Adaptive Multi Rate – 2G RAN

Contents

• AMR Overview
• AMR Requirements and Network Considerations
• AMR Parameters
• AMR Measurements
• Potential Impact on Network
AMR Overview
AMR Introduction
• AMR (Adaptive Multi Rate) consists of a family of codecs with different bit-rates operating in
GSM FR and HR
• The aim is to improve channel (FR/HR) quality by adapting the most appropriate channel
codec based on current radio condition
• The trade off made between quality and robustness by varying bit-rates.
• Codec mode adaptation (link adaptation) is based on received channel quality in both MS
and BTS.
• The basic AMR codec mode sets for MS and BTS are provided by BSC via layer 3 signalling.
• MS shall support all speech codec modes, although only a set of up to 4 speech codec modes
are used during a call
• New GSM standard based voice coding in phone and network. Implementation in radio
network and phone is needed to realize the benefits.
AMR Introduction
• At low C/I, a large amount of channel coding is applied and less speech coding. When the C/I increases
the speech coding is increased and the channel coding is decreased. So the speech coding (data) and
channel coding rates (Error correction) are adapted to the existing RF environment, hence the term
“adaptive”.
AMR Introduction – Codec Data Rates • Channel cross bit-rate is 22.8 kbit/s in GSM FR/EFR:
• 13 kbit/s speech coding and
• 9.8 kbit/channel coding
• (HR channel gross bit rate 11.4 kbit/s)
• In the AMR case, codec mode can be changed and more error correction bits can be used whenever
C h a n n e l b it-ra te (k b it/s )
channel requires

25
Channel coding
20 Speech coding

15

10

0
FR FR FR FR 7.4 FR 6.7 FR 5.9 FR FR HR HR 7.4 HR 6.7 HR 5.9 HR HR
12.2 10.2 7.95 5.15 4.75 7.95 5.15 4.75

AMR codec mode

AMRAMRIntroduction
codecs: – Codec Data Rates
8 for Full rate and 6 for Half
AMR Full Rate performance compared to
Full Rate EFR in Clean Speech
MOS (Mean Opinion Score)
5.0

Rate 4.0
Upto 4 codecs in one Active
Codec Set
Voice quality 3.0

2.0 EFR
AMR FR

1.0
No Errors 16 dB C/I 13 dB C/I 10 dB C/I 7 dB C/I 4 dB C/I

AMR Half Rate performance compared to

Full Rate in Clean Speech
5 CODEC MODE for HR

MOS (Mean Opinion Score)

5.0

4.0

3.0
Robustness
2.0 FR
AMR HR

1.0
No Errors 19 dB C/I 16 dB C/I 13 dB C/I 10 dB C/I 7 dB C/I 4 dB C/I
C/I vs. FER performance, AMR FR
Frame Error Rates (FER) for ARM, EFR and FR Codecs
on Different C/I conditions (FR -Channel)
C/I [dB]
16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
0.00%

2.00%

GSM EFR
4.00%
GSM FR
AMR 12.2 kbit/s
6.00% AMR 10.2 kbit/s

FER [%]
AMR 7.95 kbit/s
8.00% AMR 7.4 kbit/s
AMR 6.7 kbit/s
AMR 5.9 kbit/s
10.00% AMR 5.15 kbit/s
AMR 4.75 kbit/s
12.00% GSM HR

14.00%
C/I vs. FER performance, AMR HR Frame Error Rates (FER) for ARM HR Codecs
on Different C/I conditions (HR -Channel)

C/I [dB]
16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
0.00%

2.00%

4.00%
GSM HR
6.00% AMR 7.95 kbit/s

FER [%]
AMR 7.4 kbit/s
8.00% AMR 6.7 kbit/s
AMR 5.9 kbit/s
10.00% AMR 5.15 kbit/s
AMR 4.75 kbit/s
12.00%

14.00%
 AMR FR codec mode adaptation example
C/I
C/I EFR operation AMR mode
AMR
30 Mode

25 12.2 kbit/s
AMR
FR HR
20 7.95 kbit/s
12.2
10.2
[dB]

15
6.70 kbit/s 7.95
7.4 7.4
10 5.90 kbit/s
6.7 6.7
5.9 5.9
5
5.15 5.15
4.75 4.75
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Time[s]

speech chan.
coding coding
AMR Introduction
• AMR Capacity benefits:
• Improved robustness in Full Rate allows tightening of re-use patterns - increased spectral
efficiency
• Operation of Half Rate channels will free available Base
capacity for data traffic - reduced
Station Cell Coverage
blocking
Current Full Rate & AMR Full Rate
AMR Half Rate

• AMR Coverage benefits: HO

7.4

• Improved performance at 12.2 5.9

cell edge 5.15

HO
7.95
4.75

5.9
HO
4.75
Benefits of AMR 1/2
• Speech quality enhancement: AMR maintains good speech quality in the
situation where the connection faces low C/I or low signal level

• Capacity and coverage gain: Link level simulation results illustrated

improvement in terms of TCH FER (up to 6dB at 1% FER in C/I)

• Improved BCCH plan: tighter frequency reuse or better quality with same
frequency reuse, potentially releasing frequencies to be used on the non-
BCCH layer. This is applicable when EFR legacy terminals do not represent a
significant portion of the traffic.
Benefits of AMR 2/2
• Mixed EFR – AMR traffic networks: use more aggressive power control for AMR mobiles in
order to decrease the average interference level in the network.
Due to better error correction capability against the channel errors lower C/I target can be
set for AMR mobiles hence lower PC thresholds can be used. Therefore, the overall
interference decreases in the network (smaller average transmission power) and thus the
quality of the existing EFR connections increase.

• When compare AMR HR to previous GSM HR codec, it is noticed that AMR HR obtains
remarkable better speech quality
AMR Requirements & Network Considerations
AMR HW Support
•Below are the HW requirements for AMR deployment.

• RBS
• All RBS2000 base stations support AMR, except for early versions of RBS2301 (< R6A)
• No support in RBS200

• BSC
• AXE810 supports AMR (TRA R6)
• BYB501 supports AMR on TRA R5B
• BYB202 don’t support AMR, except in BYB501 expansions
AMR Enhancements in Ericsson System
• R9.1
• Two predefined Active Codec Sets

• R10
• Define own Active Codec Sets
• Included modes
• Mode change thresholds
• AMR statistics
• Codec mode utilization
• Call drop rate

• BSSR12
• Adaptive Multi Rate introduced anew predefined codec set consisting of the codec modes: 4.75, 5.9,
7.4, 12.2 for Full Rate AMR

• G10 A
• Improved configuration capability for FR-AMR and HR-AMR Configurable initial codec mode
• Possible to start with a codec mode with a higher bit rate (compared to the default setting defined
in 3GPP) after changing channels
AMR Parameters
2GAMRFRSUPPORT
AMR Parameters – BSC Level
Indicates if AMR FR is turned ON or OFF and also which full rate codec set that shall be used
within the BSC.

Default value: 0
Value range: 0-5
Unit: 0=off
1=Full rate codec set 1
2=Full rate codec set 2
3=Full rate codec set 3
4=Full rate codec set 4
5=Full rate codec set 5

AMRHRSUPPORT

Indicates if AMR HR is turned ON or OFF and also which half rate codec set that shall be used
within the BSC
2GMODE
AMR Parameters – BSC Level
Specifies the codec modes that shall be included in the codec set. For Full Rate all 8 codec
modes can be used, expressed as a numeral between 1 and 8, and defined in ascending order

Value range: 0-8

Unit: CODEC MODE

THR

Specifies the thresholds between the codec modes in the codec set, expressed as a numeral
between 0 and 63, in steps of 0.5 dB.

Value Range: 0 to 63
Unit: Threshold

HYST

Specifies the hysteresis values for the threshold in the codec set. It is expressed as a numeral
between 0 and 15, in steps of 0.5 dB.
Codec Modes and Decision thresholds

When C/I drops below decision threshold THR_3, codec mode 3 (CODEC_MODE_3) will be in operation instead of codec
mode 4 (CODEC_MODE_4). The sum of the decision threshold and hysteresis constitutes the upper threshold between two
codec modes, e.g when C/I exceeds THR_3 + HYST_3 codec mode 4 (CODEC_MODE_4) will be in operation instead of codec
mode 3 (CODEC_MODE_3).
Predefined Full Rate codec Sets
Predefined Half Rate codec Sets
Parameter Summary – Cell Level
Parameter Radio Feature
AMRPCSTATE BTS and MS Power Control
QDESULAFR
QDESULAHR
MS Power Control
SSDESULAFR
SSDESULAHR
QDESDLAFR
QDESDLAHR
BTS Power Control
SSDESDLAFR
SSDESDLAHR
SSOFFSETULAFR
SSOFFSETDLAFR
Intra Cell Handover
QOFFSETULAFR
QOFFSETDLAFR
QLIMULAFR
QLIMDLAFR Bad Quality Urgency HO conditions
BQOFFSETAFR
RLINKTAFR
RLINKTAHR
Radio Link Timeout Timers
RLINKUPAFR
RLINKUPAHR
DTHAMR Dynamic Half Rate
DMTHAMR
DMQBAMR Dynamic Mode Adaptation
DMQGAMR
AMR Features
• AMR Power Control
• AMR HR
• AMR Radio Link Timers
• AMR Wideband
• Dynamic HR allocation
• Dynamic Mode adaptation
• Locating
• Intra cell Handover and Urgency Conditions
AMR Power Control
AMR Power Control
Summary
The feature AMR power control is used to minimize the interference in the radio network by
controlling the output power for terminals using the AMR speech codec separately. The
result is a possibility to increase the radio network capacity as well as improve speech
quality due to reduced interference.

Benefits
Increased capacity in networks with a mix of AMR and non-AMR capable handsets.
Enhanced speech quality for connections not using AMR full rate.
Optimized power consumption for AMR full rate compatible handsets.
AMR Power Control
• Introduced in R10,enhanced in R12 with AMRHR

Separate regulation targets for MS/BTS Power Control

• AMR connection can use less power
•AMR codec can handle the increased bit error
AMR Power Control
• The AMR FR speech coding is more robust and can perform well on low C/I levels. This results in a
possibility to down regulate the output power of AMR FR connections more than for non-AMR or
AMR HR connections.
AMR Power Control

• Increased capacity in mixed EFR/AMR scenarios

• Same speech quality for EFR and AMR users
Separate AMR Power Control Algorithm
• Separate regulation targets for AMR : More aggressive settings can be used compared
to EFR
• AMR-HR calls are controlled by the same settings as EFR until BSS R12. AMR Power
Control introduces separate regulation targets in the power control algorithm for calls
using Half Rate AMR, optimizing the performance in BSS R12.

Parameter Description Range

AMRPCSTATE Adaptive Multi Rate (AMR) power control state. ACTIVE or INACTIVE

SSDESULAFR Target value for AMR FR connections for the desired signal strength uplink 47 to 110

SSDESDLAFR Target value for AMR FR connections for the desired signal strength downlink 47 to 110

QDESULAFR Desired quality uplink for AMR FR connections 0 to 76

QDESDLAFR Desired quality downlink for AMR FR connections. 0 to 76

Last 4 parameters available for HR also
AMR Radio Link Timers
AMR Radio Link Timers
• AMR Radio Link Timers feature introduces separate radio link timers for calls using AMR where
the parameter RLINKT will be replaced with RLINKTAFR for connections using the codec type
AMR FR,RLINKTAHR for connections using the codec type AMR HR and parameter RLINKUP will
be replaced with RLINKUPAFR for connections using the codec type AMR FR,RLINKUPAHR for
connections using the codec type AMR HR.

• In the uplink, the algorithm is the same, but managed by the BSC and basing the decisions on
successfully decoded measurement results on the uplink, that is in the base station parameter
RLINKUP controls the algorithm, unless the connections are using codec type AMR FR where
RLINKUPAFR are used.

• The algorithm is of the type "leaky bucket", and bases the decisions on successfully decoded
SACCH messages (480 ms). There is a "bucket", initially containing a number given by parameter
RLINKT, RLINKTAFR or RLINKTAHR for downlink and RLINKUP, RLINKUPAFR or
RLINKUPAHR for uplink.
AMR Radio Link Timers

• When a SACCH message has been received but not successfully decoded, the "bucket"
counter is decreased by one unit. When a frame is successfully decoded, it is increased
by two units. If the "bucket" becomes empty, that is the "bucket" counter runs down to
zero, the MS terminates the connection.
AMR Radio Link Timers
• RLINKTAFR :The maximum value of the radio downlink counter for AMR FR connections.
• Range:8 to 64 in steps of 4
• Unit:SACCH periods (480 ms).

• RLINKTAHR :The maximum value of the radio downlink counter for AMR HR connections.
• Range:8 to 64 in steps of 4
• Unit:SACCH periods (480 ms).

• RLINKUPAFR:The maximum value of the radio link counter on the uplink for AMR FR connections.
• Range:1 to 63
• Unit:SACCH periods (480 ms).

• RLIKUPAHR:The maximum value of the radio link counter on the uplink for AMR HR connections.
• Range:1 to 63
• Unit:SACCH periods (480 ms)
AMR Half Rate
AMR Half Rate
• Introduced in BSS R10, Enhanced in G10A
Summary
• The AMR Half Rate speech codec provides significantly better speech quality for half rate channels
than the standard Half Rate codec. With AMR Half Rate, the use of half rate traffic channels becomes
a more attractive solution to increase radio network capacity.

Operator Benefits
• Reduced cost of ownership and Increased revenue

BSS G1A Enhancements

• In BSS G10A, AMR HR is enhanced with Improved configuration capability.
• Increased speech quality: Possible to start with a codec mode
AMR Half Rate
• Two predefined Active Codec Sets
• Define own Active Codec Sets
• Included modes
• Mode change thresholds

• AMR statistics
• Codec mode utilization
• Call drop rate
AMR Half Rate
• Speech quality between EFR and FR
AMR Wideband
AMR Wideband-Introduction
• The feature AMR Wide Band was introduced in BSS R08A.
• AMR Wide Band (AMR-WB) is a new speech codec that provides
significantly improved speech quality. This is accomplished by
using a speech bandwidth of 0.1 to 7 kHz compared to the
traditional 0.3 to 3.4 kHz bandwidth used for the existing GSM
codec’s and in the fixed networks. By adding both low and high
frequencies to the speech a much clearer and more pleasant
speech is achieved.
• AMR-WB is implemented for the GSM Full Rate channel using
GMSK modulation with three codec modes as defined in the 3GPP
standards.
AMR-WB

• Significant speech quality improvement for mobile to mobile calls

• Better than today’s wireline networks
• Audio spectrum 100-7000 Hz instead of 300-3400 Hz
• Seamless support in and between GSM and WCDMA
Feature Overview
• All nodes involved in a call from one subscriber to another must have support
for AMR-WB, this includes all MS’s, RBS’s, BSC’s,MGw’s and MSC servers.
• 3 codec modes for AMR-WB / FR channel with GMSK modulation
• Codec modes: 6.60, 8.85, 12.65 kbps
• New TRA pool is required for AMR-WB
• Fallback to FR_AMR at AMR-WB establishment failure is possible.
• If AMR-WB can not be established end to end, the call is changed to use the
next available full rate codec supported in the network
• Possibility to inhibit FR->HR adaptation for AMR-WB due to a big difference in
speech quality.
Performance comparison
EFR, •FR_AMR,
AlwaysAMR-WB
better than EFR
• About same radio capacity and error robustness as FR_AMR
Network
•
Impact / Dependencies No of channels per board

BSC HW Impact
• TRA R6 or later is required.

• BTS HW Impact
• sTRU/dTRU or similar TRU is required 1) TRA R6B is available in BSS R12
2) TRA R7 is available in BSS 06B
• BSS Characteristics

• Dependencies to other BSS features

• None

• Dependencies to other NE
• Support in core network is required.

• Terminals
• Support in terminals is required.
DYNAMIC HALF RATE
DYNAMIC HALF RATE ALLOCATION
• A separate traffic load threshold introduced that only applies to
terminals that supports the AMR half rate speech codec.
• Use HR only when and where it is needed
• Better utilization of AMR HR
DHA parameters
• DTHAMR is the threshold parameter for AMR HR capable MSs at channel allocation below which an AMR
MS will be allocated a HR channel. The parameter expresses the ratio between idle and de-blocked TCHs in
percent and is set per cell. It can be set per priority level if using Speech Quality Priority.
• DTHNAMR is the threshold parameter for non AMR HR but DR capable MSs at channel allocation below
which a DR capable MS will be allocated a HR channel. The parameter expresses the ratio between idle and
de-blocked TCHs in percent and is set per cell. It can be set per priority level if using Speech Quality Priority.
Dynamic Mode Adaptation
Mode adaptation
• New feature in R10, Enhanced in R07B, by introducing Traffic load threshold to initiate HR to FR handover
• Capacity boost from HR only when needed to avoid congestion

Operator settable thresholds for AMR.

Parameters
Parameter Description Range

DMTHAMR HR packing threshold parameter for AMR HR capable mobiles. 0 to 100

Channel quality threshold for Adaptive Multi Rate (AMR) capable mobiles
DMQBAMR 0 to 100
using a HR traffic channel.

Channel quality threshold for Adaptive Multi Rate (AMR) capable mobiles
DMQGAMR 0 to 100
using a FR traffic channel.
Intra-cell Handovers and Urgency Conditions
Separate Intra-cell HO
• Separate triggers in Intra-cell Handover
parameters
• More aggressive settings for AMR FR to reduce Intra-cell Handovers
• Parameters: SSOFFSETULAFR, SSOFFSETDLAFR, QOFFSETULAFR, QOFFSETDLAFR
Locating: Separate Bad Quality Urgency HO
parameters
• Separate triggers in Bad Quality Urgency Handover
• More aggressive settings for AMR FR to reduce quality urgency
Handovers
• Parameters: QLIMULAFR, QLIMDLAFR, BQOFFSETAFR
AMR Impact (Locating, Handover Bad
Quality Urgency Conditions)

• For connections using the codec type AMR Full Rate there are
separate bad quality limits for the urgency detection (QLIMDLAFR in
downlink and QLIMULAFR in uplink). The greater robustness of the
AMR FR channel, suggests higher values, if compared with the ones
used at present, of these parameters for reducing the numbers of
unnecessary inter cell handovers for bad quality reasons.
• It is not allowed to perform a bad quality urgency handover to a
worse cell from anywhere in the serving cell. The parameter
BQOFFSETAFR regulates the Urgency handovers borders.
Parameter Description
Parameter Description Range

SSOFFSETULAFR Offset for signal strength uplink for AMR FR connections. -30 to +30

SSOFFSETDLAFR Offset for signal strength downlink for AMR FR connections. -30 to +30

QOFFSETULAFR Offset for quality uplink for AMR FR connections. -50 to +50

QOFFSETDLAFR Offset for quality downlink for AMR FR connections. -50 to +50
Downlink quality threshold for bad quality urgency handovers for AMR FR
QLIMULAFR 0 to 100
connections.
Uplink quality threshold for bad quality urgency handovers for AMR FR
QLIMDLAFR 0 to 100
connections.

BQOFFSETAFR Signal strength region for bad quality urgency handovers for AMR FR connections. 0 to 63
Self Configuring Transcoder Pools
Self Configuring Transcoder Pools
• Efficient use of Transcoder
resources
• Simplified O&M

• OSS required
• TRA R5A, R5B & TRA R6
• The feature offers automatic reconfiguration of Transcoder HW and Transcoder
pools based on Transcoder pool usage statistics.
Self Configuring Transcoder Pool
• Automatically re-dimension the transcoder pools based on usage in each pool
• Benefits: Reduced operation and maintenance activities
• More efficient transcoder HW usage

• Two Modes: Immediate Mode Reconfiguration

• Delayed Mode Reconfiguration: Operator to specify time and frequency

• Event log maintained in the BSC for the operator to review

• Parameters: TTRAREQUIRED, TTRAEXCESS, MINPOOLSIZE, RECMODE, RECTIME,
NDAYS
Self Configuring Transcoder Pools:
Parameters
• The percentage idle resources in each transcoder pool shall be reported every 10th second and
the mean percentage of idle resources overthe last TIMERECONFminutes is calculated.
• The TIMERECONFis set to 2 minutes for immediate reconfiguration and 60 minutes for delayed
reconfiguration. Every 10th second isthe frequency for accumulating STS counters today.
• TIMERECONFis an application parameter and can not be changed by the operator.
• A transcoder pool with the mean percentage of idle resources below a threshold, TTRAREQ, shall
be a candidate to receive transcoder resources.
• A transcoder pool with the mean percentage of idle resources equal to or above a threshold,
TTRAEXexcluding the idle transcoder resources to remove, shall be a candidate to steal
transcoder resources from.
AMR Measurements
Object Types
• Transcoder level statistics are available on TRAPEVENT
• Traffic counters belong to object types CLTCHFV3 and CLTCHHV3
• Codec mode utilization counters (uplink and downlink), belong to
object types CLTCHFV3C and CLTCHHV3C.
• FER counters, belong to object types CELLAFFER and CELLAHFER.
• Dropped call counters, belong to object types CLTCHDRAF and
CLTCHDRAH.
• SQI counters, belong to object types CELLSQI and CELLSQIDL.
TRAPEVENT
Counter Name

TPACC Number of accumulations

Description

TPACTTR Active Transcoder Resources

TPAVTR Available Transcoder Resources

TPIDLTR Idle Transcoder Resources

TPALLOC Transcoder Resource Allocation Attempts

TPCONG Transcoder Resource Congestion

TPCTIME Transcoder Resource Congestion Time

TPSYNCF V.110 Synchronization Failure for pooled transcoder devices

TPTFOESTATT Number of TFO establishment attempts

TPTFOEST Number of successful TFO establishments

TPTFOTIME Accumulated number of seconds all TFO capable devices have been used in a speech call

TPTFOOPETIME Accumulated number of seconds all TFO capable devices have been in TFO operation mode
CLTCHFV3 and CLTCHHV3
Object Type
CLTCHFV3
CLTCHFV3
Counter Name
TFV3CALLS
TFV3CALLSSUB
Call attempt counter
Description

Call attempt counter for overlaid subcell

CLTCHFV3 TFV3TCONGS TCH congestion time

CLTCHFV3 TFV3TCONSUB TCH congestion time for overlaid subcell

CLTCHFV3 TFV3TRALACC Traffic level accumulator

CLTCHFV3 TFV3NSCAN Number of accumulations of traffic level counter

CLTCHFV3 TFV3TRALSUB TCH traffic level accumulated in overlaid subcell

CLTCHFV3 TFV3CONGSAS Number of congestion at assignment

CLTCHFV3 TFV3CONGSASSUB Number of congestion at assignment, overlaid subcell

CLTCHFV3 TFV3CONGSHO Number of congestion at handover

CLTCHFV3 TFV3CONGSHOSUB Number of congestion at handover, overlaid subcell

CLTCHHV3 THV3CALLS Call attempt counter

CLTCHHV3 THV3CALLSSUB Call attempt counter for overlaid subcell

CLTCHHV3 THV3TCONGS TCH congestion time

CLTCHHV3 THV3TCONSUB TCH congestion time for overlaid subcell

CLTCHHV3 THV3TRALACC Traffic level accumulator

CLTCHHV3 THV3NSCAN Number of accumulations of traffic level counter

CLTCHHV3 THV3TRALSUB TCH traffic level accumulated in overlaid subcell

CLTCHHV3 THV3CONGSAS Number of congestion at assignment

CLTCHHV3 THV3CONGSASSUB Number of congestion at assignment, overlaid subcell

CLTCHHV3 THV3CONGSHO Number of congestion at handover

CLTCHHV3 THV3CONGSHOSUB Number of congestion at handover, overlaid subcell

CLTCHFV3C and CLTCHHV3C
Object Type

CLTCHFV3C
Counter Name
TFV3CM1UL
Description
Time (number of frames) on TCH/F SPV3 Mode 1 uplink

CLTCHFV3C TFV3CM2UL Time (number of frames) on TCH/F SPV3 Mode 2 uplink

CLTCHFV3C TFV3CM3UL Time (number of frames) on TCH/F SPV3 Mode 3 uplink

CLTCHFV3C TFV3CM4UL Time (number of frames) on TCH/F SPV3 Mode 4 uplink

CLTCHFV3C TFV3CM1DL Time (number of frames) on TCH/F SPV3 Mode 1 downlink

CLTCHFV3C TFV3CM2DL Time (number of frames) on TCH/F SPV3 Mode 2 downlink

CLTCHFV3C TFV3CM3DL Time (number of frames) on TCH/F SPV3 Mode 3 downlink

CLTCHFV3C TFV3CM4DL Time (number of frames) on TCH/F SPV3 Mode 4 downlink

CLTCHHV3C THV3CM1UL Time (number of frames) on TCH/H SPV3 Mode 1 uplink

CLTCHHV3C THV3CM2UL Time (number of frames) on TCH/H SPV3 Mode 2 uplink

CLTCHHV3C THV3CM3UL Time (number of frames) on TCH/H SPV3 Mode 3 uplink

CLTCHHV3C THV3CM4UL Time (number of frames) on TCH/H SPV3 Mode 4 uplink

CLTCHHV3C THV3CM1DL Time (number of frames) on TCH/H SPV3 Mode 1 downlink

CLTCHHV3C THV3CM2DL Time (number of frames) on TCH/H SPV3 Mode 2 downlink

CLTCHHV3C THV3CM3DL Time (number of frames) on TCH/H SPV3 Mode 3 downlink

THV3CM4DL Time (number of frames) on TCH/H SPV3 Mode 4 downlink

CLTCHHV3C
CELLAFFER and CELLAHFER
Object Type Counter Name Description
CELLAxFER TAx1ULFER Number of FER occurrences in the range 0-FERTHR1, UL
CELLAxFER TAx2ULFER Number of FER occurrences in the range FERTHR1-FERTHR2, UL
CELLAxFER TAx3ULFER Number of FER occurrences in the range FERTHR2-FERTHR3, UL
CELLAxFER TAx4ULFER Number of FER occurrences in the range FERTHR3-FERTHR4, UL
CELLAxFER TAx5ULFER Number of FER occurrences in the range FERTHR4-96, UL
CELLAxFER TAx1ULSUBFER Number of FER occurrences in the range 0-FERTHR1, overlaid subcell, UL
CELLAxFER TAx2ULSUBFER Number of FER occurrences in the range FERTHR1-FERTHR2, overlaid subcell, UL
CELLAxFER TAx3ULSUBFER Number of FER occurrences in the range FERTHR2-FERTHR3, overlaid subcell, UL
CELLAxFER TAx4ULSUBFER Number of FER occurrences in the range FERTHR3-FERTHR4, overlaid subcell, UL
CELLAxFER TAx5ULSUBFER Number of FER occurrences in the range FERTHR4-96, overlaid subcell, UL
CELLAxFER TAx1DLFER Number of FER occurrences in the range 0-FERTHR1, DL
CELLAxFER TAx2DLFER Number of FER occurrences in the range FERTHR1-FERTHR2, DL
CELLAxFER TAxDL3FER Number of FER occurrences in the range FERTHR2-FERTHR3, DL
CELLAxFER TAx4DLFER Number of FER occurrences in the range FERTHR3-FERTHR4, DL
CELLAxFER TAx5DLFER Number of FER occurrences in the range FERTHR4-96, DL
CELLAxFER TAx1DLSUBFER Number of FER occurrences in the range 0-FERTHR1, overlaid subcell, DL
CELLAxFER TAx2DLSUBFER Number of FER occurrences in the range FERTHR1-FERTHR2, overlaid subcell, DL
CELLAxFER TAx3DLSUBFER Number of FER occurrences in the range FERTHR2-FERTHR3, overlaid subcell, DL
CELLAxFER TAx4DLSUBFER Number of FER occurrences in the range FERTHR3-FERTHR4, overlaid subcell, DL
CELLAxFER TAx5DLSUBFER Number of FER occurrences in the range FERTHR4-96, overlaid subcell, DL
X = F for FR and H for HR
CLTCHDRAF and CLTCHDRAH
Object Type

CLTCHDRAx
Counter Name

TxDISTAA Dropped connections at excessive TA

Description

CLTCHDRAx TxSUDLOSA Suddenly lost connections

CLTCHDRAx TxSUDLOSSUBA Suddenly lost connections in overlaid subcell

CLTCHDRAx TxDISSDLA Dropped connections at low signal strength downlink

CLTCHDRAx TxDISSDLSUBA Dropped connections at low signal strength downlink in overlaid subcell

CLTCHDRAx TxDISSULA Dropped connections at low signal strength uplink

CLTCHDRAx TxDISSULSUBA Dropped connections at low signal strength uplink in overlaid subcell

CLTCHDRAx TxDISSBLA Dropped connections at low signal strength bothlink

CLTCHDRAx TxDISSBLSUBA Dropped connections at low signal strength bothlink in overlaid subcell

CLTCHDRAx TxDISQADLA Dropped connections at bad quality downlink

CLTCHDRAx TxDISQADLSUBA Dropped connections at bad quality downlink in overlaid subcell

CLTCHDRAx TxDISQAULA Dropped connections at bad quality uplink

CLTCHDRAx TxDISQAULSUBA Dropped connections at bad quality uplink in overlaid subcell

CLTCHDRAx TxDISQABLA Dropped connections at bad quality bothlink

CLTCHDRAx TxDISQABLSUBA Dropped connections at bad quality bothlink in overlaid subcell

X = F for FR and H for HR

CELLSQI and CELLSQIDL
Object Type
CELLSQI
CELLSQI
Counter Name
TSQIGOODAF
TSQIGOODAH
Description
Number of measurements with good speech quality when the channel rate is TCH/F and the speech version is SPV3
Number of measurements with good speech quality when the channel rate is TCH/H and the speech version is SPV3
CELLSQI TSQIGOODSUBAF Number of measurements with good speech quality in overlaid subcell when the channel rate is TCH/F and the speech version is SPV3
CELLSQI TSQIGOODSUBAH Number of measurements with good speech quality in overlaid subcell when the channel rate is TCH/H and the speech version is SPV3
CELLSQI TSQIACCPTAF Number of measurements with acceptable speech quality when the channel rate is TCH/F and the speech version is SPV3
CELLSQI TSQIACCPTAH Number of measurements with acceptable speech quality when the channel rate is TCH/H and the speech version is SPV3
CELLSQI TSQIACCPTSUBAF Number of measurements with acceptable speech quality in overlaid subcell when the channel rate is TCH/F and the speech version is SPV3
CELLSQI TSQIACCPTSUBAH Number of measurements with acceptable speech quality in overlaid subcell when the channel rate is TCH/H and the speech version is SPV3
CELLSQI TSQIBADAF Number of measurements with unsatisfactory speech quality when the channel rate is TCH/F and the speech version is SPV3
CELLSQI TSQIBADAH Number of measurements with unsatisfactory speech quality when the channel rate is TCH/H and the speech version is SPV3
CELLSQI TSQIBADSUBAF Number of measurements with unsatisfactory speech quality in overlaid subcell when the channel rate is TCH/F and the speech version is SPV3
Number of measurements with unsatisfactory speech quality in overlaid subcell when the channel rate is TCH/H and the speech version is
CELLSQI TSQIBADSUBAH
SPV3
CELLSQID TSQIGOODAFDL Number of measurements with good speech quality when the channel rate is TCH/F and the speech version is SPV3 on downlink.
CELLSQID TSQIGOODAHDL Number of measurements with good speech quality when the channel rate is TCH/H and the speech version is SPV3 on downlink.
CELLSQID TSQIGOODSUBAFDL Number of measurements with good speech quality in overlaid subcell when the channel rate is TCH/F and the speech version is SPV3
Number of measurements with good speech quality in overlaid subcell when the channel rate is TCH/H and the speech version is SPV3 on
CELLSQID TSQIGOODSUBAHDL
downlink.
CELLSQID TSQIACCPTAFDL Number of measurements with acceptable speech quality when the channel rate is TCH/F and the speech version is SPV3 on downlink.
CELLSQID TSQIACCPTAHDL Number of measurements with acceptable speech quality when the channel rate is TCH/H and the speech version is SPV3
Number of measurements with acceptable speech quality in overlaid subcell when the channel rate is TCH/F and the speech version is SPV3 on
CELLSQID TSQIACCPTSUBAFDL
downlink.

Number of measurements with acceptable speech quality in overlaid subcell when the channel rate is TCH/H and the speech version is SPV3 on
CELLSQID TSQIACCPTSUBAHDL
downlink.
CELLSQID TSQIBADAFDL Number of measurements with unsatisfactory speech quality when the channel rate is TCH/F and the speech version is SPV3
CELLSQID TSQIBADAHDL Number of measurements with unsatisfactory speech quality when the channel rate is TCH/H and the speech version is SPV3 on downlink.
Number of measurements with unsatisfactory speech quality in overlaid subcell when the channel rate is TCH/F and the speech version is SPV3
CELLSQID TSQIBADSUBAFDL
on downlink.

Number of measurements with unsatisfactory speech quality in overlaid subcell when the channel rate is TCH/H and the speech version is
CELLSQID TSQIBADSUBAHDL
SPV3 on downlink.

X = F for FR and H for HR

Potential Impact on Network Performance
AMR Effect on Dropped Calls
• The AMR can reduce number of call drops since the RxQual is still good at low C/I conditions. With
the use of lowest codec modes, the call can still sustain due to high channel coding and low speech
coding rates.
•The AMR Radio Link Timeout value should be higher than the Radio Link Timeout since AMR is
more robust against poor C/I conditions. So a condition may arise where the Radio Link Timeout
decreases rapidly (since SACCH Frames are not AMR Coded) but the speech might still be good
enough to continue the call.
AMR• TheEffect on Busy Hour Congestion
use of AMRHR can increase the Network Utilization since at low C/I
conditions, Half Rate can be employed. The same network without AMR shall
offer lesser traffic due to effect of interference. Therefore Busy Hour congestion
can be minimized with the use of AMRHR.
Technical Behavior
• EFR calls get of
very bad speech quality AMR
at C/I ~7dB vs. EFR
• AMR calls get very bad speech quality at C/I ~2 dB
• EFR and AMR calls drop due to signaling at C/I ~4 dB
• Exactly the same signaling channel (SACCH), AMR has effect on TCH only
• Call drops occur when signaling channel is too disturbed
• same for EFR and AMR
AMR Impact on Subscriber Behavior

• Subscribers experience better speech quality with AMR FR and hold on to the call
until it drops due to bad SAACH performance instead of initiating a disconnection
themselves.
• For this reason, the parameters RLINKTAFR,RLINKTAHR, RLINKUPAFR, RLINKUPAHR
has to be set to a higher value than RLINKT, RLINKUP to give a robust SACCH due
to the longer holding time.
AMR Effect on Handovers/Power Control
• RXLEV and Power Budget HO parameters identical for AMR and EFR
• There are no separate settings for AMR for Handovers in terms of RxLev. Therefore, RxLev and
PBGT based HOs, POC shall take place in identical manner for AMR and non AMR calls.
• Separate thresholds are available for BQ urgency conditions and Intra-Cell handovers.
• Separate power control settings for AMR
• Power Control thresholds can be set separately for AMR.