GSM Optimization
GSM Optimization
Optimization: Introduction
Contents
Global indicators Typical Radio Network Problem Coverage Problem Interference problem Unbalanced power budget problem Congestion problem
parties
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
4 stages of a call establishment, 2 stages (1&2) for location update :
1. Radio link establishment Phase 2. SDCCH Phase
then only Circuit Switch call
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
2. SDCCH Phase
BTS
BSC
MSC
CIPHERING MODE COMMAND CIPHERING MODE COMPLETE LOCATION UPDATE ACCEPT (IN CASE OF LU) TMSI REALLOCATION COMPLETE (IN CASE OF LU) SETUP CALL PROCEEDING
ASSIGNMENT REQUEST PHYSICAL CONTEXT REQUEST PHYSICAL CONTEXT CONFIRM CHANNEL ACTIVATION (TCH) CHANNEL ALLOCATION ACK. ASSIGNMENT COMMEND (SDCCH) SABM TCH ESTABLISH INDICATION UA (L3 info) TCH allocation
ALERTING CONNECT
CONNECT ACK.
CONVERSATION
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
Handover : Intracell HO
MS
Measurement Report MEASUREMENT RESULT PHYSICAL CONTEXT REQUEST (old channel) PHYSICAL CONTEXT CONFIRM (old channel) CHANNEL ACTIVATION (new channel) CHANNEL ACTIVATION ACK (new channel) ASSIGNMENT CMD SABM (L3 info) (SDCCH) UA (L3 info) (SDCCH) ASSIGNMENT CMP ESTABLISH COMPLETE (new channel) HANDOVER PERFORMED RF CHANNEL RELEASE (old channel) RF CHANNEL RELEASE ACK (old channel) ESTABLISH IND (new channel) ASSIGNMENT COMMEND (old channel)
BTS
BSC
MSC
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
Handover : Internal HO
MS Serving Cell
Meas. Report MEASUREMENT RESULT CHANNEL ACTIVATION CHANNEL ACTIVATION ACK. HO CMD HANDOVER COMMAND HANDOVER ACCESS HANDOVER DETECTION PHYSICAL INFORMATION
Target Cell
BSC
MSC
SABM (L3 info) UA (L3 info) ESTABLISH INDICATION HANDOVER COMPLETE HO CMP HANDOVER PERFORMED
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
Handover : External HO
MS Serving Cell
MEAS_REPORT MEAS_RESULT HO_REQUIRED CR (HO_REQUEST) CC CHANNEL_ACTIVATION CHANNEL_ACT_ACK HO_COMMAND HO_REQUEST_ACK (HO_COMMAND) HO_ACCESS HO_ACCESS HO_DETECTION HO_DETECTION PHYSICAL_INFO SABM (L3 info) ESTABLISH_INDICATION HO_COMPLETE HO_COMPLETE CLEAR_COMMAND Release of TCH
Cause: HO_SUCCESSFUL
BSC
MSC
BSC
Target Cell
MS
UA (L3 info)
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
Important indicators :
Optimization: Introduction
SDCCH Congestion SDCCH Assignment Failure SDCCH Drop TCH Assignment Failure Call Drop Call Setup Success Call Success Outgoing Handover Incoming Handover Handover Causes Distribution (Better/Level/Quality/MCHO/...)
Global Indicators
SDCCH Congestion :
MS
CHANNEL REQUEST CHANNEL REQUIRED (RACH)
BTS
BSC
MS will try to request again for a certain of times If still failures, it will Wait for a certain of time without reception of
immediate_assign message Try an automatic cell_reselection in case of LU (no impact for subscriber) Notify a network error for call establishment (call setup failure for subscriber)
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
SDCCH Congestion : Main causes
Too much SDCCH normal traffic for cell
SDCCH design
Logical cell design, extra TRX, new site
LU
Redesign LAC Problem with neighbor cells belong to other
LAC
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
SDCCH RF Failure : main causes
MS
CHANNEL REQUEST CHANNEL REQUIRED (RACH) CHANNEL ACTIVATION (SDCCH) CHANNEL ACTIVATION ACK IMMEDIATE ASSIGN COMMEND IMMEDIATE ASSIGN (AGCH)
BTS
BSC
MSC
???
no message from MS
Global Indicators
SDCCH RF Failure : main causes
Phantom/Ghost/Spurious/Dummy...RACH
Channel request received but not sent : 3 causes 1. Noise decoding 2. Reception of channel request sent to a neighbor cell 3. Reception of HO_ACCESS sent to a neighbor cell
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
SDCCH RF Failure : main causes : Phantom RACH
1.
Noise decoding
GSM 05.05: 0.02% of RACH Frame can be decoded without error without real input signal (this extra-load has no impact for the system) BCCH not combined: 156 phantom RACCH/hour (or about 0.08 Erlang SDCCH) BCCH combined: 83 phantom RACH/hour During period with low real traffic (night), high rate of phantom RACH No impact for subscriber But impact on indicator SDCCH RF access failure
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
SDCCH RF Failure : main causes : Phantom RACH
2.
Subscriber is not impacted ( the real transaction is performed elsewhere) But SDCCH RF access failure is impacted Usual radio planning rules are sufficient to avoid the trouble (BSIC and BCCH frequency plan)
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
SDCCH RF Failure : main causes : Phantom RACH
3.
During HO, first message sent to target cell is HO access which is an access burst like channel_request If received on BCCH, can be understood as a channel-request This case is the most dangerous MS is sending usually a sequence of HO Access message, every frame !! In some cases, this can create phantom RACH if the frequency of TCH is co- or adjacent to one of the interfered BCCH Can block very easily SDCCH
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
SDCCH Drop :
MS
Radio connection loss
CONNECTION FAILURE INDICATION (cause : radio link failure) CLEAR REQUEST (cause : radio interface failure)
BTS
BSC
MSC
SDCCH Drop 3 causes of SDCCH drop Radio problems when connected on SDCCH BSS problems (Transcoder and Internal BSS problems) Call lost during an SDCCH HO (handover failure without reversion to old channel)
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
TCH assign failure : Congestion
MS BTS BSC
ASSIGNMNET REQUEST
MSC
Global Indicators
TCH assign failure : Radio
MS BTS
PHYSICAL CONTEXT REQUEST PHYSICAL CONTEXT CONFIRM CHANNEL ACTIVATION (TCH) CHANNEL ALLOCATION ACK. ASSIGNMENT COMMEND (SDCCH) TCH TCH allocation
BSC
ASSIGNMENT REQUEST
MSC
Radio Problem
ASSIGNMENT FAILURE Radio interface failure
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
TCH assign failure : BSS
MS BTS
PHYSICAL CONTEXT REQUEST PHYSICAL CONTEXT CONFIRM CHANNEL ACTIVATION (TCH) CHANNEL ALLOCATION ACK. ASSIGNMENT COMMEND (SDCCH) TCH allocation
BSC
ASSIGNMENT REQUEST
MSC
BSS Problem
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
TCH Drop : Radio
MS BTS BSC MSC
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
TCH Drop : BSS
MS BTS BSC MSC
Alerting Connection Phase or Communication : at any time
Radio Problem
CONNECTION FAILURE INDICATION (Remote transcoder failure) CLEAR REQUEST (Equipment failure)
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
TCH Drop : BSS
MS BTS BSC MSC
BSS problem
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
TCH Drop : Handover
MS BTS BSC MSC
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
Intracell HO Failures
Congestion Reversion to Old Channel (ROC) Drop Radio
BSS problem
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
Intracell HO Failures : Congestion
MS
Measurement Report MEASUREMENT RESULT No Free TCH/SDCCH
Serving BTS
BSC
MSC
BTS
BSC
MSC
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
Intracell HO Failures : Reversion to Old Channel
MS
ASSIGNMENT CMD SABM (new channel) ESTABLISH IND (new channel) UA (new channel)
Serving BTS
ASSIGNMENT COMMEND (old channel)
Serving BSC
MSC
X X
SABM (new channel) UA (new channel) SABM (old channel) UA (old channel) ASSIGNMENT FAIL ASSIGNMNENT FAILURE RF CHANNEL RELEASE (old channel) RF CHANNEL RELEASE ACK (old channel)
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
Internal HO Failures
MS Serving Cell
HO CMD
Target Cell
HANDOVER COMMAND
SABM (L3 info) UA (L3 info) ESTABLISH INDICATION HANDOVER COMPLETE SABM ESTABLISH INDICATION UM HO FAILURE HO FAILURE Release of new channel
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
Internal HO Failures
MS Serving Cell
Meas. Report MEASUREMENT RESULT CHANNEL ACTIVATION CHANNEL ACTIVATION ACK. HO CMD HANDOVER COMMAND
: Drop
BSC MSC
Target Cell
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
External HO Failures : Congestion
MS Serving Cell
MEAS_REPORT MEAS_RESULT HO_REQUIRED CR (HO_REQUEST) HO_FAILURE Cause: no radio resource available
BSC
MSC
BSC
Target Cell
MS
HO_REQUIRED_REJECT
BSC
MSC
BSC
Target Cell
MS
HO_REQUIRED_REJECT
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
External HO Failures : Reversion to Old Channel
MS Serving Cell
MEAS_REPORT MEAS_RESULT HO_REQUIRED CR (HO_REQUEST) CC CHANNEL_ACTIVATION CHANNEL_ACT_ACK HO_COMMAND HO_REQUEST_ACK (HO_COMMAND)
BSC
MSC
BSC
Target Cell
MS
X
SABM ESTABLISH_INDICATION UA HO_FAILURE(reversion to pld channel) CLEAR_COMMAND Radio interface fail: Reversion to old channel Release connection
HO_ACCESS HO_ACCESS
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
External HO Failures : Drop
MS Serving Cell
MEAS_REPORT MEAS_RESULT HO_REQUIRED CR (HO_REQUEST) CC CHANNEL_ACTIVATION CHANNEL_ACT_ACK HO_COMMAND HO_REQUEST_ACK (HO_COMMAND)
BSC
MSC
BSC
Target Cell
MS
X X
SABM SABM SABM
HO_ACCESS HO_ACCESS
X X X
CLEAR_COMMAND Radio interface fail Release connection
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
Important indicators : SDCCH Congestion Rate
radio link establishment procedure due to congestion on Air interface Comment: Check SDCCH Erlang : if not critical, SDCCH availability/allocation problem, or HO access on a nearby cell side effect or interference on the carrier handling SDCCH (the last 2 can lead to high rate if Phantom RACH
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
Important indicators : SDCCH Assign Failure Rate
problem, radio access problem) during radio link establishment procedure over the total amount of SDCCH seizure requests during radio link establishment procedure
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
Important indicators : SDCCH Drop Rate
BSS
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
Important indicators : TCH Assign Failure/Congestion Rate
seizure failed (BSS problem, radio access problem) during normal assignment procedure over the total amount or RTCH request for normal assignment procedure TCH Assign Congestion Rate: Rate of RTCH not allocated during normal assignment due to congestion on Air interface
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
Important indicators : Call Drop Rate
amount of calls with a successful end Comment: Drop BSS + Drop radio + Drop HO TCH drop occurring after successful assignment but before speech connection are considered as call drop even if from customers point of view it is a call setup failure
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
Important indicators : Call Setup Success Rate
assignment, that is not interrupted by SDCCH drop neither by assignment failures Comment: Subscriber : call not established at the first attempt
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
Important indicators : Call Success Rate (BSS view)
that is not interrupted by SDCCH drop neither by assignment failures and neither by CALL DROP Comment: 1 call success = 1 call successfully established Without any call drop
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
Important indicators : Outgoing Handover Success Rate
intercell TCH and SDCCH handover successes over the total amount of outgoing external and internal intercell TCH and SDCCH handover required
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
Important indicators : Incoming Handover Success Rate
intercell TCH and SDCCH handover successes over the total amount of outgoing external and internal intercell TCH and SDCCH handover requests
Optimization: Introduction
Global Indicators
Important indicators : Handover Cause Distribution
UL Qual, UL Lev, DL Qual, DL Lev, Better Cell, UL Interference, DL Interference, Interband, Micro cells HO, Concentric cell causes
Optimization: Introduction
Optimization: Introduction
Optimization: Introduction
i. Coverage Problem
Bad coverage : A network facing coverage problems has bad RxLev. RxQual can be bad at the same time. Sometimes the RxLev can look OK on the street (i.e. from drivetest) but coverage inside the buildings can be poor due to building losses. Building losses can range from 10 to 30 dB or more.
Optimization: Introduction
i. Coverage Problem
Indications :
Customers complain about dropped calls and/or No Network OMC QoS indicators
TCH failure rate Call drop rate Low proportion of better cell HO High rate of DL & UL Level HO (possibly also DL/UL quality HO)
A interface indicators
High rate of Clear Request message, cause radio interface failure
Drive Test
Poor RxLev ( < -95 dBm)
Optimization: Introduction
i. Coverage Problem
Investigation and Optimization : If actual coverage is not the one predicted by planning tool
Check antenna system (azimuth, crossed sector?) Check prediction in the tool (EIRP, Clutter Type, Obstructing building?). Most of the time the prediction will be incorrect, as it is only a computer simulation Increase or decrease antenna down-tilt Check BTS output power set in the OMC-R (BS_TXPWR_MAX: should always be set at 0)
Optimization: Introduction
i. Coverage Problem
Investigation and Optimization : If actual coverage OK compared to predicted ones
Improve coverage by adding Macro site, Microcell site (Border or Shadow areas), or IBC site (In-building coverage). Use parameter setting ex. Bi-layer Handover.
Optimization: Introduction
i. Coverage Problem
Example on thresholds :
From Drive test or Abis Interface
RxLev
<
-95 dBm
and RxQual
>
Optimization: Introduction
Optimization: Introduction
Customers complain about bad speech quality (noisy calls) and/or call drops OMC QoS indicators
SDCCH/TCH Drop Low proportion of better cell HO High rate of DL/UL quality HO and interference HO Low HO success rate
A interface indicators
High rate of Clear Request message, cause radio interface failure
Drive Test
RxQual > 4 with RxLev > -85 dBm
Optimization: Introduction
Optimization: Introduction
Alcatel ( +9 dB according to GSM standard) (i.e. interference can be 9 12 dB weaker than serving cell to cause poor RxQual).
f(cell1)=f(cell2) Frequency
Optimization: Introduction
Downlink and/or Uplink Interference High rate of quality handover, call drop, and call setup failure Drive test analysis Lumpini: Co-channel checking Check prediction to verify which cell could be causing the interference Frequency plan C/I < 12 dB
Investigation
Optimization: Introduction
Antenna optimization Change frequency Reduce BTS power (not an option in TA Orange network) Concentric cell
Optimization: Introduction
-6 dB
f(cell2)=f(cell1)+1
Frequency
Optimization: Introduction
Antenna optimization Change frequency Reduce BTS power (not an option in TA Orange network) Concentric cell
Optimization: Introduction
TCH available. MS connects to Cell_B with forced directed retry MS is emitting at high level (due to long distance from Cell_B)
UL interference for Cell_C
Cell_B: Ch.573
is being used)
DL interference at Cell_C
server: increases chances of interference problem (poor C/I & C/A as C is lower)
Optimization: Introduction
Inter-modulation with GSM BTS/MS receiver Radar Shop anti-theft mechanism Medical devices Other man-made radio transmission Illegal usage of GSM frequencies (e.g. illegal imported devices, illegal usage of other organization, ...) ...
Other RF interferers
Optimization: Introduction
presents a too high path-loss difference between UL and DL (often DL>UL) Lower Rx diversity gain of cross polarized antenna in rural area compared to dense area Crossed feeders Traffic not directly in boresight of antenna, where cross-polar discrimination is lower Loose connectors Faulty antenna, feeder, TMA Rule : try to have delta as small as possible to avoid access network possible only in 1 direction (usually BTS->MS : OK and MS->BTS : NOK), i.e. uplink limited
Optimization: Introduction
A interface indicators
High rate of Clear Request message, cause radio interface failure
O&M Alarms
Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) TMA
Optimization: Introduction
Abis monitoring:
ABS(delta Path loss) > 10 Check if problem is occurring for 1 TRX or all. ABS(delta path loss) = ABS(UL Path loss DL Path loss) UL Path loss = MS transmitted power measured received UL level DL Path loss = BTS transmitted power combiner loss measured received DL level Large difference between uplink and downlink level triggered HO.
Optimization: Introduction
should be checked
TRX
types (MP, HP) Antennas or common RF components, TMA (common to all TRX of the BTS) TRX RF cables, LNA
Optimization: Introduction
Assignment Phase) is too high (more than 2%) Rule : try to meet the offered traffic (asked by users) by providing the right number of resources (TRX extension)
Optimization: Introduction
High TCH Congestion rate, RTCH Assignment fail-Congestion Low incoming Intra/Inter BSC HO success rate (no TCH available) High Directed Retry rate or Congestion Relief (Motorola) if activated A interface indicators: BSS Congestion failure in OC High rate of Assignment Failure message, No radio resource available
Drive Test
Handover to better cell is slow, or never occurs
Optimization: Introduction
Special events : Foreseeable: football match, important meeting, Exhibition, etc. Add some extra TRXs Add special mobile BTSs (Cell on Wheel) Activate HR (may not always be possible due to BSC capacity limitations) Not foreseeable: car crash on the highway
Optimization: Introduction
Daily periodic problems : At busy hour: Hardware solution : Add TRX(s) Concentric cell New site Optimize cell boundaries (i.e. antenna optimization) to share traffic with surrounding cells
Optimization: Introduction
Daily periodic problems : At busy hour: Software solution : Directed Retry Traffic Handover Half Rate (Alcatel) Congestion Relief (Motorola) Flow control (Motorola)
Optimization: Introduction
Optimization: Introduction
Optimization team to identify the interference source and request Spectrum Management team to correct it in case of internal source (new frequency planning...)
Field Operation team to check the impacted BTS (Antenna, TMA, RF cables, LNA, diversity system...) according to request from Optimizer.
Optimization: Introduction
Optimization: Introduction