENM + MDT for failure detection

Q9. How is PCI planning done?

A:
  Reuse distance: 3-tier cells

 Tools: SON PCI conflict detection (Ericsson ENM)

 Jio uses AI clustering for PCI assignment

Q10. What energy-saving features are used?

A:

 Dynamic Carrier Shutdown (DCS), Sleep mode

 18–22% RAN energy savings (AT&T, Vodafone)

 AIR 6419 with AI-based shutdown

Q11. How are Downlink/Uplink PRB thresholds managed?

A:

 DL Utilization target: <85%

 UL Utilization target: <70%

 Reliance Jio schedules lower MCS for UL under high load

Q12. What is the best practice for inter-frequency handovers?

A:

 A3 offset: 3–5 dB

 TTT: 160–320 ms

 SoftBank geofences hotspot areas with lower HO delay

Q13. How is VoNR optimized in standalone (SA) mode?

A:

 MOS ≥ 3.8

 RTP Loss < 0.5%

 Ericsson voice rApp + QCI-1 scheduling (AT&T, Vodafone)

Q14. How are Mobility Robustness Optimizations (MRO) done?
A:

 HO failure rate: <1%

 Ericsson SON MRO function active

 Used by MTN SA to reduce ping-pong handovers

Q15. What are the optimal values for SRS periodicity and power?
A:

 Periodicity: 20–40 ms

 Power boost: +3 to +6 dB

 Vodafone & T-Mobile boost SRS in mobility scenarios

Q16. How is NR scheduling optimized for GBR/non-GBR flows?

A:

 QCI 5–9 mapping

 GBR (QCI 5): VoNR, video conferencing

 Jio prioritizes GBR via Ericsson NR Scheduler

Q17. What is the role of DSS (Dynamic Spectrum Sharing)?

A:

 Enables LTE-NR coexistence (e.g., n1, n3)

 AT&T uses DSS on 850 MHz with Ericsson Spectrum Sharing 2.0

 Reduces capex by 30% in rural zones

Q18. What are ideal antenna tilt values?

A:

 Electrical tilt: 4–10°

 Azimuth offset: ≤ 5° tolerance

  Vodafone UK adjusts via RET on daily basis using Cell Shaper

Q19. How is latency managed across RAN in URLLC cases?

A:

 Target: <5 ms RAN latency

 n258/n261 (mmWave) used with slicing

 SoftBank enables Ultra-Reliable mode for drones and robots

Q20. What is Ericsson’s approach to Cell Range Expansion (CRE)?

A:

 Offset: 3–6 dB (for small cells)

 Used in HetNet with Macro + Pico

 Jio and Optus use ENM rApp for dynamic CRE

Q21. How is inter-PLMN handover handled?

A:

 PLMN whitelist and ROAM control via HPLMN timer

 AT&T → FirstNet handover enabled via NR RedCap

 MTN allows PLMN failover for 5G NSA to SA transition

Q22. What load balancing strategies are used?

A:

 Inter-frequency, inter-gNB LB

 Ericsson SON load balancing uses PRB, CQI, SINR inputs

 Jio does HO offset tuning for cell offloading

Q23. What backhaul latency and jitter thresholds are standard?

A:
  Latency: <10 ms (fronthaul), <20 ms (core to edge)

 Jitter: <5 ms

 Verizon uses optical + microwave hybrid with Ericsson MINI-LINK

Q24. How do operators use analytics in 5G optimization?

A:

 Tools: Ericsson ENM, AI-based rApps, MDT data

 MTN South Africa runs hourly HO, throughput audits

 Reliance Jio uses anomaly detection for CQI and PRB trends

Q25. What is the role of LTE anchor layer in NSA 5G?

A:

 LTE used for control plane (C-plane), 5G NR for user plane (U-plane)

 T-Mobile and AT&T use B1/B3 LTE as anchor with n41/n77 NR

 LTE coverage ensures fallback under poor NR conditions

Q26. How are mmWave deployments optimized in urban zones?

A:

 Antenna height: ≤ 6 m

 Beamforming width: 20–30°

 SoftBank Japan deploys street-level mmWave cells at intersections

Q27. How do operators manage site-level KPI dashboards?

A:

 Ericsson ENM with per-sector KPIs (RSRP, SINR, CQI, PRB, BLER)

 Used by Vodafone, AT&T, Optus

 Custom alarms based on SLA

Q28. What is the best practice for NSA vs SA mobility?
A:

 NSA to SA switch threshold: CQI > 9, SINR > 10 dB

 Jio automates fallback based on UE capability and NR coverage

 AT&T uses NSA fallback for emergency services

Q29. How is 5G slicing managed in Ericsson network?

A:

 Dedicated RAN slice using QFI-based bearer IDs

 Slice types: eMBB, URLLC, mMTC

 Vodafone UK uses Ericsson Slice Manager in pilots

Q30. What strategies are used for anchor-beam failure recovery?

A:

 Failure detection timer: ≤ 80 ms

 Backup SSB beam priority list activated

 MTN South Africa uses redundancy with 2 SSB beams in urban areas

Would you like me to continue with Q31–Q60 next?

Ericsson 5G Optimization – Global Best Practices (Q31–Q60)

Q31. What is the recommended MIMO layer adaptation policy?

A:

 Default: 2–4 layers (Sub-6 GHz), 4–8 layers (mmWave)

 Adapt based on CQI, SINR, and UE capability

 T-Mobile US dynamically allocates layers with SRS feedback

Q32. How is 5G NR throughput maximized in carrier aggregation (CA)?
A:

 Typical: 2–3 NR carriers in n78/n77

 Peak Throughput: 2–4 Gbps (DL), 500 Mbps (UL)

 Verizon uses EN-DC with 5CA (LTE+NR) for 3.5 Gbps DL

Q33. What are 5G NR Scheduler optimization techniques?

A:

 Priority-based HARQ retransmission

 Weighted PF (Proportional Fair) algorithm

 Reliance Jio configures scheduler to prioritize GBR bearers during congestion

Q34. What are the KPIs for beam failure recovery success rate?
A:

 BFR SR: ≥ 98%

 Trigger condition: Beam failure detection time ≤ 100 ms

 Vodafone and AT&T use dual-beam redundancy in dense areas

Q35. How is UL power control optimized in Ericsson 5G?

A:

 P0 nominal: -95 to -85 dBm

 Pathloss compensation: full or partial (α = 0.7–1.0)

 Optus uses full compensation in poor coverage zones

Q36. How is inter-RAT mobility optimized from 5G to 4G/3G?

A:

 Redirection delay: ≤ 300 ms

 Blind redirection when 5G RLF occurs

  SoftBank and MTN use fast fallback triggers based on CQI < 5

Q37. How is dynamic QOS control (5QI mapping) handled?

A:

 QFI dynamically maps to 5QI (e.g., 5QI-1 for VoNR, 5QI-9 for video)

 Jio uses 5QI prioritization in slice-aware bearers

 AT&T configures per-application QFI policies via PCF

Q38. How do operators ensure 5G SA anchor resilience?

A:

 Redundant AMF and UPF nodes

 RAN node restart recovery timer: ≤ 300 ms

 Vodafone uses dual-path anchoring with N3/N9 resilience

Q39. How is DL coverage enhanced at cell edges?

A:

 DL power boosting + MCS downgrade

 SINR-based cell extension used by MTN and Jio

 Boost power to max (e.g., 23 dBm UE Tx + 30 W eNB Tx)

Q40. How are Ericsson AI/ML rApps used in optimization?

A:

 Examples: Load Balancer rApp, Cell Shaper rApp, PCI Planner rApp

 Vodafone and SoftBank use AI for tilt, power, and PRB balancing

 Benefits: ~20% fewer handover failures

Q41. What is a healthy UL CQI range and its impact?

A:
  CQI ≥ 10 for good uplink throughput

 UL CQI < 7 → use TTI bundling or power boost

 Optus enforces SRS boost in poor UL CQI zones

Q42. What PRACH optimization techniques are used?

A:

 Power ramping step: 2–6 dB

 PRACH format: Format A1 (Sub-6), Format B2 (mmWave)

 Jio reduces ramping failure rate <1.5% via proper preamble allocation

Q43. What is the 5G slicing success rate benchmark?

A:

 Slice SR: ≥ 99%

 Slice drop rate: <1%

 AT&T reports success with separate slices for IoT, eMBB on NPN (Non-Public
Network)

Q44. How is IAB (Integrated Access and Backhaul) optimized?

A:

 Used in mmWave backhaul where fiber is scarce

 Latency target: <5 ms for backhaul

 MTN SA uses IAB in township areas with constrained fiber

Q45. What timers are used for beam recovery and release?
A:

 Beam Recovery: 80–150 ms

 Beam Release: 100–300 ms

 T-Mobile uses UE measurement-based release criteria

Q46. What is a good handover preparation success rate?
A:

 HO Prep SR: ≥ 99.5%

 Failures: due to config mismatch, PCI conflict

 Vodafone monitors via xApp analytics in O-RAN pilot

Q47. How is data session continuity ensured during mobility?

A:

 Make-before-break HO config in SA

 Packet Duplication in Dual Connectivity

 Used by SoftBank and AT&T for video/VoIP continuity

Q48. What are the best practices for Paging optimization?

A:

 Paging cycle: 128–256 ms (normal), 64 ms (VoNR priority)

 Location update timer: T3412 extended for power saving

 Optus reduces paging overhead using DRX config tuning

Q49. What are indicators of poor 5G user experience?

A:

 KPIs: CQI < 7, SINR < 0 dB, RSRP < -110 dBm

 High HARQ retransmissions

 MTN’s QoE probe data tied to UE log collection in problem areas

Q50. What is the recommendation for A3 event offsets in HO tuning?

A:

 Offset: 3–5 dB depending on environment

  A3 + A5 used in combination

 Jio dynamically adjusts via SON based on HO attempt trends

Q51. How are small cells tuned differently in Ericsson 5G?

A:

 Tx power: 5–10 W

 Narrow tilt: 0–3°

 AT&T uses coordination zones to manage interference

Q52. How is 5G NR resource utilization monitored?

A:

 PRB Utilization: keep <85%

 Resource Block Headroom: ≥15%

 Vodafone alarms on high PRB usage every 5 min

Q53. What strategies exist for poor indoor coverage?

A:

 DAS (Distributed Antenna System) + small cells

 Use of n5/n28 for deep penetration

 SoftBank and Jio deploy femtocells in metro indoor hubs

Q54. How is the time-to-first-byte (TTFB) optimized?

A:

 Target: <100 ms

 Faster RRC connection setup + DNS pre-fetching

 MTN uses QCI tuning for app-layer TTFB reduction

Q55. What are Ericsson OAM tools used in optimization?
A:

 ENM (Ericsson Network Manager)

 ENIQ Stats Analyzer

 AI/ML-based rApps in Ericsson SMO (Service Management and Orchestration)

Q56. What is optimal inter-gNB Xn HO delay?

A:

 Target delay: <150 ms

 RLC AM mode tuning for buffering

 AT&T uses pre-registration HO where Xn is preloaded

Q57. How are TA (Timing Advance) values used in optimization?

A:

 Used for distance/coverage inference

 High TA → suggest cell overshoot or low power

 Vodafone UK correlates TA with CQI and UE count

Q58. What are indicators of beam misalignment or instability?

A:

 SSB RSRP fluctuation >6 dB

 UE location ↔ SSB angle mismatch

 Jio and SoftBank use angle prediction correction with UE logs

Q59. What configuration helps reduce dropped VoNR calls?

A:

 Fast HO to 4G fallback if QoS drops

 QCI 1 bearer configured with AMBR > 128 kbps

  MTN SA sets dual-connectivity anchoring for VoNR stability

Q60. How is NR Cell Capacity Planning done?

A:

 Max cell load: ~350 UEs (macro), ~120 UEs (small cell)

 Based on CQI distribution and MCS Index

 AT&T and Jio use capacity trend maps per sector

Q61. What are the optimal MCS (Modulation and Coding Scheme) strategies?
A:

 Adaptive MCS based on CQI and SINR

 Use 256QAM for CQI ≥ 13

 Jio and Vodafone downgrade MCS to QPSK during high BLER or poor coverage

Q62. How is the HARQ process managed?

A:

 Retransmission limit: 4 (typical)

 Feedback delay: ~8 ms

 SoftBank tunes HARQ RTT for low-latency apps like cloud gaming

Q63. How is scheduling latency minimized?

A:

 TTI = 1 slot (Short TTI enabled)

 Uplink grant sent within 2 ms of request

 MTN uses fast grant processing with Ericsson NR scheduler

Q64. What strategies are used to optimize high-speed mobility?

A:
  Increase HO offset and reduce TTT

 Disable certain HO filters for UEs >100 kmph

 AT&T applies mobility state detection and modifies HO parameters

Q65. How is 5G NR buffer management configured?

A:

 DL buffer size: 512 KB – 2 MB

 RLC AM vs UM mode based on app type

 Optus tunes buffers for streaming and bulk FTP traffic separately

Q66. How are resource blocks distributed in peak traffic?

A:

 Fair scheduling with PF + guaranteed GBR slices

 Lower-layer UEs given higher PRB weight

 Verizon applies dynamic PRB steering per TTI

Q67. What are acceptable UE drop rate thresholds?

A:

 UE Drop Rate: < 0.3%

 VoNR Drop Rate: < 0.1%

 Monitored with ENM → MTN South Africa takes weekly corrective action

Q68. How is cross-slot scheduling used in NR?

A:

 Enables UL grant in one slot, data in another

 Improves flexibility for TDD

 Used by T-Mobile in high-traffic 5G NSA setups

Q69. How are code block errors (CBEs) managed?
A:

 Target: CBE rate < 1%

 HARQ feedback loop adjusts redundancy versions (RV)

 Vodafone lowers MCS temporarily when CBE spikes are detected

Q70. What KPI thresholds are used in Ericsson VoNR optimization?

A:

 MOS ≥ 4.0

 Call Setup Success Rate: ≥ 99.5%

 Packet Loss: < 0.5%

 Jio tunes QCI-1 priority queues for VoNR SLAs

Q71. How is NR uplink latency optimized?

A:

 Target: UL latency < 8 ms

 Use grant-free UL where supported

 MTN enables Semi-Persistent Scheduling (SPS) for real-time uplink

Q72. How are PUCCH formats selected?

A:

 Format 1/2: ≤ 2-bit feedback

 Format 3/4: multi-bit or CSI

 Optus selects format dynamically based on UE capability

Q73. What tools are used for multi-operator cell performance audits?
A:

 Ericsson ENM + Probe Analytics

  Cross-PLMN data mapped for shared towers

 Vodafone & MTN co-analyze neutral host setups

Q74. How is gNB load information broadcasted for HO decisions?

A:

 Load indicators shared via Xn interface

 UEs shift toward lightly loaded gNBs

 AT&T uses gNB load broadcast to optimize anchor reselection

Q75. How is jitter minimized for real-time apps?

A:

 Target: jitter < 5 ms

 Enable packet duplication in RLC

 SoftBank prioritizes real-time packets using slicing

Q76. What is the best strategy for overlapping coverage zones?

A:

 Reduce Tx power of small cells

 Use Qoffset and HO hysteresis tuning

 Vodafone applies range balancing via beam tilt + HO margin control

Q77. How are software upgrades handled without performance degradation?

A:

 Staggered software rollout

 KPI tracking per cluster before and after

 Jio uses “Blue-Green” deployment for safer upgrades

Q78. How is NR carrier bandwidth optimized for performance?
A:

 40/60/80/100 MHz per carrier based on traffic

 AT&T and Vodafone deploy 100 MHz carriers in urban n78

 Monitor edge RB utilization to prevent coverage shrink

Q79. How is SRVCC fallback from VoNR to VoLTE tuned?

A:

 Trigger on RTP loss or low CQI

 Timer T3412 shortened to allow faster RRC re-establishment

 MTN runs daily SRVCC success audits for VoNR fallback

Q80. How is anomaly detection applied in 5G optimization?

A:

 ML models analyze SINR/CQI/KPI deviation

 Root cause suggestions for failure areas

 Vodafone, Jio use Ericsson AI Ops with ENIQ and ENM

Q81. What is the 5G NSA → SA switch criteria for dual-mode UEs?

A:

 Trigger: SA available + CQI > 10 + SINR > 12 dB

 Verizon switches UEs with SA capability when >80% SA coverage is achieved

 MTN uses dual-anchor monitoring

Q82. What is DRX tuning in Ericsson 5G?

A:

 DRX On Duration: 20–60 ms

 Inactivity Timer: 100–300 ms

  SoftBank tunes DRX for video vs IoT UEs differently

Q83. What is the NR scheduling fairness index target?

A:

 Target: ≥ 0.7

 Monitored per TTI and per slice

 T-Mobile alarms when fairness drops below 0.6

Q84. How is overhead reduced in SSB transmission?

A:

 SSB periodicity: 20 ms (default), increased to 80 ms in low mobility

 Reduce number of SSB beams where possible

 Jio uses location-awareness to dynamically switch SSB density

Q85. What beam index allocation method is preferred?

A:

 UE-measured SSB-RSRP → strongest beam selected

 Index mapped to coverage map

 Vodafone uses periodic updates to avoid fixed beamstickiness

Q86. How is preemptive scheduling used?

A:

 URLLC preempts eMBB bearers during overload

 AT&T and SoftBank apply preemption threshold based on SLA violations

 Ericsson NR scheduler uses MAC CE signaling for preemption

Q87. What is the role of TDD Configuration Adaptation?

A:
  Ericsson’s AI-based rApp dynamically adapts DL:UL ratio

 Used by MTN to switch from 7:2 to 4:1 during peak UL demand

 Reduced congestion and improved UL throughput by ~15%

Q88. How is PCI confusion avoided in high-density areas?

A:

 PCI auto-planning with reuse distance ≥ 3 cells

 SON monitoring for collision and confusion alarms

 Jio reports weekly PCI audits via Cell Shaper rApp

Q89. How are KPI thresholds dynamically re-tuned?

A:

 Based on time-of-day, traffic trend, app behavior

 Thresholds set via rApp configuration templates

 Vodafone adjusts CQI/Bler thresholds based on mobility level

Q90. How is bearer mapping done across slices in Ericsson 5G?

A:

 Dedicated bearer per QFI → slice-ID tagging

 eMBB, URLLC, mMTC split by application profile

 AT&T maps gaming vs video into different slices

Q91. What HO failure reasons are commonly logged?

A:

 PCI confusion, no reply, config mismatch

 CQI drop during RLF

 SoftBank classifies HO failures hourly via ENIQ trending

Q92. What are the KPI thresholds for 5G fixed wireless access (FWA)?
A:

 DL ≥ 100 Mbps, UL ≥ 20 Mbps

 Latency ≤ 20 ms

 Used by Optus and MTN for rural broadband SLAs

Q93. What are key parameters for tuning initial access (IA) procedures?
A:

 RACH preamble format: A2 (for Sub-6), B1/B2 (mmWave)

 Number of preambles: 54–64

 Jio tunes IA timers for TDD vs FDD behavior

Q94. How is T310 timer configured for RLF detection?

A:

 Default: 1000 ms

 Lower for fast detection in mmWave

 AT&T uses low T310 for ultra-reliable link in SA 5G

Q95. How is MAC scheduler protected from overload?

A:

 PRB threshold cap

 Scheduler load-sharing based on QCI

 Vodafone enforces drop rules when PRB > 90%

Q96. How do operators handle heavy indoor traffic?

A:

 Activate femtocell cluster

 Enable CRE + prioritized HO to indoor cells

  SoftBank applies cell breathing + load shedding

Q97. What KPIs are used for predictive optimization?

A:

 Throughput trend, SINR degradation slope, PRB utilization rate

 Ericsson rApps run predictive load models

 Jio applies forecasting for weekend and festival loads

Q98. What features are used for zero-touch optimization?

A:

 AI-based SON, cloud-native deployment

 No manual HO tuning or tilt updates

 Vodafone implements full zero-touch network slices via SMO

Q99. What is the target for SSB RSRP to ensure anchor stability?
A:

 RSRP ≥ -90 dBm (urban), ≥ -100 dBm (suburban)

 UEs re-anchor if SSB drops >6 dB

 AT&T runs hourly SSB quality audits in dense areas

Q100. How is 5G performance validated post-optimization?

A:

 Drive test, MDT logs, ENIQ KPI deltas

 Before vs After comparison across SINR, CQI, HO SR, PRB

 Used by all major global operators for performance assurance

How does MTN South Africa optimize 5G NSA coverage using Ericsson's
platform?
- MTN uses Ericsson’s Intelligent RAN Automation (IRA) for dynamic tilt adaptation.
- RSRP target: ≥ -90 dBm (urban), -100 dBm (suburban)
- Tilt & azimuth adjusted via ENM & AI-based heatmaps.
- PCI planning coordinated with LTE layers to avoid confusion.

What are MTN's best practices for 5G beam management?

- Beam sweeping: Enabled for all anchor beams (SSBs)
- Beam width: 30° (macro), 60° (small cells)
- Beam failure recovery timer: 80 ms
- Used in Johannesburg dense urban clusters for reliability under mobility.

How does MTN handle 5G throughput optimization with Ericsson?

- DL target throughput: ≥ 300 Mbps, UL ≥ 50 Mbps
- Use of NR Scheduling Priority (QCI 9 to QCI 1 realignment)
- Massive MIMO configured with 64T64R panels, using 100 MHz n78 band.
- TDD config: 4:1 (DL:UL) during peak load hours.

What role does MTN play in 5G energy efficiency with Ericsson?

- AI-based radio shutdown during off-peak hours
- Use of Ericsson's AIR 6419 radios
- Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) used to reduce idle spectrum waste
- Up to 30% RAN energy savings reported.