People © Rach Laat seinem (sign —_ Oey) / ASSET ( Besin How to select the adequate planning tool for your 5G network design ! Rachid Lamal Solon Achtet at Efson RE pling tools ep Graton) Design and deployment of SG networks is already st td in many countries and much more design projects are expected in upcoming years, Vendors and independent software ‘companies providing operators and vendors with Wireless network design and optimization products are working very hard to get ther products SG ready! As network planning tools are yet to support full SG functionalities, iis required to select the adequate planning tool for your SG network design and optimization In this article, [wil introduce e main criteria to be checked and benchmark for different Planning tols available in market. The one which fulfill the project design rquirements will be selected Reports and Layers support Depends on your 5G network radio design requirements, it is important to check tha ll the required plots an statistics re supported by the selected planning tol. “Mos of planning tools support basic plots such SS-RSRP, SS-RSRQ and PDSCH CAIs) but if for example, we ae looking for some specif plats like "Best Control and Traffic Beata chanel ID", then some ofthe tools may not provide this information, Below figure is showing an example comparison and report mapping between two diferent Planning totsAs shown in above mapping, some of the reports are supported by planning tool 1 and not supported by planning 2 and verse versa ! 11s good to notice as well that any missing reports can be requested to the tool provider and ‘an be added but it may take time and addtional cost LTE Project migration to SG NR Easy conversion of an existing LTE project into 5G NR project will simplify the 5G project creation, Following figure is show 1n example of "Network Overlay Feature” in planning too! that ‘an easily convert LTE network group to SG NR network.EE Similar LTE Antennas and propagation model will be used, and Tabular Editor can be used set the SG network configuration, Frame Editor ‘Panning tools which provide more flexibility in seing different common contol channel (CCCH) overvead (RE) are preferable. The link budget calculation is based on vendor specific stings specially for common control channel (CCCH) and in some design project, itis required to sot the similar senting in planning tool fame editor 3D Propagation Models and Beam-forming Antennas As SG design require full 3D planning, the selected planning tool to provide propagation ‘models that support buildings and chter height information. The output indoor predictions are expected at mult story building. [Below figure is showing sample SD propagation models settings in wo different planning 100: In $G network, beamforming antenna are used or what is called "Massive MIMO : M- MIMO)", M-MIMO antenna paterns are formed of many subelement antennas integrated in one single physical antenna, Each antenna sub-elements generate narrow beams for one or ‘multiple users multiplexed in special domain, Each vendor (Ericsson , Huawei, Nokia.) are ‘having their own 3D beamforming antenna models, Existing planning tools are having their own default 3D beamforming antenna but it will be ‘etter to chock ifthe planning tol support the vendor specific 3D antenna pattems and it ‘canbe imported in planing tool format dirty [Below figure is showing sample default 3D beamforming antennaAutomatic Cel planning (ACP) ‘Most of planning tools support Automatic Cell planning (ACP) but what is require 1 cheek, isthe available optimization goal. For example, ifthe target isto optimize the 5G PDSCH (C/N), thea ACP should provide such settings flexibility Inbolow figure, we can see for example planning too | support "spectral efficiency” goal ‘where planning tool 2 doesn’t support it It is important to check thatthe expected ‘optimization goals are supported by the selected planning tol ‘The ACP should consider the 3D multi story-based optimization as wel, Monte Carlo Simulation (MIC) ‘To determine the newwork performance (User throughput, cell load, capacity.) the support ‘of SG Monte Carlo simulation by the planning tool is crucial. nis also good to check the available Monte C: lo simulation reports and plots, Detail information in MC output will help for optimum 5G design performance. Below figure is showine simple plannine tool MC simulation outout reports“The support of 3D based monte earlo simu LTE Live measurement Geo-location ‘Go0-located raster for LTE network such "user and payload map" can be use for SG design and Monte Carlo simulation or an input to enhance the SG traffic map creation. The geo- located RSRP can be converted toa vietal dive test (VT) ane wil be used to calibrate the propagation model Import vendor specifi traces format i important which can avoid ereating the geo-loca raster in another tool and then importing it in gener format into the planning too. Below are sample Geo-located reports and plot supported by a planning too “Thanks for eading and keep your comments ¢ Rochid Lamali o- Ske Deomment 9 share Te view oral 3 comment, signin More articles by this author meme ey See ee" is Plan, Troubleshoot and Pan PCL at (05) easy 56 Link Budget in cptimize in one singh... steps with Ato Short May 52020 Jan 3, 2020 Now 3.2019