GSM Radio Network Optimisation

Radio Datasheet 042

This Datasheet is compiled and owned by Radio Design and Systems. Date of last update:

8 th August2001

SUMMARY:

This datasheet summarises the current BTCellnet Radio Design guidelines &
techniques to assist optimisation of the GSM radio layer.

Target Audience:

Radio planners and optimisers

General Policy:

Features and parameters that may be changed on a cell by cell basis to optimise the
network are generally restricted to:
GSM ARFCN (i.e. carrier frequency)
BTS transmit power
SDCCH configuration
Neighbour list
Handover Power Budget Margin

Antenna type (i.e. beamwidth)

Antenna orientation
Antenna tilt
Antenna height

Varying these parameters will give the optimiser sufficient flexibilty to resolve
almost all radio issues provided maintenance problems have been resolved and the
cell configuration (eg antenna tilts) and databuild (eg neighbours) meets the design
requirement..
Given the complexity of BTCellnet's multi layer, multi feature radio network the
changing of other parameters without a full understanding of the effects may well
introduce unintended consequences detrimental to network performance. Requests for
other parameter changes should be addressed to relevant members of the Radio Design
Group or Parameter Control Forum who can provide further advice.
Network Faults:

It is imperative that prior to undertaking any optimisation procedures, all possible

network faults, configuration issues and database errors are identified and eliminated
both on the target site and its neighbours. The following assumes that the design
configuration is implemented correctly (particularly topology data) which, if incorrect,
can have a detrimental effect on quality and capacity

Optimising
Capacity:
1.

Optimisin
g TCH
Capacity:

In practice, optimising capacity is principally concerned with eliminating potential

capacity hotspots. Techniques that can be used to achieve this at sites that exhibit
congestion are shown in Table 1. However ensure first that capacity enhancing features
such as Directed Retry, Motorola Congestion Relief & Nokia Traffic Reason Handover
are operating correctly. Also ensure that GPRS default and dedicated timeslot
dimensioning accords with the GPRS dimensioning guidelines.

Table 1: Generic capacity solutions applicable to both Motorola and Nokia sites.
Change...

Effect...

Notes...

Add additional carrier

Additional 8 timeslots
available for traffic and
signalling.

Subject to physical equipment limitations at the site. The

wider effect on the network of adding the carrier must be
assessed before deployment.

Downtilt/replace
antennas

Reduces coverage area and

traffic capture.

Labour intensive solution with significant cost

implications. The effects on the surrounding network must
be thoroughly evaluated before antenna changes are made.
The use of Timing Advance data will assist here

Review topology

Unable to handout traffic

Ensure all logical neighbours are added to ensure that

hand out traffic can readily be shed

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BT Cellnet Radio Datasheet 042

GSM Radio Network Optimisation

Reduce BTS downlink

power

Reduces coverage area and

hence traffic capture.

Success depends on surrounding infill coverage, resource

availability on surrounding sites and quality implications
(C/IC) to the site. These factors can only be evaluated using
a radio planning tool. Be aware that indoor coverage is
likely to suffer most from D/L power reductions

Install additional sites.

Add capacity where needed.

Normally a last resort. Costly.

2.

Optimisin
g SDCCH
Capacity:

SDCCH congestion is frequently due to one or more of the following problems:

Cells on location boundaries not identified during planning
Cells incorrectly dimensioned for TCH and therefore SDCCH
Cells suffering quality problems
Ensure that the SDCCH is correctly dimensioned. Note the Dynamic SDCCH
Assignment feature should prevent congestion due to transient events but the cell must
always be statically dimensioned to meet its normal SDCCH traffic load. Ensure that the
feature is working correctly before adopting other measures.
Currently the Dynamic SDCCH Assignment feature is only available for Nokia cells.
Where SDCCH congestion continues then the following process should be followed to
determine the correct static dimensioning for the cell, taking account of the effect on
TCH requirements.
A systematic approach should be used to resolve SDCCH problems. This should include
the following steps:
1. Identify cells with SDCCH congestion.
2. Does the cell also exhibit TCH congestion? If so, consider the solutions shown under
Optimising Capacity, above.
3. Does the cell have a high number of location update attempts compared to the
number of call set-up attempts? This can be checked using Metrica or the OMC. If it
does, check the databuild and SDCCH dimensioning.
4. Establish the quality of the cell by quality distribution and quality handover statistics
etc. If downlink quality is significantly worse than the uplink, then suspect interference
problems. Local knowledge can make an important contribution.
5. Does the site have poor quality and/or a high number of SDCCH failed seizure
attempts, and random access attempts ? If so, suspect co-channel/co-BSIC problems.
6. If the statistics indicate fixed network problems, resolve this problem.
7. If the problem is not resolved by this procedure, refer the problem to Radio Planning
for possible allocation of additional resources.
Quality problems likely to give rise to SDCCH congestion are shown in Table 2.

Table 2: Common quality problems relevant to SDCCH congestion.

Problem
Bad downlink quality/interference, causing
multiple access attempts

Cause/Effect
This may be due to external sources of interference, C/I C due to
poor planning or poor coverage.

Low co-channel/co-BSIC reuse distance

This can cause handover access attempts and call access

attempts from distant mobiles to be picked up by the problem
cell
A-interface congestion, A/Abis interface faults etc

Fixed network/trunking problems

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BT Cellnet Radio Datasheet 042

GSM Radio Network Optimisation

Quality problems can arise from a wide variety of operational and other causes. These
can include equipment failure, incorrect or unsuitable network configuration, bad site
planning and/or design, failure to keep the network in line with changing traffic patterns
etc. In these circumstances, optimisation consists of applying remedial action based on a
logical interpretation of the offending symptoms. For the purpose of optimisation, it is
therefore useful to place quality problems into a number of symptomatic groups, as
shown in Table 3
.
Table 3: Symptoms and causes of principal quality problems.

Optimising
Quality:

Problem
Poor Audio Quality

Symptom
Speech/Data Break-up

High Drop Call Rate

Loss or early
termination of call

High Handover Failure

Rate

Statistics indicate high

failure rate

Poor Call Set-up

Successes

Network unable to fully

set up call

Unable to access a
channel

Customers complain of
3 Bleeps or access
problems

Optimising
Coverage:

Causes
Poor Coverage
High Interference to site/TRX
Localised foreign interference
Delayed handover due to congestion
Delayed handover due to topology
Incorrect handover candidates
Incorrect/non-optimum handover settings
BTS power control ineffective
Poor coverage
Localised obstruction (tunnel)
Handover Failures
Handover failures due to congestion
Incorrect handover topology
Number of handovers unsuccessful due to lack of
resources
Incorrect parameter settings
Incorrect topology
No dominant server giving rise to ping-pong
handovers
Poor coverage
Restricted uplink
Interference on SDCCH channel
Incorrect parameter settings giving rise to RACH
clashes
Incorrect signalling configuration
Calls originating during location update or boundary
crossing.
SDCCH congestion

Coverage is closely linked to traffic capture. Changes in coverage may therefore lead to
congestion, with the result that a balance must be struck between these conflicting
requirements. The most common methods for improving coverage are listed in Table
4Table 4.

Table 4: Commonly used methods for improving coverage.

Technique
Increase BTS
transmit power

Effect
Increases coverage
area.

Change antennas
and/or tilts
Other techniques
are available.

Changes coverage area

and/or shape of cell

Issue 1.1, August 2001

Notes
Resulting increase in traffic capture may create capacity
problems. It may be possible to control these using techniques
described above under Optimising Capacity. Increasing Tx
power also increases C/I at other cells within range. When
enhancing coverage in this way, the uplink must also be
considered.
Labour-intensive and costly. Possible side-effects similar to
increasing BTS power
Further information and guidance is available from the
Parameter Control Forum

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Optimising
Microcells:

GSM Radio Network Optimisation

Microcell optimisation is generally limited to frequency re-tuning, power changes or

relocation.
When a microcell is deployed, the associated macrocell is configured to hand in to it
with negative hysteresis. This can lead to Ping-Pong handovers arising from the
microcell handing back to the macro on a quality-triggered handover. Such activity is
usually the result of poor quality on the microcell layer. In this event, the source of the
interference should be addressed - generally by re-tuning.
Since microcell traffic arises principally from hand-ins from the associated macrocell, a
reduction in microcell traffic is usually due to:
Missing hand-in to the microcell
Incorrect RxLevAccessMin and RxLevMinCell settings

Reference Documents:
BTCellnet Radio Data Sheet 012: GSM Network Architecture
BTCellnet Radio Data Sheet 033: Radio Network Dimensioning
BTCellnet Radio Data Sheet 037: Radio Resource Management Features
BTCellnet Radio Data Sheet 038: Cell Selection & Handover Topology
BTCellnet Radio Data Sheet 039: Radio Parameters
BTCellnet Radio Data Sheet 062: Mototola Congestion Relief
BTCellnet Radio Data Sheet 072: Nokia Directed Retry
BTCellnet Radio Data Sheet 232: Nokia Traffic Reason Handover
BTCellnet Radio Data Sheet 217: Nokia Dynamic SDCCH Assignment

END OF DOCUMENT
The author of this document is Dave Fraley, Radio Design and Systems. For any questions or issues, please contact
the Radio Planning helpdesk on 01753 565882 or e-mail Radio-PlanningPolicy@btcellnet.net

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