2.

Radio Network
Planning Process
Summary
• Technologies
• Radio Network Planning Process
• Radio Media & Model Tuning
• Network Dimensioning
• Transmission Planning
• Parameter Planning & Optimisation
• Network Capacity Evolution
• Planning Tools

EXPLAIN v3.0 - Nokia 2001 – DVassena

2. Radio Network
Planning Process

Radio Network Planning Process

EXPLAIN CHAPTER 2

• Network Planning (2)

• Process (5)
• Site Selection (5)

EXPLAIN v3.0 - Nokia 2001 – DVassena

2. Radio Network
Planning Process
Network Planning
Competence

• Suppliers
• Nokia, Ericsson, Motorola, Alcatel, ...
• know infrastructure capabilities
• bound to own equipment
• Traditional operators
• PTT-style operators
• local network knowledge
• no inside knowledge of equipment
• Independent companies
• many “consulting” companies
• free in choice of equipment
• difficult to stay technically up-to-date

EXPLAIN v3.0 - Nokia 2001 – DVassena

2. Radio Network
Planning Process
Network Planning
Scope
External information sources
Customer requirements
•topo- & morphological data
•coverage requirements
•population data
•quality of service
•bandwidth available
•recommended sites
•frequency co-ordination
•subscriber forecasts
•constraints
Network planning team
•data acquisition Interactions with
•site survey and selection • external subcontractors
•field measurement evaluation • site hunting teams
•NW design and analysis • measurement teams
•transmission planning • operator
Network design • switch planning engineers
•number and configuration of BS
•antenna systems specifications Network performance
•BSS topology •grade of service (blocking)
•dimensioning of transmission lines •outage calculations
•frequency plan •interference probabilities
•network evolution strategy •quality observation
EXPLAIN v3.0 - Nokia 2001 – DVassena
2. Radio Network
Planning Process
Process
General
chapter 6 &
chapter 3 & 4 chapter 2 chapter 6
7

DEFINITION IMPLEMENTATION O&M

Network Coverage Parameter Network

Capacity Requirements
Configuration Planning and Planning Optimization
and Site Selection
Dimensioning Traffic distribution Area / Cell Survey
Service distribution specific measurements
Requirements Propagation Allowed blocking/queuing
and strategy measurements System features
Coverage Handover Statistical
for coverage, strategies performance
quality and prediction
analysis
capacity, Maximum
per service network Quality
Site
loading Efficiency
acquisition External Interference
Coverage Availability
Analysis
optimization Other RRM
Identification
Adaptation

EXPLAIN v3.0 - Nokia 2001 – DVassena

2. Radio Network
Planning Process
Process
Roll-out
external inputs:
(traffic, subs. forecast,
coverage requirements...)
nominal cell plan
suggestions for
Initial NW dimensioning
site locations
TRX, cells, sites
cell parameters
bandwidth needed
coverage achieved
NW topology

coverage prediction
signal strength
multipath propagation

go to create cell
frequency data for Site N
planning BSC pre-validation
field measurements

site inspection
real cell plan
field measurements
planning N
site accepted ?
criteria fulfilled?
N

EXPLAIN v3.0 - Nokia 2001 – DVassena

2. Radio Network
Planning Process
Process
Site Building

issue search
area & on air!
requirements
find suitable
site
candidates
installing & testing
calculate coverage
range of each
candidate

propagation construction work

measurements
needed ?

transmission get building permit

links sign contract
available? with site
owner

EXPLAIN v3.0 - Nokia 2001 – DVassena

2. Radio Network
Planning Process
Process
Site Acquisition

site acquisition
radio agent
site owner
planner

measurement network
teams operator

fixed network
planner architect

EXPLAIN v3.0 - Nokia 2001 – DVassena

2. Radio Network
Planning Process
Process
Documentation
• SARF
Site Acquisition
Request Form
• SIR/SAR
Site Information
(Acquisition) Report
• TSS report
Technical Site
Survey Report
• TDRS
Technical Data for
Radiating System
• ...

EXPLAIN v3.0 - Nokia 2001 – DVassena

2. Radio Network
Planning Process
Site Selection
Criteria

Radio criteria Non-radio

criteria
• good view in main
beam direction
• space for
• no surrounding high equipment
obstacles
• availability of
• good visibility of leased lines or
terrain microwave link
• room for antenna • power supply
mounting
• access restrictions?
• LOS to next
microwave site • house owner
• short cabling
distances • rental costs

EXPLAIN v3.0 - Nokia 2001 – DVassena

2. Radio Network
Planning Process
Site Selection
General Considerations

• Proper site location determines

usefulness of its cells
• Sites are expensive
• Sites are long-term investments
• Site acquisition is a slow process
• Hundreds of sites needed per network

Base station site is a valuable

long-term asset for the operator

EXPLAIN v3.0 - Nokia 2001 – DVassena

2. Radio Network
Planning Process
Site Selection
Bad Site Location

• Avoid hill-top locations for BS sites

• uncontrolled interferences
• interleaved coverage
• awkward HO behaviours
• but: good location for microwave links!

wanted cell uncontrolled, strong

boundary interferences

interleaved coverage areas:

weak own signal, strong foreign signal

EXPLAIN v3.0 - Nokia 2001 – DVassena

2. Radio Network
Planning Process
Site Selection
Good Site Location

• Prefer sites off the hill-tops

• use hills to separate cells
• contiguous coverage area
• needs only low antenna heights if sites are
slightly elevated above valley bottom

wanted cell
boundary

EXPLAIN v3.0 - Nokia 2001 – DVassena

2. Radio Network
Planning Process
Site Selection
Site Info

Collect all necessary information about

site details
• site coordinates, height above sea level, exact
address
• house owner
• type of building
• building materials (photo)
• possible antenna heights
• 360deg photo (clearance view)
• neighbourhood, surrounding environment
• drawing sketch of rooftop
• antenna mounting conditions
• access possibilities (truck?, road, roof)
• BS location, approx. feeder lengths

EXPLAIN v3.0 - Nokia 2001 – DVassena