GSM PS Service Optimization

ZTE university
Brief Introduction

I. Main content of PS service optimization

II. Introduction to PS service performance
evaluation
III. Relation between PS service
optimization and CS service
optimization
IV. Main influencing factors of PS service
performance
V. Main methods for improving PS service
KPI
I. Main content of PS service optimization

1. Development of PS service

2. Features of PS service

3. Network structure of PS service

4. Main content of PS service optimization

5. Main flow of PS service optimization

6. KPIs in PS service

7. Recommended risk values of the KPIs

1. Development of PS service
Development of packet switched PS service (PS service) falls into two
phases:
GPRS General Packet Radio service
EDGE Enhanced Data Rate for GSM Evolution

GPRS was first introduced in R97 and was regarded as the extension of
GSM CS system. It is applied to meet the need of accessing to network or
other PS networks.

Because the transmission speed of

GPRS is far not up to the requirement
of 3G network, 3GPP has developed
Enhanced Data Rate for GSM
Evolution EDGE (used in R99 and
subsequent ones) as the evolution
direction towards 3G.
2. Features of PS service
Higher requirement on radio environment
Radio transmission speed of PS service is high, so it has higher demand for
radio environment. This feature is more evident with EDGE.
Greater need of resource
PS service supports single subscriber to occupy more than one channels,
therefore it requires more channel resource than CS service does.
Complex packet transmission mechanism
Cell-reselection influence on PS service
Cell-reselection may cause breakup in PS service, which has obvious impact on
PS service performance.
Greaterinfluence on radio side due to changes of CN and external network
environment
The nature of PS service is to connect MS to network or other networks (WAP)
through GSM network, so problems with CN or external networks may bring
great impact on the radio performance.
3. Network structure of PS service
PCU in BSC
supports PS
BSS
service PSTN
HLR/AUC
Um
R/S

SMS-GMSC
MSC
PCU
SS7 Network
No obvious changes
in network EIR Router R

structure at BSS
side; simply SGSN Server
upgrade of Border
Gateway Data Network
software/hardware GGSN
GPRS (Internet)
Backbone Firewall
Inter-PLMN IP based
network
Firewall Router R

PTM-SC

GPRS Data Network Server

Infrastructure Firewall X.25
CN of PS service
consists of SGSN,
GGSN, which are
connected with
external networks.
4. Main content of PS service optimization
Adjustment of PS network resource
Adjustment of each network elements resource and parameters; adjustment of
resource configuration at interfaces, such as Gb or Gs, etc.
Adjustment of PS radio network
Optimization of radio resource management and radio signal quality;
optimization of coverage and mobile performance in different coding mode
Checking of PS network configuration
Checking of network parameters/ timers/alarms/configuration principles
Analysis of PS network KPIs
Analysis of data transmission speed of GPRS, GPRS data packet
retransmission rate, traffic flow at each interface, statistics of data packet
mistake/loss at each interface, system histeresis, GPRS network attachment
success rate, PDP context activation success rate, WAP access success rate,
success rate of handover between CS and PS, bandwidth utilization rate at
each interface, etc.
PS data test & handling user complaints
5. Main flow of PS service optimization

Network evaluation Data analysis System optimization Verification & fine tuning

It is a Basing on
comprehensive OMCR statistics Adjust related
evaluation of and on-site test parameters Observe
network operation data, make according to
performance and analysis in adjustment plan
improvement of
service quality; details: drawn from data indicators after the
tasks to be fulfilled Analysis of analysis: optimization, make
are: KPIs & Adjustment of
Alarm checking adjustment fine-tuning
Data & suggestions parameters
Optimization of
accordingly to
configuration Location of
checking network radio achieve the best
Network load problems environment situation.
evaluation Analysis of test
On-site tests indicators
6. KPIs in PS service Traffic statistics

KPI Reference KPI

UL/DL TBF establishment PDCH utilization rate

success rate utilization rate of

Retransmission rate different coding modes of

UL/DL TBF signaling RLC data blocks

establishment failure rate Average quantity of TBF

UL/DL TBF data on PDCH

establishment failure rate UL TBF establishment

reject times
6. KPIs in PS service Tests statistics

DT indicators CQT indicators

Coverage rate Attachment success rate

Call drop rate Average attachment time

WAP homepage login success length

rate PDP activation success rate

FTP download/upload speed PDP activation time length

Ping success rate
Ping time length
Average FTP
download/upload speed
7. Recommended values of the KPIs
KPI Meaning Reference value
UL/DL TBF No. of UL/DL TBF establishment success >90% represents that
establishment times / No. of UL/DL TBF establishment the cell is in normal
success rate requests *100% condition;<80%
represents the cell
is a bad cell
Retransmission No. of NACK data blocks received by >10% represents
rate UL/DL TBF / No. of valid data blocks the cell is a bad cell
received by UL/DL TBF *100% (GPRS)
UL/DL TBF No. of abnormal released TBF / No. of >20% represents
signaling UL/DL TBF signaling establishment the cell is a bad cell
establishment success*100%
failure rate
UL/DL TBF No. of abnormal released TBF / No. of >20% represents
data UL/DL TBF data establishment the cell is a bad cell
establishment success*100%
failure rate
7. Reference values of the KPIs
Reference value
Item Indicator
GPRS EDGE
Attach time average (s) 3 3
Attach test
Attach success rate(%) 90.00% 90.00%

PDP activation time (s) 1.5 1.5

PDP activation test
PDP activation success rate(%) 90.00% 90.00%

Average time delay (s) 2 2

Ping test
Success rate 90.00% 90.00%
FTP test File download speed average(KB/S) 2 10

WAP website login success rate 90.00% 90.00%

WAP homepage display time(s) 12 12
WAP webpage refresh success
WAP test 90.00% 90.00%
rate
WAP webpage refresh time(s) 8 8 **coverage rate and call
DT drop rate depend on
WAP picture/ring download
90.00% 90.00% network situation
success rate
Coverage rate 95.00% 92.00%
Call drop rate 3.00% 2.00%
Average application layer
1.5 5
throughput(KB/s)
II. Introduction to PS service performance evaluation

1. Main content of PS service performance

evaluation

2. General cares in setting up service models

3. Setting of related parameters

4. Special features of PS service load evaluation

5. Content of test evaluation

6. Common testing tools of PS service

1.Main content of PS service performance
evaluation
Alarm checking
service modal setup
Ratio of GPRS traffic to EDGE traffic; definition of busy hour
Data configuration checking
Check the correctness and reasonability of data
configuration
Load evaluation
Get to know radio channel resource, Abis interface resource
and load situation of BSC PS processing part (PCU) through
performance reports.
Evaluation of PS/CS assessment criteria
Comparison and evaluation of PS/CS KPIs
On-site tests & evaluation
2. General cares in setting up service modals
Define busy hour of traffic
Normally there are two busy periods: busy hour
of TBF establishment and busy hour of data flow
Assessment of access KPIs is uses the
busy hour statistics of TBF establishment
Adopt operators standards, if they
have specific requirement for
assessment time.
PS service increases rapidly, so data
flow may be doubled or tripled.
Be well familiar with history data, which helps
estimate optimization target in a more precise
way.
Observe trend of traffic volume
Define areas of dense traffic
Distribution of PS service is usually unbalanced in
different areas.
Areas with dense PS traffic: schools,
office buildings, hotels, airports, ect..
service
model Permeation rate plays an important role
setup in EDGE optimization. Adjust parameters
according to this rate.
Proportion of mobile phones supporting EDGE
differentiates in different areas, and it is changing as
the market changes.
Define EDGE permeation rate
3. Setting of related parameters

Whether PS service is enabled?

Reporting mode of MS measurement
Whether CS subscriber migration is
disabled?

Whether flow-control
model is set correct?
Setting of parameters
under flow-control model

At lease 1 static channel is

configured in each cell;
PS channels should be
configured consecutive;
TSC of PDCH must be the same
as BCC
Check if auxiliary timeslots are
configured under V2.
 4. Special features of PS service load evaluation
PS service evaluation mainly consists of:
Evaluation of radio channels
Evaluation of PCU/DSP load
Configuration of ABIS resource

Whether configuration
of cells on DSP of PCU
is reasonable

Whether channel
configuration of
PS service is
reasonable

Whether
configuration of Abis
resource meets
channel configuration
5. Content of test evaluation
GPRS Attach delay, GPRS attach success rate
Test of GPRS PDP activation delay, and success rate
Test of Ping delay, and success rate
FTP download/upload speed
WAP login/refresh delay, and success rate
CQT
WAP download (picture/ring) speed, and success rate
Test of Kjava download success rate
Test of SMS point-to-point delay, and success rate
Test of MMS PUSH delay, PUSH success rate, end-to
end success rate

FTP download/upload speed

DT Test
of WAP login/refresh delay, and success rate
WAP download (picture/ring) speed, and success rate
6. Common testing tools of PS service
Common DT Utilization
Functions Test phone
tools frequency
A test tool developed by China Mobile. It can
carry out tests of Attach, PDP activation,
WAPMMSPING, FTP download, etc.
CDS Sagem
and collect performance statistics. Besides,
it supports signaling analysis on LC/MAC,
LLC layer.
A PS service testing tool commonly used in
China and other countries. It can carry out
most of the testing items in PS service tests Sony-
TEMS and collect statistics. Besides, it displays Ericsson/NOKI
data flow on RLC,LLC,SNDCP, and A
application layer, and supports signaling
analysis on layer3.
Its testing tool is commonly used in China,
which can carry out tests of common PS
WanHe Sagem
service under GPRS/EDGE, and complete
collection of performance statistics.
Its testing tool is commonly used in China,
which can carry out tests of common PS
DingLi Sagem
service under GPRS/EDGE, and complete
collection of performance statistics.
III Relation between PS service optimization and CS service
optimization

1. What do PS service and CS service optimization

have in common?

2. Compared with PS service, what does CS service

focus on?

3. In which aspects do PS service and CS service

may conflict with each other?

4. How to solve conflict in channel resource between

PS service and CS service?

5. Whats the difference between the coverage of PS

service and CS service?
1. What do PS service and CS service optimization
have in common?
PS service quality depends on GSM network
quality. PS service has higher requirement for
radio environment than CS service, so it also
needs to carry out the following items:
Optimization of coverage;
Optimization of frequency (Frequency
Hopping and BCCH have low reusability;
Optimization of adjacent cells;
Checking of equipment operating status

2. Compared with PS service, what does CS
service focus on?
PS service has higher requirement for radio environment
It emphasizes more on the reasonability of radio frequency

planning
It has higher requirement for coverage strength
Appropriate control over cell reselection is needed.

PS service requires more channel resource

more precise traffic model

more reasonable channel configuration

reasonable configuration of PCU resource
3. In which aspects do PS service and CS service
may conflict with each other?
One PS service subscriber can occupy several radio channels
simultaneously. Therefore it requires further expansion and
improvement of system resource to achieve high speed PS service.
As PS service is increasing, competition for radio channels is now
the major conflict between PS service and CS service.
4. How to solve conflict in channel resource
between PS service and CS service?
Preferentially satisfy resource needs of CS service
For cells whose CS service and PS service are both very busy, satisfy CS service needs
first. At least one static PDCH should be guaranteed, so that PS service is usable.
Reasonably configure dynamic PS channels, improve usability of channel
resource
Traffic models of PS service and CS service are usually different, especially in busy
hours. We can establish accurate traffic model of PS service, reasonably configure the
static/dynamic PS channels, and make them convert to TCHs when CS service is busy,
PS channels when PS service is busy, so that the utilization rate of channels will be
improved.
Reasonably set TRX occupation priority
PS service channels are usually configured on TRX of BCCH, some of which are
configured as dynamic channels, so the BCCH TRX should have lower priority, so as to
prevent dynamic PS channels from being occupied by voice channels.
5. Whats the difference between the coverage of
PS service and CS service?
CS service and PS service use the same network, while the coverage of PS
service is much smaller than that of CS service.
GSM protocol stipulates that sensitivity of receiver under different coding
modes should not be the same. Normally, MS sensitivity under coding
modes MCS5MCS6 or MCS7 is -101dBm-99dBm or -96dBm, while that
of CS service is -104dBm.
8PSK modulation mode (coding mode MCS5-MCS9) is introduced in EDGE
system. Compared with that of GMSK coding mode of CS service, its output
power is lower by 4dB.

EDGE MSC7
GPRS CS4
GMSK
IV. Main influencing factors in PS service performance

1. How to check load condition of system resource?

2. Why PS service has higher requirement for C/I?
3. How much does frequency planning influence PS service?
4. How to choose the appropriate coding mode?
5. Why cell reselection shall be avoided in PS service?
6. How will MS capability impact PS service performance?
7. Why CN and external networks often influence PS service?
8. What are the common factors influencing test results?
9. What is flow control? Why there is flow control?
10. How to configure flow control parameters?
1. How to check load condition of system resource?
Assessment of radio Checking configuration of
Assessment of PCU load
channel Abis resource

Make assessment from the
aspects of time, number of
channels and number of
subscribers on each channel.
Plan and configure
dynamic/static channels
according to traffic of busy hour
and idle hour.
Adjust channels according to the
standard that max no. of TBF
on each PDCH shall not exceed
2.
For cells with busy CS service,
balance the traffic before PS
channel planning.
PCU is the core module for
processing PS service at BSC.
Heavy PCU load may lead to
access problems at radio side.
If performance report displays too
many times of DSP channel
overflow, it means PCU
congestion.
Its usually appropriate to
configure 10~15 cells on each
DSP. (in iBSC)
Try to balance the number of
cells and traffic flow processed
on all the DSPs.
Sufficient auxiliary timeslots
should be configured in V2
equipment.
Different coding modes have
different demands for Abis
resource. CS1 and CS2 need
only one channel of 16K, CS3
and CS4 need 2 channels of
16K.
MCS35 coding modes need
2 channels, MCS6 needs 3,
MCS 79 need 4 (5 is
needed under V2BSC)
Insufficient Abis resource may
lead to slow download speed.
2. Why PS service has higher requirement for C/I?
PS services utilization efficiency of TRX is much higher than that of
CS service, so it has higher requirement for radio C/I. Advanced
coding mode and fast moving speed require better C/I.

Channel
type TU3(Non-FH) dB TU3 (FH) dB TU50(Non-FH) dB
Coding mode
PDTCH/CS1 13 9 10
PDTCH/CS2 15 13 14
PDTCH/CS3 16 15 16
PDTCH/CS4 21 23 24
PDTCH/MCS1 13 9.5 10.5
PDTCH/MCS2 15 12 12.5
PDTCH/MCS3 16.5 16.5 17
PDTCH/MCS4 19 21.5 22
PDTCH/MCS5 18 14.5 15.5
PDTCH/MCS6 20 17 18
PDTCH/MCS7 23.5 23.5 24
PDTCH/MCS8 28.5 29 30
PDTCH/MCS9 30
*The above table shows coding 32for C/I, when BLER=10%;
modes requirement 33
**TU3=moving speed-3Km/hTU50=moving speed-50Km/h
3. What should be noticed in PS service frequency
planning?

At the early stage of PS service development, PDCH was

configured on BCCH TRX.
Its not suggested to enable power control or DTX for PDCH
timeslots. PDCH on BCCH TRX (doesnt support dynamic power
control or DTX) wont bring interference to the network.
In frequency planning, BCCH frequency is not often reused, so it
doesnt bring much interference, therefore it can provide better C/I.
BCCH TRX doesnt support radio FH, which helps avoid influence
of FH.
4. How to choose the initial coding mode?
Advanced coding mode has higher requirement for radio environment, we
should choose appropriate coding mode according to radio environment.
The recommended initial coding speed for DL is CS2/MCS6. When radio
environment is poor, the initial coding speed can be appropriately reduced.

EDGE provides two

methods for link
quality control:
LA link adaptation: to
retransmit with low-
speed coding modes
of the same coding
family.
IR incremental
redundancy: to
retransmit with the
same coding mode
and different
perforation mode,
and make joint
decoding.
5. Why cell reselection shall be avoided in PS
service?
Cell-reselection during PS service will cause breakup of the current service. The
service has to be re-established after the reselection. Data download and upload will be
ceased during cell reselection, which obviously affects the performance of PS service.
Because there is no Handover in PS service, the service performance in the moving
course will be affected (reselection takes 5~6 seconds, while handover only takes
hundreds of milliseconds).
6. How will MS capability impact PS service
performance?
network speed is affected by several factors: terminal equipments ability to support multi-
frames; whether the terminal supports EDGE; the protocol version supported by MS.
Currently the download speed of MS supporting EDGE is 3 times as much as that of MS
only supporting GPRS.

The download speed of

MS supporting EDGE
is 3 times as much as
that of MS only
supporting GPRS
7. Why CN and external networks often influence
PS service?
Compared with CS service, network structure of PS service is more complex. The
essence of data network is to connect MS to network or other networks (WAP) with
GSM network. Once there is problem with external network or CN, the service at radio
side will be greatly impacted.

BSC BTS
BTS BSC

SGSN
Inter-PLMN
Backbone
SGSN Network Intra-PLMN
BG Backbone
Intra-PLMN Network
HPLMN Backbone BG VPLMN
GGSN
Network
Server
GGSN Data
Network
8. What are the common factors influencing test
results?
9. What is flow control? Why there is flow control?

When the flow at Gb interface, which is between SGSN and BSS, is too large,
a control of flow will be performed, which is regarded as flow control. Flow
control is executed (only on down link) by SGSN with the control parameters
provided by BSS.

Aim of flow control

To avoid abandoning some of the LLC data (Data stored in the cache over
a certain time will be discarded) because packet channels are too busy
within a BVC on BSS (too many buffered LLC frames);
To avoid abandonment of the new DL LLC data because of memory
constraints (LLC buffer overflows).
10. How to configure flow control parameters?
Currently two flow control modes (mode 1 and 2) are supported in our systems. Its parameters
shall be carefully checked when connected with SGSN provided by other suppliers.

Flow control mode

must be set 2,
when SGSN are
provided by HW or
Motorola. As for
SGSN from other
suppliers, there is
no specific
restriction on flow
control mode, but
usually mode 2 is
recommended.
V. Common methods of improving PS service KPIs

1. How to improve UL/DL TBF establishment success rate?

2. How to reduce UL/DL TBF signaling establishment failure

rate?

3. What are the possible reasons of high retransmission rate?

4. How to check (KPIs) when there is no access to network?

5. What are the possible reasons of slow network speed?

6. How to control and reduce reselection in PS service?

7. How to improve radio environment?

8. What is Campell algorithm? How to use it to optimize PS

channels in cells?
1.How to improve UL/DL TBF establishment
success rate? (1)

Influencing factors Corresponding actions

Bad radio environment Check coverage or

Correctness of parameters setting interference

Stability of equipment & Check the setting of T3168

transmission Check the setting of max

Usability of PS service No. of UL/DL TBF

Check
transmission/equipment alarms
(error rate)
Check single board
1.How to improve UL/DL TBF establishment
success rate? (2)
Optimization flow of UL/DL TBF establishment success rate
Checking
alarms &
notices

Locate
BSC Collect/print
Problem range: corresponding Reset/change
signaling; report
cell/BSC EBRP/UPPB single single board
problems
board or DSP unit

Cell
Optimization of
Frequent resource DSP resource Avoid TCH
Congestion/ distribution, congestion during
request failure means expansion of
radio problem? PDCH expansion
congestion problem channels and
boards

High UL/DL data block X On-site tests

retransmission rate
means poor radio
environment Checking Checking
Checking Weak signaling
external antenna
frequency coverage trace/printing
interference system
2. How to reduce UL/DL TBF signaling
establishment failure rate?

Influencing factors Corresponding actions

Interference in radio environment Check and eliminate

Wrong setting of parameters interference in radio environment

Stability of equipment and Setting of

transmission N3101/N3103/N3105

Usability of PS service Setting of T3191

Check and eliminate
transmission/equipment alarms
(error rate)
Check operation of single
board
3. What are the possible reasons of high
retransmission rate?
Retransmission rate is one important KPI to show the quality of radio
environment. Normally high retransmission rate means bad radio
environment.

Retransmission rate is also closely related to the coding mode employed.

In the same radio environment, higher coding rate brings higher
retransmission rate, but the network speed isnt necessarily slow.

In practical application, its recommended to observe retransmission rate

under different coding mode. Under the same coding mode, higher
retransmission rate means poorer radio environment.
4. How to check the problem when there is no
access to network? (1)
When there is no access to network, the checking flow is as follows:
Observe UL/DL
TBF
establishment
Its requested that the success rate
average of UL/DL TBF
establishment success rate
Optimize UL/DL
of the whole network >90% No
TBF
cells with UL/DL TBF Normal?
establishment
establishment success
Yes success rate
rate<80%are regarded as
bad ones.
Carry out
on-site tests

Eliminate Observe Test

Optimize Observe MS
hardware faults PDP connection
radio attaching to
and setting activation with external
environment network
mistakes success rate network
4. How to check the problem when there is no
access to network? (2)
Problems dealt on site, when there is no access to network:
5. What are the possible reasons of slow network
speed?

Influencing factors Corresponding actions

Frequent cell reselection Properly control coverage,

Poor radio environment C2 and CRH, reduce cell

Improper setting of flow control reselection;

parameters Check radio environment

Insufficient system resource Check setting of flow-control

Limits in terminal equipment parameters

performance Check system load

Configure resources like
channels, PCU, etc.
Update terminal equipment
6. How to control and reduce reselection in PS
service?
Common methods as in CS:
Adjust antenna down-tilt, control coverage, eliminate frequent reselection
due to lack of main coverage cell.
Enable C2 algorithm, set parameters like CRO,PT, etc., to reduce
reselection.
Methods different from CS:
When MS is under READU status, in cell reselection, C2 of adjacent cell
must be larger than the sum of serving cells C2 and CRH
C2adjacent cell>C2serving cell+CRH
Proper increase in CRH value may effectively reduce reselection
and improve DT down load speed.
7. How to improve radio environment?
Radio environment is the generic term for coverage, interference situations. Improvement
in radio environment is quite helpful in improving indicators of PS service.
8. What is Campell algorithm? How to use it to
optimize PS channels in cells? (1)
Basing on the comprehensive consideration of all the services, Campell algorithm constructs an equivalent
service (which is also regarded as intermediary service or virtual service). Computer system provides
channel number of the service and the total equivalent traffic, then outputs the capacity estimation of the
mixed services.

Campell algorithm Equivalent service traffic Ex

integrates all the obtains the number of equivalent
services and convert channels through ErlB, then
PS service
contains different
2 them to one equivalent multiplies it with comprehensive
service (virtual service), service weight and gets the actual
services, whose then outputs its traffic number of channels.
bearing rate and Ex and service weight
traffic are also Ax.
different.

Comprehensively consider
resource needed by each
service (no. of channels- 3
supposing bandwidth of each
channel is 10Kbps), and

1 equivalent traffic (expected

time to be occupied)
4
8. What is Campell algorithm? How to use it to
optimize PS channels in cells? (2)

In actual optimization, fill out the configuration information in the

following EGPRS template.

Log on http://tools.cmdi.chinamobile.com/campell, register and enter

EGPRS radio channel configuration, choose EGPRS radio channel
calculation, fill it out step by step, then export the result of PS channel
planning.