WCDMA Drive Test Data Analysis

ZTE University
Content

Overview of Network Optimization Process

Coverage-related Data Analysis

Service-related Data Analysis

Case Study
Engineering Optimization Phase
Ensure that network can run normally and reach preset network performance KPIs
Entire Network
Optimization
Cluster boundary optimization
Cluster optimization
Entire network optimization and
acceptance
Base station Cluster Single-site Optimization
Optimization Single-site optimization test
 Cluster optimization test Site rectification
 Cluster optimization data analysis Single-site acceptance
and optimization plan draft
 Cluster optimization plan
implementation
 Cluster optimization acceptance
O&M Optimization Phase
Improve network quality and customer satisfaction
Data analysis
Network performance
monitoring Optimization plan draft

DT, CQT

OMC Complain

NO YES
Implementation

Test
Tool Preparation
F852 (mobile)
Supports HSDPA/UMTS
Supports EDGE/GPRS/GSM

Supports HSDPA 3.6 Mbps

downlink
Supports R99 PS 384 kbps

downlink

MF632 (Data card)

Supports HSUPA/HSDPA/UMTS
Supports EDGE/GPRS/GSM

Supports HSDPA 7.2 Mbps downlink

Supports HSUPA 2 Mbps uplink

Supports receive diversity

Tool Preparation
 CPICH RSCP
 Coverage analysis
 CPICH Ec/Io
 Overshooting analysis
 Pilot Path Count
 Pilot pollution analysis
 PDU
 BLER
 Neighbor cell analysis

 Tx power  Call drop analysis

 Neighbours  Delay analysis
 CRC  Signaling process
 Throughput  Network KPIs
 Log

 CPICH RSCP
 Coverage analysis

 CPICH EC/Io  Overshooting analysis

 Pilot pollution analysis
Drive Test (DT)
 A drive test (DT) is to collect signal coverage data of
a single site, cluster or even the entire network as
well as to collect KPIs about CS and PS services.
The data to be collected include signal strength
indicator Ec, signal quality indicator Ec/Io, service
establishment success rate, handover success rate,
handover percentage, call drop rate, average
uplink/downlink throughput, delay occurred during
service establishment. All of these data helps to
assess outdoor signal coverage quality. Besides,
based on these data, engineers can find out whether
a single site runs normally and locate faults that
cause network KPIs deteriorate, such as device
faults, pilot pollution, cell faults, improper settings of
system parameters, and so on.
Call Quality Test (CQT)
 A call quality test (CQT) is a test towards a fixed
point. Its purpose is to collect indoor and outdoor
signal strength data as well as to collect data about
service establishment and maintaining.
 A fixed point test is to check signal quality of a local
area. KPIs of service establishment and maintaining
are useful for analyzing network problems occur at
the fixed point, especially problems like
indoor/outdoor signal optimization, repeater
interference, complexity of radio propagation
environment, and so on.
 Key KPIs that the test focuses include link signal
quality, multipath impact, service establishment
status, cell throughput, and so on. compared to DT,
it does not care about KPIs about handover.
Content

Overview of Network Optimization Process

Coverage-related Data Analysis

Service-related Data Analysis

Case Study
Pilot Pollution
 Cell pilot signals received at a test point have no difference in
signal strength (either strong or weak), but no dominant pilot is
received.
 The symptom is that the received pilot power is good but Ec/Io
of each cell is weak.
 At present, most WCDMA equiment supports up to three active
sets. If the number of similar Ec/Io values of different cells is
more than three, it can be regarded as a kind interference
towards three radio links in the active sets.
 The causes of signal distortion include, overshooting of sites at
higher places, ring deployment, streect effect, strong reflectors,
and so on.
 Pilot pollution algorithm
 Algorithm1: Ec/Io > Ec/Io_for_BestServingCell - the number

of 8dB cells is more than 3

 Algorithm2: Ec/Io > Ec/Io> Ec/Io_for_BestServingCell - the
number of Window_add cells is more than Active Size
Pilot Pollution
Check for pilot pollution via the test data of Scanner

 Pilots in Scanner, rscp>Trscp & ecio > Tecio

Pilot Pollution
Check for pilot pollution via the test data of UE-method 1
Pilot Pollution
Check for pilot pollution via the test data of UE-method 2
Neighbor Cells without Configuration
 A neighbor cell may has been added to an active set. It may be
involved in cell re-selection or handover with other cells.

 When a mobile is in the idle and FACH state, the mobile reads
the neighbor cell information from system messages, and
measures these neighbor cells when conditions are met. If a
neighbor cell fails to be set, cell re-selection cannot be
complete timely which further cause call establishment failure.

 When the mobile is in the DCH state, RNC sends out neighbor
cell information through measurement control command to ask
the mobile to measure all neighbor cells where handover may
occur. In this case, if a neighbor cell fails to be set, handover
failures may occur and further cause call drops.
Neighbor Cells without Configuration
Compare Ec/Io results obtained by the mobile and that obtained by Scanner to see whether a
cell is set or not

 Ec/Io results obtained by UE are poor while that obtained by Scanner are good.
 Scanner recorded that Best Server scramble did not appear in the Measurement
control signaling sent out by RNC.
Neighbor Cells without Configuration
Judge whether a cell is set or not via the active set and monitor set measured by the mobile

 There are cells whose signal is strong in the monitor set, but they are
not added to the active set.
Unreasonable Handover Area
 Typical handover process: measure control － > measure report － >
handover dicision － > handover implementation － > new
measurement control.
 Unreasonable handover area may cause that signals jitter to fast and
have not enough time to complete handover which further causes call
drops.
 Corners and street crossroads
Unreasonable Handover Area
Compare Ec/Io results obtained by the mobile and that obtained by Scanner to see
whether a cell is set or not

 Ec/Io results obtained by UE are poor while that obtained by Scanner are good.
 Scanner recorded that Best Server scramble did appear in the Measurement control
signaling.
Pilot Pollution

Solutions

 The core to solve pilot pollution is to form dominant pilot at the

place where pilot pollution occurs.
 Optimization methods include:
 Adjust antenna engineering parameters, like azimuth, downtilt
angle, installation position (install antenna at a higher place)
 Adjust cell pilot transmission power, including increasing
transmission power of a certain cell and decreasing that of
other cells
 Adjust base station layout, and add signal sources in pilot
pollution areas to introduce a strong primary signal
 Adjust cell selection and re-selection parameters when
necessary to imrpove call access success rate
Overshooting
 Pilot signals in some area are too strong and cover the areas beyond their planned
coverage range. This leads to the formation of discontinuous dominant areas in the
coverage range of other cells.
 The places where bases stations are deployed are too high; antenna engineering
parameters are not reasonable; street effects; and so on.

Use Best SC to check for

overshooting
Overshooting
Use Over Shoot to check for
overshooting
Overshooting
Use Over Shoot to check for overshooting

 Global sample points: RSCP > -105dBm & Ec/Io >-15dB

 Overshooting sample points:
 Distance from a sample point to a cell > Geographical threshold (Distance)
 RSCP > RSCP.Threshold & Ec/Io > Ec/Io.Threshold
 If number of global sample points >M & number of overshooting sample points >N &
number of global sample points / number of overshooting sample points > Propotion,
then it indicates that there are overshooting problems.
 Measure of severity
 Measure of distance: W1=distance from a sample point to a cell / geographical
threshold
 Measure of severity:

W2=W21, indicates that ecio of an overshooting sample point is strongest

W2=W22, indicates that ecio of an overshooting sample point is the second
strongest

W2=W23, others
 Overshooting degree: W=W1*W2
Content

Overview of Network Optimization Process

Coverage-related Data Analysis

Service-related Data Analysis

Case Study
RRC Connection Establishment Success Rate

RRC connection establishment success rate (service-related)

＝ Number of RRC connection establishment success times (service-related)

/Number of RRC connection establishment attempts (service-related)×100%
RRC Connection Establishment Success Rate

RRC connection established

NAS connection established

Authentication

Encryption

Call established
RB established

Conversation

Release of the called party

RRC connection released

Call Access Success Rate

Call access establishment success rate

＝ Number of RB establishment success times /
Number of RRC connection establishment attempt times × 100%
Call access establishment success rate

RRC connection established

NAS connection established

Authentication

Encryption

Call established
RB established

Conversation

Release of the called party

RRC connection released

Call Establishment Success Rate

Call establishment success rate

＝ Number of call establishment success times /
Number of RRC connection establishment attempt times × 100%
Call establishment success rate

RRC connection established

NAS connection established

Authentication

Encryption

Call established
RB established

Conversation

Release of the called party

RRC connection released

PDP Context Activation Success Rate

PDP context activation success rate

＝ Number of PDP context activation success times /
Number of PDP context activation attempt times
×100%
PDP Context Activation Success Rate

RRC connection established

NAS connection established

Authentication

Encryption

Call established

RB established

Conversation
PDP deactivated

RRC connection released

Average Access Delay

Average access delay

＝ { Time that UE receives RRC Connection Setup-
Time UE sends RRC Connection Request}/
Number of RRC connection establishment attempt times
Average access delay

RRC connection established

NAS connection established
Authentication

Encryption

Call established
RB established

Conversation

Release of the called party

RRC connection released

Channel Synchronization Delay

Channel synchronization delay

＝ { Time UE sends RRC Connection Setup Complete-

Time UE sends RRC Connection Request}/
Number of RRC connection establishment attempt times
Channel synchronization delay

RRC connection established

NAS connection established
Authentication

Encryption

Call established
RB established

Conversation

Release of the called party

RRC connection released

Call Access Delay

Call access delay

＝ { Time the calling UE sends Radio Bearer Setup Complete-

Time the calling UE sends RRC Connection Request}/
Number of call attempt times
Call access delay

RRC connection established

NAS connection established
Authentication

Encryption

Call established
RB established

Conversation

Release of the called party

RRC connection released

Call Establishment Delay

Call Establishment delay

＝ { Time calling UE receives Alerting-

Time the calling UE sends RRC Connection Request}/
Number of call attempt times
Call Establishment Delay

RRC connection established

NAS connection established
Authentication

Encryption

Call established
RB established

Conversation

Release of the called party

RRC connection released

PDP Context Activation Delay

PDP context activation delay

＝ { Time UEA receives Active PDP Context Accept-

Time calling UE sends Active PDP Context Request}/
Number of PDP activation attempt times
PDP Context Activation Delay

RRC connection established

NAS connection established

Authentication

Encryption

Call established

RB established

Conversation
PDP deactivated

RRC connection released

Content

Overview of Network Optimization Process

Coverage-related Data Analysis

Service-related Data Analysis

Case Study
Locating Area Where Call Drop Occurs
Use Marker Setting to locate the area

Select calling events like RRC Connect Fail, Call Drop, RB setup Failure.
Then the system displays the area where call drop occurs in the Map window.
Locating Area Where Call Drop Occurs
Check if the signaling is complete to locate the area

Select calling events like RRC Connect Fail, Call Drop, RB setup Failure.
Then the system displays the area where call drop occurs in the Map window.
Locating Area Where Call Drop Occurs
Check if the signaling is complete to locate the area

Broadcasting messages are received suddenly; call re-establishment fails.

Locating Area Where Call Drop Occurs
Check if the signaling is
complete to locate the area

 Radio quality
deteriorates;
 UE initiates cell update
process and waits for
call re-establishment
 The network re-configure
the transmission channel
for the UE through
Cellupdate Confirm to
re-synchronize radio
links;
 Call re-established
successfully.

Broadcasting messages are received suddenly; call re-establishment

succeeded without call drops.
Poor RSCP
Before Optimization

The signal is blocked by buildings.

Optimization Plan

Analyze the site survey photos, and then

Change antenna direction of SC283 from 160 to 140 degree.
Change antenna downtilt of SC283 from 7 to 2 degree.
After Optimization

Optimization result: coverage is improved to some extent.

Poor Ec/Io
Before Optimization

505

Problem: some Ec/Io in the red circle is poor below -10dB, RSCP is normal around -85dBm
Optimization Plan

The red circle area, which is in the middle of several NodeBs, has no primary server cell for
coverage. In order to improve Ec/Io, it is necessary to select a cell, SC505 in the case, as primary
server cell.

Change antenna direction of SC505 from 130 to 100 degree.

Change antenna downtilt of SC505 from 6 to 4 degree.
After Optimization

Optimization result: The primary server cell is more outstanding, and Ec/Io is improved
obviously.
Problem: low HSDPA download rate
Before Optimization

13

20
18

Problem: The red circle area, active set has three cells Ec/Io all below -10dB, RSCP is around
-85dBm, causing HSDPA download rate lower than 1Mbps.
Optimization Plan

The main idea is to make primary server cell outstanding. After analysis on the basis of field
environment, consider SC18 to cover the red circle area. And decrease the effect of SC20 and
SC13, making them not cover the area.
Change antenna direction of SC18 from 90 to 75 degree.
Change antenna direction of SC20 from 330 to 300 degree.
Change antenna downtilt of SC20 two degree more.
Change antenna direction of SC13 from 180 to 200 degree.
Pilot Pollution
 Results to network:
 decreasing the CSSR (Call Setup Success Rate)
 decreasing the SHO rate
 decreasing the system capacity
 Trouble shooting
 Generating a dominating cell in the pilot pollution
area
After Optimization

18

Optimization result: primary server cell S18 is outstanding. Ec/Io is improved obviously and
HSDPA download rate increase to normal above 2Mbps.
Optimization Issues
 The hill blocking signal causes call drop
 Overshooting at Sofitel Beach
 No Throughput Round SWHT Site for R99 Ftp
Download
Issue1: The hill block signal cause call drop

site cell signal are blocked by a

mountain, UE lock in 3G cause
call drop in the back of
mountain.
Before Optimization

Problem: The signal of this is area quite poor because the mountain blocked signal from
site, SC27 cell RSCP<-95dBm, if UE lock in 3G and can not handover to 2G, it will cause
call drop in the back of the mountain.
Optimization Plan

Change 2d event threshold (compress mode) of SC27 cell from -95dBm to -92dBm.
Change 3a event threshold (inter-RAT handover) of SC27 from -95dBm to -92dBm.
Change 3a time to trigger of SC27 from 100ms to 80ms.
Purpose: Let UE handover to 2G more faster in order to avoid call drop.
After Optimization

Optimization result: UE can success to handover from 3G to 2G if mobile choices “auto

mode”, the result show no call drop.
Issue2:
Overshooting

Signals of HNSS2 and KHTK1

were reflected by sea and
result in overshooting at
Sofitel Beach.
Before Optimization

17

20

11

Problem: There are overshooting signal of SC11(KHTK1) and SC17(HNSS2) in the Sofitel
Beach. Distances to sites are over warn distance, customer can not share 3G service,
including CS and PS.
Optimization Plan

Change antenna direction of SC17(HNSS2) from 180 to 200 degree.

Change antenna E-downtilt of SC17(HNSS2) from 2 to 5 degree.
Change antenna direction of SC20(SWHT2) from 190 to 170 degree.
Change antenna E-downtilt of SC11(KHTK1) from 6 to 8 degree.
Add neighbor cells among SC17(HNSS2), SC11(KHTK1) and SC20(SWHT2).
After Optimization

20

Optimization result: SC20(SWHT2) is primary service cell at mostly area in the beach. Though
signals of SC 17(SNSS2) and SC11(KHTK1) still exist in the beach, all service (CS and PS) are
normal.
Issue3:No throughput Round SWHT Site for
R99 Ftp Download

Soft handover failure cause

low throughput for R99 service.
Before Optimization

Problem: Signal quality of SC28(SWHT3) is better than signal quality of SC12(SWHT1), but UE
can not report 1A event, SC28 cell can not update to active set , so result in R99 throughput is low.
Optimization plan: First step check whether NodeB has alarm , the second check RNC
parameter about intra and find that intra parameters set isn’t correct set, so change back to
correct parameters set and resolve problem.
After Optimization

Optimization result: SC28(SWHT3) can be added into active set, soft handover is success and
R99 throughput is normal.