University of Twente

Faculty of Electrical Engineering,

Mathematics and Computer Science
(EEMCS)

UMTS Capacity simulation study

Andrés Felipe Cosme Hurtado
Master of Science in Telematics
Thesis
(Carried out at Vodafone Netherlands)

Project Supervisors:
• Dr. ir. Geert Heijenk, University of Twente
• Prof. Dr. ir. Boudewijn Haverkort, University of
Twente
• Dr. ir. Bert Haverkamp, Vodafone Netherlands

Copyright © October 2005, Andrés Felipe Cosme Hurtado, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Abstract

The purpose of this report is to investigate the performance, measured in

terms of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of a UMTS radio network
(UTRAN) under different traffic and mobility scenarios (i.e.
homogeneously/ non homogeneously distributed traffic, mobile/non-
mobile traffic) and develop some general guidelines for dimensioning the
UMTS network optimally.

In this work, simulations are performed using the Wines simulator, which
is a dynamic simulator that models all the radio-resource management
functionality of the UTRAN. Two main series of experiments have been
performed. In the first series simulations have been performed on an
analysis area defined in common agreement with international colleagues
at Vodafone. The distribution of the traffic in this simulation scenario is
homogeneous and the main purpose is to find capacity figures when
increasing the traffic density of one of the four possible defined services
(WWW, FTP, voice and video-call) and also with a given traffic mix
involving all services together. Two mobility profiles are used (pedestrian
and vehicular).

In the second series of experiments, a more realistic scenario, based on

detailed geographical characteristics relevant for signal propagation, and
traffic densities based on traffic maps, has been simulated. The purpose
was to analyze the possible differences in capacity between the “ideal”
model and the more “realistic” model.

For the single-service scenario analysis, circuit-switched services (speech

and video-call), it can be observed that the capacity is mainly uplink-
limited. The corresponding results for the packet-switched services (FTP,
WEB) have shown that capacity is mostly downlink-limited, as it was
expected due to the more asymmetrical data rates in the downlink
compared to the uplink for both services.

For the service mix analysis in both scenarios (homogeneous and non
homogeneous) it was found that the capacity is mostly downlink-limited
(i.e. the downlink power target level is exceeded before the uplink load
target level).

In terms of the power-rule usage, no significant differences between the

two analyzed rules were found, provided that the downlink path loss
between the Node B connector and the antenna is below 4 dB in all the
sites.

Finally, for the mobility study in both scenarios (homogeneous, non

homogeneous) the theoretically expected behavior was confirmed.

i Beneficiario COLFUTURO 2003

 A.F. COSME. UMTS CAPACITY SIMULATION STUDY

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Acknowledgements

I want to express my gratitude to my Direct Supervisor at University of

Twente, Dr. Geert Heijenk. His knowledge, experience and valuable
suggestions and corrections gave me the effective support when I couldn’t
find an answer by myself. Special thanks also to Prof. Dr. Boudewijn
Haverkort who was also part of my evaluation committee.

I wish to thank also my supervisor at Vodafone-NL, Dr. Bert Haverkamp,

for giving me the opportunity to be part of this excellent group of people.
Your help was very important to me, not only in the technical side but also
with the support in everyday tasks, especially at the beginning of my
internship when everything was totally new to me and I didn’t know
anyone except you. Thank you very much.

I would like to express also my gratitude to all the Vodafone IT-Network

Department (and in general, to all the people at Vodafone that I had the
opportunity to meet) as they always gave me support and were always
willing to help me whenever I need it and besides, they were cheering me
up and encouraging me to make a good work. I hope not to accidentally
omit anyone in my list: I want to say many thanks to Greg Vourekas,
Jamaal Tajaate, Ralph Thijssen, Roy Crutsen, Roy Hermans, Bianca
Wouters, Simon De Kerpel, Yvonne Lemeer, Zoltan Pitman, Tjitte
Ploegstra, Debbie Smits and Arjen Meuers. It was a great experience and
a real pleasure to work with such nice persons and high-level
professionals like you; I’m going to miss you! I wish you all the best in
your professional careers. Special Thanks also to Peter Schneider and Kai
Pannhorst from Vodafone Germany for all the Support with the Wines
Simulator Tool. One of the nicest experiences of working here was to be
able to work with great people from many other countries!

I’m also very grateful to my Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name and in
whose precepts I try to aim every action in my life.

And last but not least, I want to thank all the support and understanding
from my friends in Colombia, Spain and The Netherlands and to all my
family, specially to my mother Imelda Rocío, my sister María Claudia, and
my father Galo Alberto, who always encourage me to pursue higher goals
and cheer me up in the difficult moments. God bless you all and this work
is dedicated to you.

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