GSM Fundamentals & RF

GTL welcomes you to the Basic course on GSM Fundamentals & RF (GTL-GSM RF-001)

What you will learn here?

Basic Telecom concepts Various Wireless Technologies Cellular concepts & Principal of cellular Comm. GSM Network Architecture GSM channel Architecture Call Flows in GSM GSM Planning steps (Nominal Plan & RF surveys) GSM Optimization Steps ( Performance, Drive testing & Benchmarking)

BASIC Telephony

Signaling Traffic
Off Hook Dial Tone Dialing Digits RBT Conversation

SWITCH / EXCHANGE

Ring Off Hook & Conversation

Wireless Communication
Alternative means of wireless communication Walkie - Talkie Pagers Trunked private radios

Mobile Phone - the magic technology that enables everyone to communicate anywhere with anybody.

Wireless Telephony
MSC

BSC BTS BTS

Mobile Subscriber...

Different Standards Worldwide

Till 1982 Cellular Systems were exclusively Analog Radio Technology. Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS) U.S. standard on the 800 MHz Band Total Access Communication System (TACS) U.K. standard on 900 MHz band Nordic Mobile Telephone System (NMT) Scandinavian standard on the 450 & 900 MHz band

Different Standards Worldwide

Different Standards Worldwide

GSM - 900 The term GSM-900 is used for any GSM system which operates in any 900 MHz band. P-GSM - 900 P-GSM-900 band is the primary band for GSM-900 Frequency band for primary GSM-900 (P-GSM-900) : 2 x 25 MHz 890 915 MHz for MS to BTS (uplink) 935 960 MHz for BTS to MS (downlink) E-GSM - 900 In some countries, GSM-900 is allowed to operate in part or in all of the following extension band. E-GSM-900 (Extended GSM-900) band includes the primary band (P-GSM-900) and the extension band : 880 890 MHz for MS to BTS (uplink) 925 935 MHz for BTS to MS (downlink) R-GSM-900 R-GSM-900 (Railway GSM-900) band includes the primary band (P-GSM-900) and the following extension band: 876 890 MHz for MS to BTS (uplink) 921 935 MHz for BTS to MS (downlink) GSM-1800 Frequency band: 2 x 75 MHz 1710 1785 MHz for MS to BTs (uplink) 1805 1880 MHz for BTS to MS (downlink)

Industry Vs Technology Spread

Telecom Service Providers/Operators
GSM CDMA Basic-WLL Internet Services Long Distance

Vendor Telecom Consultancy

Analog Mobile Telephony

End of 1980s Analog Systems unable to meet continuing demands Severely confined spectrum allocations Interference in multipath fading environment Incompatibility among various analog systems Inability to substantially reduce the cost of mobile terminals and infrastructure required

Digital Mobile Telephony

Spectrum space - most limited and precious resource Solution - further multiplex traffic (time domain) Can be realized with Digital Techniques only

GSM History and Organization

1979 1982 1986 1988 1990 1991 Europe wide frequency band reserved for Cellular Groupe Speciale Mobile created within CEPT GSM had full time in Paris ETSI takes over GSM Committee The phase 1 GSM Recommendations frozen GSM Committee renamed Special Mobile Group and GSM renamed as Global System for Mobile Communication GSM launched for commercial operations

1992

Service Industry
Service Provider is not a Equipment Manufacturer. The Service Provider has a license to operate in a geographical boundary (state/circle/ country). It buys equipment from OEM Suppliers (Vendors). Installs & commissions the equipment thus making its own Network. Provides the desired service to its subscribers.

Vendor
Vendor is a Equipment Manufacturer. It supplies Product, Consultancy and Trainings Service provider has the option of taking the Consultancy and Training

Cellular Communication
A cellular system links Mobile subscribers to Public Telephone System or to another Mobile subscribers. It removes the fixed wiring used in a traditional telephone installation. Mobile subscriber is able to move around, perhaps can travel in a vehicle or on foot & still make & receive call.

Advantage of Cellular Communication

Mobility Flexibility Convergence Greater QOS Network Expansion Revenue/Profit

WHAT IS CELLULAR TELEPHONY ?

CONSIDERATIONS T FREQUENCY
Base Station

T SUBSCRIBER DENSITY T COVERAGE

Base Station Base Station

Base Station Base Station Base Station

The Cell
called cells. Cells - Reduce the need of High powered transmission they are irregularly shaped. Cell shape is determined by the nature of the surrounding area e.g. Hills , tall building etc.

Cellular Radio involves dividing a large service area into regions

Each cell has the equipment to switch, transmit and receive calls.

Cells - Conventionally regarded as being hexagonal, but in realit

Cell Size
Large Cells 35 Km Remote Areas High Transmission Power Few subscribers Small Cells Near about 1 KM Urban Areas Low Transmission Power Many Subscribers

Coverage & Capacity

Coverage Percentage of the geographical area covered by cellular service where mobile telephony is available Capacity Number of calls that can be handled in a certain area within a certain period of time. Capacity can also refer to the probability that users will be denied access to a system due to the simple unavailability of radio channels.

Frequency Spectrum
Designation Very Low Frequency Low Frequency Medium Frequency High Frequency Very High Frequency Ultra High Frequency Super High Frequency Extremely High Frequency Abbreviation VLF LF MF HF VHF UHF SHF EHF Frequencies 9 kHz - 30 kHz 30 kHz - 300 kHz 300 kHz - 3 MHz 3 MHz - 30 MHz 30 MHz - 300 MHz 300 MHz - 3 GHz 3 GHz - 30 GHz 30 GHz - 300 GHz Free-space Wavelengths 33 km - 10 km 10 km - 1 km 1 km - 100 m 100 m - 10 m 10 m - 1 m 1 m - 100 mm 100 mm - 10 mm 10 mm - 1 mm

GSM - IN CELLULAR TELEPHONY

Each Cell in the Cellular Network consists of one or more RF carriers. An RF carrier is a pair of radio frequencies One used in upward direction by MS - Uplink Other used in downward direction by BTS - Downlink The transmit and receive frequencies are separated by a gap of 45 MHz in GSM of 75 MHz in DCS. There are 124 carries in GSM Band. With each carrier carrying 7 timeslots, only 124 x 7 = 868 calls can be made! Frequency Reuse is the solution

Frequency & ARFCN

ul= 890 to 915 MHz

Ful(n) = 890.0 + (0.2) *n MHz

Fdl(n) = Ful + 45 MHz

where n =ARFCN ; 1 n 124

dl= 935 to 960 MHz

Multiple Access Methods

Power Time Time Power

FDMA
Power Time

Frequency

CDMA

Frequency

TDMA

Frequency

Multiple Access Methods

FDMA
Power
Tim e
eq Fr nc ue y

TDMA
Power
Tim e
y nc ue q Fre

CDMA
Power
Tim e

DE CO
nc ue eq Fr

FDMA: AMPS & NAMPS Each user occupies a private Frequency, protected from interference through physical separation from other users on the same frequency TDMA: IS-136, GSM Each user occupies a specific frequency but only during an assigned time slot. The frequency is used by other users during other time slots. CDMA Each user occupies a signal on a particular frequency simultaneously with many other users, but is uniquely distinguishable by correlation with a special code used only by this user

Frequency Reuse Pattern

Three types of frequency reuse patterns 7 Cell reuse pattern 4 cell reuse pattern 3 cell reuse pattern

3 Site Reuse Pattern

c2 c1 c3 a2 a1 a3 Cell Re-use c1 c2 c3 b1 b3 b2

FREQUENCY RE - USE
Frequency Re-use

2 7 1 6 5 3 4

D Cell Dia = R

D=R

(3N)

where N is Cluster size

7/21 cell cluster

Principal Of Sectorization
Omni Directional Cells 120 degree Sectors 60 Degree sectors Each Sector in a Site has its own allocation of Radio Carriers Advantage By frequent reuse of frequency more capacity can be achieved

Frequency Hopping
5

Multipath Fading results in variations in signal strength which is known as Rayleigh Fading. Rayleigh Fading phenomenon is dependent on path difference and hence frequency of reception. A fast moving mobile may not experience severe effect of this fading since the path difference is continuously changing. A slow moving mobile ( or a halted mobile ) may experience severe deterioration in quality. But, if the frequency of reception is changed when this problem occurs, could solve it. The fading phenomenon is fast and almost continuos, this means the frequency change should also be continuos. This process of continuously changing frequency is known as Frequency Hopping.

Frequency Hopping
5 5 5 5 5 5

Frequency Hopping is done in both Uplink and Downlink . Frequency is changed in every TDMA Frame Mobile can Hop on maximum 64 frequencies The sequence of Hopping can be Cyclic or Non-Cyclic There are 63 Non-Cyclic Hopping sequences possible Different Hopping sequence can be used in the same cell.

BCH Timeslot can never HOP, but the remaining Timeslots can very well hop.

Frequency Hopping
Reduction in Average Interference
5 5

With Frequency Hopping consistent interference will become bursty. So even though, both the co-channel cells will be using the same set of ARFCN's for Hopping, interference will not be continuos. This is because, GSM cells are not Frame synchronized, and change in frequency is related to Frame nos. If same HSN is used in two cells, then either the interference will be nil , or if a phase correlation exists then it will be continuos. So the two cells should preferably use different HSN's . Sectorial cells ( controlled by the same BTS) can use same HSN, since the sectors don't come up at the same time. Cells if they are synchronized, can use same HSN, if each cell has an offset of some TDMA frames. Offset of TDMA frames is also required to avoid SACCH occurring at the same time in all synchronized cells, as they kills away the objective of DTX.

5 5

Cell Sectorisation
b2 b1 a2
OMNI CELL
1 ANTENNA

b3

a1 a6 a5
60O CELLS
6 ANTENNAS

a3 a4

120O CELLS
3 ANTENNAS

Features of GSM
Compatibility Noise Robust Increased Capacity & Flexibility Use of Standard Open Interfaces Improved Security & Confidentiality Cleaner Handovers Subscriber Identification ISDN Compatibility Enhanced Range of Services

Handovers
Hard Handoff Analog, TDMA and GSM Soft Handoff CDMA

Break before Make

Make before Break

Handovers
197 113 200 199

187 198 214 215 171 70 225 18 20 175 22 216 7 41 11 218 75 132 221 213 220 219 8 32 28 24 40 120 19 80 182 69 13 73 16 17 222 44 12 71 173 181 25 201

Cleaner Handovers
The mobile measures up to 32 adjacent cells for Signal Strength (RxLevel) Signal Quality (RxQual) updated every 480 mS and sends to BTS Sophisticated Handover based on RxLevel Interference RxQual Timing Advance Power Budget

GSM NETWORK ELEMENTS

BSC
OML

i Ab s
BTS BT S BTS BT S BTS BT BTS BT S BTS BT

OMC OM

C A
TRAU

VMSC VMS
HLR HL AUC C AU

BTS BT S BTS BT S

MSC MS

S
BTS BT S MS

R VLR VL R
BC

C EIR EI R

SMSC SMS

BSC PSTN

B C

Mobile Station Identities

MSISDN : Human Identity used to call a Mobile Station MSRN : Mobile Station CC NDC SN Roaming No

98

XXX

12345

IMSI : Network Identity unique to a SIM

3 2 10 digits digits MCC MNC digits MSIN

TMSI : Identity unique in a LAI

404 TAC

XX FAC

12345 SNR S

IMEI: Serial number unique to every Mobile Station

6 digits 2 digits 6 digits 1 digit

GSM Network Components

Mobile Station consists of two parts Mobile Equipment (ME) Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) ME Hardware e.g. Telephone, Fax Machine, Computer. SIM Smart Card which plugs into the ME.

ME (Classmark Information)
Revision Level Phase of the GSM specs ME comply with. RF Power Capability Max power ME is able to Transmit. Ciphering Algorithm Used Presently A5 Phase 2 specifies Algorithms A5/0 to A5/7. Frequency Capability SMS Capability

Mobile Equipment
Class
1 2 3 4 5

Power O/p
20 W 8W 5W 2W 0.8 W Typical Settings

SIM(IMSI)
IMSI(International Mobile Subscriber Identity)
Transmitted over Air Interface on initialization Permanently stored on SIM card 15 digit Decimal

SIM (TMSI)
Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity Periodically changed by the System Management on instances like location update etc. Reason for use of TMSI To prevent a possible intruder from identifying GSM users, TMSI is used Management Assignment, Administration & Updating is performed by VLR.

Transcoder
Converts 64 Kbps PCM circuits from MSC to 16 Kbps BSS circuits. Each 30 channel 2 Mbps PCM link can carry 120 GSM specified voice channels.

Base Station System (BSS)

BSS (Base Station System)
BSC (Base Site Controller) BTS (Base Transceiver Station) XCDR (Transcoder)

XCDR

Network Switching System (NSS)

BSC

BTS

Base Station System (BSS)

BSC Controls upto 40 BTS Conveys information to/from BTS Connects terrestrial circuits & Air Interface Channels Controls handovers between BTSs under itself BTS Contains RF Hardware Limited control functionality 1 - 6 carriers in a BTS Cabinet 7 - 48 simultaneous calls per BTS

BSS Configuration
Collocated BTS Remote BTS Star Configuration Daisy Chain BTS
BSC BTS BTS BTS B T S

Loop Configuration
BTS BSC BTS

All BTS on 1 E1

BTS

Network Switching System(NSS)

NSS (Network Switching System) MSC (Mobile Switching Centre) HLR (Home Location Register) VLR (Visitor Location Register) EIR (Equipment Identity Register) AUC (Authentication Centre) IWF (Interworking Function) EC (Echo Canceller)

GSM Network Component

MSC Call Switching Operation & Management Support Internetwork Interworking Collects call billing data Gateway MSC MSC which provides interface between PSTN & BSSs in the GSM Network.

Home Location Register (HLR)

Reference database for the Subscriber profiles Subscriber ID (IMSI & MSISDN) Current VLR Address Supplementary Services subscribed Supplementary Service Information Subscriber Status (Registered/deregistered) Authentication Key and AUC functionality TMSI MSRN

Visitor Location Register (VLR)

Temporary Data, which exists as long as the subscriber is active in a particular Coverage area. Contains the following Mobile Status (Busy/ Free/ No Answer/etc.) Location Area Identity (LAI) TMSI MSRN (Mobile Station Roaming Number)

Equipment Identity Register (EIR) Contains Database for validating IMEI

White List (valid ME) Black List (Stolen ME) Grey List (Faulty ME)

Inter Working Function

Provides function to enable the GSM System to interface with Public/Private Data Networks. The basic feature of the IWF are
Rate Conversion Protocol adaptation

IWF incorporates Modem Bank. e.g. GSM DTE

IWF

PSTN DTE
Analogue Modem

Echo Canceller
Echo is apparent only in Mobile - Land conversation & is generated at the 2 wire to 4 wire interface. To avoid it, Echo Canceller (EC) is used.
Echo is irritating to MS Subscriber Total Round Trip delay of 180 ms in the GSM system EC is placed on the PSTN side of the Switch Cancellation up to 68 ms with EC

Operation & Maintenance Centre

Event & Alarm Management Fault Management Performance Management Configuration Management Security Management

GSM Terrestrial Interfaces

Broadly classified into two types of interfaces Standard Interfaces 2 Mbps Trunks (E1) Signalling System No. 7 SS7 ( CCS7) X.25 (Packet Switched Mode) GSM Interfaces

GSM Interfaces
Um Abis A B C D E F G H MS BTS BSC MSC MSC VLR MSC MSC VLR HLR - BTS - BSC - MSC - VLR - HLR - HLR - MSC - EIR - VLR - AUC

GSM Protocol Layers

GSM protocols are basically divided into three layers:

Layer 1: Physical layer

Enables physical transmission (TDMA, FDMA, etc.) Assessment of channel quality Except on the air interface (GSM Rec. 04.04), PCM 30 or ISDN links are used (GSM Rec. 08.54 on Abis interface and 08.04 on A to F interfaces).

Layer 2: Data link layer

Multiplexing of one or more layer 2 connections on control/signaling channels Error detection (based on HDLC) Flow control Transmission quality assurance Routing

Layer 3: Network layer

Connection management (air interface) Management of location data Subscriber identification Management of added services (SMS, call forwarding, conference calls, etc.)

Basic Processes
AUTHENTICATION CIPHERING REGISTRATION CALL ESTABLISHMENT HANDOVER / HANDOFF ROAMING

AUTHENTICATION ALGORITHM
NSS

HLR AUC

Ki

AUTH. ALGORITHMS A3

SRES

COMPARE

RAND

AIR INTERFACE
RAND SRES

MS

SIM MS

Ki

AUTH. ALGORITHMS A3

Ciphering
Data protection is required on air interface. A specific key called Ciphering Key (Kc), is generated from RAND and A8 algorithm. A8 is on the SIM.

Ki

RAND

A8
Kc

Ciphering

Kc
Data

Kc Ciphered Data

A5

A5

Data

Transmission Media
Access Network Microwave 15 /23 GHz Backbone Network Microwave 7 GHz Optical Fibers Leased Line( From Dot or any other service provider on any media)

Optical Fiber
Different Possible Combinations Mono Mode Step Index 10 / 125 m Mono Mode Graded index Multi Mode Step Index 100 / 300 m Multi Mode Graded Index 75 / 130 m Mono Mode Graded Index would have been the best but fabrication not possible 140 Mbps OLTE , Mono Mode Step Index in our case

Channels On Air Interface

Physical Channel Logical Channel Physical Channel Physical channel is the medium over which the information is carried. Logical Channel Logical channels consists of the information carried over the Physical Channel.

LOGICAL CHANNELS
3
3 T

Normal Burst
57 encrypted 1 26 1 S training S 577S 57 encrypted 3 T 8.25 GP

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
577S x 8 = 4.615mS

TDMA Frame

26 Frame Multi-frame

GSM Channels

Traffic Channel
Traffic Channels TCH/F Full rate 22.8kbits/s Connection may be: - Circuit Switched - voice or data TCH may be: Full Rate (TCH/F) - one channel per user - 13 kb/s voice, 9.6 kb/s data Half Rate (TCH/H) - one channel shared between two users or or - Packet Switched data

Time is divided into discrete TCH/H periods called Timeslots Half rate 11.4 kbits/s

TCH carries payload data - speech, fax, data

Control Channel
Control Channels BCH ( Broadcast channels ) Downlink only CCCH(Common Control Chan) Downlink & Uplink DCCH(Dedicated Channels) Downlink & Uplink

BCCH
Broadcast control channel

Synch. Channels

Random Access Channel

RACH

Cell Broadcast Channel

CBCH

SDCCH
Standalone dedicated control channel

Associated Control Channels

ACCH

Frequency Correction channel

FCCH

Paging/Access grant

PCH/ AGCH

FACCH

Fast Associated Control Channel

Slow associated Control Channel

SACCH

SCH
Synchronization channel

Broadcast Channels (BCH)

BCH channels are all downlink and are allocated to timeslot zero. Channels are: FCCH: Frequency control channel sends the mobile a burst of all 0 bits which allows it to fine tune to the downlink frequency SCH: Synchronization channel sends the absolute value of the frame number (FN), which is the internal clock of the BTS, together with the Base Station Identity Code (BSIC) BCCH: Broadcast Control Channel sends radio resource management and control messages, Location Area Code and so on. Some messages go to all mobiles, others just to those that are in the idle state

Common Control Channels (CCCH)

CCCH contains all point to multi-point downlink channels (BTS to several MSs) and the uplink Random Access Channel: CBCH: Cell Broadcast Channel is an optional channel for general information such as road traffic reports sent in the form of SMS PCH: Paging Channel sends paging signal to inform mobile of a call RACH: Random Access Channel is sent by the MS to request a channel from the BTS or accept a handover to another BTS. A channel request is sent in response to a PCH message. AGCH: Access Grant Channel allocates a dedicated channel (SDCCH) to the mobile NCH: Notification Channel informs MS about incoming group or broadcast calls

Dedicated Control Channels (DCCH)

SDCCH( Standalone Dedicated Control Channel ) Uplink and Downlink Used for call setup, location update and SMS. SACCH( Slow Associated Control Channel ) Used on Uplink and Downlink only in dedicated mode. Uplink SACCH messages - Measurement reports. Downlink SACCH messages - control info. FACCH( Fast Associated Control Channel ) Uplink and Downlink. Associated with TCH only.

BURST
The Time Slots are arranged in a sequence , conventionally numbered 0 to 7. Each repetition of this sequence is called a TDMA Frame. The information content carried in one time slot is called a burst.

BURST
Information Main Area where the Speech, Data or Control info is held Guard Period To enable the burst to hit the time slot (0.031ms) Stealing Flags 2 bits are set when TCH is to stolen by a FACCH Training Sequence For estimation of transfer characteristics of physical media Tail Bits Used to indicate beginning and end of the burst.

GSM Burst & TDMA Frame

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
FRAME 1 FRAME 2

Information Training Sequence TAIL BITS

GUARD PERIOD

Information TAIL BITS

GUARD PERIOD

Five Types of Burst

Normal Burst Traffic & Control Channels Frequency Correction Burst FCCH Synchronization Burst SCH Dummy Burst BCCH Carrier Access Burst RACH Uplink Downlink Downlink Downlink Bi-directional

Call Scenarios
Mobile to Mobile Intra-city Inter-city Mobile to Land Intra-city Inter-city Land to Mobile Intra-city Inter-city

Mobile To Land Sequence

MS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
CHANNEL REQUEST DCCH ASSIGN SIGNALLING LINK ESTABLISHED REQUEST FOR SERVICE AUTHENTICATION SET CIPHER MODE SET-UP EQUIPMENT ID REQUEST SDCCH SDCCH RACH AGCH

BSS

MSC

VLR

HLR

PSTNEIR

CR

CC

Call Info

Call Contt.
8 9
COMPLELTE CALL CALL PROCEEDING ASSIGNMENT COMMAND SDCCH (channel) FAACH (TCH)

BSS MS SDCCH

MS C

VLR HLR PSTN EIR

(circuit)

ASSIGNMENT COMPLELTE INITIAL & FINAL ADDRESS (IFAM) ASSIGNMENT COMPLETE (ACM) ALTERING 10 MS HEARS RINGTONE FROM LAND PHONE ANSWER(ANS)

FACCH

Hello!
FACCH FACCH TCH

11 CONNECT

RING TONE STOPS

CONNECT ACKNOWLEDGE

BILLING STARTS

Supplementary Services
Calling Line Identification Present Absent Connect Line Identification Present Absent Closed User Group - CUG Only incoming Only outgoing Operator Controlled Barring

Data Services
Data rates supported as of today
2.4 Kbps 4.8 Kbps

are

9.6 Kbps

GPRS & EDGE implementation takes the data

capability to higher level of the order of 184 kbps and more

Customer..Expectation
Good coverage where ever he goes Good quality No blocking Value added services
SMS Voice mail MMS Call forward/call waiting Data/internet at high data rates prepaid

Basic Network Design Objectives

The basic objectives of a wireless system are: COVERAGE: provide sufficient cell sites to deliver RF coverage of the entire desired area. BUILDING/VEHICLE PENETRATION: deliver sufficient signal levels to adequately penetrate buildings and vehicles where appropriate. TRAFFIC: ensure that no cell captures more traffic than it can handle at the desired grade of service (i.e., blocking percentage) PERFORMANCE: design, construct, and adjust the network to deliver reliable service free from excessive origination and call delivery failures, dropped calls, quality impairments, and service outages. ECONOMICS: provide return on investment sufficient to support operating and capital expenses, expand the network to take advantage of growth opportunities, and retire costs of construction prior to depreciation of the network equipment.

High Level Design

Inputs Coverage objectives Area coverage objectives Coverage penetration objectives Morphology data/clutter information Terrain data and Vector maps Traffic objectives Number of subscribers defined Traffic per subscriber defined Desired grade of service defined City regulations BTS Hardware specifications Link Budget Business and Logistical objectives Capital budget Timing: launch data Operating revenue Vs. total costs Output Cell database and traffic model Composite coverage plot Equal power handoff boundaries plot

Background Issues Impacting System Design

Site acquisition Availability of suitable candidate (building or land) Owner interest Cost of leasing Frequency clearance (SACFA) Government authority approval Space constraints and other construction issues Candidate Location line of sight to the objective Clutter type Terrain variations Physical Blocking buildings, hoardings Water Mumbai High end, high traffic areas are very close to water. Makes RF design much more challenging Deviation from desired location impacts surrounding site locations

Design considerations of Network (GSM/CDMA)

Understand geographical area as per license agreement Define coverage expectations in terms On road coverage In-building coverage (different penetration margins) Capacity considerations busy hour per subscriber call attempts and minutes of use (Erlangs) 1 Erlang is 1 call of 1 hour duration Decide number of sites based on coverage capacity requirement Propagation tools used for this analysis Finalize exact site locations after field survey Initiate candidate identification process Site acquisition/antenna positioning Modify existing design if site location changes

Flow Chart for Network Deployment

Market Requirement

System/Site Dimensioning Propagation model verification RF &Network Planning

Site Search Plan

Site Search & Selection

Site Acquisition Performance Monitoring

Site Build

Traffic & Growth Analysis

Operational Network

System Optimisation

Site Coverage Confirmation

GSM Planning Steps

Various steps are listed below
CW survey Model Tuning Nominal Planning RF site Surveys Realized Planning Frequency Planning

Implementation Optimization
Drive Testing Performance Analysis

Nominal Planning
It consists of planning a set of sites on planning tool so as to predict the coverage of the target area Tool needs to be made intelligent so as to predict the coverage as close as possible to actual coverage Coverage plots are based on customer intension of providing indoor and outdoor coverage

Mumbai Coverage Expectation Boundary

Coverage Maps Reverse Link.

Mazgaon

Indoor Coverage: Penetration Margin Legend

Malabar Hill

>=30dB:: 3-4 wall coverage 25-30dB : 3 Wall Coverage 23-25 dB : 2-3 Wall Coverage 18-23dB: 2-3 Wall Coverage 16-18 dB : 2 Wall Coverage 8-16dB : 1-2wall Coverage 08 dB : On Road-1 Wall Coverage

00 dB : On Road/No Coverage

Colaba

Composite Coverage Plot

Propagation models are used to predict coverage from a particular site A composite coverage plot shows the overall coverage produced by each sector in the field of view The color of each pixel corresponds to the signal level of the strongest server at that point Such plots are useful for identifying coverage holes and overall coverage extent

Clutter Types
Clutter types
Dense Urban Urban Sub Urban Rural Water Vegetation Industrial Forest

RF surveys
Each nominal has a search ring defined by the RF Planner Candidates needs to be identified as close as possible to the nominal within the search ring Height, orientations & antenna placement at site are the key RF parameter which are based upon the coverage requirement in the area Major obstructions and clutter type in various directions to be observed on RF survey

RF surveys
Equipment required for RF Survey
GPS Digital Camera Binoculars Magnetic Compass

There might be 3 or more candidates surveys for one site Each candidate would have an RF survey form and panoramic associated with it

Drive Testing
Drive testing is an important activity to get statistics & graphs on coverage, quality & capacity in the downlink direction Drive test setup DT tool, Engineering Handset, GPS, accessories Call in 2 modes Dedicated while the mobile is on call Idle while the mobile is idle Important parameters observed during drive testing Coverage Rx level (Full & Sub) Quality RxQual & SQI Handover, Dropped call, Neighbor list, TA

Selecting and Tuning Propagation Models

Parameters of propagation models must be adjusted for best fit to actual drive-test measured data in the area where the model is applied The figure at right shows drivetest signal strengths obtained using a test transmitter at an actual test site Tools automate the process of comparing the measured data with its own predictions, and deriving error statistics Prediction model parameters then can be tuned to minimize observed error

Drive Test Screen

What is Performance Optimization?

The words performance optimization mean different things to different people, viewed from the perspective of their own jobs System Performance Optimization includes many different smaller processes at many points during a systems life recognizing and resolving system-design-related issues (cant build a crucial site, too much overlap/soft handoff, coverage holes, etc.) cluster testing and cell integration to ensure that new base station hardware works and that call processing is normal fine-tuning system parameters to wring out the best possible call performance identifying causes of specific problems and customer complaints, and fixing them carefully watching system traffic growth and the problems it causes - implementing short-term fixes to ease hot spots, and recognizing problems before they become critical

Optimization
Optimisation is an ongoing process of analysing network performance against Quality of Service targets:

Performance
Measurements of network performance cover: Traffic in erlangs TCH and SDCCH Grade of Service (Congestion) Call success rate Handover failure Coverage area Coverage quality Subscriber base and growth Key Performance Indicators (KPI) are measurable dynamic parameters that help to target areas of concern

KPIs
Appropriate KPIs to use depend on: The nature of the network Data sources available Measurement tools available Ability of engineering team Cost of network infrastructure Sources of data include: Surveyed data - from drive tests Network statistics - from OMC Field engineer reports

Radio Interface Optimization

Transmission Timing Power Control VAD Voice Activity Detector and DTX Multipath Fading Equalization Diversity Frequency Hopping Antenna Parameters ( Height, Azimuth, Tilts )

Antenna Tilts

Antenna Tilts

Benchmarking
Surveyed data from test-mobile measurements can be used to benchmark system performance against that of a competitor Problems that may be identified from surveyed data: Poor coverage Unexpected interference Missing handover definitions Installation problems at BTS Test-mobile measurements should include: continuous calls to test coverage repetitive short calls to test call-success

Overview
RF Planning Tool Drive Test Tool Optimization Tool MapInfo