FrequencyPlanning Ed05 DR02

Frequency Planning
All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

Overview
Page 2
FP Principle
 FP Definition
 Network evolution
 Cell Planning - Frequency Planning
 Interference Theory
 Carrier types - Multiple Reuse Pattern MRP
 Manual Frequency Planning
 BSIC Planning
Frequency Planning Process
RMS Frequency Planning
Frequency Planning/ 26-07-2005 All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

Frequency Planning
Principle

FP Definition
Page 4
Frequency Planning is the process made o provide to

each TRX in the network a certain frequency
Frequency planning is done in order to provide the
highest spectrum efficiency (higher capacity with less
resources)
The frequency allocation is done in such way that all
the FP constraints are fulfilled:
 Co-cell/co-site/neighbour separation constraints
 Overall interference is reduced

GSM Frequency Spectrum
Page 5
GSM 850 GSM 1800

 DL: 824-849 MHz, UL: 869-894 MHz  DL: 1805-1880 MHz, UL: 1710-1785
 200 kHz channel spacing ➫ 124 MHz
channels  200 kHz channel spacing ➫ 374
channels
 ARFCN 128 -251
 ARFCN 512 – 885
GSM 900
GSM 1900
 DL: 935-960 MHz, UL: 890-915 MHz
 DL: 1850-1910 MHz, UL: 1930-1990
 200 kHz channel spacing ➫ 124 MHz
channels
 200 kHz channel spacing ➫ 300
 ARFCN 1 – 124 channels
E-GSM  ARFCN 512 -810
 DL: 925-935 MHz, UL: 880-890 MHz
 200 kHz channel spacing ➫
Additional 50 channels
 ARFCN 0, 975 - 1023

Impact of limited Frequency Spectrum
Page 6
Bandwidth is an expensive resource

Best usage necessary
Efficient planning necessary to contain good QoS when the
traffic in the network is increasing
smaller reuse (high traffic with less resources)
MRP usage
implementation of concentric cells / microcells/dual band
implementation of Frequency Hopping
– Baseband Hopping (BBH)
– Synthesized Hopping (SFH or RFH)

Network Evolution - Coverage
Approach
Page 7
First issue in a network life-cycle is to provide coverage
Network design changes rapidly
The frequency plan has to be adapted after each network extension
Planning method must be flexible and fast (group method)
During first steps manual frequency planning possible

Network Evolution - Capacity Approach
1/3
Page 8
With the growing amount of subscribers, the need for

more installed capacity is rising
Possible Solutions:
Installing more TRXs on the existing BTS
Implementing additional sites
More frequencies on air  higher interference

2/3
Page 9
Installing more TRXs - Advantages

 No site search/acquisition process
 No additional sites to rent (saves cost)
 Trunking efficiency ➩ Higher capacity per cell
Installing more TRXs - Disadvantages
 More antennas on roof top (Air combining)
 Additional losses if WBC has to be used
 Less (indoor) coverage
 More frequencies per site needed
 Tighter reuse necessary ➩ decreasing quality/ increase interference

3/3
Page 10
Implementing additional sites - Advantages

 Reuse can remain the same (smaller cell sizes)
 Needs less frequency spectrum
 higher spectrum efficiency
Implementing additional sites - Disadvantages

 Site search/acquisition process needed
 Additional site cost (rent)
 Re-design of old cells necessary (often not done)

What is frequency reuse?
Page 11
As the GSM spectrum is limited, frequencies have to be

reused to provide enough capacity
The more often a frequency is reused within a certain

amount of cells, the smaller the frequency reuse
Aim:
Minimizing the frequency reuse for providing more capacity
REUSE CLUSTER:
Area including cells which do not reuse the same frequency
(or frequency group)

RCS and ARCS 1/2
Page 12
Reuse Cluster Size - RCS

 If all cells within the reuse cluster have the same amount of
TRXs, the reuse per TRX layer can be calculated:
B
RCS =
# TRX / cell
Average Reuse Cluster Size - ARCS
 If the cells are different equiped, the average number of TRXs
has to be used for calculating the average reuse cluster size:
B
ARCS =
# TRX / cell

RCS and ARCS 2/2
Page 13
The ARCS is giving the average reuse of the network when using the whole
bandwidth and all TRXs per cell
E.g: if we want to have the reuse of all non hopping TCH TRXs, we have to use the
dedicated bandwidth and the average number of non hopping TCH TRXs per cell
to get the ARCS of this layer type.
Each cell has only one BCCH. Therefore the BCCH reuse is an RCS and not an
ARCS!
The lower the ARCS is:
 the higher is capacity traffic (more TRX/cell)
 The higher interference is
Traffic capacity/inference is always a trade-off

Reuse Cluster Size 1/2
Page 14
Sectorized sites
4 sites per reuse cluster
3 cells per site
REUSE Cluster Size:

4X3 =12 1 2 4 5
3 6
1 2 4 5 7 8 10 11
3 6 9 12
7 8 10 11
9 12

Reuse Cluster Size 2/2
Page 15
Sectorized sites
3 sites per reuse cluster
3 cells per site
1 2 4 5
REUSE Cluster Size 3 6
3X3 = 9 7 8 1 2 4 5
9 3 6
7 8

Frequency Reuse: Example
Page 16
No sectorization BCCH RCS

7 cells per cluster
 BCCH RCS = 7
TCH Reuse: Depending on BW
and Number of installed TRXs interferer
per cell region
Example:
 B= 26
TCH RCS
 4TRXs per cell
26 − 7 BCCH − 1Guard
TCH RCS = =6
3

Cell Planning - Frequency Planning
Page 17
Can frequency planning be seen independently from cell planning?
Bad cell planning Discussion

 Island coverage ➩ disturbing the reuse pattern
 Big overlap areas ➩ bigger reuse necessary
Good cell planning

 Sharp cell borders ➩ good containment of frequency
 Small overlap areas ➩ tighter reuse possible

Influencing Factors on Frequency
Reuse
Page 18
Topography
 Hilly terrain ➩ Usage of natural obstacles to define sharp cell
borders ➩ tighter frequency reuse possible
 Flat terrain ➩ Achievable reuse much more dependent on the
accurate cell design
Morphology
 Water ➩ low attenuation ➩ high reuse distance
 City➩ high attenuation ➩ low reuse distance

Examples for different frequency
reuses
Page 19
Big city in the south of Africa:

 BCCH reuse 26
 Irregular cell design
 Mixed morphology
 Lots of water
 Flat terrain plus some high sites
Big city in eastern Europe

 BCCH reuse 12
 Regular cell design
 Flat area
 Only urban environment

Interference Theory 1/2
Page 20
C/I restrictions
 9dB for co-channel interference
 -9 dB for adjacent channel interference
P rec Received Power
Prec, A
Prec, B
C/ I
σ
0 R dista nce D

Interference Theory 2/2
Page 21
ARCS Pint[%]
Interferer probability 6.5..9.0 10
7.0..9.5 7.5
 C/Imed is the calculated carrier to 8.5..11.0 5.0
interferer ratio at a certain location (pixel) 12.0..16.0 2.5
Interferer probability [%]

Probability density function [%]
100%
5,0%
4,0% 80%
3,0% 60%
2,0% 40%
1,0% Margin 20%
0,0%
C/Ithr C/Imed 0%
C/I [dB] → -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20
C/I - C/I thr [dB]
Carrier Types - BCCH carrier
Page 22
BCCH frequency is on air all the time with full power
 BCCH BCCH interference is always present
If there is no traffic/signalling on TS 1 to 7 ➩ dummy bursts are transmitted
No interference reductions mechanisms are allowed, like:

 PC (Power Control)
 DTX (Discontinuous Transmission) are not allowed
BCCH needs a clean frequency plan since it is used for all mobiles within the
network

Carrier Types - TCH carrier
Page 23
PC allowed and recommended for UL and DL

 Reduction of transmit power according to the actual path loss
 Careful parameter tuning for DL necessary
DTX allowed and recommended for UL and DL

 Discontinuous Transmission
 If there is no speech, nothing is transmitted
 Generation of comfort noise at receiving mobile
TCH not in use ➩ no signal is transmitted
Special case: Concentric cells

 Different re-uses for inner and outer zone are possible

Multiple reuse pattern 1/2
Page 24
For different types of carriers, different interference

potential is expected
BCCH layer needs a higher REUSE then on other layers:
 as the BCCH carrier has the highest interferer potential because of
being on air all the time
 the BCCH channel itself is accepting only low interference
TCH layers can be planned with a smaller REUSE

Inner zones of concentric cells are able to deal with the
smallest reuse in non hopping networks

Multiple reuse pattern 2/2
Page 25
REUSE clusters for
 INNER ZONE layer
 TCH layer
 BCCH layer

GSM restrictions
Page 26
Intra site minimum channel spacing ➩ 2

Intra cell minimum channel spacing ➩ 2 from Alcatel G2 BTS, (3 specified by GSM
standard)
fA1 ,fA2 ,fA3 ,...
Frequencies fAx,fBx,fCx,… must have at

least 2 channels spacing
. Frequencies fx1,fx2,fx3,… must have at

,.. f least 2 (or 3 depending on HW used)
,f C3 B ,f
,f C2
1
B2 ,f channels spacing
f C1 B3 ,..
.

Intermodulation problems 1/2
Page 27
IM Products GSM900
 In a GSM 900 system intermodulation products of 3rd and 5th order
can cause interference
 2 * f1,t – f2,t = f2,r / 2 * f2,t – f1,t = f1,r
 3 * f1,t – 2 * f2,t = f2,r / 3 * f2,t – 2 * f1,t = f1,r
 Frequency planning must avoid fulfilling these equations
 Both frequencies must be on the same duplexer
 To avoid intraband IM inside GSM900 the following frequency
separations shall be avoided:
 75/112/113 channels
IM5 IM3

Intermodulation problems 2/2
Page 28
IM Products GSM1800
 In a GSM 1800 system, only intermodulation products of 3rd order can
cause mesasurable interference
 2 * f1,t – f2,t = f2,r / 2 * f2,t – f1,t = f1,r
 Frequency separations to be avoided
 237/238 channels
IM Products Dual Band (GSM900/GSM1800)

 f1800,t – f900,t = f900,r
 Decoupling between the GSM 1800 TX path and the GSM 900 RX path
is less than 30 dB (e.g. same antenna used!)

Treating “neighbour” cells
Page 29
Cells, which are not declared as neighbour cells but are located in the
neighbourhood may use adjacent frequencies if it is not avoidable, but
no co channel frequencies
Cells which are declared as neighbours, thus have HO relationships,

must not use co or adjacent frequencies
 If an adjacent frequency is used, the HO will be risky and at least audible by the user.
 Sometimes due to big frequency constraints separations of 1 channel for neighbour

cells (with low amount of HO) is acceptable.

Where can I find neighbour cells?
Page 30
At the OMC-R for each cell a list of neighbour cells is defined
Maximum number of neighbours: 32
The list of neighbours and their frequencies is transmitted to

the mobile to be able to perform measurements on these
frequencies
In case of a HO cause, the HO will be performed towards the

best neighbour

BSIC

BSIC allocation
Page 32
Together with the frequencies the Base Transeiver Station

Identity Code (BSIC) has to be planned
BSIC = NCC (3bits) + BCC (3bits)
The BSIC is to distinguish between Base Stations using the

same BCCH frequency
The aim of BSIC planning is not to use the same

frequency/BSIC combination on cells influencing each other
BSIC can be planned by the A9155 RNP tool

Spurious RACH
Page 33
Bad BSIC planning can cause SDCCH congestion cause

by the spurious RACH problem, also known as “Ghost
RACH”
This problem occurs, when a mobile sends an HO
access burst to a TRX of cell A using the same
frequency as a nearby cell B uses on the BCCH
Both cells using the same BSIC and Training Sequence
Code TSQC, the HO access burst is understood by the
cell B as a RACH for call setup
Therefore on cell B SDCCHs are allocated everytime a
HO access burst is sent from the mobile to the cell A

Frequency Planning Process

Network Life Cycle
Page 35
Frequency planning occurs in all phase during network life-cycle
 During planning phase (roll-out phase)
 During optimization phase

Frequency Planning Process - Contents
Page 36
Analysis of existing FP
FP Inputs
FP Strategy Definition
Preparation Work
FP Creation
Frequency Plan validation
Frequency Plan Implementation
Post Implementation Tasks
Reporting

Analysis of existing FP

Analysis of existing FP 1/2
Page 38
This step is done during:

 Optimization phase
 Network densification steps
The reason is to define:
 Define if available RNP data can be used for the generation of a new
FP
 Sites coordinates, cell impacted, height, azimuths
 The strategy used for FP (non-hopping, hopping)
 The possible outcome of a new FP
 KPI expected to be improved
 Define if a FP is needed
 Spectrum definition
 Possible coverage problem FP brings no benefit in these areas
 Hardware used  define co-cell the channel separation (2 or 3)

Analysis of existing FP 2/2
Page 39
Analysis of existing FP consists in:

 A9155 analysis
 Import csv files into A9155 (through A9155 PRC Generator)
 Coverage plots  areas with bad coverage
 C/I Plots  areas with high interference
 Separation constraints violation
 Analysis of the usage of the frequency band
 Define type of hopping
 OMC-R analysis
 Define areas with low KPI
 Analysis of the frequencies from that areas
 Reporting
 Should be the base of the FP strategy chosen

FP Inputs

FP Inputs
Page 41
FP Inputs must be provided by customer before starting the FP.

 target area of the new frequency plan has to be defined, as well as
the list of all involved cells from this area.
 frequency spectrum. The FP targets must contain the available
frequencies. If there are usage constraints related to the frequency
spectrum they must be provided.
 Day Y, when the new frequency plan has to be ready for
implementation. The new plan must take into consideration the
network configuration planned for this day.
 FP Quality Indicators used for frequency plan validation (before
implementation)
 Not the well know KPI
 New indicators: like C/I plots
The expected results from the FP should be clearly stated from
the beginning, and the whole strategy should be driven by
these goals.

FP Strategy Definition

FP Strategy 1/3
Page 43
FP Strategy contains the different methods used during

frequency allocation process
It consists of defining:
 Spectrum Partitioning
 Macro layer / Micro layer
 BCCH / TCH
 Guard Bands / Joker Frequencies
 Decision on Frequency Hopping Implementation
 for QoS improvement
 due to capacity saturation

FP Strategy 2/3
Page 44
Frequency Coordination at the Planning/Country Border

 Planning Border Take into consideration the frequencies of
the first ring outside planning area
 Country Border  as defined in ETC recommendation
Frequency Coordination at Co-Existence of Several
Systems. It must avoid
 Spurious Emissions
 Receiver Blocking
 Intermodulation Products
BSIC Allocation Strategy

FP Strategy 3/3
Page 45
Frequency Planning Activation Mode

 Message Mode (PRC activation)
 Massive Logical Update (MLU)
Definition of Hot Spot Areas
 Set a higher priority during FP for areas with high traffic
Handling of Sites with Untypical Configurations

FP Preparation Work

FP Preparation Work 1/2
Page 47
Retrieve data needed for FP:

 Logical data (csv files)
 Physical data: sites coordinates, heights, antenna types, tilt…
A9155 AFP Dry Run
 Identify the possible problems that might occur and the time
needed
OMC Neighbors Relationships Clean-up
 Bad neighbour planning bad frequency plan
 A problem in most running networks  too many neighbours
declared
 Neighbour plan to be checked/optimized

FP Preparation Work 2/2
Page 48
Experience Database
 Computed from field feedback during network operation
 It is based on:
 Old reports
 Anomaly reports
 RNP/RNO experience
Prepare Before/After Comparison
 In order to compute the KPI before FP implementation (for a later
comparison)
 Can be:
 Drive tests
 OMC-R Statistics

FP Creation

FP Creation
Page 50
FP is created using a A9155 AFP Module

BSIC planning has to be done as well
All parameters defined during the strategy phase
should be reflected in the tool (see AFP training)

Frequency Plan
Validation

FP Validation
Page 52
Validation is done to take the decision about the

implementation of a new FP
There are several means of evaluating a FP (before
implementation)
 Interference calculation
 Constraints violation
 Visual analysis of frequencies plan
 Frequency distribution.
KPI cannot be used in this phase

Frequency Plan
Implementation

Frequency Plan Implementation
Page 54
Implementation of the frequency plan is done via

OMC-R through the PRC
PRC can be created:
 Manually
 For very small changes
 Using External Tools
 A9155 PRC Generator Module

Post Implementation
Tasks

Post Implementation Tasks
Page 56
To check the frequency plan after implementation, intensive QoS

analysis must be performed
 OMC-R
 Drive tests
Compute KPI for before/after comparison
The optimization solutions for possible problems are:
 Using joker frequencies
 Use MAFA to find “clean” frequencies
 Manual optimization
All problems occurred must be reflected in an updated Experience
Database (used for future FP)

Reporting

Reporting
Page 58
Reporting step should contain

 At least one week network monitoring for before/after
comparison, to show
 The QoS Improvement
 Capacity increasement (if this was the main reason for FP)
 All problems encountered during entire FP process
 Possible improvements/suggestions in the overall Alcatel FP
Process

New FP method: RMS
based FP

Radio Measurement Statistics
Page 60
RMS creates statistics on the network QoS:

 based on field measurements
 Measurements are performed by each mobile during a call
RMS Different Outputs at TRX level Used for

 on neighbor cells (C/I) RMS FP
 on downlink and uplink quality & level

 on number of consecutive bad speech frames (BFI)
 on Radio Link Counter (UpLink only)
 on Path Balance and on Timing Advance
 on Power and number of channel seizures
 9 Voice quality indicators

RMS Frequency Planning Basics
Page 61
The Frequency Planning target is to improve networks QoS

to reduce overall network interference
For all cells, RMS creates a C/I report for each neighbour
Measured interference is used by A9155 for frequency planning
RMS Measurement A9155 New FP

Generate RMS
Neighbour C/I Creates IM based on
files
RMS IM
RMS Measurements OMC-R A9155 A9155

RMS Frequency Planning
Page 62
RMS limitation for FP:

 Measurements are done only for declared neighbours in OMC-R. This
leads to:
 Interferer BCCH frequencies, which are not neighbours, are not measured
 RMS interference matrix is not reflecting the complete network interference:
– Report only for declared neighbours
– Interference is existing but is not measured
Solution:
 Generate artificially more neighbours during RMS measurements
(dummy neighbours)
 Dummy neighbours can be:
 Real cells (with very high HO_MARGIN)
 Logical cell with the BCCH frequency to be measured (dummy cells)

Dummy Neighbours Principle
Page 63
Serving cell
RMS measurements
without dummy
neighbours Neighbour cell
Cell close to serving cell
but not neighbours are:
Other cells
 not reported
 not contributing to overall
interference matrix
Some interferer BCCH

frequencies are not
reported

Dummy Neighbours Principle
Page 64
RMS measurements
with dummy Serving cell
neighbours
 All cells close to the Neighbour cell
serving cell are
measured and
reported to the OMC-R Dummy
neighbour
 Target is to measure cell
as many different
BCCH as possible
 Dummy neighbours:
 Not real neighbours
 Different BCCH than:
– Serving cell
– Neighbour Cells

RMS Based AFP
Process Flow
Page 65

Conclusions

Discussion: Subdivide Frequency
Band?
Page 67
Any subdivision of the frequency band is reducing the

spectrum efficiency!
As the BCCH has to be very clean, it is nevertheless
recommended to use a separated band and select a bigger
reuse
Microcells/Inner zones of concentric cells do not need a
separated band if they are dedicated for hotspot coverage
If there is a continuous layer of microcells/inner zones, it makes
planning easier when using a separated band
Any other separations should be avoided if possible!

Hint for creating a future proofed FP
Page 68
If a frequency plan is implemented, using all available

frequencies in the most efficient way, it is very difficult to
implement new sites in the future!
New sites would make a complete re-planning of the surrounding
area or the whole frequency plan necessary
To avoid re-planning every time when introducing new sites, it is
recommended to keep some Joker frequencies free
These Joker frequencies can be used for new sites (especially
BCCH TRXs) unless it is impossible to implement new sites
without changing a big part of the frequency plan
➨New frequency plan necessary!

Summary of Abbreviations
Page 69
RCS - Reuse Cluster Size

ARCS - Average Reuse Cluster Size
MRP - Multiple Reuse Pattern
GSM - Global System for Mobile Communication
B - Bandwidth
Prec - Received Power
C/I - Carrier to Interferer ratio
WBC - Wide Band Combiner
BSIC - Base Transceiver Station Identity Code
ARFCN - Absolute Radio Frequency Channel

FrequencyPlanning Ed05 DR02

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Frequency Planning

All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

Frequency Planning/ 26-07-2005 All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

Frequency Planning is the process made o provide to

Frequency Planning/ 26-07-2005 All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

GSM 850 GSM 1800

Frequency Planning/ 26-07-2005 All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

Bandwidth is an expensive resource

Frequency Planning/ 26-07-2005 All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

First issue in a network life-cycle is to provide coverage

Network design changes rapidly

The frequency plan has to be adapted after each network extension

Planning method must be flexible and fast (group method)

During first steps manual frequency planning possible

Frequency Planning/ 26-07-2005 All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

With the growing amount of subscribers, the need for

Frequency Planning/ 26-07-2005 All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

Installing more TRXs - Advantages

Frequency Planning/ 26-07-2005 All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

Implementing additional sites - Advantages

Implementing additional sites - Disadvantages

Frequency Planning/ 26-07-2005 All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

As the GSM spectrum is limited, frequencies have to be

The more often a frequency is reused within a certain

Frequency Planning/ 26-07-2005 All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

Reuse Cluster Size - RCS

Frequency Planning/ 26-07-2005 All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

Frequency Planning/ 26-07-2005 All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

REUSE Cluster Size:

Frequency Planning/ 26-07-2005 All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

Frequency Planning/ 26-07-2005 All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

No sectorization BCCH RCS

Frequency Planning/ 26-07-2005 All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

Can frequency planning be seen independently from cell planning?

Bad cell planning Discussion

Good cell planning

Frequency Planning/ 26-07-2005 All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

Frequency Planning/ 26-07-2005 All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

Big city in the south of Africa:

Big city in eastern Europe

Frequency Planning/ 26-07-2005 All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

P rec Received Power

Frequency Planning/ 26-07-2005 All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

Interferer probability [%]

1,0% Margin 20%

BCCH frequency is on air all the time with full power

 BCCH BCCH interference is always present

If there is no traffic/signalling on TS 1 to 7 ➩ dummy bursts are transmitted

No interference reductions mechanisms are allowed, like:

 DTX (Discontinuous Transmission) are not allowed

Frequency Planning/ 26-07-2005 All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

PC allowed and recommended for UL and DL

DTX allowed and recommended for UL and DL

Special case: Concentric cells

Frequency Planning/ 26-07-2005 All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

For different types of carriers, different interference

TCH layers can be planned with a smaller REUSE

Frequency Planning/ 26-07-2005 All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel

REUSE clusters for

 INNER ZONE layer

Frequency Planning/ 26-07-2005 All rights reserved © 2005, Alcatel