4/4/24, 15:32 How to select the adequate planning tool for your 5G network design !

How to select the adequate planning tool

for your 5G network design !
Rachid Lamali Seguir
Solution Architect at Ericsson Spain
Fecha de publicación: 17 ago 2019

Design and deployment of 5G networks is already started 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 their products 5G ready!.

As network planning tools are yet to support full 5G functionalities, it is required to

select the adequate planning tool for your 5G network design and optimization.
Descargar la
Artículos Personas Learning Empleos
aplicación
In this article, I will introduce the main criteria to be checked and benchmark for
different planning tools available in market. The one which fulfill the project design

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-select-adequate-planning-tool-your-5g-network-design-rachid?trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_more-articles_relate… 1/11
4/4/24, 15:32 How to select the adequate planning tool for your 5G network design !

requirements will be selected.

Reports and Layers support

Depends on your 5G network radio design requirements, it is important to check that

all the required plots and statistics are supported by the selected planning tool.

Most of planning tools support basic plots such SS-RSRP, SS-RSRQ and PDSCH C/(I+N)
but if for example, we are looking for some specific plots like "Best Control and Traffic
Beam channel ID", then some of the tools may not provide this information.

Below figure is showing an example comparison and report mapping between two
different planning tools.

Recomendar Comentar Compartir 28

As shown in above mapping, some of the reports are supported by planning tool 1 and
not supported by planning 2 and verse versa !

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-select-adequate-planning-tool-your-5g-network-design-rachid?trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_more-articles_relate… 2/11
4/4/24, 15:32 How to select the adequate planning tool for your 5G network design !

It is good to notice as well that any missing reports can be requested to the tool
provider and can be added but it may take time and additional cost.

LTE Project migration to 5G NR

Easy conversion of an existing LTE project into 5G NR project will simplify the 5G
project creation.

Following figure is showing an example of "Network Overlay Feature" in planning tool

that can easily convert LTE network group to 5G NR network.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-select-adequate-planning-tool-your-5g-network-design-rachid?trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_more-articles_relate… 3/11
4/4/24, 15:32 How to select the adequate planning tool for your 5G network design !

Similar LTE Antennas and propagation model will be used, and Tabular Editor can be
used to set the 5G network configuration.

Frame Editor

Planning tools which provide more flexibility in setting different common control
channel (CCCH) overhead (#RE) are preferable. The link budget calculation is based on
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-select-adequate-planning-tool-your-5g-network-design-rachid?trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_more-articles_relate… 4/11
4/4/24, 15:32 How to select the adequate planning tool for your 5G network design !

vendor specific settings specially for common control channel (CCCH) and in some
design project, it is required to set the similar settings in planning tool frame editor.

3D Propagation Models and Beam-forming Antennas

As 5G design require full 3D planning, the selected planning tool to provide

propagation models that support buildings and clutter height information. The output
indoor predictions are expected at multi story building.

Below figure is showing sample 3D propagation models settings in two different

planning tool:

In 5G network, beamforming antenna are used or what is called "Massive MIMO : M-

MIMO)". M-MIMO antenna patterns are formed of many sub-element 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.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-select-adequate-planning-tool-your-5g-network-design-rachid?trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_more-articles_relate… 5/11
4/4/24, 15:32 How to select the adequate planning tool for your 5G network design !

Existing planning tools are having their own default 3D beamforming antenna but it
will be better to check if the planning tool support the vendor specific 3D antenna
patterns and it can be imported in planning tool format directly.

Below figure is showing sample default 3D beamforming antenna

Automatic Cell planning (ACP)

Most of planning tools support Automatic Cell planning (ACP) but what is require to
check is the available optimization goal. For example, if the target is to optimize the 5G
PDSCH C/(I+N), then ACP should provide such settings flexibility.

In below figure, we can see for example planning tool 1 support "spectral efficiency”
goal where planning tool 2 doesn’t support it. It is important to check that the
expected optimization goals are supported by the selected planning tool.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-select-adequate-planning-tool-your-5g-network-design-rachid?trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_more-articles_relate… 6/11
4/4/24, 15:32 How to select the adequate planning tool for your 5G network design !

The ACP should consider the 3D multi story-based optimization as well.

Monte Carlo Simulation (MC)

To determine the network performance (User throughput, cell load, capacity…), the
support of 5G Monte Carlo simulation by the planning tool is crucial.

It is also good to check the available Monte Carlo simulation reports and plots. Detail
information in MC output will help for optimum 5G design performance.

Below figure is showing sample planning tool MC simulation output reports and plot.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-select-adequate-planning-tool-your-5g-network-design-rachid?trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_more-articles_relate… 7/11
4/4/24, 15:32 How to select the adequate planning tool for your 5G network design !

The support of 3D based monte carlo simulation is preferable.

LTE Live measurement Geo-location

Geo-located raster for LTE network such "user and payload map" can be used for 5G
design and Monte Carlo simulation or an input to enhance the 5G traffic map creation.
The geo-located RSRP can be converted to a virtual drive test (VDT) and will be used to
calibrate the propagation model.

Import vendor specific traces format is important which can avoid creating the geo-
located raster in another tool and then importing it in generic format into the planning
tool.

Below are sample Geo-located reports and plot supported by a planning tool.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-select-adequate-planning-tool-your-5g-network-design-rachid?trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_more-articles_relate… 8/11
4/4/24, 15:32 How to select the adequate planning tool for your 5G network design !

Thanks for reading and keep your comments !

Rachid Lamali

Para ver o add a comment, inicia sesión

Más artículos de este autor

5G Propagation Modeling Plan, Troubleshoot and Plan PCI at (05) easy step
16 feb 2022 optimize in one single… with Atoll !!
5 may 2020 31 ene 2020
Ver todo
Información de la comunidad

Óptica de fibras

How do you choose the right fiber optic network architecture for your company?

Comunicaciones móviles

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-select-adequate-planning-tool-your-5g-network-design-rachid?trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_more-articles_relate… 9/11
4/4/24, 15:32 How to select the adequate planning tool for your 5G network design !

What are the best ways to design a mobile network that can handle high traffic and usage?

Sistemas de telecomunicaciones

What are the most effective strategies for designing optical network topologies?

Ingeniería de telecomunicaciones

How can you design a mobile network architecture that meets industry standards?

Ingeniería de redes

How can you design a LAN for optimal performance?

Ingeniería de redes

How do you show the impact of network design?

Mostrar más

Otros usuarios han visto

4 tips to let you clearly understand the MTP/MPO jumper

Anna Wang · 2 años

Stages of FTTx Network deployment and critical considerations

Technavious Solutions Private Limited · 2 años

Difference Between ODF and Patch Panel

Sun Zhang · 5 años

TV Cabling ELIMINATED
David Quinn · 8 años

What is MPO Cable?

Fatih BATAL · 3 años

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-select-adequate-planning-tool-your-5g-network-design-rachid?trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_more-articles_relat… 10/11
4/4/24, 15:32 How to select the adequate planning tool for your 5G network design !

MPO Patch Panel: Streamlining Fiber Optic Connectivity

Stella Shi · 2 meses

Mostrar más

© 2024 Acerca de

Accesibilidad Condiciones de uso

Política de privacidad Política de cookies

Política de copyright Política de marca

Controles de invitados Pautas comunitarias

Idioma

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-select-adequate-planning-tool-your-5g-network-design-rachid?trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_more-articles_relat… 11/11