3G Neighbor List Planning

Types of Neighbor List in 3G:

3G intra-frequency

3G inter-frequency

3G inter-system

2G inter-system

3G intra-frequency:

Intra-frequency neighbors are used for cell re-selection, soft handover, softer handover and intra-
frequency hard handover

Missing neighbors result in unnecessarily poor signal to noise ratios

Disadvantage of Excessive number of neighbors:

increase the UE measurement time

may lead to important neighbors being deleted during soft handover

Intra-frequency neighbor lists are combined for both intra-RNC and inter-RNC soft handover (assuming
inter-RNC soft handover is supported).

Intra-frequency neighbor lists are transmitted in SIB11 and dedicated measurement control messages.

3G inter-frequency:

Ø Inter-frequency neighbors are used for inter-frequency cell re-selection and inter-frequency handover.
Ø RNC allows a maximum of 48 inter-frequency neighbors to be defined with a maximum of 32 on any
one RF carrier.

Ø 3GPP specifies that a max. of 32 inter-frequency neighbors can be broadcast in SIB11.

Ø inter-frequency handover from CELL_FACH does not supported.

Ø inter-frequency handover while anchoring an RNC does not supported.

Ø Inter-frequency neighbors are usually introduced after the network has been launched and so refining
them is usually a post launch optimization task.

3G inter-system:

Ø GSM neighbors are used for inter-system cell re-selection and inter-system handover.

Ø 3GPP specifications allow a maximum of 32 inter-system neighbors to be defined.

Ø Inter-system neighbours are broadcast in SIB11 for cell re-selection and are transmitted in dedicated
measurement control messages for inter-system handover.

Ø The RNC instructs the UE to measure all GSM neighbors for RSSI measurements but one specific
neighbor for BSIC verification.

Ø GSM neighbor lists can be based upon existing BSC 2G neighbor lists when sites are co-sited.

Ø If an operator has both GSM900 and DCS1800 networks then it is possible to define inter-system
neighbors only for the GSM900 layer or only for the DCS1800 layer.

2G inter-system:

Ø BSC inter-system neighbors are used for inter-system cell re-selection and inter-system handover.

Ø Implementation of the BSS allows the definition of 32 UMTS FDD neighbors.

Ø The definition of 3G neighbors has an impact upon the maximum number of GSM neighbors which can
be defined within the BSC.

Ø When a UE is in GSM idle mode, GPRS packet idle mode or GPRS packet transfer mode then it reads
the 3G neighbor list from SI2quater and PSI3quater system information messages.

Ø When a UE is in GSM connected mode then it reads the 3G neighbor list from measurement
information messages which are sent on the SACCH.

Ø The length of a single SI2quater message is not sufficient to accommodate 32 inter-system neighbors.

Ø A single SI2quater message is able to accommodate 10 3G neighbors. This means that it is beneficial if
3G neighbor lists can be limited to a length of 10.

Ø If multiple SI2quater messages are required then the UE must wait until it has received the complete
set before it is able to make a cell re-selection decision.

Ø If neighbors are missing then UE may fail inter-system handovers and may remain on the GSM system
longer than necessary.

Ø If 3G sites are co-sited with 2G sites then 3G neighbor lists configured within the BSC can be based
upon the existing 2G neighbor lists.