OMF 007001

Frequency Planning
ISSUE1.4

Wireless Training Department

content

Frequency planning

Tight frequency reuse

Frequency hopping
Content of Frequency planning

 Frequency resource of GSM system

 Requirement for interference and carrier-to-

interference ratio

 Signal quality grade coding

 Concept of frequency reuse

 4*3 frequency reuse

 Frequency Resource of GSM System

GSM 900 : 890 915 935 960

Duplex distance : 45 MHz

GSM 1800 : 1710 1785 1805 1880

Duplex distance : 95 MHz

 Frequency Band Configuration

 GSM900:
 BTS receiver (uplink ): f1 (n) =890.2+ (n-1)*0.2 MHz
 BTS transmitter (downlink ): f2 (n) =f1 (n) +45 MHz

 GSM1800:
 BTS receiver (uplink ): f1 (n) =1710.2 + (n-512) * 0.2 MHz
 BTS transmitter (downlink ): f2 (n) =f1 (n) +95 MHz
 Requirement for Interference and Carrier-
to-Interference Ratio

All useful signals carrier

C/I = All useless signals = interference

Useful signal Noise from environment

Other signals

GSM standard: C / I >= 9 dB

In practical projects: C / I >= 12dB
 Requirement for Interference and Carrier-
To-Interference Ratio

All useful signals carrier

C/I = All useless signals = interference

Useful signal Noise from environment

Other signals

GSM standard: C / I >= 9 dB

In practical projects: C / I >= 12dB
 Effect of Interference

 Decrease of signal quality

 Bit error
 Recoverable: channel coding, error correction
 Irrecoverable: phase distortion

 System interference model

 Unbalanced: uplink interference ≠ downlink interference
 Asymmetrical: the interference is different at the MS and BTS ends
 Signal Quality

 Receiving quality (RXQUAL parameter)

 Level of receiving quality (0 ... 7)
 Bit error rate before decoding and error correction
RXQUAL Mean BER BER range
class (%) from... to
0 0.14 < 0.2%
Good 1 0.28 0.2 ... 0.4 %
Fairly good 2 0.57 0.4 ... 0.8 %
3 1.13 0.8 ... 1.6 %
Acceptable 4 2.26 1.6 ... 3.2 %
5 4.53 3.2 ... 6.4 %
6 9.05 6.4 ... 12.8 %
Intolerable 7 18.1 > 12.8 %
 Concept of Frequency Reuse

Macro-cell system {fi,fj..fk}

d
Micro-cell system
{fi,fj..fk} .. {fi,fj..fk} .. {fi,fj..fk}
 The Reason of Frequency Reuse

 Frequency resource is limited. If there is 8MHz frequency

resource, 8 MHz = 40 channels * 8 timeslots = 320
==> max. 320 users can access the network at the same
time.
 Reuse Density

 Reuse density is the number of cells in a basic reuse cluster.

4*3：12
n*m：n*m
n: BTS number in a basic reuse cluster
m: Frequency group number in a BTS

Tighter reuse Looser reuse

0 10 20

Higher frequency reuse

Little interference, but frequency
efficiency, but interference
reuse efficiency is low.
is serious. More technique
Is needed.
 Problem of Frequency Reuse

[fn] [fn]

R
D

[fn]

Reuse of a frequency causes the co-channel interference

Interference (C/I) Estimation

C q  1


I 6
1
/
2

q
=
D
/
R
=
(3
k
)
 Frequency Reuse Patterns

 Purpose: to minimize the interference in the whole network with

the final frequency allocation plan
 Theoretically
 Regular hexagon cell
 Regular network distribution
 Cell cluster
D
 Multiplexing distance
D = R *sqrt(3*K)
R

This old-fashioned frequency distribution

mode is not recommended
 4*3 Frequency Reuse

C1 C2
A1 A2
C1 C2 C3 D1
A3 B1 D2
A1 A2 B2 D3
C3 D1
A3 B1 D2 B3
B2 D3 C1 C2 C1 C2
A1 A2 A1 A2
B3 C1 C3 D1 C3 D1
C2 A3 D2 A3 D2
A1 A2 B1 B2 B1 B2
C3 D1 D3 C1 D3
A3 B1 D2 B3 C2 B3
B2 D3 A1 A2 C3
D1 D2
B3 A3 B1
B2 D3
B3
 Illustration of Frequency Allocation of 4*3
Frequency Reuse

A1 B1 C1 D1 A2 B2 C2 D2 A3 B3 C3 D3

34 34 35 36 37 38 39

40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51

52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63

64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75

76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87

88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95
Outline

Frequency planning

Tight frequency reuse

Frequency hopping
 Tight Frequency Reuse Technology

 Multi-layer reuse pattern

 Underlaid and overlaid cell
 1*3
 1*1
Multi-layer Reuse Pattern
Multi-layer Reuse Pattern

BCCH: n1
TCH1: n2
TCH2: n3

TCHm-1: nm

n1 ≥n2≥n3 ≥n4 ≥...... ≥ nm

And n1+n2+...+nm=n
 Multi-layer Reuse Pattern Frequency Allocation

 Suppose that the available frequency carrier is 10MHZ,

channel number is 46 ～ 94, the Multi-layer reuse pattern
should be:
Number of
Allocated
RC type available
frequencies
frequencies
BCCH 46~57 12

TCH1 58~66 9

TCH2 67~74 8

TCH3 75~82 8

TCH4 83~88 6

TCH5 89~94 6
 Multi-layer Reuse Pattern Frequency Allocation

{f1,f2,f3,f4,f5...f40}

{f1,f3,f5...f23} {f2,f4..f22,f24...f40}

BCCH TCH1 TCH2 TCH3 TCH4

 Advantages of Multi-layer Reuse Pattern

Capacity increase when reuse density is multiplied:

 Supposing there are 300 cells
 Bandwidth: 8 MHz (40 frequency)

Normal 4*3 reuse: reuse density=12

 ==> network capacity = 40/12 * 300 = 1000
TRX
BWi
Multiple reuse: cap. N 
 BCCH layer: re-use =14, (14 frq.) re  usei
 Normal TCH layer: re-use =10, (20 frq.)
 Aggressive TCH layer:re-use = 6, (6 frq.)
 ==> Network capacity = (1 +2 +1)* 300 =
1200 TRX
 Advantages of Multi-layer Reuse Pattern

Capacity increases when reuse density is multiplied:

 Supposing there are 300 cells
 Bandwidth: 8 MHz (40 frequency)

Normal 4*3 reuse: reuse density=12

 ==> network capacity = 40/12 * 300 = 1000
TRX
BWi
Multiple reuse: cap. N 
 BCCH layer: re-use =14, (14 frq.) re  usei
 Normal TCH layer: re-use =10, (20 frq.)
 Aggressive TCH layer:re-use = 6, (6 frq.)
 ==> Network capacity = (1 +2 +1)* 300 =
1200 TRX
Underlaid/Overlaid Frequency Allocation

Overlaid-cell
Underlaid-cell

The inner circle covers a smaller area, and the

frequency can be reused more tightly.
Overlaid/Underlaid Frequency Configuration

Super fn
Super fn Super fn Regular fm

Regular fm Regular fm

BCCH 15f Regular 24f Super 12f

BCCH Reuse density: 15

R TCH TRX reuse density: 12
S TCH TRX reuse density: 6
 1*3 and 1*1 Reuse Patterns

BCCH14+TCH36：

1BCCH+3TCH 1BCCH+12’TCH

1BCCH+3TCH 1BCCH+3TCH 1BCCH+12’TCH 1BCCH+12’TCH

4*3 1*3
 Illustration of 1*3 TCH Frequency Allocation

TRX1 TRX2 ... TRX7

TRX1 TRX2 ... TRX7

TRX8 TRX9... TRX14 TRX15 TRX16...TRX21

TRX8 TRX9... TRX14 TRX15 TRX16...TRX21

The red items are BCCH RCs

 Frequency Planning Principle

 There should be no co-channel frequency carriers in one BTS.

 The frequency separation between BCCH and TCH in the same cell
should be not less than 400K.
 When frequency hopping is not used, the separation of TCH in the
same cell should be not less than 400K.
 In non-1*3 reuse mode, co-channel should be avoided between the
immediately neighbor BTS.
 Neighbor BTS should not have co-channels facing each other directly.
 Normally, with 1*3 reuse, the number of the hopping frequencies
should be not less than twice of the number of frequency hopping
TRX in the same cell.
 Pay close attention to co-channel reuse, avoiding the situation that
the same BCCH has the same BSIC in adjacent area.
 Example of Frequency Planning

An example network in a specific place, BTS are densely located.

The topography is plain. The maximum BTS configuration is S3/3/2.
Initial planning:
 Example of Frequency Planning

Final frequency planning:

 Example of 1*3 Frequency Reuse

 Suppose 900 band: 96～124

 BTS configuration: S3/3/3
 BCCH layer: 96～109 reuse pattern: 4*3
 TCH layer: 110～124 reuse pattern: 1*3
 TCH Consecutive Allocation Scheme

Group 1 (MA1): 110 111 112 113 114 Cell1

Group 2 (MA2): 115 116 117 118 119 Cell2

Group 3 (MA3): 120 121 122 123 124 Cell3

 TCH Interval Allocation Scheme

Group 1 (MA1): 110 113 116 119 122 Cell1

Group 2 (MA2): 111 114 117 120 123 Cell2

Group 3 (MA3): 112 115 118 121 124 Cell3

 Comparison Between Multi-layer reuse and 1*3

 For Multi-layer reuse pattern, either Base band hopping or RF

hopping can be used. But for 1x3 reuse, only RF hopping can be
used.
 Multi-layer reuse pattern is a gradual process for TCH frequency
planning. In other words, the reuse is rather loose in TCH1 layer and
it is quite close in the last TCH layer (such as TCH5). The reason for
this pattern is that base band hopping is used in the Multi-layer reuse
pattern. When there are rather few frequency carriers, the hopping
gain is small. Therefore, more frequency carriers should be allocated
for the layer with small TCH and then the reuse coefficient is
relatively large. When RF hopping is used in the Multi-layer reuse
pattern and there are a large number of frequency carriers, the
hopping gain is high and the reuse coefficient can be very small. In
addition, the Multi-layer reuse pattern is of a free pattern. It is
different from base band hopping, in which the reuse must be loose
in the first TCH layer and more close in inner layers.
 Comparison Between Example of Frequency
Planning and 1*3

 The frequency planning for the 1x3 mode is simple and it is

easy to plan the frequency for new added BTS.
 1x3 mode requires a rather regular BTS location distribution.
 For the cells with fixed number of TRX, when the traffic is
heavy, the 1x3 provides higher service quality than that of
Multi-layer reuse pattern.
 TRX can be easily added to the 1x3 network, but TRX number
of hopping should not exceed the product of the allocated
hopping frequency number and the max RF load ratio.
 BCCH of Multi-layer reuse pattern can take part in the
frequency hopping, while BCCH in 1x3 mode can not.
Overview

Frequency planning

Tight frequency reuse

Frequency hopping
Content of Frequency Hopping

 Class of hopping

 Advantages of hopping

 Parameter of hopping

 Collocation of hopping data

Frequency Hopping
 Class of Hopping

 Hopping can be implemented in two ways

 Base-band hopping
 RF hopping
 Class according to the min hopping time
unit
 Timeslot hopping
 Frame hopping
Base Band Hopping Principle
RF Hopping Principle
 Class of Hopping

 Frame hopping
 Frequency changes every TDMA frame. The different channel
of one TRX uses the same MAIO.

 Timeslot hopping
 Frequency changes every timeslot. The different channel of one
TRX uses the different MAIO.
 Advantages of Hopping

 Get an agreeable radio environment.

 Provide a similar communication quality for every user.

 Tighter reuse patterns are possible to be used for larger

capacity.
 Frequency Diversity of Hopping

Smoothen the rapid fading (Rayleigh fading)

Interference Diversity of Hopping

Smoothen and average the interference

 Description Hopping Parameters

 At the Um interface, the ARFCN on a specific burst is an

element in MA set. MAI is used for indication, referring to a
specific element in the MA set.
 When 0< MAI<n-1
MAI is the function of TDMA FN, HSN and MAIO.
 Description Hopping Parameters

 At the air interface, the RC number on a specific burst is an

element in MA set. MAI is used for indication, referring to a
specific element in the MA set.
 When 0< MAI<n-1
MAI is the function of TDMA FN, HSN and MAIO.
 Description of Hopping Parameters

 HSN：hopping sequence number（0～63）.

 HSN=0：cycle hopping.
 HSN≠0 ： random hopping. Every sequence number
corresponds a pseudo random sequence.
 Hopping Parameters

 Hopping mode: the mode used by the BTS system, including

three options: not hopping, base band hopping and RF
hopping.
 Location: in 【Cell Configuration Table】

 CA (Cell Allocation Table): refer to all available frequency

carriers in the cell. The allocation should be consecutive
starting from the effective frequency carrier 0. There should be
no empty data item. The frequency carrier configuration
should be in an ascending order.
 Location: in 【Cell Allocation Table】.
 Hopping Parameters

 MA (Mobile Allocation Set): the set of available RF bands

when hopping, containing at most 16 frequency carriers. The
frequency being used must be those of the corresponding cell
number in 【Cell Allocation Table】, and no frequency of
BCCH channel should be in the set.
 Location: in 【Carrier Configuration Table】.

 HSN (Hopping Serial Number): used to define the actual rule

for hopping. 0 stands for sequence hopping and other values
for pseudo random sequence hopping.
 Location: in 【Frequency Hopping Table 】.
 Hopping Parameters

 MAIO (Mobile Allocation Index Offset): used to define the initial

frequency of the hopping.
 The MAIO of all channels of one hopping TRX must be identical. The
MAIO of channels of different hopping TRX in the same cell must be
different.
 Location: in 【frequency hopping table 】.

 TSC (Training Sequence Code): used for delay equalization at the

receiver end. TSC must be the same as the BTS color code. When
an MS or BTS receives signals, delay equalization is started with the
specified TSC. But for the co-channel signals with different TSC,
delay equalization is impossible, so that demodulation can not be
received. In this way, erroneous receiving is prevented effectively
and then co-channel interference is prevented.
 Location: in 【Radio Channel Configuration Table】.
 Hopping Data Configuration Rules

TSC CA MA HSN MAIO

The same RC
√ √ √ √ √
in the cell
Different RC
√ √ √ √ ×
in the cell
Co-channel
× √ √ × #
cell

Note: “√” means absolutely same; “×” means absolutely different;

“#” means uncertain.
 Description of Cell Allocation Table

Field name Meaning Value range Suggesti

on
Module ID Module ID is the number of the module 0~255
containing the cell
Cell ID Cell ID is the index value of the cell 0~65535
Cell name It is just a prompt 30 bit
ARFCN 0~63 It is used to configure the ab solute RC number M900: Configure
in the cell using frequency bands; each cell can as
1~124;
be configured with at most 64 frequency bands. necessar
The number of frequency bands to be used in M1800: y
practice is usually determined in network
512~885
planning.
When there are less than 64 frequency bands,
the invalid field need no configuration. For
example, if only 6 bands are used, effective
bands 0~5 should be configured and the
subsequent effective bands 6~63 should not be
configured.
 Description of RC Configuration Table
Field Name Meaning Value range Suggestion
Module ID Module ID is the number of the module 0~255
containing the cell
Cell ID Cell ID is the index value of the cell 0~65535
HW-IUO Indicating whether TRX should be configured
property as OverLaid or UnderLaid subcell.
equipment The number of the equipment group at the 0~2 0
group ID site. One site supports at most 3 equipment
groups; It is usually configured as “0” at
present.
Configure the frequency that the RC unit The subset
occupies. Configure one frequency when there of the
ARFCN is no hopping. If hopping is necessary, effective RC
configure 3~64 bands. These effective RCs in 【Cell
must be the subset of the effective RCs in the Allocation
cell distribution table. Table】
Static transmitting power level of the RC. “0” 0~13 Subject to
corresponds to the static power 46dBm, i.e. actual
Static TRX 40W. The static power is lowered by 2dB with condition
Power classl the level goes up by 1. and the
equipment
capacity
 Description of Hopping Data Table

Field Meaning Value range Suggest

name ion
FH index The index number of all sorts of hopping 0~255
number status, providing index value for 【 Radio
Channel Configuration Table】. The numbers
are in a sequence starting from 0.
HSN, indicating the sequence rule of the 0~63
hopping. Usually, there is only one HSN in
HSN the same cell and the HSN in the co-channel
cell must be different. The above-mentioned
rules must be observed.
Decide the parameters of the self-adaptive 0~7
equalization filter in the receiving processing
TSC filter. It is the same as the corresponding
base color code (BCC).
Number of frequency in the hopping serial. Corresponding Configu
According to hopping algorithm, at least 3 participant hopping re as
FH frequencies are required for hopping gain. If frequency in 【Cell necessa
ARFCN this field is left blank, it is invalid. Configuration Data ry
Table】
 Description of Radio Channel Configuration Table

Domain name Meaning Value range Suggesti

on
TRX ID The number of TRX unit in an BS 0~24

Channel ID Number of physical timeslot in TRX 0~7

Ch type Logic channel type of timeslots, including 9 channel
“TCH Full Rate”, “TCH Half Rate 01”, “TCH groupings
Half Rate 0”, “SDCCH8 ”, “Master BCCH”,
“Composite BCCH”, “BCH”, “BCCH + CBCH”,
“SDCCH + CBCH”, etc.
FH index It is used to index to corresponding record in 0~255
number 【Hopping Data Table】.
MAIO MAIO, used to decide initial frequency offset Less than
of the hopping. the number
of hopping
frequency
Sub-ch ID One timeslot is divided into 2 sub -channel “0”, 0~1
“1”at half rate. It is all “0” at full rate.

circ uit number Number of trunk circuit at Abis interface 0~65535

occupied by the corresponding physical
timeslot.