Nokia Networks

WCDMA Frequency Refarming:

A leap towards ubiquitous
mobile broadband coverage

Nokia Networks white paper

WCDMA Frequency Refarming

Contents
Executive summary

Why WCDMA in the 900 MHz band?

Mastering the technical challenges of WCDMA

frequency refarming

Nokia Networks frequency refarming solution

13

Abbreviations

15

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Executive summary
Spectrum is arguably the scarcest and most valuable of all the
resources needed for mobile communications. To meet the
demand created by smart devices, machine-to-machine (M2M)
communications and the ongoing boom in mobile broadband
everywhere, most operators will need to place a high priority on
making the most effective use of their finite spectrum holdings.
One increasingly popular way to deliver broadband services over
sparsely populated areas and indoors is through refarming GSM
900/1800, GSM 850/1900 and CDMA in 850/1900 MHz frequency
bands to WCDMA.

Better performance indoors and outdoors

Operators wishing to introduce WCDMA to their GSM, CDMA, or
TDMA bands can now refarm part or all of their frequencies and roll
out 3G at remarkably low cost. Lower frequencies transmit over
greater distances and penetrate better indoors. This means fewer
sites covering greater areas, saving considerable rollout and operating
costs as operators seek to bring bona fide broadband to rural areas
and improved data rates to metropolitan indoor locations.

Maximizing returns on legacy assets and resources

Many markets have already successfully refarmed 900 MHz for UMTS;
others are poised to follow suit. Nokia Networks is the worlds most
experienced vendor in WCDMA network refarming, with 76 WCDMA
refarming customers, including three customers refarming with Dual
Cell. Working with several operators, Nokia Networks launched the
industrys first refarmed WCDMA networks as long ago as 2007 and the
worlds first commercial refarmed Dual Cell 900 network in 2013. Nokia
Networks has developed a cost- and energy-efficient solution that
enables operators to adapt and adopt at their own pace. Leveraging
unique hardware and software features, this solution helps operators
migrate their networks to WCDMA, smoothly and seamlessly. To this
end, the company re-uses legacy assets and resources better than
any other vendors offering. All this, as well as Nokia Networks end-toend offering of radio access equipment, functionalities, management
systems and professional services, make the transition simple and the
overall solution far less complex. At the same time, Nokia Networks
products allow for hardware re-use if, as a next step, a frequency band
is refarmed to LTE.
For reasons of simplicity and clarity, the rest of this paper
discusses 900 MHz refarming. All the statements apply equally
to 850 MHz refarming.

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Why WCDMA in the 900 MHz band?

Operators have many compelling reasons to deploy WCDMA in the
900 MHz band. Once the obstacle of regulations had been removed,
refarming of UMTS 900 soon followed, and to date UMTS 850 and 900
have been deployed in around 60 countries around the world. Drivers
are the promise of ubiquitous mobile broadband and the decrease in
the amount of GSM traffic. The 900 MHz band will see an increasing
amount of LTE refarming in the future. However, in many countries, the
penetration of 3G devices will be higher than LTE, and from the lower
bands typically 800 MHz is the first band on which LTE is being deployed.
Adding the ability to re-use hardware in a later phase with LTE, as will be
explained in another section of this paper, it makes sense to refarm to 3G
first in the 900 MHz band and only then transition to LTE.

The physical advantage

The physics of radio wave propagation help to explain one of the great
advantages of WCDMA 900 the lower the carrier frequency, the further
radio signals can travel. This means it takes fewer radio cells to cover
the same area, making WCDMA 900 the perfect solution for extending
mobile network coverage (see Figure 1).
Whats more, a radio signal traveling through the walls of a building at a
lower carrier frequency is less susceptible to penetration loss. With the
benefit of this property, WCDMA 900 can extend indoor coverage and
improve Quality of Experience in metro areas. Perhaps most important
to operators, it can do all this at remarkably low cost and with compelling
efficiency. Measurements and experiences with a multitude of commercial
WCDMA 900 networks have demonstrated these advantages in practice.

How to maintain GSM customers?

One of the essential demands of operators is to ensure that services
to existing GSM customers are maintained during and after refarming.
This means that the existing GSM traffic needs to be squeezed into a
smaller spectrum while maintaining the existing capacity and network
WCDMA 900
WCDMA 2100

Scenario 1: Rural 3G
coverage extension

Scenario 2: Urban 3G
coverage improvement

Scenario 3: Initial 3G rollout

Figure 1: Coverage-driven application scenarios for WCDMA 900

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quality. Based on Nokia Networks experience with 76 WCDMA refarming

customers, this requirement can be met successfully with the companys
advanced GSM and WCDMA software solutions. These solutions are
explained in detail later.

WCDMA 900 vs. WCDMA 2100

Operators can deliver high-revenue services profitably by running HSPA
in the 900 MHz band. Savings come built-in, as WCDMA 900 requires
65% fewer sites than WCDMA in the 2100 MHz band. The total cost of
ownership (TCO) for WCDMA in a rural environment is lower at 900 MHz
as much as 60% lower factored over five years. Better radio propagation
properties at 900 MHz translate to better services, delivered faster to
more users.
Even inside buildings, users in a typical suburban environment can enjoy
mobile broadband service when HSPA 900 is deployed at GSM 900 base
station sites.
See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 for the coverage benefits provided by
WCDMA 900.
WCDMA 2100 2 Mbps
WCDMA 2100 Voice
GSM 1800 Voice
GSM 900 Voice

2 Mbps data service

on GSM voice grid

WCDMA 900 2 Mbps

WCDMA 900 Voice
0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0
14.0
Cell area [km2]

Figure 2: A comparison of GSM and WCDMA coverage at different frequencies. Shows a

cell area in a typical suburban environment with service (voice and 2 Mbps data using Dual
Cell) available inside a building. WCDMA 900 provides on average 2 Mbps coverage using
the GSM site grid.

Fast facts
Why should we use WCDMA in the 900 MHz band? The simple answer
is because it offers:
Cells that are 2.8 times larger and therefore enable easier rollout
and better coverage
TCO reduced to 60% compared with 2100 MHz networks
Cost-efficient 3G coverage of large areas, with 65% fewer sites
compared with WCDMA in the 2100 MHz band
Improved data rates and coverage indoors
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Average HSPA data rate

6000

kbps
HSPA 900
HSPA 2100

5000
4000
3000

+60%

2000
1000

+130%

Outdoor

Indoor, -10 dB
penetration loss

Indoor, -20 dB
penetration loss

Figure 3: Indoor penetration of HSPA at 2100 MHz and 900 MHz. The
higher the penetration loss caused by the buildings walls, the greater
HSPA 900s performance gains compared with HSPA 2100. (This refers
to HSPA single carrier data rates.)

The evolutionary path of WCDMA 900

Like WCDMA 2100, WCDMA 900 is evolving to higher data speeds
and increased efficiency. 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project)
Release 8 has brought downlink data rates up to 43 Mbps and uplink
data rates up to 11 Mbps, which can be seen in the field today. Further
3GPP releases, as shown in Figure 4, bring many more improvements,
like up to eight carriers in the downlink and four in the uplink, 4x4
MIMO in the downlink as well as uplink MIMO and uplink beamforming.

3GPP R7
12/2007

3GPP R8
03/2009

3GPP R9
03/2010

3GPP R10
06/2011

3GPP R11
12/2012

3GPP R12
06/2014

DC-HSDPA +
MIMO
Dual cell HSUPA
Dual-band HSDPA
Transmit diversity
for non-MIMO
terminals

4-carrier HSDPA
Minimization of
drive testing
Automatic
neighbor lists
Inter-frequency
detected set

Content
under study
HetNet
Enhanced HSUPA
Enhanced DCH for
CS voice
Scalable BW UMTS
Wi-Fi interworking

64QAM HSDPA
2x2 MIMO
16QAM HSUPA
CPC
L2 optimization
High speed FACH
Flat architecture

Dual Cell HSDPA

CS voice over HSPA
High speed RACH
Fast HSDPA cell
change
LTE interworking

Long Term HSPA Evolution

HSPA+
x Mbps
x Mbps

Downlink peak rate / DL peak rate feature

Uplink peak rate / UL peak rate feature

28 Mbps

42 Mbps

11 Mbps

11 Mbps

HSDPA Multiow
8-carrier HSDPA
4x4 MIMO
Uplink
beamforming
Uplink MIMO
64QAM HSUPA
Further enhanced
FACH

168 Mbps
84 Mbps

23 Mbps

23 Mbps

336 Mbps

336 Mbps

35 Mbps

35 Mbps
No peak rate
increases in
Release 12

Figure 4: Main features of HSPA releases, specified in 3GPP

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North America
700, 850* and 1900 MHz
1.7/2.1 GHz
EMEA
2100 MHz
850*, 900* and 1800 MHz
2.6 GHz
APAC
2100 MHz
850*, 900*, 1800
and 1900 MHz

Latin America
2100 MHz
850*, 900*, 1800
and 1900 MHz
1.7/2.1 GHz

Operating
band

Operating
3GPP
band
Release

Band
name

Band I

Rel.
Band99I

2100 MHz

Band II

Rel.
5 II
Band

Band III

Total
spectrum

Uplink
[MHz]

Downlink
[MHz]

2x60 MHz

1920-1980

2110-2170

1900 MHz

2x60 MHz

1850-1910

1930-1990

Rel.
5 III
Band

1800 MHz

2x75 MHz

1710-1785

1805-1880

Band V

Rel.
6V
Band

850 MHz

2x25 MHz

824-849

869-894

Band VIII

Rel.
7 VIII
Band

900 MHz

2x35 MHz

880-915

925-960

Main 3GPP bands for refarming

* Near-term WCDMA refarming potential

Figure 5: The main WCDMA frequency bands and near-term refarming potential
To improve performance for users at the cell edge, Release 11
introduces Multiflow. Currently 3GPP is focusing on Release 12,
where the focus is not on peak data rates, but rather on making the
system more efficient. For more information on these improvements,
see the white paper Taking HSPA to the next level with Release 12
and beyond.

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Mastering the technical challenges of

WCDMA frequency refarming
Operators seeking to capitalize on the potential of WCDMA 900
refarming must protect legacy business interests, sustain current
operations and find a way to contain rollout costs.
In other words, operators aiming to refarm frequencies must resolve
three major issues:
Minimize the impact of WCDMA frequency allocation on their GSM
business
Sustain business with users who have GSM-only phones
Cut operational expenditures associated with the added WCDMA
900 radio access layer

Making the most of narrowly defined spectrum

The 900 MHz band, denoted as Band Class VIII, is defined as the paired
bands from 880 to 915 MHz in the uplink direction, and from 925 to
960 MHz in the downlink. This means the overall bandwidth potential
comes down to just two times 35 MHz, compared with two times
60 MHz in the UMTS core band (Band I) at 2100 MHz. Operators are
compelled to share this spectrum. What is more, it must also support
continued GSM/EDGE operation, as M2M contracts and GSM-only phone
traffic need to be served, although overall GSM traffic decreases.

A clear action plan

Operators looking to extend their 3G networks reach by means of
WCDMA 900 need a clear action plan that helps them rise to the
three key challenges of refarming. As the supplier of the worlds
first commercial WCDMA 900 network and current market leader in
WCDMA 900 refarming, Nokia Networks has a proven end-to-end
solution engineered specifically to tackle these challenges. This
solution combines unique radio access equipment and features
supported by OSS and professional services to introduce WCDMA 900
smoothly.

to tackle three big challenges

Lets have a closer look at these three challenges and Nokia Networks
approach to tackling each of them.

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1.Minimize the impact of WCDMA frequency allocation

on GSM business
3GPP calls for a carrier spacing of 5.4 MHz between WCDMA and
GSM carriers. 3GPPs assumption is based on the performance of
typical radio frequency (RF) filters in base stations and on a worst
case power level scenario in adjacent carriers. 3GPPs recommended
carrier spacing poses a challenge for a 2G/3G operator wishing to
introduce WCDMA 900. The answer is, of course, to save bandwidth
by condensing carrier spacing. Our Configurable Carrier Bandwidth
technology allows operators to use software to configure WCDMA
bandwidth in 3.8 MHz or 4.2 MHz.
When refarming to WCDMA, this flexibility allows operators to keep
more spectrum in GSM to maintain service to GSM customers. In fact,
the 3.8 MHz WCDMA bandwidth allows many operators with restricted
GSM frequency allocation to start providing WCDMA services while
continuing to deliver GSM services.
Configurable carrier bandwidth allows operators to deploy Dual Cell
HSPA+ refarming services in 7.6 MHz (2 x 3.8 MHz) of bandwidth,
which is substantially less than the 10 MHz conventionally needed
by networks for two-carrier solutions. Such industry-leading spectral
efficiency allows many operators to offer Dual Cell HSPA+ for the first
time while still continuing to provide GSM services.
In addition, coverage-based handovers enable continuous service
provisioning, ensuring potential discontinuities in cell coverage go
unnoticed by subscribers. With Nokia Networks service- and loadbased intersystem handovers, the operator can strike an optimum
balance of the system load between GSM and WCDMA networks.

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2.Sustain business with users who have GSM-only

phones, serve M2M traffic
Using GSM spectrum more efficiently is another way of mitigating
the impact of WCDMA 900 refarming on GSM operations and making
the most of the remaining GSM carriers capacity. Frequency hopping
techniques, dynamic power control and discontinuous transmission
are three well-known methods of boosting GSM spectral efficiency.
Other advanced methods to further increase GSM spectral efficiency
include:
Orthogonal Sub Channel (OSC) can provide up to double the
number of radio channels for circuit switched voice traffic. With
OSC, fewer GSM hardware radio timeslot resources are needed for
voice and data services. This also helps to reduce data services
congestion as the average data throughput can be up to 30%
higher, based on live network measurements.
Smart Resource Adaptation (SRA) allocates downlink radio timeslot
resources as needed. In conventional networks, radio resources are
allocated by mobile device multi-slot class. Today, however, most
transferred packets are small, meaning that multi-slot allocation
is inefficient, as one user may reserve five resources. With SRA,
shallow packet inspection (SPI) is used to allocate only one timeslot
for small packets, allowing for up to five times more users, or fewer
radio resources to be used.
Precise paging a network will page all cells to alert the base station
for incoming voice, data calls and text messages. Conventionally,
common control signaling channels are added if there are enough
frequencies. However, the Precise Paging feature will page only
the cell where the base station was last known, as well as adjacent
cells. As well as increasing paging capacity by up to 70% in both Air
and Abis interfaces, paging success is raised for a better perceived
quality for the subscriber.

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 Dynamic Frequency and Channel Allocation doubles base station

site traffic capacity using a powerful base station controller (BSC)
algorithm that optimizes the call quality in radio channel allocation
for every new call and incoming handover. Dynamic allocation
allows a more comprehensive re-use of GSM channels, helping
operators to add more hardware capacity per MHz. This enables
GSM implementation in less spectrum, or more traffic to run within
the existing spectrum.
Flexible MCPA transmission power pooling conventionally, Multi
Carrier Power Amplifier (MCPA) power is shared equally between
carriers. This GSM Software Suite feature allows output power to be
shared dynamically between GSM carriers. This cuts the RF power
needed for GSM, reducing energy consumption and providing more
power for 3G HSPA/LTE.
Energy Efficient Coverage (EEC) similar in operation to Multiple
Input Multiple Output (MIMO) in LTE networks, EEC can up to double
the amount of traffic carried at the cell level using existing GSM
spectrum. It can also achieve the same GSM performance using
less spectrum, thus freeing up more spectrum and transmitter
power for frequency refarming. In addition, the feature can improve
coverage by typically 4 dB.
Smart Dual Beam (SDB) intelligently builds 3-sector GSM sites to
enable operators to benefit either from 50% more GSM capacity in
their existing spectrum and base station sites, or by refarming 20%
spectrum for HSPA/LTE deployments.

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3.Cut operational expenditure associated with the

added WCDMA 900 radio access layer
Introducing another radio access layer adds to the operational
effort. This extra effort may be minimized by making intelligent use
of synergies at all levels. Site overhead, mainly driven by site rental,
energy and transmission costs, is another major expense. Compact,
energy-saving WCDMA 900 base stations that can use legacy site
hardware such as antennas and accessories can augment existing
GSM sites without significantly adding to the costs. A common
backhaul architecture and infrastructure for GSM and WCDMA can
reduce transmission costs. Nokia Networks multicontroller platform
allows for step-by-step refarming with the possibility of re-using
hardware module between GSM/EDGE and WCDMA controllers.

Multicontroller platform Evolution from BSC to RNC

Upward trend of
WCDMA capacity
requirements

RNC mode
modules

BSC mode
modules

Hardware module
re-use for higher
WCDMA capacity

Downward trend of
GSM/EDGE capacity
requirements

RNC mode
modules

BSC mode
modules

Module re-use between GSM/EDGE and WCDMA

Figure 6: Ultimate hardware module re-use between GSM/EDGE and WCDMA controllers
Planning a network and setting parameters are big cost factors at the
start of a project. Later, assurance and optimization processes become
part of the operating equation and drive network management costs
accordingly. An integrated planning and operations solution, automated
and proven many times over, speeds up the initial phase, prevents
errors and slashes start-up costs. A common Operations Support
System (OSS) solution for GSM and WCDMA in all bands reduces
operational costs because shared procedures translate to less training
effort, better resource utilization, fewer errors and greater efficiency.

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Nokia Networks frequency refarming

solution
Nokia Networks sees WCDMA 900 as the perfect platform for bringing
the mobile broadband experience to users in rural areas. The lower
frequency offers the fringe benefit of closing suburban and urban
mobile broadband coverage gaps, especially within buildings. This is a
side-effect that both operators and metro users alike will value.
Because the company believes so strongly in the merits of frequency
refarming, it has developed network planning services and powerful
tools for analyzing traffic and legacy networks design as well as the
multicontroller platform for stepwise refarming. Armed with these
insights, Nokia Networks engineers tailor the best refarming solution
for a given scenario, selecting the appropriate WCDMA spectrum
allocation and spectral efficiency features to satisfy the operators
needs. This solution approach allows the WCDMA bandwidth to be
reduced from 5.4 MHz to 3.8 MHz and serves to increase GSM spectral
efficiency.
Compact, modular, and engineered to consume less power, the
Flexi Base Station enables effective site acquisition and re-use. Flexi
Multiradio 10 Base Station is the latest generation of the marketleading Flexi Multiradio Base Station family. It is based on a new third
generation system module platform developed to support higher
GSM, HSPA+, LTE and LTE-A capacities and a wider variety of base
station site configurations with a minimum of equipment and lower
power consumption. This ensures that the next step in refarming to
LTE can be performed using the same hardware.
Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Station is the worlds smallest softwaredefined, multi-technology, high-capacity base station. No additional
cabinet or shelter is needed as the base station is perfectly suited for
indoor as well as outdoor use. Thanks to its modular design, operators
can start with small configurations and scale up as markets grow.
Expansions are easy, starting with remote software upgrades, adding
capacity sub-modules and chaining additional modules. A compact
structure combined with a high level of integration also makes Flexi
Multiradio 10 Base Station a benchmark in energy consumption,
creating additional cost savings.
Nokia Networks was the first company to provide radio frequency
sharing, offering this facility since 2008 with Flexi Multiradio Base
Station. Thanks to radio frequency sharing with a simple software
upgrade, the existing base station RF can be used simultaneously for
both GSM and LTE, or GSM and HSPA, depending on the frequency
band. Nokia Networks RF sharing has opened the door to refarming
for many operators, as it is a cost-efficient configuration one less RF
module is needed, while it also offers fast rollout and re-use of assets.
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The refarming to HSPA solution builds on one-pipe backhaul

architecture, enabling operators to scale transport capacity to suit
HSPA services bandwidth demand and migrate traffic smoothly from
GSM to HSPA. The common NetAct OSS for 2G and 3G automates
planning and parameter optimization and harmonizes operational
procedures. The common OSS approach for GSM and WCDMA 900
and 2100 facilitates northbound integration.

Committed to WCDMA frequency refarming

Confident in the validity of WCDMA frequency re-allocation, Nokia
Networks has made a strong commitment to refarming. Many
operators have already refarmed part of their 900 MHz spectrum to
WCDMA. According to GSA, 80 operators have commercially launched
WCDMA 900 MHz in 57 countries. Close to 50% of those are supported
by Nokia Networks.

GSM & WCDMA

functionalities
Base station
site system
OSS tools &
functionalities
Services

Figure 7: The Nokia Networks WCDMA refarming solution leverages

comprehensive 2G/3G optimization to ensure highly efficient WCDMA
and GSM operation in the 900 MHz band

Strong arguments for a strong solution

With its WCDMA frequency refarming solution, Nokia Networks aims to
help operators to provide 3G coverage efficiently by deploying WCDMA
in the 900 MHz band and sharing bandwidth with GSM. This end-toend solution for smooth WCDMA frequency refarming ensures GSM
capacity and service quality remain unchanged, enabling 3G and GSM
to co-exist. Best of all, operators can make the most of legacy assets
and resources while capitalizing on promising new broadband business
opportunities.

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Abbreviations
3GPP
BSC
CDMA
EDGE
EEC
GSA
GSM
HSPA
LTE
M2M
MCPA
MIMO
OSC
OSS
RF
RNC
SDB
SPI
SRA
TCO
TDMA
UMTS
WCDMA

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Third Generation Partnership Project

Base Station Controller
Code Division Multiple Access
Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution
Energy Efficient Coverage
Global mobile Suppliers Association
Global System for Mobile Communications
High Speed Packet Access
Long Term Evolution
Machine-to-machine
Multi Carrier Power Amplifier
Multiple-Input Multiple-Output
Orthogonal Sub Channel
Operational Support System
Radio Frequency
Radio Network Controller
Smart Dual Beam
Shallow Packet Inspection
Smart Resource Adaptation
Total Cost of Ownership
Time Division Multiple Access
Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
Wideband Code Division Multiple Access

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Public
Nokia is a registered trademark of Nokia Corporation. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks or trade names of their
respective owners.
Nokia
Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy
P.O. Box 1
FI-02022
Finland
Visiting address:
Karaportti 3,
ESPOO,
Finland
Switchboard +358 71 400 4000
Product code C401-01020-WP-201407-1-EN
Nokia Solutions and Networks 2014

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