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GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
Product Name
Confidentiality Level
G3BSC
INTERNAL
Product Version
Total 44 pages
INTERNAL
Prepared by
Date
2008-6-28
Su Shi
Reviewed by
Date
Reviewed by
Date
Granted by
Date
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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Contents
1 Overview of the TCH Call Drop Rate....................................6
1.1 Meaning.................................................................................................................................................6
1.2 Recommended Formulas.......................................................................................................................6
1.3 Signaling Procedure and Measurement Points......................................................................................8
4 Test Methods.................................................................... 30
5 Remarks About the Signaling Analysis of the TCH Call Drop
Rate.................................................................................... 30
6 Cases for TCH Call Drop Rate Optimization.........................33
6.1 Case 1: Call Drop Due to Interference................................................................................................33
6.2 Case 2: Call Drop Due to Imbalance Between Uplink and Downlink................................................34
6.3 Case 3: Call Drop Due to Repeater Problem.......................................................................................34
6.4 Case 4: Call Drop Due to Coverage....................................................................................................35
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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Figures
Figure 1.1Immediate assignment procedure............................8
Figure 1.2Assignment procedure............................................8
Figure 1.3 Intra-BSC handover procedure................................9
Figure 1.4 Incoming BSC handover procedure..........................9
Figure 1.5Procedures for analyzing high TCH call drop rate....16
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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Revision Record
Date
Revision Version
Change Description
Author
2008-6-28
0.8
Draft completed.
Su Shi
2008-7-26
1.0
Su Shi
References
S
N
Document Name
Author
Date
Chen
Baolin
2005-3-11
Xie Haibin
2008-6-18
Wu Zhen
2007-6-22
Yang
Jixiang
2008-3-26
Yang Bin
2002-3-7
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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Expansion
TCH
Traffic Channel
MS
Mobile Station
BSC
KPI
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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1.1 Meaning
The TCH call drop rate refers to the ratio of call drops to successful TCH seizures
after the BSC successfully assigns TCHs to MSs. The TCH call drop rate can be
measured from the following aspects:
The TCH call drop rate, one of the most significant KPIs for telecom operators, is
related to retainability. It indicates the probability of call drops due to various
reasons after MSs access TCHs. A too high TCH call drop rate adversely affects
the user's experience.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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x 100%
TCH call drop rate (excluding handover) = Number of call drops on TCH/Number
of successful TCH seizures (TCH) x 100%
Through the analysis of each pair of formulas, you can find out that the TCH call
drop rate (including handover) is lower than the TCH call drop rate (excluding
handover) irrespective of the BSC model (BSC32 or BSC6000). The following
takes the formulas for the BSC32 as an example. The number of call drops on TCH
is small during the very early assignment procedure. Therefore, the difference
between the numerator of the formula for the TCH call drop rate (including
handover) and that of the formula for the TCH call drop rate (excluding handover)
can be omitted. Including the TCH seizures in the case of handovers, the
denominator of the formula for the TCH call drop rate (including handover) is
greater than the denominator of the formula for the TCH call drop rate (excluding
handover). Therefore, the result of the formula for the TCH call drop rate
(including handover) is smaller than that of the formula for the TCH call drop rate
(excluding handover).
For details, refer to the GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Baseline.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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SABM: Set Asynchronous Balanced Mode. A message which establishes the signalling link over the air interface.
UA : Unnumbered Acknowledgment. A message sent from the MS to the BSS to acknowledge release of radio resources
when a call is being cleared.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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The meanings of the measurement points in the these figures are as follows:
TCH-SUCC-A: indicates the number of successful TCH seizures.
TCH-SUCC-B: indicates the number of successful incoming internal inter-cell handovers
plus the number of successful internal intra-cell handovers.
ACT :activation
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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Hardware failure
Transmission problem
Version upgrade
Parameter setting
Coverage problem
Repeater problem
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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The parameters SACCH Multi-Frames and Radio Link Timeout are set to
too small values.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The length of timer T3103 (this timer is set to wait for a Handover
Complete message) is set to a too small value.
6.
The length of timer T3109 (this timer is set to wait for a Release
Indication message) is set to a too small value.
7.
The length of timer T3111 (this timer specifies the connection release
delay) is set to a too small value.
8.
9.
The parameter TCH Traffic Busy Threshold is set to a too small value.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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to No.
2.
3.
Repeater interference
4.
5.
The voice quality at the edge of an isolated BTS is poor and calls cannot be
handed over to other cells. In this case, call drops may occur.
In complex terrains such as mountainous regions, the signals are blocked and thus
the transmission is discontinuous, leading to call drops.
2.
Densely distributed buildings and thick walls cause great attenuation and low
indoor signal level, which causes call drops.
3.
The serving cell causes cross coverage due to various reasons (such as
excess power). An MS cannot be handed over to another cell due to no
suitable neighboring cells. In this case, the signal level becomes low and
the voice quality of the MS deteriorates. Thus, call drops occur.
4.
Insufficient coverage
If the signal from an antenna is blocked or the BCCH TRX is faulty, call drops may
occur because of discontinuous coverage.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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2.
If a directional cell has main and diversity antennas, the BCCH and
SDCCH of the cell may be transmitted from different antennas. If the
two antennas have different pitch angles or azimuths, the coverage
areas of the two antennas are different. In this case, the following
result may occur: An MS can receive the BCCH signals from one
antenna; when a call is made, the MS cannot seize the SDCCH
transmitted by the other antenna and thus a call drop occurs.
3.
If the feeder is damaged, water leaks in the feeder, or the feeder and
the connector are not securely connected, both the transmit power and
receiver sensitivity of the antenna are reduced. Thus, call drops may
occur.
The tower mounted amplifier (TMA) or BTS amplifier does not work
properly.
As a result, call drops may occur at the edge of the BTS coverage area.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
Figure 1.5 Procedures for analyzing high TCH call drop rate
INTERNAL
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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Troubleshooting Procedure
The following sections describe the solutions to high TCH call drop rates.
The traffic measurement counters and KPIs in this document are the same
as those in the BSC6000V9R8C01B051 version.
Alarm Name
1000
2204
4414
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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3606
In addition, you can locate the fault by checking the traffic measurement
related to hardware failures.
Cause
BSC Level
Cell Level
Equipmen
t failure
Available TCHs
Configured TCHs
TCH Availability
Alarm Name
1000
11270
LAPD Alarm
11278
E1 Local Alarm
11280
E1 Remote Alarm
20081
20082
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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In addition, you can locate the fault by checking the traffic measurement
related to transmission failures.
Cause
BSC Level
Cell Level
Transmission failure
LAPD Measurement in
BSC Measurement
Channel Activation
Measurement per Cell in Call
Measurement:
CHAN ACTIV NACK
Messages Sent by BTS
Channel Activation Timeouts
Call Drop Measurement per
Cell in Call Measurement:
Measurement of Call Drops
Due to Abis Terrestrial Link
Failure
SACCH Multi-Frames
This parameter determines whether an uplink radio link is faulty. Each time the
BTS fails to decode the measurement report on the SACCH from the MS, the
counter decreases by 1. Each time the BTS successfully decodes the
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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value of this counter is 0, the BTS regards the radio link as faulty. In the
traffic measurement, if there are many call drops (M3101A) related to radio
link failure, you can infer that the radio propagation conditions are poor. In
this case, you can set this parameter to a greater value.
2.
RXLEV_ACCESS_MIN
This parameter specifies the minimum receive level of an MS to access the BSS. If
this parameter is set to a too small value, some MSs with low receive levels
may access the network and call drops are likely to occur. You can set this
parameter to a great value to reduce the TCH call drop rate. The counters
such as call setup success rate and the counters related to traffic volume,
however, are accordingly affected.
4.
This parameter determines whether an MS can access the network over the RACH.
If this parameter is set to a too small value, some MSs with low signal levels
may access the network and call drops are likely to occur. You can set this
parameter to a great value to reduce the TCH call drop rate. The counters
such as call setup success rate and paging success rate, however, are
affected.
5.
The sum of the values of the two parameters specifies the minimum
downlink receive level of a candidate neighboring cell for a handover. If this
parameter is set to a too great value, some desired cells may be excluded from
the candidate cells; if this parameter is set to a too small value, an unwanted cell
may become the candidate cell. Both conditions may lead to the increase of call
drops.
6.
Timer T3101 series consists of T3103A, T3103C, and T8. These timers are
started to wait for a handover complete message. If the lengths of the
timers are set to small values, probably no message is received when timer
T3103 series expires. In this case, the BSC considers that the radio link in
the originating cell is faulty. Then, the BSC releases the channel in the
originating cell. Thus, call drops occur. In the traffic measurement, if many
call drops are related to handovers (CM331: Call Drops on Radio Interface
in Handover State), you can set this parameter to a greater value. If this
parameter is set to a too great value, channel resources are wasted and
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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Timer T3109
This parameter specifies the period for waiting for a Release Indication
message after the BSC sends a Channel Release message to the BTS. If
this parameter is set to a too small value, the link may be released before
the Release Indication message is received. As a result, a call drop occurs.
You can set this parameter to a greater value to reduce the TCH call drop
rate. It is recommended that timer T3109 be set to 12 seconds longer than
timer Radio Link Timeout.
8.
Timer T3111
This parameter specifies the interval between the time that the main
signaling link is disconnected and the time that a channel is deactivated.
The purpose is to reserve a period of time for repeated link disconnections. If this
timer is set to a too small value, a channel may be deactivated too early.
Thus, call drops increase.
9.
Timers T305 and T308 are used on the MSC side. Timer T305 specifies the
period during which the MSC monitors the on-hook procedure. Timer T308
specifies the period during which the MSC monitors the resource release
procedure. You should set the two parameters when adding BSC data. Note
that the modification of the data in the timer table does not take effect. If
timers T305 and T308 are set to invalid or great values, the MSC clears the
call a long time after the MS hangs up. After the T3103 and Radio Link
Timeout timers expire, the number of call drops is increased and thus the
TCH call drop rate is significantly affected.
10. TCH Traffic Busy Threshold
If the current channel seizure ratio exceeds the value of this parameter, the
BSC preferentially assigns a half-rate channel to a dualrate-enabled call.
Otherwise, the BSC assigns a full-rate channel to the dualrate-enabled call.
Compared with a full-rate channel, a half-rate channel has weak antiinterference capabilities. Therefore, if a large number of half-rate channels
are assigned, the TCH call drop rate increases. It is recommended that this
parameter should not be set to a too small value if congestion is unlikely to
occur.
11.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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If the power control level and quality threshold are set to small values, call
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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drops are likely to occur because of low signal level or bad voice quality.
17. T200 and N200
If the parameters T200 FACCH/F, T200 FACCH/H, N200 of FACCH/Full
rate, and N200 of FACCH/Half rate are set to small values, data links are
disconnected too early. Thus, all drops are likely to occur. If call drops occur
because of T200 expiry, you can increase the values of T200 and N200
properly.
18. Neighboring cell relations
If the neighboring cells configured in the BA2 table are incomplete, call
drops are likely to occur in the case of no suitable neighboring cell for
handover and progressive deterioration in the voice quality. Neighboring cell
relations should be configured completely on the basis of the drive test data
and electronic map (for example, Nastar) to minimize the call drops due to
no available neighboring cells.
19. MAIO
If frequency hopping (FH) is applied in a cell and the MAIO is set
inappropriately (for example, different TRXs serving the same cell have the
same MAIO), frequency collision may occur during FH. Thus, the TCH call
drop rate increases.
20. Disconnect Handover Protect Timer
This parameter is a software parameter of the BSC. After receiving a
DISCONNECT message from an MS, the BSC cannot hand over the MS
within the period specified by this parameter. Therefore, the following case
can be avoided: After being handed over to the target cell, the MS cannot
be put on hook because it does not receive a release acknowledgement
message. You are advised to set this parameter properly.
21. TR1N
This parameter should be set on the MSC side. It is used to avoid the
retransmission of short messages. When this parameter is set to a too great
value, the MSC does not send a CLEAR CMD message if the MS receives
a short message during link disconnection. As a result, the MS sends the
BTS a DISC message to disconnect layer 2 connection. After receiving the
DISC message, the BTS sends a REL_IND message to the BSC. Then, the
BSC sends a CLEAR REQ message to the MSC and the number of call
drops is incremented by one.
22. Software Parameter 13 and MAX TA
When the parameter Software Parameter 13 is enabled and the parameter MAX
TA is set to a too small value, the channel is released when the TA of a call exceeds
the MAX TA. In this case, call drops occur. It is recommended that the
parameter Software Parameter 13 should not be enabled.
23. Directly Magnifier Site Flag
If a BTS is installed with repeaters, the handover between repeaters can only
be asynchronous because the distance between repeaters is long. If
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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synchronous handovers are performed, the handovers may fail and thus many
call drops occur. Therefore, when a BTS is installed with repeaters, the
You can check whether the data configuration is correct by viewing the
traffic measurement results.
The following table lists the traffic measurement counters related to
repeaters.
Cause
Cell Level
Parameters
TRX Level
Measurement of Power Control
Messages in MR
Measurement
Radio Link Failure
Measurement in MR
Measurement
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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Cell Level
TRX Level
Interference
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
Cause
Cell Level
Coverage
INTERNAL
TRX Level
TCHF Receive Level
Measurement per TRX
in MR Measurement
TCHH Receive Level
Measurement per TRX
in MR Measurement
If a coverage problem exists, you can solve the problem through the
following methods: adjusting the tilt of the antenna, increasing the transmit
power, adding repeaters, or changing the combining mode. For details,
refer to the GSM BSS Network Performance KPI (Coverage) Optimization
Manual.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
Cause
Cell Level
Antenna
system
INTERNAL
TRX Level
Measurement of Receive
Quality in MR
Measurement
Uplink-and-Downlink
Balance Measurement per
TRX in MR Measurement
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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Cause
Cell Level
TRX Level
Assignment
Measurement
per Cell in Call
Measurement:
Uplink-and-Downlink
Balance Measurement
per TRX in MR
Measurement
TCH
Assignment
Success Ratio
Success Rate of
Call
Establishment
Immediate
Assignment
Measurement
per Cell in Call
Measurement:
Success Rate of
Immediate
Assignments
Cell
Level
TRX Level
Repeate
r
None
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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Test Methods
The TCH call drop rate is one of retainability KPIs, which can be obtained
through registration of or reporting of the related traffic measurement
counters. In addition, the TCH call drop rate is one of key drive test
counters and it can be obtained through drive tests.
At present, the formula for the TCH call drop rate varies with device
manufacturer and with telecom operator, thus affecting the value of the
TCH call drop rate. During actual tests, you should register the specific
counters and use an appropriate formula to calculate the value of the TCH
call drop rate.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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Then, right-click the signaling of a call and choose Show Chart from the
shortcut menu, as shown in the following figure.
From the following figure, you can view such information as the uplink and
downlink receive level of the serving cell, uplink and downlink signal quality
of the serving cell, downlink receive level of neighboring cells, TA, MS
power, and BTS power. Based on the information, you can find out the
causes of call drops, such as insufficient downlink coverage and
interference.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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The tracing result (as shown in the previous figure) shows that the uplink
signal level is much lower than the downlink signal level. Therefore, call
drops occur.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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Before
Modification
After
Modification
PBGT HO Threshold
72
68
UL Qual. Threshold
70
60
Min DL Power on HO
Candidate Cell
10
15
You can adjust the handover parameters to reduce call drops in the
following ways:
1. If there is no frequent audio discontinuity or ping-pong handover, set the
parameters properly so that PBGT handovers can be easily performed,
thus minimizing the interference and reducing the call drop rate.
2. Set the emergency handover threshold properly so that emergency
handovers are triggered before call drops occur.
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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Example
Description
Software version
Data
configuration
table
*.dat file
Alarm
information
Traffic
measurement
Traffic measurement
results related to the
voice quality and the
balance between
uplink and downlink
Signaling
GSM BSS Network KPI (TCH Call Drop Rate) Optimization Manual
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Check Item
Example
Description
Others
Engineering parameter
table and electronic
map