Radio Link Budgets of Orange Labs:

LTE LB V3.6 and HSPA LB V2.0

Orange Labs, RNM/REP/REM

Orange Labs
France Telecom group restricted
Synthesis 1/3
This presentation answers the following questions:

Objectives of Link Budget Tools

What is the principle of a link budget?

Calculating a cell radius and providing design thresholds to guarantee a target quality of
service

What are Radio Link Budget tool useful for?

Providing a city or country wide rough coverage dimensioning before an investment

committee by providing the maximum cell range.

Providing RSRP/RSRQ or RSCP/(Ec/No) design thresholds as inputs for the ASSET tool in

order to create coverage maps.

For comparison studies, the tool is useful to give ideas on system performances and the
sensibility of the outputs to some parameters: power impact, used frequency bands, and
other parameters or radio features.

How many versions? Which complexity?

3 versions available for Orange MCOs: DCH UL, HSPA (UL&DL), LTE (UL&DL)

What were improved with respect to the last versions?

The new version comes with important enhancements such as linear calculations in

DL/UL, restructuring of the tool around two modes (Basic/Advanced) and new modeling
of shadowing and interferences.

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Synthesis 2/3
Technical description

What are the differences between the 2 modes of the link budget?

The objective of the basic mode is the maximum cell range knowing the target

Throughput, whereas the advanced mode targets at system performances knowing

inter-site distance.

The basic mode aims at calculating the maximum cell range that ensures a target

throughput, by counting all losses and gains affecting signals between transmitters and
receivers.

For the basic mode, UL and DL link budgets are independently performed. The maintained
planned cell range corresponds to the cell range of the limiting link.

Based on different assumptions related to the structure of the network and to the

propagation model, the advanced mode calculates the interferences from other cells and
thus the throughput are provided for different distances to the serving cell.
The basic mode is suitable for setting design thresholds and planning cell range. Advanced


mode is better when inter-site distance is averagely known and for strategic comparison.

What are the inputs, outputs and main characteristics of the tools?

The main inputs are related to the system, the equipment and the environment

The main outputs are MAPL, UL/DL cell radius, Throughput versus distance and

RSRP/RSRQ (or RSCP/Ec_Io for HSPA).

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Synthesis 3/3
Models behind the development of the tool

What are the models and hypothesis taken?

The link budget uses a simple log-distance model including Ukumara hata and cost 231

models.

A new formula of shadowing margin taking into account the multi-cell server probability

is developed and implemented in the tool.

For the Advanced mode, in each unit area of the serving cell, the interference factor F(r)

and the SINR (C / I) are computed based on hexagonal Omni grid.

For DL & UL analysis, the Look Up Tables (LUTs) provide a throughput for each

calculated SINR in the cell and vice versa (Throughput => SINR).

Main limits of the models and hypothesis: the Link Budget tools are based on a simple

approach (gains, loss, margins) and formulae.

Other information, support

Where to find the tool, other information and which support?

All documentations and these tools are available in a dedicated folder (called Radio Link

Budget ) of the REM team SharePoint.

For support, contact: laurent.marceron@orange.com; ridha.nasri@orange.com

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Agenda

Objectives of Link Budget Tool

Technical description of the tool

Models behind the development of the tool

Other information, support

References

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What is the principle of a link budget?
Calculating a cell radius and providing design thresholds to guarantee a target quality of service

Maximum cell range

equipment parameters
environment parameters

RSRP/RSRQ & RSCP/Ec/No for

Link Budget ASSET
Tool
cell throughput vs distance to
serving cell or RSRP/RSRQ
8

15 14
Throughput versus Distance
9 2 7 100
3 80
1
16 13 60
4
0
6 40
10 5 12
20
0
look-up tables 17

11
18
0,000 0,200 0,400
Distance (Km)
0,600

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How can the Radio Link Budget tool be useful?
LTE/HSPA LB provide a city or country wide rough coverage dimensioning before an investment
committee, give RSCP/RSRP thresholds as inputs for ASSET and highlight system performances
for different deployment scenarios

1. Before going through an investment committee in order to deploy a new radio access
network: this tool allows to estimate the coverage of a site and then helps operators to
calculate the minimum number of sites to cover a target surface with the user-provided
inputs and parameters and so make a rough coverage dimensioning.

2. Before designing the network with the ASSET: this tool calculates RSRP thresholds and
RSRQ thresholds (for a Downlink and an Uplink Target Throughput), to be used as an
input in the ASSET tool.

3. For a strategic comparison between some deployment scenarios, the tool can give an
idea about the maximum achieved quality of service (in terms of throughput) in different
position from a serving cell and for different parameters’ values.

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What are Radio Link Budget useful for? (1/3)
Providing a city or country wide rough coverage dimensioning before an investment committee

1. Typical cell ranges (Cell Radius):

■ To be used for a site count on a city or a country
 Rough coverage dimensioning for a greenfield deployment before an investment
committee
■ % of the network covered for a target throughput
 New technology rollout for an incumbent operator

Exemple of site dimensioning Area of a cell=area of one

hexagonal cell
■ LTE DL target throughput = 20 Mbps
■ LTE 2,6GHz, bandwidth 20Mhz, eNB power 49dBm,
Indoor Daylight and coverage probability 95%
■ The tool gives DL Cell Edge ~0,495Km and an area
of an hexagonal omni-sectorised cell ~ 0,635Km²
■ So,~ 1,5 omni-sectorized cell per Km² is required Cell Edge= Maximum radius

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What are Radio Link Budget useful for? (2/3)
Providing RSRP/RSRQ or RSCP/(Ec/No) design thresholds as inputs for the ASSET tool in order
to create coverage maps.

2. RSCP/RSRP thresholds as input for the ASSET tool in order to create coverage maps:
■ To be used as an input for the ASSET cell planning tool
■ Coverage plots computation to ensure a targeted throughput in UL and DL

Example: Coverage area for a HSDPA ASSET coverage map

target throughput.

■ For HSDPA DL 2 Mbps at cell Edge.

■ Dense Urban
■ Indoor Daylight
■ 50% DL load

=> RSCP= -97,1 dBm

=>97% of coverage (ASSET)

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What are Radio Link Budget useful for? (3/3)
For comparison studies, the tool is useful to give ideas on system performances and the sensibility
of the outputs to some parameters: power impact, used frequency bands, and other parameters or
radio features.

3. The tool allows a strategic comparison between frequency bands

■ When the inter-site distance is known, LB tool gives a quick comparison between
different technologies or different deployment scenarios

Example: LTE Power impact -

Link budget analysis : Source [1]

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How many LB versions are shared with Orange Affiliates
3 versions available for Orange MCOs: DCH UL, HSPA (UL&DL), LTE (UL&DL).

DCH UL HSPA LTE

Name
Radio Link Budget Radio Link Budget Radio Link Budget
Version V2.5 V2.0 V3.6
Technology UMTS (R99) - UL HSDPA (R10) & HSUPA LTE (R8) - UL & DL
Duplex mode FDD FDD FDD & TDD
Availability Available Available Available
Time delivery of
January 2013 January 2013
the last version
Time of
Instantenous Less than 10 sec Less than 10 sec
computation
Project Radio Dimensioning tools
MCOs, OLNC,Orange France
Target
Studies and Internal projects
Interface/encoding Excel, VBA
Documentation User guide + Methodology

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What were improved with respect to the last versions?
The new version comes with important enhancements such as linear calculations in DL/UL,
restructuring of the tool around two modes (Basic/Advanced) and modeling of shadowing and
interferences.

1. Restructuring of the link budget according to the operator needs: basic mode deals with the scenario
when the objectives are the maximum cell range and the RSRP/RSRQ design thresholds. Whereas,
advanced mode treats system performances of some network deployment scenarios when the inter-
sites distance is known.
2. Withdraw of the balanced and unbalanced modes.
3. For each link, the basic mode gives the planned cell range taking into account the limiting link.
4. Only UL was linear in the last version. In V3.6, the DL is also linear for the basic mode.
5. Modelling of the shadowing margin in multi-cellular environment for both UL and DL.
6. Modelling of DL interferences in basic and advanced mode; i.e. a closed formula of the interference
factor is developed and used.
7. For the advanced mode, both UL and DL are given whereas in V3.5, only DL existed.
8. In addition to RSRP threshold, RSRQ threshold is also given in V3.6 for the basic mode.
9. UL Fractional Power Control (FPC) feature is supported in V3.6 for the advanced mode.
10. New UL louk-up table (SNR vs Throughput) is provided allowing the use of high and different
throughput scenarios.

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Agenda

Objectives of Link Budget Tool

Technical description of the tool

Models behind the development of the tool

Other information, support

References

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2 Modes in the LB: What are the differences between them?
The objective of the basic mode is the maximum cell range knowing the target Throughput,
whereas the advanced mode targets at system performances knowing inter-site distance.
Advanced Mode
Uplink & Downlink

Basic mode requires the target
throughput to get the maximum cell
UL Link Budget DL Link Budget
range (inter-site distance), RSRP,
RSRQ thresholds. Inputs
Coverage & Equipment considerations:
• Cell area coverage probability

Advanced mode requires the inter- • Penetration loss
• LTE frequency
site distance to get the throughput vs • LTE bandwidth
distance to the serving cell. • Morphology type
• Propagation parameters
• …

For basic Mode, the throughput is UE Tx Power, eNode B Tx Power,

known only at cell edge, whereas for local & neighboring cell load local & neighboring cell load

advanced mode, the throughput is

Inter-site distance Inter-site distance
known for every distance to the
serving cell.
UL Output DL Output
UL Throughput as a DL Throughput as a function
 At cell edge function of distance & UL
Throughput versus DL
of distance & DL Throughput
versus DL RSRP/RSRQ
RSRP/RSRQ

The performances of the basic mode
are equal to those of advanced mode 35

30
Cell Throughput versus Distance

UL Throughput Mbps
160
140
120
Cell Throughput versus Distance

DL Throughput Mbps

Throughput (Mbps)
25

Throughput (Mbps)
100
20 80

only if the value of RoT (Rise over 15 60

40
10
20
5
0
0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7
0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 Distance (Km)
Cell Throughput versus RSRP Cell Throughput versus RSRP Cell Throughput versus RSRQ

Thermal) for the basic mode is taken

35
Distance (Km) 160 160
140 140
30 DL Throughput Mbps DL Throughput Mbps

Throughput (Mbps)
120 120

Throughput (Mbps)
25 100 100

Throughput (Mbps)
80 80
20
60 60
15

at the cell edge.

UL Throughput Mbps 40 40
10 20 20
0 0
5 -120 -110 -100 -90 -80 -70 -19,5 -18,5 -17,5 -16,5 -15,5 -14,5 -13,5 -12,5
RSRP (dBm) RSRQ (dB)
0
-120 -110 -100 -90 -80 -70 -60
RSRP (dBm)

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Basic Link Budget mode principles (1/2)
The basic mode aims at calculating the maximum cell range that ensures a target throughput,
by counting all losses and gains affecting signals between transmitters and receivers.

Counting all losses and gains affecting radio signals between

transmitter and receiver = Basic Link Budget calculation
EIRP

Antenna penetration loss

gain Target DL
throughput
Fast Fading

DL Link curve
mapping
UL MHA
Gain
Shadowing
Feeder loss margin
eNB power
Target UL Target DL
SINR Fixed RoT margin SINR

Body loss
Target UL A
throughput

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Basic Link Budget mode principles (2/2)
UL and DL basic link budgets are independently performed. The planned cell range
corresponds the cell range of the limiting link.

Input data

•Coverage & Equipment considerations

•Cell area coverage probability
•Penetration loss
•LTE frequency
•LTE bandwidth
•Morphology type
•Propagation parameters…

Calculate UL/DL MAPL

Calculate UL Cell Calculate DL Cell

radius radius
Select the
smaller radius

Calculate Cell area Calculate Design

coverage thresholds

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Advanced Link Budget mode principles
Based on different assumptions related to the structure of the network and to the propagation
model, the interferences from other cells are calculated and the throughput are provided for
different distances to the serving cell. Input data: System
parameters, frequency
8
band, …
15 14
Inter-site distance and
9 2 7
user category
3 1
Mi R1
θ θ1
16 0 r 13
R r Interference modeling
4 6
according to load assumption
10 5 12 and network structure
17 18

11
SINR calculation

Throughput Look-up tables

Mapping

From Throughput evaluation

RNM/WTE/RIDE according to distance

SINR
Cell Throughput versus Distance
160
140
Results (Outputs)
120 DL Throughput Mbps
Throughput (Mbps)

100
80
60
Cell throughput
40
20
0
Versus
160
Cell Throughput versus RSRP
0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4
Distance (Km)
0,5

160
0,6 0,7

Cell Throughput versus RSRQ - Distance to the

140
120
DL Throughput Mbps
140
DL Throughput Mbps
serving cell,
Throughput (Mbps)

120
Throughput (Mbps)

100 100
80
60

40
80
60
40
- RSRP/ RSRQ
20 20
0 0
-120 -110 -100 -90 -80 -70 -19,5 -18,5 -17,5 -16,5 -15,5 -14,5 -13,5 -12,5
RSRP (dBm) RSRQ (dB)

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What are the suitable use cases of each mode?
The basic mode is suitable for setting design thresholds and planning cell range. Advanced
mode is better when inter-site distance is averagely known.

Scenarios Basic Mode Advanced Mode

It is suitable for this scenario, since it It can not be used unless you change many times
To dimension the
gives the coverage of the cell as the intersite distance until that the target throughput
number of sites
output. is achieved at cell edge.
To set design
suitable because the target throughput
thresholds Same arguments as above
is achieved at cell edge
(RSRP/RSRQ)
To study the It is better to use this mode because the
It is not suitable because the
performances of interference is better calculated at each point.
interference is taken as a fixed margin
the system when However because of the assumption related to the
and the tool gives only the minimum
inter-site distance network regularity, the interference at cell edge is
achieved throughput at cell edge
is known over-estimated.

Remarque

The coverage given by the basic mode is close to a shifted coverage on field when the RoT
(Rise over Thermal) is a fixed margin.

For a fixed and bounded RoT margin, the basic mode under-estimates the interference at cell
edge.

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How does each mode deal with interferences?
The basic mode under-estimates the interferences at cell edge and the advanced
mode over-estimates it.

 For the basic mode, the used RoT (Rise  For the advanced mode, the interferences
over Thermal) is calculated at cell edge (hatched surface) is
−
over-estimated because:
 
Ω = − 10 Log 10  1 − f . ρ . S RX / N 0  - In the majority of points the signals coming
 
from the first and second interferers are higher
The interference factor is taken as the average than the signal of the serving cell (in reality this
over the cell. cannot be happen). 2

 The average RoT is always lower than the

RoT calculated at cell edge.
0 1

 Performances obtained by the basic mode

are quite over-estimated with respect to
terrain situation.  Performances obtained by the advanced-mode
are under-estimated at cell edge.

 When the link curve (SNR vs  Performances of advanced mode depend

Throughput) is calibrated according to strongly on link level curve, propagation
the labs measures, results of the basic model and network structure.
mode are similar to labs results,

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What are the common inputs of the 2 modes?
Main inputs are related to the system, the equipment and the environment

Input Parameter Description Possible values

The operating frequency band R99, HSPA: 900, 1800, 2100 MHz
Frequency band
for system. LTE: 800, 1800 , 2600 MHz
System
The operating channel
Bandwidth For LTE: 5, 10, 15 & 20MHz.
bandwidth.

• Okumura Hata for 800 & 900MHz frequency band s

Propagation The used propagation model
model for the cell range computation • Cost231 Hata for higher bands (1800 MHz, 2.1GHz
and 2.6 GHz).

Environnent
Morphology The environment morphology. Dense Urban, Urban, Suburban & Rural

The indoor configuration that

Different types of penetration: indoor window to deep
Penetration type determines the penetration
indoor
margin.
Equipment (e)NB and UE characteristics
(e)Node B / UE
in terms of maximum output Default values are based on vendors' inputs.
characteristics
power, noise figure, etc.
• From HSPA Fast Simulator : Cat 6 to 14 , PA3
Link-Level Look Up Tables Tables of Throughput vs SNR LMMSE Type, w/wo RxDiv
Performance (LUTs) based on internal simulators • From LTE Fast Simulator: Cat 2 to 5, ePA3, 2x2
MIMO Close loop in DL, Cat 3: 1x2 SIMO in UL

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What are the outputs of each mode?
The main outputs are UL/ DL cell radius, RSRP/RSCP Thresholds (for UL/DL)
according to target throughput and throughput versus distance (for the advanced
mode) .

Output Mode Description

UL or DL maximum cell radius for a given UL or DL target

Maximum UL/ DL Cell radius
Design Thresholds: RSRP/RSRQ
for LTE and RSCP/Ec/No for
HSPA
Basic throughput. The corresponding Maximum allowable
pathloss (MAPL) is also provided,
Design thresholds to be used in planning tools are
Basic
provided for target UL & DL throughputs

The advanced mode suitable for strategic comparison

provides the evolution of throughput as a function of
distance or as a function of RSRP/ RSRQ :
UL/ DL Throughput vs distance to Advanced Throughput versus Distance
the serving cell or vs RSRP/
100
RSRQ 80
60
40
20
0
0,000 0,200 0,400 0,600
Distance (Km)

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Agenda

Objectives of Link Budget Tool

Technical description of the tool

Models behind the development of the tool

Other information, support

References

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Propagation models
The link budget uses a simple log-distance model including Ukumara hata and
cost 231 models.

PathLoss = K 1 + K 2 × log 10 ( d )

K1 and K2 depend on propagation environment, antenna heights, and carrier
frequency.

Two Propagation Models are used depending on K1 and K2:

Okumura-Hata Model (for f>1,5GHz),

Cost 231 Hata Model (f<1Ghz

The log-distance models are very simple and does not really depend on any terrain
clutter.

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Shadowing model
A new formula of shadowing margin taking into account the multi-cell server
probability is developed and implemented in the tool.

0,95

New shadowing margin formula is

developed taking into account the multi-cell 0,9

Cell area coverage

context.
0,85

Jakes formulae is very pessimistic and it is
not recommended to be used. 0,8
Jakes
0,75 New formula
Jakes Modified
0,7
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Shadowing Margin (dB)

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Network structure & Interferences
For the Advanced mode, in each unit area of the serving cell, the interference
factor F(r) and the SINR (C / I) are computed based on hexagonal Omni grid

Step 1: calculation of geometric factor F:

PL0
F= C
× ki
∑ PL
i
i

 Closed formula is used

Step 2: SINR calculation: 8

15 14
C (r )
SINRHSDPA ( r ) = 9 2 7

P
α ( r ) × I Intra ( r ) + F ( r ) × NodeB + ThermalNoi se 3
Mi R1
1

PL 0( r ) 16 0 r
θ θ1
13
R r
4 6

1 10 5 12

SINR _ LTE (r ) =
F (r ) + N 0 × PL0 / PSubcarrier
DL 17 18

11

Step 3: Mapping between SINR and Throughput

via Look Up Table (LUT)

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Link Level curves
For DL & UL analysis, the Look Up Tables (LUTs) provide a throughput for each
calculated SINR in the cell

Cat10 PA3 LMMSE RxDiv

HSDPA

LUTs provide throughput vs SINR (dB) Throughput
Applicative Throughput versus
SINR curves according to: (kbps)
-15 2
Distance
12000

channel model -13 11
-11 23 10000

UE category

Throughput (Kbits/s)
-9 36

UE receiver -7 52 8000
-5 81

multiple antenna use -3 134 6000
-1 226
1 360 4000
3 548
5 805 2000
7 1132
9 1522 0
11 1986 0,000 0,500 1,000 1,500
13 2604
15 3674
Distance (Km)
17 5257 3
19 7183
21 9081
23 10656
25 11686
27 12291
29 12555
2
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Other parameters
Main limits of the models and hypothesis: Link Budget tools are based on a
simple approach: Values of gains, losses and margins are fixed

Simple approach

Gains (Antenna, MHA)

Losses (Body Loss, Penetration Loss)

Margins (Shadowing, UL interference)

Simple formulae

Load (uniform distribution)

Inter-cell interference

SINR

Network design

Does not utilize database of realistic sites (but ASSET does)

Omni site (tri secto is more complex)

UL analysis (UL DCH R99, HSUPA,UL LTE) reflects only coverage dimensioning

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Agenda

Objectives of Link Budget Tool

Technical description of the tool

Models behind the development of the tool

Other information, support

References

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Where to find the tool, other information and which support?
All these tools and the related documents are available on a dedicated SharePoint
in Wireless Access. A dedicated support is ensured by Orange Labs/REM team

Sharepoint link: Link budgets

For support, contact: laurent.marceron@orange.com; ridha.nasri@orange.com &

fabien.duchon@orange.com

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Agenda

Objectives of Link Budget Tool

Technical description of the tool

Models behind the development of the tool

Roadmap, next steps, other information, support

References

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What are all the coverage dimensioning studies which were made
within Orange Labs with such tools and are available for MCOs?
Lots of studies had been provided with the Link Budget tools

# Study name Reference Project

[1] LTE Power impact - Link RESA/NET/REM/10.286 Beyond 3G

budget analysis Frédéric Marache & Olfa Ben Haddada
[2] CoMP Technology in LTE-A Results of Mame Fatou Gueye internship – Research
Link Budget and Capacity January 2011
Analyses
[3] Coverage area for a target / RAN Engineering
throughput in HSDPA
[4] Gain of LTE relays Lee Rong , Olfa Ben Haddada & Salah El Beyond 3G
Ayoubi, 2010
[5] HSDPA Link budget Christophe Simon, June 2011 RAN Engineering
comparison with Lab Tests
[6] LTE 2600 vs 800 R. Nasri, Dec 2012 RAN Engineering

[7] Radio Link Budgets of Orange PEAK/REM/ F. M, Sept 2012 RAN Engineering
Labs

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Thank you

Orange Labs
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