NB-IoT Planning and Optimisation

The Atoll NB-IoT module includes extensive cellular IoT functions. Atoll offers a
powerful platform for operators to plan and optimise NB-IoT networks as
independent deployments or on top of LTE. Atoll is being used by a large
number of IoT operators worldwide.

Atoll supports integrated network planning for 3GPP and 3GPP2 multi-RAT networks. It
features a multi-technology network database, a unified traffic model, a combined Monte Carlo
simulator, and a multi-RAT ACP (Automatic Cell Planning) module.

Atoll provides operators with a comprehensive and evolutionary framework for planning and
optimising multi-technology networks including small cells, integrated Wi-Fi, and IoT.

Network Modelling
 Support for NB-IoT frequency bands and carriers (200 kHz occupied, 180 kHz used)
 Support for different deployment configurations: standalone, guard band, and in-band
 Support for NB-IoT signals and logical channels: NRS, NSSS, NPSS, NDMRS, NPBCH,
NPDCCH, NPDSCH, NPUSCH
 Modelling on NB-IoT frames, slots, subcarriers, and resource units
 Support for single-tone as well as multi-tone NPUSCH operation
 Support for 3.75 kHz tone width in addition to 15 kHz
 Support for multi-carrier operation with definition of anchor and slave cells
 Traffic Modelling
 Modelling of machine-type communication services
 Modelling of NB UE categories, devices, connectivity profiles, and traffic environments
 Multi-service raster and vector traffic demand maps from multiple sources including traffic data
from live network measurements
 Fixed end-point traffic modelling

Predictions and Analysis

Precise calculation of interference between NB-IoT signals and channels as well as between LTE
and NB-IoT

Generation of prediction plots, including:

 Cell and network coverage analysis

 Downlink and uplink interference analysis
 Downlink and uplink service areas
 Effective service areas
 Downlink and uplink throughputs
 Downlink and uplink quality indicator analyses
 NPCI, NPSS ID, and NSSS ID collisions

Multi-RAT Network Planning

Integrated planning and optimisation for NB-IoT with 5G, LTE-A Pro, UMTS, GSM, and
CDMA:

 Unified network databases with site and antenna sharing

 Unified multi-service traffic model
 Combined Monte Carlo simulator
 Simultaneous display and analysis of network layers
Inter-technology interference analysis

Automatic Frequency Planning - AFP (option)

 User-definable constraints and flexible cost function
 Hybrid allocation process based on predictions and live network data (neighbours, handover KPIs,
interference matrices, etc.)
 Automatic NB-IoT frequency planning
 Automatic NPCI planning with optional in-band allocation of the same PCI as LTE
 Automatic Cell Planning - ACP (option)
 Automatic optimisation of network coverage and capacity
 Site selection and activation for greenfield deployments as well as on top of existing LTE network
 Advanced radio coverage, quality, as well as capacity and throughput objectives
 Antenna selection and parameter optimisation (height, azimuth & tilt)

Automatic Site Positioning - ASP (option)

 Automatic creation of new site locations according to surface-wise, traffic-oriented and population-
based coverage objectives
 Site deployment in multiple zones (urban, suburban, rural etc.), along roads and railways
 Intelligent implementation plan with the selection of the best sites to deploy