GSM Handover Problems & Solutions

ZTE university
Objectives
To master different types of handover and their
signaling flows;
To master handover statistical signaling point and MR
tasks;
To know common handover problems and the handling
procedures.
Contents
Overview of handover
Flow of handover signaling
Handover statistics
Handover problem analysis

Aims of handovers
Why there are handovers?
To keep calls going on during movement;
To improve network service quality;
To decrease call drop rate;
To decrease congestion rate.

Handover classification
Inter-MSC
Inter-BSC
Intra-BSC
Intra-cell
Handover
classification
Contents
Overview of handover
Flow of handover signaling
Handover statistics
Handover problem analysis

Intra-cell handover
Air A
TC
BTS
BSC
N
e
w
C
h
a
n
n
e
l
O
l
d
C
h
a
n
n
e
l
Signaling flow of intra-cell handover
MS BTS BSC MSC
1Measurement Report(SACCH)
2Measurement Report
3Channel Activation
4Channel Activation Ack
5Assigment Command FACCH)
6SABM(FACCH)
8UA(FACCH)
7Establish Indication
9Assigment Complete(FACCH)
10Receiver Ready(FACCH)
11HO Performed
12RF Channel Release
13RF Channel Release Ack
Air A
TC
BTS
BTS
BSC
Old Cell / BTS New Cell / BTS
Inter-cell handover within one BSC
Signaling flow of inter-cell handover within one BSC
MS Old BTS BSC MSC
1Measurement Report(SACCH)
2Measurement Report
5HO Command
7HO Access(FACCH)
12UA(FACCH)
13HO Complete(FACCH)
14Receiver Ready(FACCH)
16HO Performed
17RF Channel Release
18RF Channel Release Ack
New BTS
3Channel Activation
4Channel Activation Ack
6HO Command(FACCH)
8HO Detect
9Physical info(FACCH)
10SABM(FACCH)
11Establish Indication
15HO Complete
Air A
BTS
Old Cell / BTS
New Cell / BTS
BTS
BSC TC
BSC TC
VLR
MSC
Inter-BSC handover
Signaling flow of inter-BSC handover
MS Old BTS Old BSC MSC
14HO ommand
6HO Command
13UA(FACCH)
New BTS
3Channel Activation
4Channel Activation Ack
10HO Detect
11Physical info(FACCH)
12SABM(FACCH)
New BSC
1HO_REQ
2HO_REQ
5HO_REQ_ACK
7HO Command
8HO Command
9HO Access(FACCH)
15HO Command
16HO Command
17HO Command
Air A
BTS
Old Cell / BTS
New Cell / BTS
BTS
BSC TC
BSC
TC
VLR
MSC
VLR
MSC
Inter-MSC handover
Basic signaling flow of Inter-MSC handover

MS/BSS-A
MSC-A MSC-B
MAP-Prep-Handover req. MAP-Allocate-Handover-Number req.
A-HO-REQUEST
A-HO-REQUIRED
BSS-B/MS
VLR-B
A-HO-REQUEST-ACK
MAP-Send-Handover-Report req.
MAP-Prep-Handover resp.
IAM
MAP-Send-Handover-Report resp.
ACM A-HO-COMMAND
A-HO-DETECT
A-HO-COMPLETE
MAP-Process-Access-Sig req.
MAP-Send-End-Signal req. A-CLR-CMD/COM
ANSWER
RELEASE
End of call
MAP-Send-End-Signal resp.

MS/BSS-B
MSC-A MSC-B
MAP-Prep-Sub-Handover req.
A-HO-REQUIRED
BSS-A/MS
VLR-B
A-HO-COMMAND MAP-Prep-Sub-Handover resp.
A-HO-REQUEST-ACK
A-HO-DETECT
A-HO-COMPLETE
MAP-Send-End-Signal resp. A-CLR-CMD/COM
A-HO-REQUEST
Release
Signaling flow of inter-MSC back-handover

MSC-B
A-HO-REQUIRED
VLR-B
A-HO-COMMAND
MAP-Prep-Sub-Handover req.
A-HO-DETECT
A-HO-COMPLETE
MSC-A
MS/BSS
MSC-B VLR-B
MAP-Prepare-Handover req.
MAP-Prepare-Handover resp.
MAP-Allocate-Handover-Number req.
MAP-Send-Handover-Report req.
IAM
MAP-Send-Handover-Rep. resp. (1)
MAP-Prep-Sub-Ho resp.
MAP-Process-Access-Signalling req.
MAP-Send-End-Signal req.
ACM
Answer
Release
MAP-Send-End-Signal resp.
MAP-Send-End-Signal resp.
Release
(end of call)
A-CLR-CMD/COM
Signaling flow of inter-MSC handover to a third MSC
Basic flow of handover signaling
Inter-cell handover
within BSC
There is no HO-Request message for intra-BSC handover; all
information is analyzed within BSC; Once a target cell in the
BSC fulfilling handover conditions is found, send Channel
activation message directly;
Inter-BSC handover
within MSC
BSC reports CGI and handover cause of original cell and target
cell to MSC through HO-Request;
After MSC finds target cell LAC, it sends HO-Request to the
BSC which the target cell belongs to;
Target BSC activates channel in target cell, and executes the
following flow.
Basic flow of handover signaling
Inter-MSC handover
MSC inquires REMOTLAC sheet (including LAC and
route address of adjacent MSC);
MSC sends Prepare-HO message to the target
MSC-B according to the route address;
According to the Prepare-HO message, target
MSC-B requests for Handover number from VLR-B,
then sends HO-Request message to BSC-B;
After the target BSC-B receives HO-Request ACK, it
sends Prepare-HO ACKmessage to the original
MSC, and executes the following flow.
MSC participates
or not
CGI is carried
or not
Inter-
BSC
handover
Intra-
BSC
handover
MSC transmits HO-REQ message,
and CGI of original cell and target cell
is carried in the message;
As for inter-BSC handover, MSC
participates in it since HO-Request;
As for intra-BSC handover, HO-
Performed message is sent to MSC
only after the handover is
completed; MSC doesnt participate
before that;
For intra-BSC handover, CGI isnt
carried in any message, its handled
within BSC.
Main differences between intra-BSC handover
and inter-BSC handover
MS BTS
BSC
MSC
BCCH
frequency
point, BSIC
and level
values of
the six
adjacent
cells (with
strongest
level) and
serving cell;
UL MR
Process of MR
Confirmation of
adjacent cell CGI
Execution of
handover decision
Selection of
target cell
Channel activation
External cell?
H
O

r
e
q
u
e
s
t

Intra-MSC
handover
Target MSC Target BSC
BA2 sheet
List of cells
under one LAC
H
O

r
e
q
u
e
s
t

H
O

r
e
q
u
e
s
t

No
Yes
Flow of handover algorithm
Common timers at BSC
T3107
Suitable for: intra-cell handover
Start-up: BSC sends assignment command
Stop counting: when assignment completed or
assignment failure is received;

A1
BSC BTS:TRX MS
ASSIGNMENT COMMAND
CHANNEL ACTIVATE
A2
CHANNEL ACTIVATE ACK
SET T3107
T3107
Timeout
Common timers at BSC
T3103
Suitable for: inter-cell handover
Start-up: BSC sends handover command
Stop counting: when handover completed or handover failure is
received;

A1
BSC Old BTS: MS
HANDOVER COMMAND
CHANNEL ACT
A2
CHANNEL ACT ACK
New BTS
HANDOVER COMMAND
SET T3103
T3103
Timeout
Contents
Overview of handover
Flow of handover signaling
Handover statistics
Handover problem analysis

MR cycle
MR is sent to BTS in SACCH UL direction;
When MS is in SDCCH, MR cycle is 470ms/time;
When MS is in TCH, MR cycle is 480ms/time.
12TCH 12TCH 1SACCH
1 idle
480ms
26 multi-
frames of 4
TCHs
Indicator definition of handover success rate
KPI name Handover success rate
Indicator
definition
busy hour number of handover success times /busy hour total
number of handover request times*100%
V6.20 (C900060098+C900060102+C900060120+C900060094
+C900060096)*100/(C900060097+C900060213+C9000
60214+C900060215+C900060099+C900060100+C900
060101+C900060216+C900060119+C900060093+C900
060095)
Signaling statistical point of handover success
C900060098 C900060102
C900060120
A
BTS BSC
HO_COM
BSC-controlled inter-cell incoming handover success
A
BSC MSC BTS
HO_COM
HO_COM
MSC-controlled incoming handover success
A
BSC BTS
ASS_COM
ASS_CMD
Intra-cell handover success
C900060096
A
MSC BSC
CLEAR_CMD
No. of MSC-controlled outgoing handover success times
Signaling statistical point of handover success
C900060094
MS
HO_CMD
BTS(Src)
CHL_ACT
BSC
HO_CMD
MEAS_RES
MEAS_RES
SABM
UA
HO_COM
MSC
HO_COM
EST_IND
HO_PERFORM
HO_ACCESS
BTS(Target)
CHL_ACT_ACK
HO DETECT
Phy Info
A
BSC-controlled inter-cell outgoing handover success
Signaling statistical point of handover request
C900060097
A
BTS BSC
CHL_ACTIV_ACK
BSC-controlled inter-cell incoming handover execution
C900060213
C900060214
A
BTS( Target) BSC
CHANNEL ACT
CHANNEL ACT ACK
Forced
release
attempt

Resource
Available
Execution of forced release
A
BTS( Target) BSC
CHANNEL ACT
CHANNEL ACT ACK
Cell
queuing

Resource
Available
Execution of cell queuing
C900060215
A
BTS( Target) BSC
CHANNEL ACT
CHANNEL ACT ACK
Force
handover
attempt

Resource
Available
Execution of force handover
Signaling statistical point of handover request
C900060099 C900060100
C900060101
A
BSC
HO_REQ
MSC BTS
HO_REQ_ACK
CHL_ACTIV_ACK
CHL_ACTIV
MSC BSC-controlled incoming handover execution
A
BSC
HO_REQ
MSC BTS
HO_REQ_ACK
CHL_ACTIV_ACK
CHL_ACTIV
Forced release attempt,
resource available
Execution of forced release
A
BSC
HO_REQ
MSC BTS
HO_REQ_ACK
CHL_ACTIV_ACK
CHL_ACTIV
Cell queuing, resource available
Execution of queuing
A
BSC BTS
ASSIGN_CMD
CHL_ ACTIV_ACK
Execution of intra-cell handover
C900060119
Signaling statistical point of handover request
C900060216 C900060095
C900060093
BTS
A
MSC
HO_CMD
BSC
HO_CMD
No. of MSC-controlled outgoing handover execution times
A
BTS( Target) BSC
CHANNEL ACT
CHANNEL ACT ACK
Force
handover
attempt

Resource
available
Execution of force handover
MS
HO_CMD
BTS(Src)
CHL_ACT
A
BSC
HO_CMD
MEAS_RES
MEAS_RES
SABM
UA
HO_COM
MSC
HO_COM
EST_IND
HO_PERFORM
HO_ACCESS
BTS(Target)
CHL_ACT_ACK
HO DETECT
Phy Info
No. of BSC-controlled inter-cell outgoing handover execution times
Handover-related measurement tasks
Handover
causes
measurement
Measure the frequency of MS handovers caused by various kinds of
reasons, so as to examine radio environment of a cell;
Common
handover
measurement
Measure the process of MS handover to inspect handover success or
failure and abnormal situations causing failures, so as to improve the
cells radio configuration and observe traffic dispersion, etc.;
Measurement
of adjacent
cell handover
Measure the number of times of incoming/outgoing handover
attempt/success/failure from/to certain cells, and number of times of
handover caused by different reasons, so as to get the handover
situations of the serving cell and its adjacent cells and to optimize their
radio configurations correspondingly;
Sub cell
statistical
measurement
Focus on traffic load of the second subcell.
Contents
Overview of handover
Flow of handover signaling
Handover statistics
Handover problem analysis
Analysis handover problems
Analysis of handover problems
Location method of handover problems
Common handover problems
Common handover
problems
Possible influences
Handover
nonoccurrence
Result in call drop;
Handover failure
Affect call quality and result in call
drop;
Frequent handover
Affect call quality, and increase
system load;
Handover hysteresis
Affect call quality and result in
call drop;

Discovery of handover problems
Meters at A interface
Traffic statistics
analysis
Customer complaints
DT/CQT tests
TOPN analysis
Abnormal number of handover times
Call drop
Poor speech quality
Bad coverage
Handover problem
Slow handover
Handover to best cell
inhibited
No handover
Handover failure
Frequent handover
Flow of handover problem checking
Too high TCH
handover failure rate
of a cell
Complete
Any antenna
problems?
Solve
antenna
problems
Eliminate
equipment
faults
Check &
eliminate
interference
Is radio
parameter setting
reasonable?
Interference
exists?
Any equipment
faults?
No
Yes
Adjust
parameters
Yes
Yes
Coverage
problem exists?
Improve
coverage
Yes
Location methods of handover problems
Analyze traffic statistics
Conduct handover statistics measurement, identify
problem range:
If just some cells fail to make handovers to the cell, check
handover data, check if co-channel and co-BSIC exist;
If the cell fails to take handovers from all other cells, check its
data.
Check warnings: single board malfunction,
transmission and clock malfunctions, etc.;
Check if radio parameters are set reasonably
If co-channel or co-BSIC exist among adjacent cells;
If handover parameters are set reasonably;
If data configuration of external cells is correct.
Location methods of handover problems
Interference checking
DT analysis
Signaling analysis: Um interfaceAbis interface A interface;
Hardware checking: like DCU, transceiver, clock generator, RF
connection lines between boards;
Antenna system checking
Analysis of handover problems
Coverage & interference
Antenna system
BTS software & hardware
transmission
BSC software & hardware
A interface malfunction
Busy target cell
Connection & adaptation to equipment from different suppliers

Coverage & interference
Coverage:
Poor coverage: due to influence from forest, complex
landforms, houses, indoor coverage, etc.;
Isolated site: no adjacent cells around;
Skip-zone coverage: no adjacent cells available due to
isolated-island effect;
Interference:
It makes MS unable to access in UL, or DL signal
receiving problem will be resulted.

Handover nonoccurance due to isolated-
island effect
Adjacent cell N3
adjacent cell N2
adjacent cell N1
Non-adjacent
cell

Non-adjacent
cell

Non-adjacent
cell
Serving cell
Handover cant
happen due to
lack of adjacent
cells.
Skip-zone
coverage leads to
isolated island.
Antenna system problems
Too large VSWR
Reversed installation of antenna
Non-standard antenna installation
Unreasonable azimuth, down-tilt
Below-standard antenna insulation
Twisted cables, loosened connectors and wrong
connections;
BTS software/hardware
Problems about :
Single board
Clock generator malfunction
Internal communication cable malfunction
BTS software malfunction
Transmission and BSC problems
Transmission fault
Unstable transmission
Too high transmission error rate
BSC hardware/software malfunctions
Clock generator malfunction: unconformity among clocks in
different BTSs due to clock generator malfunction;
Problem about single board
Wrong data configuration
Unreasonable setting of handover threshold
CGI, BCCH and BSIC values in external cell data sheet do not
match up to those in the corresponding BSC;
Wrong BSC signaling point in list of cell under a LAC in MSC; co-
channel& co-BSIC adjacent cells exist.
A interface malfunction
A interface malfunction
Abnormal handover due to lack of link resource, abnormal calls;

Busy target cell
Abnormal handover due to lack of link resource, abnormal calls;

handover between equipment from different suppliers
Difference in signaling at interface A and interface E between ZTE
and other suppliers equipment, causing non-recognition or non-
support problem, including speech version, handover code and
addressing mode (CGI or LAI) etc., which will result in handover
failure.
Typical case 1- frequency interference
Problem description:
The data in performance report shows that Cell 1 under
a BTS suffers from low handover success rate.
Problem analysis
Examine the problem cell, discover that 2 cells under a
BTS co-channel and co-BSIC, and close to each other,
which results in low handover success rate in the cell.
Problem handling
After adjustment of frequency point, handover success
rate obviously increases, and number of handover times
reduces.
Typical case 1- frequency interference
Changes of HO indicators before & after Frequency point adjustment
0
30
60
90
120
150
180
9-4 9-5 9-6 9-7 9-8 9-9 9-10 9-11
N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

H
O

R
e
q
.
/
n
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

H
O

s
u
c
c
e
s
s
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
H
O

s
u
c
c
e
s
s

r
a
t
e
(%) No. of HOReq. HO success
rate
No. of HOsuccess
Typical case 2- clock malfunction
Problem description
For a newly-commissioned BTS, handover nonoccurrence appears
during DT: the MS occupies a channel in cell A; during DT from cell
A to cell B, cell B cant be observed in the adjacent cell list, and it
doesnt start normal handovers.
Problem analysis
Its a common network problem that handover nonoccurrence
appears in many cells;
Its a newly-commissioned BTS; handover parameters are as
default in the system;
Check adjacent cells relation, no problem found;
Observe from test MS, find out that adjacent cell frequency
appears in the adjacent cell, but BSIC cant be decoded.
Since adjacent cell is searched through BA2 table during a call, and
BA2 relies on BCCH and BSIC to confirm an adjacent cell, when the
adjacent cells BSIC is unobtainable, BSC is unable to locate it, thus
handover wont be started.
Typical case 2- clock malfunction
Problem analysis
Process of MS decodeing on DL channel
decode FCCH decode SCHSCH comprises MS frame
synchronous information and BSIC.
MS can show adjacent cell frequency point, but not BSIC. Its
suspected that adjacent cells SCH information cant be decoded
by MS due to clock or transmission fault.
Check clock and transmission
BTS adopts network clock
BSC traces superior clock
MSC traces superior GPS clock through long-distance satellite link
The long-distance satellite link is found unstable, which leads to
high error rate on the meter, and warning of clock deterioration
appears on MSC.

Typical case 2- clock malfunction
Problem handling
Decide that its handover problem
caused by poor clock quality.
Bring new GPS clock device and
adopt the local one, thoroughly
solve clock malfunction.
Problem of handover
nonoccurrence is solved.
Experience conclusion
If no high accuracy clock
available, clock in BTS can be
used; calibration of each BTS
must be made by using
frequency meter and LMT to
ensure that frequency deviation
meets precision requirement.

Typical case 3-HO parameter setting problem
Problem description
During DT at a BTS, we find slow handover problem is
common (>10S), which affects speech quality and even
causes call drops.
Problem: level of cell 2 is higher than that of cell 3 by
20dB, total handover time is 15s.
Typical case 3-HO parameter setting problem
Problem analysis and handling
Slow handover seriously affects network quality. Make adjustment of
handover parameters accordingly:
Change adjacent cell handover threshold to improve timeliness of
handover trigger;
Adjust the whole networks handover window to be 2, so as to
accelerate handover speed;
Adjust the whole networks handover preprocess to 2, so as to
accelerate handover speed.
Parameter Before
adjustment
After adjustment
Level threshold
(HOMARGINRXLEV)
30 28
Quality threshold
(HOMARGINRXQUAL)
30 26

Result
Test after adjustment shows that handover time is reduced to 5s; the slow
handover problem is solved and speech quality is improve.
Questions for thinking
Please simply illustrate effects on handover due to
changing T3103T3107.

Suggestions on parameter settings of handovers on
highway.