UMTS Radio Network Planning

Process

ZTE University
Content

 UMTS Technical Features

 UMTS Network Planning Process
 Radio Propagation Feature
 Propagation of Electromagnetic wave－straight, reflection,
scattering, diffraction
 Radio signal fading includes 3 parts:
 Path loss: fading with distance between transmitter and receiver
 Large scale fading：middle amplitude of fading with log normal
distribution, slow fading, caused by shadow effect
 Small scale fading: small amplitude of fading with rapid change,
fast fading, caused by multi-path effect.

Signal Rx Level Pathloss

= +
Slow fading
distance
+
Fast fading
Multi-Address Technology

 FDMA
 Different channels at different
frequencies, such as AMPS and
TACS.
 TDMA
 Different channels at the same
frequency are distinguished by
timeslots, such as GSM.
 CDMA
 Different channels at the same time
and frequency are distinguished by
different codes, such as UMTS.
Self-Interfering System
 Source
 Shared frequency spectrum caused
intra-frequency interference, multi-Path
effect, difficult to implement perfect
orthogonality with ideal self correlation
and cross correlation.
 Phenomenon
 Noise rise, soft capacity
 Solution
 Power control, admission control, load
control and careful network planning

One of radio network planning

goals is to minimize self-interfering
Power Escalation

Uplink noise rise increases

with the number of
subscribers non-linearly

Downlink Node B power

increases with the number
of subscribers non-
linearly
Soft Capacity

 Soft Capacity  Cell Breathing

Interference
Power Control
 The signal for one subscriber is the noise to the others.
The transmitted power should be controlled in order that
it would not block other subscribers.

Near - far effect

despreading
Node B

despreading
Node B
Soft Handover
 Soft handover
RL2
 UE connects with more than
RL1
one radio links with different
Node B
 Softer handover
 UE connects with more than
one radio links with the cells
in the same Node B
 Hard handover
 Intra-frequency hard
handover
 Inter-frequency hard
handover
 Inter-RAT hard handover
Coverage and Capacity Relationship

Normally,
160 Coverage is UL
limited
downlink load Capacity is DL
155 limited
path loss [dB]
Max. allowed

150

145

140

uplink load
135
100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300
throughput per sector [kbps]
Demodulation threshold Eb/No

Processing Eb/No
Gain(PG)

Subscriber 3
Noise Subscriber 2
Subscriber 1

 Eb indicates the signal energy per bit, Eb = S/R where S indicates

signal energy and R indicates service bit rate.
 No indicates the noise spectrum density, No = N/W where W indicates
chip rate (3.84 M) and N indicates noise.

Eb S W S W S
      PG
No R N N R N
Multi-Service Hybrid System
64kbps service coverage
Different services have
different rates, and their
coverage ranges and
capacities are different. 128kbps service coverage

384kbps service coverage

Different proportions and

composition of hybrid service, with
different system capacities
Network Planning Goals
We should do…

 Fulfill operators’ requirement on coverage, capacity,

and service quality, estimate network scale, minimize
investment, and simulate to verify.
 Predict network development trend, and prepare for
future development.

Goals

 Maximize coverage in time and space.

 Minimized intra-system interference to reach the
required service quality.
 Optimize radio parameters to maximize service
quality.
 With capacity and service quality fulfilled, minimize
equipment number and cost.
Network Planning Policy

 The purpose of radio network planning is to shorten

the investment return period than lower the CAPEX as
well as OPEX.
 Firstly for coverage, the solution is:

point coverage

line coverage

plane coverage
Content

 UMTS Technical Features

 UMTS Network Planning Process
Planning Process - Requirement Analysis
Requirement Analysis

Network Dimensioning

Pre-Planning
Simulation
Propagation Model
Test and Calibration
Sites Survey

Sites Layout

Network Simulation

Output Planning
Report
Requirement Analysis
 Learn the customer’s requirement of coverage,
capacity, and QoS.
 Learn the landform and environments of the planned
area.
 Learn the population distribution and average
income per person in the planned area.
 Learn information about the existing network in the
planned area.
Requirement Analysis (Cont.)

Planning Area Sorting

 The purpose to sort the planning area is to
refine network design and layout.
 Different areas have different geographical
environment, vegetation distribution, and
building density.
 Different areas require different number of
Node B to meet the coverage requirement.

Area type Area characters

Dense Urban Central business district, dense shopping center, dense residential area

Mean Urban Industrial park, shopping center, residential area

Suburban The edge of city, the center of village and town

Rural Farm, the edge of village and town

Requirement Analysis (Cont.)
64 k CS
Coverage Requirements
 Different areas have the different requirements
for the service type coverage rate.
 Different requirements for service type and
coverage rate in the same area will get different
number of Node B
144k PS data

384k PS data
Requirement Analysis (Cont.)

Capacity Requirements
 No. of subscribers and their ‘profile’, traffic model,
service type , forecast, “hot spots”
Requirement Analysis (Cont.)
Cell load
 Load increases, Coverage reduces , System unstable

12

10

8
Noise Rise

0
0 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
Load
Requirement Analysis (Cont.)
Other information
The important building in the planning area
The information of traffic line, just as highway
The important villages and towns in the planning area
Planning Process – Propagation Model
Requirement Analysis

Network Dimensioning

Pre-Planning
Simulation
Propagation Model
Test and Calibration
Sites Survey

Sites Layout

Network Simulation

Output Planning
Report
Free Space Propagation Loss

Pt Gt Gr  2
Pr (d ) 
(4 ) d2 2

Pt  2 
PL(dB)  10 log  10 log  2 2
Pr  ( 4 ) d 
 Pt: TX power
 Pr(d): Rx power
 Gt: Gain of TX antenna
 Gr: Gain of RX antenna
 d: Distance between TX and RX antennas
 PL: Pathloss in free space
Free Space Propagation Loss

 4d 
Loss  20 lg  
  

FreeLoss  32.44  20 lg d  20 lg f
Radio Propagation Model
 Factors in radio propagation model:
 In the space propagation, many factors enter into radio wave loss,
including ground absorption, reflection, refraction and diffraction,
while these factors are inapplicable for the propagation loss
formula in free space;
 While planning and constructing a mobile communication network,
you have to make detailed study about electric wave propagation
features and field strength prediction before determining
frequency band, frequency allocation and radio wave coverage,
calculating communication probability and inter-system
electromagnetic interference, and finally defining radio equipment
parameters;
 The radio propagation model presents the designer an
approximate propagation effect in the practical propagation
environment to estimate the space propagation loss. Therefore,
the propagation model veracity determines whether the cell
planning is reasonable.
Radio Propagation Model

 The propagation environment plays an important role

in setting up a radio propagation model. The
propagation environment in a special region consists
of the following factors:
 Terrains (mountains, hills, plain or water area)
 Number, height, distribution and material features of buildings
 Vegetation features
 Weather conditions
 Natural or man-made electromagnetic noise
 Working frequency of system
 Movement of mobile station
Radio Propagation Model
 Improvement to the space free loss formula:

Model Name Frequency Range

Okumura-Hata 150 MHz–1500 MHz macro cell

Cost231-Hata 150 MHz–2000 MHz macro cell

Cost231 Walfish-Ikegami 800 MHz–2000 MHz micro cell

Keenan-Motley 900 MHz and 1800 MHz indoor environment

General model 150 MHz–2000 MHz macro cell

Cost231-Hata Model

Pathloss  46.3  33.9 lg f  13.82 log hb  44.9  6.55 lg hb  lg d  Ahm  Cm

f -refers to carrier, unit: MHz, applicable for 150 MHz–2000 MHz

hb -refers to BS antenna height, unit: m, effective height 30 m–200 m
d -refers to the distance from mobile station to antenna, unit: Km
Ahm -refers to mobile station antenna height correction factor
C m -refers to city center correction factor, 3 dBm for large cities
and 0 dBm for middle- and small-size cities
General Model
Propagation Model Selection

PathLoss  K1  K 2 log( d )  K 3Hms  K 4 log( Hms )

 K 5 log( Heff )  K 6 log( Heff ) log( d )
 K 7(diffractionloss )  Clutterloss

 K1-Fading Constant
 K2-Distance Fading Coefficient
 K3、K4-Mobile Station Antenna Height calibration
Coefficient
 K5、K6-Base Station Antenna Height calibration
Coefficient
 K7-Diffraction calibration Coefficient
 Clutterloss-Calibration Value of Physiognomy Fading
 D-Distance between base station and mobile station (km)
 Hms -Mobile Station Antenna Effective Height (m)
 Heff-Base Station Antenna Effective Height (m)
Propagation Model Test

Site Selection

 Test sites should be selected from each

environment categories.
 To cover enough clutters.
 The testing site shall be free of visible
obstructions around.
 The testing site shall be higher than the
surrounding buildings.
Antenna

Transmitter

Receiver

Laptop
Propagation Model Test (Cont.)

Route Selection

 All directions from the testing site should

be included.
 The vehicle should take a route to or from
the testing site in the shape of “8”, net, ring,
or spiral, with a constant speed.
Propagation Model Calibration (Cont.)

Data Process

 Distance Filtration.
 Intensity Filtration.
 Land Feature Filtration
Propagation Model Calibration (Cont.)
Propagation Model Selection

PathLoss  K1  K 2 log( d )  K 3Hms  K 4 log( Hms )

 K 5 log( Heff )  K 6 log( Heff ) log( d )
 K 7(diffractionloss )  Clutterloss

 K1-Fading Constant
 K2-Distance Fading Coefficient
 K3、K4-Mobile Station Antenna Height calibration
Coefficient
 K5、K6-Base Station Antenna Height calibration
Coefficient
 K7-Diffraction calibration Coefficient
 Clutterloss-Calibration Value of Physiognomy Fading
 D-Distance between base station and mobile station
(km)
 Hms -Mobile Station Antenna Effective Height (m)
 Heff-Base Station Antenna Effective Height (m)
Planning Process – Network Dimensioning
Requirement Analysis

Network Dimensioning

Pre-Planning
Simulation
Propagation Model
Test and Calibration
Sites Survey

Sites Layout

Network Simulation

Output Planning
Report
Network Dimensioning

 Link budget
 Capacity analysis
 Give need analysis report, and estimate the Number
of NodeBs in the planned area.
Network Dimensioning (Cont.)
Input:system load requirment and
coverage requirement

Uplink coverage Downlink coverage Uplink capacity

estimation estimation estimation

Quantity of BSs Quantity of BSs Quantity of BSs

satisfying uplink satisfying downlink satisfying uplink
coverage coverage capacity

Compare the results

and evaluate the
larger one

Based on traffic type Based on power

Downlink capacity
estimation

Quantity A of Quantity B of

Add BSs
channels to be channels availably
provided by every cell provided by every
on the downlink cell on the downlink

No
A<B

Yse

End
Link Budget

Antenna Gain

Feeder loss

PA BS Power

Receiver Sensitivity

Path Loss

Margin
Penetration Loss

Body Loss
Link budget
Coverage Target Mas Allowable Path Loss
UE Power
Raius No.Node B
Propagation Model
Capacity Analysis

Equivalent voice channels

Amplitude
provided by each cell

Inter mean
Virtual channel of each
Inter variance
cell
Capacity factor

Syetem Total_virtual_Elr Cell_virtual_Elr

Total _ virtual _ Erl
Cell _ virtual _ Erl

No.Cell
Planning Process – Pre-Planning Simulation
Requirement Analysis

Network Dimensioning

Pre-Planning
Simulation
Propagation Model
Test and Calibration
Sites Survey

Sites Layout

Network Simulation

Output Planning
Report
Pre-Planning Simulation
Verify estimation with simulation
Give suggestions for Node B layout, location, and
area.
Guide site survey work

Existing site’s sources

Propagation model
Traffic model
Planning Process – Sites Survey
Requirement Analysis

Network Dimensioning

Pre-Planning
Simulation
Propagation Model
Test and Calibration
Sites Survey

Sites Layout

Network Simulation

Output Planning
Report
Sites Survey

To get the necessary data needed by network

planning and simulation
 To learn geographical environment and radio
environment of the site
 To learn the condition of building site
 To learn the traffic distribution of planning area
 To provide the candidate sites for planning area
Site Survey

Site Selection Principles

 Convenience in traffic, reliability in city power supply, lightning protection and

grounding, small floor space;
 Network construction initial stage, ensure the coverage and quality of VIP
subscribers and the area with high user density ;
 Under the condition of no effects to the site layout, should choose the currently
existed sites as the candidate sites and utilize their equipment room, power supply,
tower, etc. ;
 Avoid the site location which is close to radar, if necessary, for the security
factors, should apply the correspond methods to avoid the mutually interference ;
 Avoid to locate the site on the mountain, in the forest ;
 Avoid to select the sites which will be affected by the potential constructed
buildings .
Site Survey
Data Recording

 Site information: site name, site address, latitude,

longitude, building height, tower height
 Radio Parameter: azimuth angle, down-tilt, antenna height
antenna type, diversity type and separation
 Radio environment description
 Interfering source
Planning Process – Network Simulation
Requirement Analysis

Network Dimensioning

Pre-Planning
Simulation
Propagation Model
Test and Calibration
Sites Survey

Sites Layout

Network Simulation

Output Planning
Report
Network Simulation

 Input several optional solutions

simultaneously.
 Simulate all optional solutions.
 Select the most appropriate solution
according to the simulation result.
Simulation results－ graphic output

 Best server
 Pilot strength
 Pilot Ec/Io
 Soft handover probability
 Pilot pollution
 Service coverage probability
 Cell load
Best server
Best server

Over shoot erased

Over shoot
Pilot strength-CPICH RSCP
Pilot strength

Continuous
coverage of pilot

No continuous
coverage of pilot
Pilot Ec/Io

Pilot quality improved

Pilot quality not good

Soft handover probability
Pilot pollution-The number of
pilot polluters
Service coverage probability

Coverage probability
improved

Coverage probability
not good
Cell load-Uplink Load
Statistics report
Simulation Statistics Analysis
Statistics report (Cont.)

Mean Attempted 992.850

Mean Served 964.050 97.10%
Mean Failed 28.800 2.90%
Mean In Soft or Softer Handover 271.250 28.14%
Mean In Softer Handover 66.400 6.89%

Contributions to Failure
No UL Channels Primary Channel 0.00%
No DL Channels Primary Channel 0.00%
UL Channels Channel Limit Reached 0.00%
DL Channels Channel Limit Reached 0.00%
Low Pilot SIR 3.65%
Downlink Eb/No (Range) 1.74%
Downlink Eb/No (Capacity) 0.00%
Uplink Eb/No 15.63%
Noise Rise 86.63%
No Carrier 0.00%
Excessive Pathloss 0.00%
Comparison between simulation and drive
test data
 Comparison between simulated and tested
network performance
 Calculate the difference of
simulated and tested Ec and
Ec/Io in each bin
 Statistics on thousands of
samples
 Made comparison for 3 trial
UMTS networks in China: Beijing,
Shanghai, Guangzhou
Comparison between simulation and drive
test data
Comparison between simulation and drive
test data

 Comparison shows that the planned network can predict

the performance of real network quite well
Planning Process – Output Planning
Report
Requirement Analysis

Network Dimensioning

Pre-Planning
Simulation
Propagation Model
Test and Calibration
Sites Survey

Sites Layout

Network Simulation

Output Planning
Report
Planning Report Output
 Report contents
 Networking requirements for the UMTS network
 Service model and demand analysis
 Radio network scale estimation
 Policy and principle analysis
 Networking proposal and solution to network construction by
stages
 Attachment contents
 Propagation model test result
 BS address survey table
 BS engineering parameter table
 Radio parameter configuration table
 Network diagram and site layout diagram
 simulation result report