Capacity Calculator fo

GSM - HSCSD - GPRS - ED

and Comparison to TDMA +

Version 1.3 by Dr.Volker Rapp, ICM N PG NM NE O1

SIEMENS AG
ICM N PG NM NE O1
Address: Otto-Hahn-Ring 6, D-81379 Mnchen (Germany)
e-mail: Volker.Rapp@siemens.com
Phone:+49 89 636 47124
Fax: +49 89 636 40109

lculator for
GPRS - EDGE
to TDMA + CDMA

M N PG NM NE O1, 13.06.2003

CCCH load

Input:
Signalling

2.00%

Input:
Voice

Input:
Data

Optimization
+
Results

MTC per
subs per
hour (with
and without
# of cells in
paging
location area response)

SDCCH load
per
blocking for subscriber in
signalling
busy hour
in percent
(mErl)

mean # of
repetitions
of a paging
message

10.00

0.46

1.33

TCH load
per
blocking for subscriber in
% FR
voice traffic
busy hour
on BCCH
in percent
(mErl)
style carrier
2.00%
10
0%

% HR
on BCCH
style carrier
100.00%

% FR
on TCH
style carrier
50.00%

% HR
on TCH
style carrier
50.00%

max
coding
scheme
used
[1,2,3,4]
2

average
GPRS
datarate
per
timeslot
[bps]
25600

use
GPRS
service
[yes/no]
yes

average
throughput
per subs in
busy hour
GPRS
[bps]
100

use
HSCSD
service
[yes/no]
yes

average
throughput
per subs in
busy hour
HSCSD
[mErl]
0.1

# of TRX
per cell
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

# of
timeslots
required
for signaling
1
2
3
4
4
5
5

guaranteed
percentage peak bitrate
of users
GPRS
using GPRS
[bps]
10.0%
19200

percentage
of users
using
HSCSC
1.0%

used
bitrate
per
HSCSD
subs
[bps]
19200

blocking for
HSCSD
in percent
2.00%

# of
timeslots
required
for GPRS
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

# of
timeslots
required
for EDGE
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

# of
timeslots
required
for HSCSD
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

resulting
# of
voice paths
on BCCH
style carrier
6
8
6
4
4
2
2

8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24

6
7
7
8
8
9
10
10
11
11
12
12
13
13
14
15
15

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
4
4
4
4

0
14
14
12
12
10
8
8
6
6
4
4
2
2
0
14
14

MTC per
subs per
hour

MOC per
subs per
hour

location
updates per
subs per
hour

0.30

0.64

2.20

frequency
reuse
for BCCH
style carrier
(9,12,21,...)
12

frequency
reuse
for TCH
style carrier
(9,12,21,...)
9

IMSI attach/
SMS
detach per requests per
subs per
subs per
hour
hour
1.00

1.00

mean # of
subs per
paging
message

mean # of
subs per
access grant
message

2.00

1.00

max error in
Blocking
allowed
(ErlangB
formula)
0.000010

synthesized
frequency
hopping
[yes/no]
yes

use
EDGE
service
[yes/no]
yes

average
throughput
per subs in
busy hour
EDGE
[bps]
20

#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

# of
BCCH
style
carriers
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

guaranteed
percentage peak bitrate
of users
EDGE
using EDGE
[bps]
10.0%
30000

max
coding
scheme
used
[1,2,3,...,9]
4

average
EDGE
datarate
per
timeslot
[bps]
30720

# of
timeslots
required
per HSCSD
connection
[1,2,3,...,8]
2

resulting
# of
voice paths
on TCH
style carrier
0
9
21
33
45
57
69

# of
TCH
style
carriers
0
1
2
3
4
5
6

max # of
max # of
subscribers subscribers
handled
handled
per cell
per cell
(signaling) (packet data)
#MACRO?
17920
#MACRO?
17920
#MACRO?
17920
#MACRO?
17920
#MACRO?
17920
#MACRO?
17920
#MACRO?
17920

81
81
93
105
117
129
141
153
165
177
189
201
213
222
234
234
246

#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3

7
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
20
21

#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

17920
17920
17920
17920
17920
17920
17920
17920
17920
17920
17920
17920
17920
17920
17920
17920
17920

feature set and version

BR9: AMR with EIDMA&Switched beam

minimum
# of data
timeslots
required
(GPRS +
EDGE)
#MACRO?

max # of
max # of
subscribers
subscribers
handled
handled
per cell
per cell
(voice) (hard
(HSCSD)
blocking)
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

total # of
hopping
frequencies
used
(> 2)
0
3
5
8
10
13
15

# of
hopping
frequencies
per TCH
style carrier
0
3.0
2.5
2.7
2.5
2.6
2.5

fractional
load
hard
blocking
0.00%
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

fractional
load
soft
blocking
0.00%
27.67%
46.12%
51.75%
55.51%
59.56%
60.10%

#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

18
18
21
23
25
28
30
33
36
38
41
44
47
49
52
52
55

2.6
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.6
2.5
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.6

#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

60.93%
60.93%
61.76%
62.32%
62.85%
63.68%
64.22%
64.78%
64.78%
64.78%
64.78%
64.78%
64.78%
64.78%
64.78%
64.78%
64.78%

max # of
subscribers
handled
per cell
(voice)
(hard + soft
blocking)
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

no hop TRX

Result:
max # of
subscribers
handeled
per cell
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

limiting
factor
(voice,
(E)-GPRS
HSCSD, or
signaling)
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

paging +
access grant
messages
per hour
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

CCCH
overload
detected
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

total
required
spectrum
[MHz]
2.4
3.0
3.4
4.0
4.4
5.0
5.4

6.0
8.4
9.0
9.4
9.8
10.4
10.8
11.4
12.0
12.4
13.0
13.6
14.2
14.6
15.2
17.6
18.2

CCCH load

Input:
Signalling

Input:
Voice

Optimization
+
Results

SDCCH load
per
blocking for subscriber in
signalling
busy hour
in percent
(mErl)
2.00%
2

MTC per
subs per
hour (with
and without
# of cells in
paging
location area response)
10.00
0.46

mean # of
repetitions
of a paging
message
1.33

TCH load
per
blocking for subscriber in
% FR
voice traffic
busy hour
on BCCH
in percent
(mErl)
style carrier
1.50%
10
100%

% HR
on BCCH
style carrier
0.00%

% HR
on TCH
style carrier
50.00%

resulting
# of
voice paths
on BCCH
style carrier
6
5
5
4
3
3
2
2
1
0
0
7
7
6
5
5
4
4
3
3
2
1
1
0

resulting
# of
voice paths
on TCH
style carrier
0
12
24
36
48
60
72
84
96
108
120
120
132
144
156
168
180
192
204
216
228
240
252
264

# of TRX
per cell
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24

# of
timeslots
required
for signaling
2
3
3
4
5
5
6
6
7
8
8
9
9
10
11
11
12
12
13
13
14
15
15
16

% FR
on TCH
style carrier
50.00%

# of
BCCH
style
carriers
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

MTC per
subs per
hour
0.30

MOC per
subs per
hour
0.64

frequency
reuse
for BCCH
style carrier
(9,12,21,...)
12

frequency
reuse
for TCH
style carrier
(9,12,21,...)
9

# of
TCH
style
carriers
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22

location
updates per
subs per
hour
2.20

IMSI attach/
SMS
detach per requests per
subs per
subs per
hour
hour
1.00
1.00

mean # of
subs per
paging
message
2.00

call quality:
synthesized 95% or 90%
frequency
calls with
hopping
2% FER
[yes/no]
[95/90]
no
95

max # of
max # of
subscribers
subscribers
handled
handled
per cell
per cell
(voice) (hard
(signalling)
blocking)
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

mean # of
subs per
access grant
message
1.00

max error in
Blocking
allowed
(ErlangB
formula)
0.000010

total # of
hopping
frequencies
used
(> 2)
0
3
5
8
11
13
15
18
21
23
26
26
28
31
34
36
39
42
45
48
50
53
55
58

# of
hopping
frequencies
per TCH
style carrier
0
3.0
2.5
2.7
2.8
2.6
2.5
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.5
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.7
2.6
2.7
2.6
2.6

fractional
load
hard
blocking
0.00%
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

fractional
load
soft
blocking
0.00%
27.67%
46.12%
51.75%
57.39%
59.56%
60.10%
60.93%
61.76%
62.32%
63.15%
63.15%
63.68%
64.49%
64.78%
64.78%
64.78%
64.78%
64.78%
64.78%
64.78%
64.78%
64.78%
64.78%

max # of
subscribers
handled
per cell
(voice)
(hard + soft
blocking)
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

no hop TRX

Result:
max # of
subscribers
handled
per cell
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

limiting
factor
(voice or
signalling)
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

paging +
access grant
messages
per hour
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

CCCH
overload
detected
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

total
required
spectrum
[MHz]
2.4
4.2
6.0
7.8
9.6
11.4
13.2
15.0
16.8
18.6
20.4
22.8
24.6
26.4
28.2
30.0
31.8
33.6
35.4
37.2
39.0
40.8
42.6
44.4

max #
of CDMA
users
per carrier
per cell
(system
parameter)
27

% of
CDMA
users
in soft
handover
40%

trunking
gain in
CDMA
considered
[yes/no]
no

total guard
band
assumed for
CDMA
[MHz]
0.6

CDMA
offered traffic
[Erl]
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

TDMA:
average
TDMA:
number of offered traffic
available
at hard
voice paths
blocking
for 7/21
for 7/21
reuse
reuse [Erl]
10.43
#MACRO?
19.00
#MACRO?
27.57
#MACRO?
36.14
#MACRO?
44.71
#MACRO?
53.29
#MACRO?
61.86
#MACRO?
70.43
#MACRO?
79.00
#MACRO?
87.57
#MACRO?
96.14
#MACRO?
107.57
#MACRO?
116.14
#MACRO?
124.71
#MACRO?
133.29
#MACRO?
141.86
#MACRO?
150.43
#MACRO?
159.00
#MACRO?
167.57
#MACRO?
176.14
#MACRO?
184.71
#MACRO?
193.29
#MACRO?
201.86
#MACRO?
210.43
#MACRO?

GSM:
offered traffic
[Erl]
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

GSM:
offered traffic
compared
to TDMA
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

CDMA:
offerd traffic
compared
to TDMA
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?
#MACRO?

500

450

400

offered traffic in Erl per sector

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0
2.4

4.2

7.8

9.6

11.4 13.2

15

16.8 18.6 20.4 22.8 24.6 26.4 28.2

available spectrum in MHz

30

31.8 33.6 35.4

.2

GSM
CDMA
TDMA

30

31.8 33.6 35.4 37.2

39

40.8 42.6 44.4

500

450

400

offered traffic in Erl per sector

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0
2.4

4.2

7.8

9.6

11.4 13.2

15

16.8 18.6 20.4 22.8 24.6 26.4 28.2

available spectrum in MHz

30

31.8 33.6 35.4

.2

GSM
CDMA
TDMA
GSM
CDMA
TDMA

30

31.8 33.6 35.4 37.2

39

40.8 42.6 44.4

Input Parameters
Price BTS
[currency XX]

300000

Price TRX
[currency XX]

12000

type of sector
(omni,rhom,hex)

GSM cell range

[km]

0.600

overlap for SHO

in CDMA [%]

12%

CDMA cell
range [km]

area to cover
[km2]

site area
GSM [km2]

0.701

site area
CDMA [km2]

# of CDMA sites
needed for
coverage

price per
GSM site
[currency XX]
336000
372000
408000
444000
480000
516000
552000
588000
624000
660000
696000
732000
768000
804000
840000
876000
912000
948000
984000
1020000
1056000
1092000
1128000
1164000

network price
for GSM
[currency XX]
2688000
2976000
3264000
3552000
3840000
4128000
4416000
4704000
4992000
5280000
5568000
5856000
6144000
6432000
6720000
7008000
7296000
7584000
7872000
8160000
8448000
8736000
9024000
9312000

# of GSM sites
needed for
coverage

GSM

# of TRX
per cell
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24

offered
traffic for
GSM
[Erl/cell]
2.11
10.21
20.35
30.12
40.13
51.24
61.55
72.90
83.37
93.89
105.43
112.19
123.80
134.47
145.17
156.88
167.61
179.37
190.15
201.93
212.75
223.58
235.41
246.26

offered
traffic for
GSM
[Erl/km2]
10.14
49.02
97.69
144.56
192.62
245.96
295.45
349.91
400.18
450.69
506.07
538.50
594.23
645.47
696.81
753.01
804.55
860.98
912.70
969.27
1021.19
1073.20
1129.98
1182.04

rs

hex

CDMA more
expensive [%]

30%

0.528

# of sectors

0.543

equivalent in
currency XX of
1 price unit

150000

10

CDMA

price for
GSM network
in units
(needed for
diagram)
17.9
19.8
21.8
23.7
25.6
27.5
29.4
31.4
33.3
35.2
37.1
39.0
41.0
42.9
44.8
46.7
48.6
50.6
52.5
54.4
56.3
58.2
60.2
62.1

# of CDMA
carriers
required
per cell
(11,5 Erl
per carrier)
1
1
2
3
3
4
5
6
6
7
8
8
9
10
11
11
12
13
14
15
15
16
17
18

offered
traffic
[Erl/km2]
69
69
138
207
207
276
345
414
414
483
552
552
621
690
759
759
828
897
966
1035
1035
1104
1173
1242

price per
CDMA site
[currency XX]
547950
547950
705900
863850
863850
1021800
1179750
1337700
1337700
1495650
1653600
1653600
1811550
1969500
2127450
2127450
2285400
2443350
2601300
2759250
2759250
2917200
3075150
3233100

CDMA

network price
for CDMA
[currency XX]
5479500
5479500
7059000
8638500
8638500
10218000
11797500
13377000
13377000
14956500
16536000
16536000
18115500
19695000
21274500
21274500
22854000
24433500
26013000
27592500
27592500
29172000
30751500
32331000

price for
CDMA network
in units
(needed for
diagram)
36.5
36.5
47.1
57.6
57.6
68.1
78.7
89.2
89.2
99.7
110.2
110.2
120.8
131.3
141.8
141.8
152.4
162.9
173.4
184.0
184.0
194.5
205.0
215.5

network price
comparison
CDMA
versus
GSM
29.94%
130.80%
153.09%
169.84%
209.34%
220.59%
228.78%
240.35%
259.02%
264.32%
272.27%
275.47%
282.14%
286.44%
290.65%
301.18%
304.37%
309.24%
312.22%
316.67%
322.26%
324.61%
328.28%
330.44%

Price comparison GSM - CDMA

1400

1200

offered traffic [Erl/km]

1000

GSM

800

600

400

200

0
0

50

100

150
price unit

DMA

CDMA

150

200

250

number of
available
hopping
frequencies
for all hop.
TRXs
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43

0.3
max.soft
blocking
fract. Load
0.00%
3.78%
7.56%
11.34%
15.12%
18.90%
19.67%
20.44%
21.21%
21.98%
22.75%
23.52%
24.30%
24.41%
24.52%
24.63%
24.75%
24.86%
24.97%
25.08%
25.20%
25.31%
25.43%
25.54%
25.65%
25.76%
25.88%
25.99%
26.10%
26.21%
26.32%
26.43%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%

0.25
comments
set manually
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
values from simulation
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
values from simulation
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
values from simulation
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values

0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0

0123456789111
012
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
44

44
45
46

26.55%
26.55%
26.55%

interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values

47
48
49

26.55%
26.55%
26.55%

interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values

50

26.55%

interpolated values

51
52

26.55%
26.55%

interpolated values
interpolated values

53

26.55%

interpolated values

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

26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%

interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values

90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100

26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%
26.55%

interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values
interpolated values

0.3
0.25
Column C
Column D

0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0123456789111
012
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
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
96
97
98
99
100

GPRS

EDGE

coding sch.
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

bit/s
9267.2
13721.6
15974.4
21913.6
9011.2
11468.8
15155.2
18022.4
22937.6
30310.4
45875.2
55705.6

feature
BR7: AMR
BR8: AMR with DMA
BR8: AMR with
DMA&SAIC/IC
BR8: AMR with
DMA&Switched beam
BR9: AMR with EIDMA
BR9: AMR with
EIDMA&SAIC/IC
BR9: AMR with
EIDMA&Switched beam

60620.8

multiplication
factor
1
1.22
2
2.19
1.3
2.22
2.44

7
2.44

Column C
Column D

Short User Manual for the Capacity Calculator

(please read carefully before using the tool)

General:

The first part of the tool was designed to ease the daily work in the offer process. It can be extended by the user for further Exc
GSM voice traffic full rate / half rate, HSCSD, GPRS, EDGE and synthesized frequency hopping are taken into account.
For estimating the soft blocking values in the lookup table for the synthesized frequency hopping, the usage of features like VA
has been assumed. If AMR is not used, the number of frequencies per hopping TRX should not be below 6 (see section "Optim
Less than 3 hopping frequencies per TCH style carrier cause co-channel intra-cell interference and require dynamic MAIO man

The second part "GSM_TDMA_CDMA" and the following two diagrams "graph1" and "graph2" are for comparison of the spect
and CDMA. Only voice and no data traffic is considered here.

In the last part "price comp" and "price graph" an easy model is implemented to compare the prices of a GSM network to a CD

1st Part: GSM Capacity Calculation

The "calculator" is divided in 4 parts:
1. Input Signalling
2. Input Voice
3. Input Data
4. Optimisation + Results
A more detailed description of the different fields can be found further down.

The cells which are editable are marked green. Cells for the optimisation process are marked red. The blue cells show the res

Two types of carriers are distinguished. BCCH style carriers and TCH style carriers.
All signalling channels are assumed to be on BCCH style carriers. If there is only 1 BCCH style carrier, a combined FCCH + SC
+ CCCH + SDCCH/4 + SACCH/4 is assumed, which can handle 46000 CCCH blocks per hour and 4 dedicated signalling chan
If there is more than 1 signalling channel, a FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH, which can handle 140000 CCCH blocks per hour,
The remaining signalling channels are SDCCH/8 + SACCH/8, which contain 8 dedicated signalling channels each.
Also for the better C/I ratio, the packet data channels for GPRS and EDGE are assumed to be on the BCCH style carrier.
If there is only 1 TRX per cell, also the HSCSD timeslots are reserved on the BCCH style carriers. Otherwise they are on the T
If there are timeslots left on the BCCH style carriers, they are filled up with voice traffic. The rest of the voice traffic will be situa
The BCCH style carriers are non hopping. Synthesized frequency hopping for the TCH style carriers can be switched on and o
Input Signalling:

Here all relevant parameters for the signalling can be entered, e.g. the blocking and the load per subscriber on the SDCCH/SA
Furthermore all parameters to calculate the load on the CCCH can be filled in. With these values it will be checked, if there is a
Input Voice:

These cells are to manipulate the blocking for the voice traffic and the traffic load per subscriber in the busy hour. Also the traff
on the BCCH style carriers and the TCH style carriers can be entered. In case of synthesized frequency hopping, not more tha
TCH style carriers should be half rate.
The number of frequencies required per BCCH style carrier (always) and per TCH style carrier (only in the non hopping case) c

Furthermore the quality of the call can be specified. The simulations for the soft blocking values have been carried out for vario
adaptive multirate realised in BR7,
adaptive multirate with dynamic maio allocation realised in BR8,
adaptive multirate with dynamic maio allocation and single antenna interference cancellation realised in BR8,
adaptive multirate with dynamic maio allocation and switched beam antenna realised in BR8,
adaptive multirate with enhanced Intercell dynamic maio allocation realised in BR9,
adaptive multirate with enhanced Intercell dynamic maio allocation and single antenna interference cancellation realised in B
adaptive multirate with enhanced Intercell dynamic maio allocation and switched beam antenna realised in BR9.

All simulations are based on the assumption that 90% of the calls having a FER of 2% or less. Of course, if quality constraints
a higher traffic load can be handled with the same amount of resources.
The last field in this line is a parameter for the ErlangB calculations and should not be changed.
Input Data:

In this section all parameters to consider GPRS, HSCSD and EDGE in the calculations, can be entered. Each data service can
The traffic per subscriber in the busy hour, the percentage of users using the data service, the guaranteed peak-rate (if one us
GPRS and EDGE resources), the maximum possible coding scheme and the average throughput per timeslot (typical GPRS:
1024 bps = 1 kbps) have to be entered. From these values the minimum amount of timeslots needed for packet oriented data
For HSCSD the data rate per connection has to be entered. From this value, the number of required timeslots per connection
per timeslot). As HSCSD is circuit switched, a blocking value for the traffic in mErl per subscriber has to be entered as well.
Optimisation + Results:

In this part of the tool, the calculation takes place. A way to get reasonable results can be the following (always start with the lo
increase step by step by having a look on the 4 red columns M, N, O and P - the minimum here is the limiting factor):
1. Enter the number of timeslots reserved for GPRS and EDGE. Keep in mind, that the sum of both should be equal or more
timeslots for GPRS and EDGE calculated in the "Input Data" section. If the numbers are chosen to low, they will turn red.
2. Enter the number of timeslots reserved for HSCSD. Here it is important to have multiples of the number of timeslots requir
Violations will make the number appear in red.
3. Enter the number of required signalling channels. As before, it can be seen in column M to P, when it is sufficient.
4. Repeat step 1 to 3 until the maximum number of subscribers (minimum of the 4 columns M to P) has been achieved.
4. After optimising the number of subscribers, the required number of BCCH and TCH style carriers can be seen.
Furthermore the tool shows the number of voice paths (full rate + half rate) per carrier style (BCCH and TCH).
5. If synthesized frequency hopping is switched on, the total amount of hopping frequencies for all TCH style carriers (hoppin
column R. Again the strategy is to start with a low value and increase step by step. The best value with the highest amoun
when the hard blocking is a little bit lower than the soft blocking. Then the maximum capacity with the minimum amount of
Sometimes one frequency can be saved, by choosing a value, where the hard blocking is slightly higher than the soft bloc
by interference (soft blocked) and the capacity is a little bit less than in the hard blocked case. The user has to decide the
spectrum and provided capacity. The maximum handled capacity for voice traffic can be seen in column V. If synthesized f
step 5 does not need to be performed.
6. Column X shows the total capacity in subscribers per cell - taking into consideration all of the above (voice, data, signalling
Column Y shows the limiting factor (voice, GPRS/EDGE, HSCSD, signalling).
Column AA and AB display the load on the CCCH and if there is a overload situation.
Last but not least in column AD the required spectrum can be seen. In the case of frequency hopping, the frequency reuse
entered in the section "Input Voice" has no influence, as the number of hopping frequencies was entered in column R man

2nd Part: Comparison of the Spectral Efficiency in GSM, TDMA and CDMA
This section is to show the advantages of a GSM overlay network for TDMA compared to a CDMA overlay network for TDMA.

The sheet "GSM_TDMA_CDMA" works analogously to the sheet "calculator". Only the input fields for data traffic are missing,
be specified. In this sheet first the capacity and the required spectrum of GSM will be calculated. In the next step, the capacity
can be handled with the same amount of spectrum, is estimated. GSM does not need a guard band to TDMA, if the GSM spec
of the TDMA spectrum, the following configuration is used and a joint frequency planning of GSM and TDMA is performed.
TDMA

BCCH

TCH

BCCH

TDMA

To get some knowledge about CDMA, some discussions with South American CDMA network operators took place. Here I'd lik
from Brazil for their support.

Usually the maximum number of users per cell is set by network parameters. A quite common value here is 27 voice paths per
soft blocked system (capacity limited by interference). But if the maximum number of users per cell is set by network paramete
situation, so the ErlangB formula does apply.

Observations in a live network showed that around 40% of the voice paths are needed for soft handover. Applying ErlangB with
above example (27 voice paths per carrier) yields 19,26 Erl for one carrier. 40% are in soft handover. Therefore the capacity is

The next question is, if there is a trunking gain, if there is more than one carrier. Here discussion with South American CDMA n
the hard handover (handover between different carriers) is a problem. If e.g. a user on carrier 1 performs a handover from one
is already fully loaded, but other carriers exist, the call is - nevertheless - most likely dropped. The same problem appears if a u
wants to perform a (hard) handover to a one carrier cell.
As the hard handover problem is not a problem of the system, but of the supplier and it is not clear if it is solved by now, the tru
switched on and off for the comparison.
Another fact is, that the carrier searched by the mobile, is related to its serial number (CDMA/TDMA mobiles don't have SIM-ca
Only if this carrier is not available, it searches the so called primary carrier. This also sheds some doubts on an existing trunkin

CDMA requires a guard band to TDMA, as TDMA is very susceptible to interference and there is no joint frequency planning po
frequencies. Remember: CDMA needs a 1x1 reuse, because of the soft handover. In a study published by the CDMA Develop
on each side is recommended for a TDMA/CDMA overlay network. This value can be considered a minimum. One CDMA carri

TDMA (IS-136) is usually planned with a 7/21 reuse. Each carrier needs 30 kHz and can handle 3 voice calls. The first "timeslo
Therefore the number of available voice paths results from the available spectrum, divided by 30 kHz, then divided by 21 frequ
by 3 voice paths per carrier and finally subtracting one voice path for signalling.
The resulting number of voice paths is then put into the ErlangB formula, assuming the same blocking probability as in GSM, w
that can be handled per sector.

The comparison is made visible in the diagrams "graph1" and "graph2". In the second one, GSM and CDMA are referenced to

3rd Part: Price Comparison GSM - CDMA

In the sheet "price comp" an easy model for comparing network prices of a GSM and a CDMA network has been implemented
Basically it works the following way:
All CDMA equipment is more expensive, since there is only a small group of vendors. The percentage can be specified.
That means e.g. if a GSM BTS costs 100000XX and CDMA is 30% more expensive (which is believed to be a real value),
XX stands for the respective currency.
The GSM cell range is given in km. CDMA cells need more overlap due to the cell shrinking effect for increasing traffic loa
a GSM cell has a radius of 0.6km, the CDMA site is 12% smaller, which leads to 0.528 km cell range. The overlap percent
The type of sector can be hex, rhom or omni. A hex-site is assumed to have 3 sectors as well as a rhom-site. Omni-sites o
The "area to cover" gives the number of sites needed for each system.

The TRX price is for one GSM TRX. As a GSM TRX can handle 8 full rate voice paths and a CDMA carrier can handle 27
a CDMA carrier is calculated in the following way: GSM TRX price divided by 8 and multiplied by 27. Afterwards, the fact, t
expensive (e.g. 30%) a factor is added (i.e. multiplied by 1.3 for 30% more expensive equipment).

With these assumptions the network price in units can be calculated and the cost to Erlang ratios can be compared. This is do
A note of caution has to be added to the price figures. Each new release and further development as well alters the price ratio.

Lookup Table:

In this sheet the simulated curves for the soft blocking threshold of the GSM system can be seen. The simulations have been
The simulations were performed for standard network environments which involve 90% of the calls having a FER of equal or le
The phrase 'standard network environment' stands for a homogeneous distribution of the sites, which are identical in height an
The subscriber distribution is taken to be uniform throughout the network. There is one clutter class assumed only.
The terrain is taken to be flat and all buildings have the same height.
Any deviation from this ideal has to be met through a network optimisation process.
Real network differ from these assumptions and therefore the simulated load factors won't be met in reality.
The discrepancy between reality and simulations isn't known yet. Extensive measurements are required to determine it.
The capacity/fractional load data for the various features for BR7, 8 and 9 are a mixture of simulations and educated guessing
Therefore the derived capacity figures have to be treated with caution and should be considered to be optimistic and follow rat
The features mentioned below and the releases they are assigned to are no guarantee that they will be part of them.
The data from the simulations are split into sections for the following features:
adaptive multirate realised in BR7,
adaptive multirate with dynamic maio allocation realised in BR8,
adaptive multirate with dynamic maio allocation and single antenna interference cancellation realised in BR8,
adaptive multirate with dynamic maio allocation and switched beam antenna realised in BR8,
adaptive multirate with enhanced Intercell dynamic maio allocation realised in BR9,
adaptive multirate with enhanced Intercell dynamic maio allocation and single antenna interference cancellation realised in B
adaptive multirate with enhanced Intercell dynamic maio allocation and switched beam antenna realised in BR9.

extended by the user for further Excel based capacity estimations.

ping are taken into account.
pping, the usage of features like VAD/DTX and AMR
not be below 6 (see section "Optimisation + Results" column S).
nce and require dynamic MAIO management in highly loaded cells.

h2" are for comparison of the spectral efficiency of GSM to TDMA

e prices of a GSM network to a CDMA network.

d red. The blue cells show the results.

yle carrier, a combined FCCH + SCH + BCCH +

our and 4 dedicated signalling channels.
dle 140000 CCCH blocks per hour, is assumed.
nalling channels each.
be on the BCCH style carrier.
rriers. Otherwise they are on the TCH style carriers.
rest of the voice traffic will be situated on the TCH style carriers.
carriers can be switched on and off.

d per subscriber on the SDCCH/SACCH carrier.

alues it will be checked, if there is a overload situation on the CCCH.

iber in the busy hour. Also the traffic mix full rate / half rate
d frequency hopping, not more than 50% of the calls on the

ier (only in the non hopping case) can be entered (frequency reuse).

ues have been carried out for various scenarios. They are:

ion realised in BR8,

erference cancellation realised in BR9,

ntenna realised in BR9.

ss. Of course, if quality constraints are reduced

be entered. Each data service can be switched on and off.

he guaranteed peak-rate (if one user in the cell gets assigned all
ghput per timeslot (typical GPRS: 15 kbps, EDGE: 30 kbps,
s needed for packet oriented data traffic can be estimated.
required timeslots per connection can be calculated (14.4 kbps
riber has to be entered as well.

e following (always start with the lowest possible number and

here is the limiting factor):
m of both should be equal or more the minimum amount of required
e chosen to low, they will turn red.
s of the number of timeslots required per HSCSD connection.

M to P, when it is sufficient.
s M to P) has been achieved.
e carriers can be seen.
tyle (BCCH and TCH).
es for all TCH style carriers (hopping TRXs) has to be entered in
best value with the highest amount of subscribers handled is found,
pacity with the minimum amount of frequencies can be handled.
is slightly higher than the soft blocking. Then the system is limited
case. The user has to decide the trade-off between required
e seen in column V. If synthesized frequency hopping is switched off,

of the above (voice, data, signalling and soft-/hard-blocking).

ency hopping, the frequency reuse for the TCH style carriers as
cies was entered in column R manually.

CDMA overlay network for TDMA.

fields for data traffic are missing, and some parameters for CDMA can
ated. In the next step, the capacity of TDMA and CDMA, which
rd band to TDMA, if the GSM spectrum is carved out in the middle
GSM and TDMA is performed.

rk operators took place. Here I'd like to thank the colleagues

on value here is 27 voice paths per cell. CDMA is normally a

per cell is set by network parameters, we have a hard blocking

oft handover. Applying ErlangB with 2% blocking in the

handover. Therefore the capacity is around 13,76 Erl for one carrier.

ssion with South American CDMA network operators revealed, that

er 1 performs a handover from one cell to another, where this carrier
d. The same problem appears if a user on carrier 2 of a 2 carrier cell

ot clear if it is solved by now, the trunking gain for CDMA may be

A/TDMA mobiles don't have SIM-cards, but serial numbers for identification).
some doubts on an existing trunking gain.

re is no joint frequency planning possible, which would prevent neighbouring

y published by the CDMA Development Group a guard band of 270 kHz
dered a minimum. One CDMA carrier requires 1.25 MHz of spectrum.

ndle 3 voice calls. The first "timeslot" is required for signalling.

by 30 kHz, then divided by 21 frequencies per carrier, multiplied

e blocking probability as in GSM, which results in the traffic in Erlang,

GSM and CDMA are referenced to TDMA, which resembles 100%.

MA network has been implemented.

he percentage can be specified.

hich is believed to be a real value), the CDMA BTS costs 130000XX.

king effect for increasing traffic load. If the overlap e.g. is 12% and
km cell range. The overlap percentage can be specified.
s well as a rhom-site. Omni-sites only have one "sector".

nd a CDMA carrier can handle 27 (experience value), the price for

tiplied by 27. Afterwards, the fact, that CDMA equipment is more

ratios can be compared. This is done in the "price graph".

pment as well alters the price ratio.

seen. The simulations have been performed by Mr. Ulrich Rehfuess.

he calls having a FER of equal or less than 2%.
es, which are identical in height and antenna type and tilt.
er class assumed only.

e met in reality.
are required to determine it.
imulations and educated guessing.
ered to be optimistic and follow rather an aggressive bidding line.
they will be part of them.

ion realised in BR8,

erference cancellation realised in BR9,

ntenna realised in BR9.