Cellular Planning Principles

2006, Telenor Pakistan Central Region Lahore Prepared by Montri Thanaphakawat

Outline
1.Introduction to Mobile Communications 2. Cellular Planning Principles 3. The Mobile Radio Link 4. Network Planning Process

Introduction to Mobile Communications

Technologies (analog)
First generation first public mobile radio in Scandinavia(1974) mamually switched, radio-phones in vehicle Second generation NMT 450, NMT 900 AMPS TACS, E-TACS Trunked radio "walkie-talkie" (military origin) "open channel" (police, fire brigades, taxi..) MPT 1327 : quasi-standard (UK)

Technologies (digital)
"2nd generation" GSM900 (more than 100 countries now) GSM1800 (Europe,Asia; formerly know as "DSC1800") GSM1900 (USA; formerly: "PCN") Trunked radio EDACS (Erisson) ASTRO (Motorola) Digicom7 (Alcatel) TETRA (ETSI-Standard) Cordless DECT (ETSI-Standard)

Why digital
Analog Digital

Digital signals can be reconstructed packetised compressed stored

identically reproduced encryted

Cellular Planning Principles

Scope of NW Planning
Customer requirements External information sources
terrain & morphological data population data bandwidth available frequency co-ordination constraints

subscriber forecasts coverage requirement quality of service recommended sites

Network NetworkPlanning Planning

data dataacquisition acquisition sites survey sites surveyand andselection selection field measurement field measurementevaluation evaluation NW design and analysis NW design and analysis transmission transmissionplanning planning

Network design
number and configuration of BS antenna systems specification BSS topology dimensioning of transmission line frequency plan network evolution strategy

Network performance
grade of service (blocking) outage calculations interference probabilities quality observation

Cellular Planning Principle

Initial Initial NW NW dimensioning dimensioning Transmission Transmission Coverage Coverage plan plan plan plan Freq.&interFreq.&interference ference plan plan

marketing

Business plan Traffic assumptions Parameter Parameter plan plan Final Final NW NW topology topology

Key Dimensioning Quantities

Dimensioning quantities for radio network:

number of BTS needed for coverage reasons number of BTS needed for traffic reasons outage probabilities/percentages interference probability vs. Frequency Re-use Rate bandwidth used

Coverage Planning
traffic,subs,forecast, coverage,requirement...

External inputs:

Suggestions for
TRX's,cells,sites bandwidth needed Nwtopology site locations cell parameters coverage achieved

Initial NW dimensioning

Coverage prediction
Go to frequency planning Create cell data for BSC CELLPLAN Planning criteria fulfilled? Filed measurements Site accepted? signal strength multipath propagation

Coverage ok?

Frequency Planning
Aim: find solution with minimum interferences in total NW Traditional approach hexagonal cell patterns "regular grid" "cluster sizes" "frequency re-use distance" NW planning tools (NPS\X, ASSET, PlaNet) digital maps site information interference analysis interference prediction

Macro Cell Network

Cost-effective solution Good for covering large areas large cell ranges high antenna positions Cell ranges 220km (depends on geography) Good with low traffic volumes typically rural areas road coverage Commonly used with omnidirectional antennas

Optimize Optimize for for coverage coverage

Small Cell Network

Capacity oriented network additional capacity by multiple cell coverage Good for areas with high traffic Mostly used with sectored cells most cost-efficient solution best usage of available cell sites Typical applications medium towns suburbs Typical cell ranges: 0.5..2km

Optimize Optimize for for capacity capacity

Cell Size Evolution

Large Cells 2 .. 30 km late 80s

Small Cells 1.. 5 km early 90s

Microcells 100m.. 1 km mid 90s

Indoor cells 10m .. 100 m late 90s

Macro cells

Layered network

Increasing NW capacity calls for smaller cells but : increasing effort to maintain sites

Traffic Planning
Estimation of traffic expected Number of subscribers in area? Traffic load per subscriber? Geographical area to cover? Traffic per sq.km traffic per cell number of TRX needed per BS allow extra capacity for roamers and busy hour traffic

"Bottle-neck" "Bottle-neck" of of the the system system shall shall not not be be in in transmission transmission lines lines

Overview of Capacity Enhancement Methods

Capacity
traffic traffic channels carriers sites = site area channel carrier area
carriers bandw idth carriers total no. carriers = = bandw idth site cluster size cluster size

traffic traffic channels carriers 1 sites = bandw idth area channel carrier bandw idth cluster size area
Average channel utilization TDMA slots per carrier Channel spacing Frequency reuse Spectrum for operator Base Station density

Traffic Theory
Traffic A process of events related to demands for the utilization of resources in a telecommunication network. Erlang The unit of traffic One Erlang traffic means continously holding time on a circuit for specific time.
No.1 No. 2 9.00 9.30
10.00

1 hour

Circuit and Packet Switched Systems

Circuit switched systems
-restricted by acceptable blocking rates -mainly use Erlang B to calculate -Erlang B assumptions are: *amount of subscr. (independent traffic sources) is very large which means a constant flow of required connections *busy-time is exponential distributed
circuit switched channel

Packet switched systems

-restricted by acceptable packet delay -mainly use Erlang C to calculate -Erlang C assumptions are additionally: *amount of queuing states are not limited *First-In, First-out-principle

packet switched channel

Circuit Switched System

Blocking System Probability that a call will be lost due to congestion Erlang-B formula Example: Speech channels on GSM

Traffic offered

GOS,B

Traffic carried

Traffic lost Traffic carried = Traffic offered - Traffic lost

Erlang-B formula
Blocking systems users experiencing blocked calls are not willing to wait and give up the call attempt immediately.

B: Blocking rate A: Traffic demand N: No. of circuits

Often use lookup table

Traffic Theory
Erlang-B formula Applications:

No. of circuits N (TCH, SDCCH, TRX per cell, BTS ) needed to support a traffic offered, given a maximum blocking rate B? No. of subscribers that can be supported by network with N circuits, given maximum blocking rate B? Mean blocking rate B for a given traffic load and configuration

Erlang B Table
N
1%
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 0.01 0.15 0.46 0.87 1.36 1.91 2.50 3.13 3.78 4.46 5.16 5.88 6.61 7.35 8.11 8.88 9.65 10.44 11.23 12.03

Erlangs Blocking rate

2%
0.02 0.22 0.60 1.09 1.66 2.28 2.94 3.63 4.34 5.08 5.84 6.61 7.40 8.20 9.01 9.83 10.66 11.49 12.33 13.18

N
5%
0.05 0.38 0.90 1.52 2.22 2.96 3.74 4.54 5.37 6.22 7.08 7.95 8.83 9.73 10.63 11.54 12.46 13.38 14.31 15.25
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

Erlangs Blocking rate

1%
12.84 13.65 14.47 15.30 16.13 16.96 17.80 18.64 19.49 20.34 21.20 22.10 22.90 23.80 24.60 25.50 26.40 27.30 28.10 29.00

3%
0.03 0.28 0.72 1.26 1.88 2.54 3.25 3.99 4.75 5.53 6.33 7.14 7.97 8.80 9.65 10.51 11.37 12.24 13.11 14.00

2%
14.04 14.90 15.76 16.63 17.50 18.38 19.26 20.15 21.04 21.93 22.80 23.70 24.60 25.50 26.40 27.30 28.30 29.20 30.10 31.00

3%
14.89 15.78 16.68 17.58 18.48 19.39 20.30 21.22 22.14 23.06 23.99 24.91 25.84 26.77 27.71 28.64 29.58 30.51 31.45 32.39

5%
16.19 17.13 18.08 19.03 19.99 20.94 21.90 22.87 23.83 24.80 25.77 26.75 27.72 28.70 29.68 30.66 31.64 32.63 33.61 34.60

Theory of Wave Propagation

Mobile Communications
What is special about Mobile communications? Multi-path propagation

radio path is a miserable propagation medium transmitting power of mobiles determines service ranges battery life-time sets upper limit for data rates (Shannon's theorem) additional effort needed for channel coding frequencies need to be re-used

Limited transmit energy

Limited spectrum

Many mobile users

Radio Channel
Propagation phenomena
multipath Reflection Reflection

Refraction

atmospheric ht > 90m d > 23 km

Scattering Diffraction Reflection near mobile short term fading

signal bends around obstacles

Fading
Long term fading due to shadowing (e.g. building obstructing signal) log-normal distribution local mean value Short term fading due to scatterers nearby Rayleigh distribution (if no direct path) Rician distribution (direct + reflected components)
Variations due to shadowing Local mean

Received Level

Variations due to Rayleigh fading

distance

Glo bal mean

Long Term Fading

Caused by shadowing buildings, trees etc. Distribution has been determined from measurements log-normal distribution
( x m )2 1 p( xdB ) = exp 2 2 2

m = mean value = median value = local mean

= standard deviation
Shadowing

determined by , Typical values Urban: 7 dB Suburban: 6 dB Rural: 5 dB

Short Term Fading

Received signal is a combination of several reflected components - multipath components each multipath wave has different phase combination of signal components in phase strengthening of composite signal combination of signal components out of phase weakening of composite signal

if mobile and surroundings are stationary + signal strength constant = if mobile or surroundings move signal strength varies the radius of the region in which active scatterers affecting received signal can be found is roughly 100 wavelengths

worst case: zero

Free Space Path Loss

Free Space Path Loss
L0=32.4+20*log(f[MHz])+20*log(d[km]) L0=91.72+20 *log(d[km]) for f=925MHz

Near the base station antenna Line of Sight (LOS) conditions can be expected near free space path loss conditions Remote hill with LOS and no reflections or over water near free space conditions

Mixed Path Loss

Path loss
Open area Urban area Forest area

Signal level

Open area curve

Actual signal level

Urban curve

The Mobile Radio Link

Land Usage Types

Urban Forest Open, farmlands Water Mountain face Hilltops small cells, high attenuation heavy absorption easy, smooth propagation condition signal propagation very easy, dangerous! strong reflection, long echoes can be used as barrier between cells do NOT use as antenna sites locations

Propagation Models
Okumura-Hata empirical model measured and estimated additional attenuation estimations for larger distances (range: 5..20 km) don't use for small distances ( <1km) Walfish-Ikegami for urban microcellular propagation assumes regular city layout ("Manhattan grid") total path loss consists of three part

line-of -sight, roof-of-street and mobile environment

COST231 Outdoor to Indoor Model Valid for when the mobile is inside the building and the BS is outdoors-with line-of-sight from base station to outer wall.

Okumura-Hata
The general equation of a statistical prediction model interpreted as a transformed Hata model, is the following:
PRX = PTX + K1 + K2log(d) + K3log(Heff) + K4D + K5log(Heff)log(d) + K6log(Heffm) + Kclutter
where : PRX PTX K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 Kclutter d Heff Heffm D = measured receiving power (dBm) = transmitting power EIRP (dBm) = constant offset, comprehensive of the term log(frequency) (dB) = multiplying factor for log(d); slope = multiplying factor for log(Heff), compensates for gain due to antenna height = multiplying factor for diffraction calculation = Okumura-Hata type of multiplying factor for log(Heff)log(d) = Correction factor for the effective mobile antenna height gain = clutter correction factor (dB) = Tx Rx distance (m) = test site antenna effective height (m) = test mobile effective height (m) = diffraction loss (dB)

Antenna Types
Omnidirectional antenna same radiation patterns in all directions useful in flat rural areas Low Antenna gain Directional antenna concentrate main energy into certain direction large communication range use in cities, urban area, sectored sites High Antenna gain

Antenna Characteristics
Antenna gain

the measure for the antenna's capability to transmit/ extract energy to/ from the propagation medium (air)

dB over isotropic antenna (dBi) dB over Hertz dipole (dBd)

Antenna gain depends on mechanical size: A effective antenna aperture area :W frequency band Antenna gain: G= 4Aw/

Antenna Characteristic
Lobes main lobes side/back lobes front-to-back ratio Halfpower beam-width Antenna downtilting Polarization Antenna bandwidth Antenna impedance Mechanical size Windload

Coupling Between Antennas

Horizontal separation needs approx. 5

antenna patterns

distance for sufficient decoupling

superimposed if distance too close

Vertical separation distance of 1 provides good decoupling values good for RX/TX decoupling

Antenna Cables
Cable types coaxial cables: 1/2", 7/8", 1 5/8" losses approx. 10..4 dB/100m power dissipation is exponential with cable length Connector losses approx. 1 dB per connection (jumper cable etc..) Think antenna cables lower losses per length large bending radii much more expensive
Keep Keepantenna antennacables cablesshort short

Radiation Pattern
Horizontal and vertical patterns are specified for antennas. Down (positive) and Up (negative) tilting of antenna is possible if the vertical pattern is specified.

Horizontal Pattern (Top View)

Vertical Pattern (Side View)

Diversity Techniques
Time diversity Frequency diversity Space diversity Polarization diversity Multipath diversity Coding, interleaving frequency hopping multiple antennas crosspolarised antennas equalizer

Advantage of Diversity
Equivalent to 5 dB more signal strength More path loss acceptable in radio link budget Higher coverage range

Diversity Diversitygain gaindepends dependson onenvironment environment

Interference Reduction Methods

Frequency allocation

Frequency planning (menul or Frequency Planning Tool) proper site location choice according to environment proper site height wall mounted downtilting

Proper choice of site location

Antenna installation planning

Frequency hopping

interference averaging evaluate signal level and quality silent transmitter in speech pauses

Power control

DTX

Link Budget
Two-way communication needed other than radio or TV-stations link usually limited by mobile power Fieldstrength is reciprocal: downlink = uplink

Link Linkbudget budgetmust mustbe bebalanced balanced

Link Plan
+50
ss ut r lo p e t in ou mb o TX ss C n lo o i t c ss nne o c e lo l , r b e ca Filt na n e t An

+40

Diversity gain Antenna gain

+30

+20

Maximum allowable path loss ~145.. 150 dB

Maximize allowable path loss to obtain greatest service range

-80

-90 Coverage margin -100 Cable & connector loss Fast fading margin RX sensitivity

-110

Link Budget calculation

General information Frequency (MHz) Receiving end

System: 1800
dBm dB dB dBi dB dBm dBuV/m -106 3.00 4.00 15.00 4.00 -118.00 24.00

Setstarting startingparameter parameterhere here Set

RX RF-input sensitivity Fast fading margin Cable loss + connector Rx antenna gain Diversity gain Isotropic power Field strength

BS

-100 3.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -97.00 45.00

MS

A B C D E F=A+B+C-D-E G=F+Z
Z=77.2+20log(freq)

Transmitting end

TX RF output peak power (mean power over RF cycle) Isolator + combiner + filter RF-peak power, combiner output Cable loss + connector TX-antenna gain Peak EIRP (EIRP= ERP + 2Db) Isotropic path loss

W dBm dB dBm dB dBi W dBm dB

1.00 30.00 0.00 30.00 0.00 0.00 1.00 30.00 148.00

MS

25.00 44.00 4.00 40.00 4.00 15.00 125.00 51.00 148.00

BS

K L M=K-L N O
P=M-N+O

Q=P-F

Path Pathloss lossshall shallbe bebalanced balanced

Power Budget: Downlink

36 dBm Antenna Gain = 16 52 dBm path loss = 154 dB Feeder Loss = 3 dB - 102 dBm 39 dBm combiner loss = 4 dB Tx Power 43 dBm (20W) Rx Sensitivity - 102 dBm

WLL subscribers

Antenna Gain = 16 Diversity - 101 dBm Gain = 4

Power Budget: Uplink

- 121 dBm Feeder Loss = 3 dB path loss = 154 dB

33 dBm - 104 dBm Rx Sensitivity -104 dB

WLL subscribers

Tx Power 33 dBm (2W)

Cell Sizes
Achievable cell sizes depend on

frequency band used (450, 900, 1800 MHz) surroundings, environment link budget figures antenna types antenna positioning minimum required signal levels

Site Selection Criteria

Good view in main beam direction No surrounding high obstacles Good visibility of terrain Room for antenna mounting Short cabling distance No near high-power electric cables LOS to next microwave site Power supply Room for equipment Availability of leased lines or microwave link

Radio criteria

Non-radio criteria

Site information
Questionnaire sheet collect all necessary information about site details

site coordinates, height above ground level, exact address house owner type of building building materials (photo) possible antenna heights 360deg photo (clearance view) neighborhood, surrounding environment drawing sketch of rooftop antenna mounting conditions access possibilities BS location, approx. feeder lengths

Indoor Coverage Solutions

Outdoor BTS near important building(s) Combined indoor / outdoor site Indoor Repeater Micro BTS Coaxial antenna feeder network Fibre optical antenna feeder network Pico BTS Leaky cable

Outdoor BTS Near Important Building(s)

BTS

Direct one antenna to the building(s) Traffic shared between indoor and outdoor No dedicated traffic for the building Difficult to cover top floors in urban areas

Combined Indoor / Outdoor Site

1

sector dedicated

Various solutions for indoor coverage possible (as described below)

for indoor coverage

Other sectors for outdoor coverage

BT S

Distributed indoor antennas

Indoor Repeater

Easy installation No transmission Cost effective No extra traffic offered

May be used as a temporary solution

Amplified signals

BT S

Micro BTS

Small and non-intrusive Transmission required Extra traffic offered Traffic limited to small areas (limited trunking gain)

BTS

BTS

BTS

Coaxial Feeder Network

Better dynamic capacity Reduce no. of BTSs Low cost Limited feeder lengths

Bidir. Ampl.

BTS

BTS

BTS BTS

Antenna system

BTS
Antenna system

Cascaded BTSs

Single BTS

Optical Fibre Repeater

Good dynamic capacity Reduce no. of BTSs Long feeders possible Relatively expensive
Antenna Antenna Antenna Antenna Fibre-optic repeater Fibre-optic repeater Antenna

Antenna Antenna Antenna Base Station Fibre Optic Master Unit Antenna Antenna 2way Fibre-optic repeater splitter Fibre-optic repeater

May be used with a normal repeater

Leaky Cable

Alternative to distributed antennas Often used for tunnels (e.g. railways) Can be used for some indoor applications (e.g.elevator shafts) Normally too expensive

BTS

END
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QUESTION