Best Practices 2009

UMTS Layer Management

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UMTS Layer Management Guiding Principles

Keep UE on the 3G Network within UMTS polygon A UE on the
2G network is considered a failure of the 3G network
Minimize Inter-Frequency and Inter-RAT Handover, use only as
needed in order to save calls from being dropped.
Minimize Load Based IFHO/IFLS and Directed Retry to GSM.
Use only as needed in order to save calls from Origination failure.
Design needs to be re-evaluated with incremental traffic growth
due to effects of cell breathing and areas where inter frequency
handovers occur.
Frequency Band and Traffic are secondary considerations.
Focus is on non-HS power consumption as opposed to Traffic

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AT&T is a registered trademark of AT&T Knowledge Ventures.

Objectives

Align on E2E layer management strategy covering idle and connected

mode (IRAT and IFHO) within 3G network and across 2G network.

Familiarize and use consistent cell designations across all Regions and
Markets for expected idle and connected mode behavior.

Ensure parameter recommendations and compliance for idle and

connected mode follow and are in alignment with overall layer
management strategy.

Layer Management - Description

What is it?

Layer Management is defined as the ability to evenly distribute the consumable

resource load among cells serving in a given geographic area.

Focus on the consumption of non-HS power. Other consumable resources include

downlink Channelization Codes and uplink capacity.

Non-HS power utilization is the basis for Admission Control and Congestion
Detection. It also indicates the amount of downlink power remaining for HSDPA.

Traffic, i.e. Call Establishments, Erlangs or MBs of data, should not be considered
in Layer Management. There are no traffic based algorithms.

Benefits of balancing non-HS power

The UE has the best chance of being admitted regardless of where its camping.

HSDPA users will receive greater throughput regardless of layer.

Cases of Inter-Frequency Load based handovers are reduced.

How do we achieve it?

Control the layer upon which the UEs camp (and eventually consume resources)
through biasing them (Sintersearch or qOffset2sn) to one layer or another.
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AT&T is a registered trademark of AT&T Knowledge Ventures.

Cell Designation
How do you categorize a cells options for retaining a call?

Can it retain calls with help from its Intra-Frequency neighbors?

Ideally, UEs should be able to retain calls using Intra-Frequency handover only.

If not, then the cell needs help. What are its options?

Options

Inter-Frequency and Inter-RAT both of which are Hard Handovers.

We prefer Inter-Frequency. UE stays on 3G / No Inter-System dependencies.

Solution? Cell Designation

Designate the cell as sho if it has good Intra-Frequency overlap with its Intra-Frequency
neighbors, good Retainability and very little Compressed Mode usage. These cells do not
need Inter-RAT or Inter-Frequency Hard Handover in order to maintain calls.

If the cell cannot be designated sho, and a viable Inter-Frequency option is available, then
designate the cell hho_if. In this case, UEs will utilize Compressed Mode operation in order
to hand to an Inter-Frequency neighbor relation.

If neither Intra-Frequency nor Inter-Frequency are options, then designate the cell hho_ir.
In this case, UEs will utilize Compressed Mode operation in order to hand to an Inter-RAT
neighbor relation.

Note:-(sho), (hho_if) and (hho_ir) are suffixes used in many configurable parameters.

2009 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

AT&T is a registered trademark of AT&T Knowledge Ventures.

Layer Optimization Process

Step by Step - how to Optimize Layer Management
Consider your current configuration.

The vendors deploy our networks using the safest option.

hho_if if there is a viable Inter-Frequency option and hho_ir if there is not.

Step 1 Assess the cells current performance.

Observe a cells Speech Retainability and Compressed Mode usage.
a.

b.

c.

If its Speech Retainability is Green (98.5%), then observe Speech RSCP and Ec/No. If there
is a sufficient margin between where the UEs are being served, and the Effective event 2d
trigger point, then designate the cell sho.
If the cells Speech Retainability is not green (<98.5%), then the cell cannot retain calls on
with support from Intra-Frequency neighbors. Designate the cell hho_if only if there is a
likely Inter-Frequency candidate.
If there not a likely Inter-Frequency candidate, then designate the cell hho_ir.

Step 2 Apply the parameter value(s) and neighbor relation configuration that aligns
with the cells designation.
Use the vol. II Field Guide (or appropriate Field Guide Alert) located on the
National Field Support site.
Step 3 Review non-sho designated cells to determine if Design Modifications can be
made to improve Retainability. Re-designate to sho if possible.
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AT&T is a registered trademark of AT&T Knowledge Ventures.

Neighbor Relation Strategy

Shall=noexceptions.
Should=mightbeexceptions.

(a rule-set that covers all scenarios)

Intra-Frequency

Neighbor relations shall only exist between cells with coverage overlap.

Inter-Frequency

Neighbor relations to co-located cells shall exist to support Idle Mode Cell
Reselection and Inter-Frequency handovers.

If the cell is designated (sho), then the cell should not have any non co-located
neighbor relations.

If the cell is designated (hho_if), then neighbor relations shall exist between non
co-located cells with coverage overlap.

Inter-RAT

Neighbor relations to co-located 2G cells shall exist to aid the UE in Cell Selection
at e911 establishment and for directed retry to GSM.

If the cell is designated (sho), then the cell should not have any non co-located
neighbor relations.

If the cell is designated (hho_ir), then neighbor relations shall exist between non
co-located cells with coverage overlap.
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AT&T is a registered trademark of AT&T Knowledge Ventures.

Single carrier (Market Level) UMTS/GSM

hho_ir

sho

hho_ir

hho_ir

sho

hho_ir
IRAT

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

New UMTS is partially overlaid on existing GSM

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

UMTS footprint matches the GSM footprint (complete overlay) edges as well
Vertical Bars indicate System Edge

Complete Overlay (Market Level) 1900/850

At launch, all UMTS 1900 cells are designated as hho_if
IFHO

850(F2)

hho_ir

1900(F1)

GSM

GSM

sho

sho

hho_ir

hho_if

hho_if

hho_if

hho_if

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

IRAT

GSM

GSM

New 850 is overlaid on existing 1900

All UMTS 1900 polygon is overlaid w/ 850

GSM Coverage continues after UMTS Polygon

Load Based IFHO/IFLS is turned ON by default on both layers.

One way relations should not defined, they should always be mutual since they are
used in both Idle and connected mode. Use parameters to enable IFHO in one
direction

Complete Overlay (Market Level) 1900/850

Going forward UMTS 1900 cells will be designated as sho cells
IFHO

850(F2)

1900(F1)

GSM

sho

sho

hho_ir

hho_if

sho

sho

hho_if

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

hho_ir

GSM

IRAT

GSM

New 850 is overlaid on existing 1900

All UMTS 1900 polygon is overlaid w/ 850

GSM Coverage continues after UMTS Polygon

Load Based IFHO/IFLS is turned ON by default on both layers.

Cells were designated sho after analysis

GSM

Partial Overlay (Cluster Level) 1900/850

IFHO

850(F2)

1900(F1)

GSM

hho_if

sho

sho

hho_ir
IRAT

hho_ir

GSM

hho_if

hho_if

hho_if

hho_if

hho_if

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

New 850 is overlayed on existing 1900

UMTS-1900 coverage continues after UMTS-850
GSM Coverage continues after UMTS-1900
Load Based IFHO/IFLS is turned ON by default on both layers.

GSM

Missing Cell Caveat (Jeopardy sites) 1900/850

IFHO

850 (F2)

hho_if

sho

hho_if

hho_if

sho

hho_if

hho_if

hho_if

sho

sho

sho

hho_if

hho_if

hho_ir

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

IRAT

1900(F1)
hho_ir

GSM

GSM

New 850 is overlaid on existing 1900

UMTS-1900 coverage continues after UMTS-850
GSM Coverage continues after UMTS-1900
Load Based IFHO/IFLS is turned ON by default on both layers.

GSM

Complete Overlay (Market Level) 1900/1900

IFHO
IRAT

1900(F2)

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

1900(F1)

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

New 1900 is completely overlaid on existing 1900

All UMTS polygon is overlaid w/ 1900
UMTS footprint matches the GSM footprint.
Load Based IFHO/IFLS is turned ON by default on both layers.

Partial Overlay (Market Level) 1900/1900

IFHO
IRAT

1900(F2)

1900(F1)

hho_if

sho

sho

sho

sho

hho_if

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

New 1900 is partially overlaid on existing 1900

All UMTS polygon is overlaid w/ 1900
F1 UMTS footprint matches the GSM footprint.
Load Based IFHO/IFLS is turned ON by default on both layers.

Missing Cell caveat (Jeopardy sites) 1900/1900

IFHO
IRAT

1900(F2)

1900(F1)

hho_if

sho

hho_if

sho

sho

sho

sho

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

hho_if

hho_if

sho

sho

sho

sho

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

New 1900 is overlaid on existing 1900 (with jeopardy sites).

All UMTS polygon is overlaid w/ 1900
UMTS footprint matches the GSM footprint.
Load Based IFHO/IFLS is turned ON by default on both layers.

Complete Overlay (Market Level) 850/1900

IFHO

1900(F2)

850(F1)

GSM

GSM

hho_if

hho_if

hho_if

hho_if

hho_ir

sho

sho

hho_ir

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

IRAT

GSM

New 1900 is overlaid on existing 850

All UMTS polygon is overlaid w/ 1900

GSM Coverage continues after UMTS Polygon

Load Based IFHO/IFLS is turned ON by default on both layers.

GSM

Partial Overlay (Cluster Level) 850/1900

IFHO

1900(F2)

850(F1)

hho_if

hho_if

hho_if
IRAT

hho_ir

GSM

hho_if

GSM

sho

sho

sho

sho

hho_ir

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

New 1900 is overlaid on existing 850

UMTS-850 coverage continues after UMTS-1900
GSM Coverage continues after UMTS-850
Load Based IFHO/IFLS is turned ON by default on both layers.

GSM

Missing Cell Caveat (Jeopardy sites) 850/1900

IFHO

1900 (F2)

850(F1)

GSM

hho_ir

GSM

hho_if

hho_if

hho_if

sho

sho

sho

GSM

GSM

GSM

hho_if

hho_if

hho_if

sho

sho

sho

sho

hho_ir

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

IRAT

GSM

Complete Overlay (Market Level) 850/850

IFHO
IRAT

850(F2)

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

850(F1)

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

New 850 is overlaid on existing 850

All UMTS polygon is overlaid w/ 850
UMTS footprint matches the GSM footprint.
Load Based IFHO/IFLS is turned ON by default on both layers.

Partial Overlay (Market Level) 850/850

IFHO
IRAT

850(F2)

850(F1)

hho_if

sho

sho

sho

sho

hho_if

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

sho

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

New 850 is partially overlaid on existing 850

All UMTS polygon is overplayed w/ 850
F1 UMTS footprint matches the GSM footprint.
Load Based IFHO/IFLS is turned ON by default on both layers.

Missing Cell caveat (Jeopardy sites) 850/850

IFHO
IRAT

850(F2)

850(F1)

hho_if

sho

hho_if

sho

sho

sho

sho

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

hho_if

hho_if

sho

sho

sho

sho

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

New 850 is overlaid on existing 850 (with jeopardy sites).

All UMTS polygon is overlaid w/ 1900
UMTS footprint matches the GSM footprint.
Load Based IFHO/IFLS is turned ON by default on both layers.

Idle Mode
Inter-Frequency reselections
IRAT reselections

850(F2)

hho_if

1900(F1)

GSM

sho

sho

hho_if

hho_ir

sho

sho

sho

sho

hho_ir

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

New 850 is overlaid on existing 850

UMTS 1900 coverage continues after UMTS 850
GSM coverage continues after UMTS1900

GSM

Layer management matrix: Conn. mode

GSM 1900 - 1900 only band markets

GSM 850 - Dual band markets
F1 - UMTS first Carrier
F2 - UMTS second Carrier

The above matrix covers only vertical overlap between layers. Layer management matrix follows
cell designations for different deployment scenarios

Layer management matrix: Idle. mode

NA* - Cell reselections from UMTS1900 to GSM are disabled in case of dual band UMTS scenarios. This avoids unnecessary
transition from UMTS1900 to GSM to UMTS850.

Next Steps & Actions

Overall alignment with layer management strategy aimed
at minimizing IRAT and IFHO while maintaining best
network performance.
Layer management parameter recommendations to follow
the overall strategy aimed at keeping UEs on 3G network
as much as possible.

Markets to designate sectors (sho, hho_if,hho_ir) and

provide to the regional RF teams for validation and
compilation.
Regions to provide a validated list to HQ
Disable IRAT within UMTS polygon for like band and UMTS
850 overlay markets