WCDMA Network Performance

Optimisation Based on Analysis

of Network Statistics
Ari Lehtinen
Supervisor: Professor Riku Jntti

Omnitele Ltd. 2007

Contents

Background
Research problem
Research methods
Optimisation process
Measuring network performance
Results
Case study
Conclusions
Future research

Omnitele Ltd. 2007

Background

WCDMA network performance needs to be monitored and

optimised as traffic in networks is increasing
Network monitoring is based on correctly defined KPIs
KPI definitions for WCDMA networks are immature
Network statistics (KPIs) are needed in network performance
optimisation

Omnitele Ltd. 2007

Research problem
How to monitor WCDMA network performance and how to
use the monitoring information to optimise the network
performance?
Objectives:
Define the KPIs that measure the radio network
performance in WCDMA networks
Examine how to use the defined KPIs in radio
network performance optimisation

Omnitele Ltd. 2007

Research methods

Literature study
Various technical specifications
Several books and publications
Interviews
Radio network planners
Radio network experts
Case study
Optimisation of an operators live network

Omnitele Ltd. 2007

Optimisation process

Reasons that lead to optimisation :

Improve the performance
Business reasons (cost-effective)
Troubleshooting

Omnitele Ltd. 2007

Measuring network performance

Network statistics
Key Performance Indicators (KPI)

Field measurements
Drive tests
Interface probes

End user feedback

Omnitele Ltd. 2007

Network statistics

Network statistics are collected from different network elements

with counters
Different types of counters are used
KPIs are needed to provide information of the network
performance
Raw counter data too detailed to be used in monitoring and
optimisation (Some counters can be used as KPIs)

Omnitele Ltd. 2007

Defining the KPIs

KPIs are composed from several counters

KPI categories
Accessibility
Retainability
Integrity

Documentation of KPIs is important

Same KPI can be defined from different counters or formula can be
incorrect

Measurement period must be reasonable

Too much averaging if too long
Not enough statistical information if too short

Omnitele Ltd. 2007

Results
Category

A set of KPIs
Optimisation based on KPIs:
Optimisation is performed for
each category
Find the worst performing cells
Find the reasons behind the poor
performance
Make the changes in the network
Monitor the performance after the
changes

A case study was conducted in

order to verify the applicability
and practicability of the guideline
and the defined set of KPIs
Omnitele Ltd. 2007

10

Accessibility

Retainability

Integrity

KPI Name
Paging failure rate
Paging Intensity
RRC connection setup success rate
RAB setup success rate
Setup success rate
RRC connection blocking rate
RAB blocking rate
Congestion
Cell downtime
RRC connection drop rate
RAB drop rate
Drop due to system rate
Active set update success rate
Soft handover overhead
Outgoing CS inter-RAT handover success rate
Incoming CS inter-RAT handover success rate
Outgoing PS inter-RAT handover success rate
Incoming PS inter-RAT handover success rate
Inter-Frequency handover success rate
Hard HSDPA cell change success rate
Drop rate for drops due missing neighbours
UL DCH BLER before combining
UL DCH BLER after combining
UL DPDCH BER
Retransmission rate
Total CS traffic
Total payload traffic
Throughput
Spreading factor usage
Code allocation failure rate
Number of users
Total downlink TX power
Downlink TX power
Downlink transmitted code power
Average uplink RSSI
Uplink RSSI
Channel switching success rate
Downswitching due to system
Compressed mode users
Compressed mode start to handover rate

Case Study

A case study was conducted in live network

Purpose was to test the KPIs in practise
The number of KPIs was limited due to operator
Also field measurements was performed in order to find the
reasons for the poor performance, due to limited set of KPIs
The performance of the network was improved

Omnitele Ltd. 2007

11

Case study:High dropped call rate

25

80,00

70,00

35,00

300

30,00

250

25,00

200

20,00
[%]

Worst performing cells

Cell A was the worst
performing cell

350

150

15,00

100

10,00

50

5,00

20

0,00
Cell A Cell B Cell C Cell D Cell E

60,00

40,00
10

30,00

20,00
5
10,00

0,00

4.
12
.
5.
12
.
6.
12
.
7.
12
.
8.
12
.
9.
12
.
10
.1
2.
11
.1
2.
12
.1
2.
13
.1
2.
14
.1
2.
15
.1
2.
16
.1
2.
17
.1
2.

Date

Omnitele Ltd. 2007

12

[%]

50,00

15

Number of Dropped Calls (left)

Dropped Call Rate (right)

Cell F Cell G Cell H

Cell I

Cell J

Number of Dropped Calls (left)

Dropped Call Rate (right)

Case study:High dropped call rate

Solution:
Most common drop reasons are incorrect HO parameters, interference or
lack of coverage
Handover KPIs were checked, but the KPIs were ok no incorrect HO
parameters
Since the cell was located in the city area, the coverage was assumed to
be ok. The high number of drops indicated that the drops was not caused
by lack of indoor coverage.
Interference was the most probable cause. Since the KPI set was limited,
field measurements were performed.
Field measurements showed that there was a neighbour relation missing
between Cell A and a another cell.
Every cell that is not defined as neighbour to the serving cell, is seen as
interference by the mobile.
If the signal strength of the other cell is strong enough, the call is disconnected
by the network. The call can also drop due to interference caused by the
interfering cell.

This problem would been possible to detect with the KPI defined for drops
due to missing neighbours.

Omnitele Ltd. 2007

13

Case study:High dropped call rate

Omnitele Ltd. 2007

14

20

40,00

18

35,00

16
30,00
14
25,00

12
10

20,00

15,00

6
10,00
4
5,00

2
0

0,00
1.1. 2.1. 3.1. 4.1. 5.1. 6.1. 7.1. 8.1. 9.1. 10.1. 11.1. 12.1. 13.1. 14.1.
Date

[% ]

After the reason for high

dropped call rate was
found, the missing
neighbour relation was
defined
The change improved
the performance of the
Cell A greatly and also
the performance of the
other cell was improved
There are no dropped
calls in Cell A after the
change

Number of Dropped Calls (left)

Dropped Call Rate (right)

Conclusions

Monitoring and optimisation is important part of operating and

maintaining WCDMA networks
Increased traffic rises new problems for the operators
Right KPIs and proper use of the KPIs will help to maintain and
improve the performance of WCDMA networks
Case study showed that the KPIs and the guideline are
applicable to be used in practise, however the case study was
limited to basic KPIs that the operator had. The use of whole
KPI set will give more information on the performance of the
WCDMA radio network

Omnitele Ltd. 2007

15

Future research

Performance measurement and KPI standards are quite

immature yet, more work needs to be done
The implementation of counters vary between different vendors,
the same KPI definitions are not applicable in different networks
The set of counters are not as mature as for example in GSM
networks. More counters are needed to be able to define more
KPIs
New network features (HSPA) need new counters and new
KPIs. The development of the KPIs is needed constantly

Omnitele Ltd. 2007

16