Making network optimization simple

Planning UMTS networks

UMTS rollout to suit your 3G business

model? Build cost-effective W-CDMA
networks without cutting corners.

Making network planning simple

Planning 3G networks
Introduction
Worldwide UMTS operators have
already spent billions of dollars
laying the foundations for next
generation networks and services.
Theyve invested in 3G licences,
service development and theyve
spent time and money forging
partnerships with developers and
content providers. Now theyre
about to spend a good deal more
rolling out 3G networks.

Fact At last count

W-CDMA had
been selected by
80 per cent of
the worlds
operators that
intend building
next generation
networks.

But all this investment is under

threat unless collectively the GSM
community acknowledges the move
to W-CDMA spread spectrum
technology represents a huge
learning curve for operators. This is
a radically different technology to
time division GSM, one that
requires a significantly different
approach to network planning and
optimization.
Unless the unique characteristics of
W-CDMA are fully understood and

accounted for at every stage of the

deployment process, operators will
struggle to realise adequate return
on investment from underperforming and uneconomic
networks.
The purpose of this guide is to
present a brief jargon-free
introduction to the planning and
optimization process. It also offers
an overview of the unique
characteristics of the W-CDMA air
interface and the way they impact
planning decisions.

The CDMA connection

The adoption into the UMTS
standard of W-CDMA radio access
technology has created a solution
that promises operators enormous
scope for the development of new,
high bandwidth applications and
services, not to mention huge
efficiencies in the handling and
management of expensive spectrum.

Fact Air interface

or access
technology is the
part of wireless
network
architecture that
provides the link
between a users
phone (or other
mobile device)
and the core
network.

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1

Making network optimization simple

In order fully to realize those

benefits however, a comprehensive
understanding of CDMA
technology is crucial. Experience in
this field goes back to the early
days of CDMA, with the
deployment and optimization of
IS95, the second generation of
CDMA systems. For Lucent this
was fundamental to the companys
understanding of the
characteristics of spread spectrum
technology.
The company installed and tested
IS95 more widely than any other
vendor in the world, and was
responsible for a very large
proportion of the entire global
deployment of the technology.
Today that experience is being
further extended. Lucent has
deployments for customers in
Europe, Asia, and the Americas,
including 90,000 CDMA base
stations more than one third of
the global deployed base half of

What is direct sequence spread spectrum technology?

This is a spread spectrum technique used by W-CDMA that
spreads its signal continuously over a wide frequency band.
The idea is that a data signal at the sending station is
mapped into a higher data rate bit sequence using
something known as a chipping code. The chipping code
introduces protection that allows data recovery if certain bit
errors occur during transmission.

which have the 3G features

activated. Almost thirty customers
are already using, or have
contracted to deploy, Lucents
CDMA2000-1X systems.
This experience is feeding through
into Lucents W-CDMA activities,
impacting its range of products for
the W-CDMA market, influencing
the way the company deploys
UMTS, and enhancing the
planning and optimization tools it
uses in the process.

What is CDMA access

technology?
CDMA technology shares many of
the characteristics of W-CDMA, but
works in a completely different
way to time division GSM.
After digitizing data, CDMA uses a
technique called direct sequence
spread spectrum. CDMA takes
data and spreads it across a
wideband CDMA radio channel.
This channel is much wider than
we find in TDMA systems;
however, a large number of users
simultaneously occupy this same
wideband channel. Within the
channel, each user is distinguished
by a unique code.
The wideband signals are resistant
to interference, yielding excellent
call quality in spite of the large

Fact CDMA
signals are
encoded using a
pseudo-random
sequence each
of which
corresponds to a
different
communication
channel that
the receiver also
knows and can
use to decode
the received
signal.

CDMA access technology

Making network optimization simple

How is a 3G network organized?

number of users that

simultaneously occupy the
channel. The ability to share the
channel amongst many users
makes CDMA far more spectrally
efficient than conventional TDMA
ie, CDMA can accommodate far
more users per chunk of radio
spectrum.

Another benefit of CDMA is that

by using a very wide radio
frequency channel, CDMA
technology provides a larger pipe
for carrying data. The result of this
is that the maximum achievable
data rate over a wideband CDMA
frequency channel is much greater
than can be found on any of the
widely deployed TDMA systems
currently in use.
However, although spread
spectrum CDMA is extremely
efficient, it is also significantly
more complex than other access
technologies. And suffice it to say
that if CDMA is complex, then WCDMA significantly adds to that
complexity.
This presents very considerable
challenges for the planning and
optimization of networks.

We will be looking more closely at

the benefits and complexities of
CDMA technology when we talk
about how to optimize a W-CDMA
system. For the moment, lets move
on and run through the basic
structure of a mobile network so we
can understand where each layer
sits in relation to the rest.
As you can see from the diagram on
page four, a 3G network is made up
of three main layers.
The access layer is made up of
base stations (or Node Bs as they
are known in a UMTS network
Lucents 3G solution is known as the
Flexent OneBTS) and various
radio network controllers (RNCs)
that analyze and control radio traffic.
The core network can be thought
of as the intelligence of the
network. It has two main roles. The
first deals with directing or routing
where voice and data are sent. This
essentially means using switching
systems to route information
through a number of different
servers around the network. The
second part of the core is known as
the backbone and deals with such
critical functions as handling access
to other packet data networks,
providing an interface to the
internet and sorting out billing
information and security.

Remember In a
UMTS network,
the radio access
network is also
known as the
UMTS terrestrial
radio access
network or
UTRAN.

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Making network optimization simple

Services and
applications

Applications

Services

Control
Bearer

SGSN

MSC

GGSN

heart of the planning and

optimization process.

HLR
PSTN

PDN

But where does the planner start?

IP/ATM
2G/3G
core network

BSC

RNC

BTS

RNC

Node B
Node B

GERAN

UTRAN

Well, most of the talk about

W-CDMA centres on the kind of
services that will differentiate 3G
networks from earlier GSM
offerings. This reveals a laudable
emphasis on customer needs rather
than technology for technologys
sake. And as it happens, elaborating
a clear strategy for service
development is also a critical first
step in planning a W-CDMA network.

Access network

Planning priorities

The 3G network

Finally, the service layer controls

user preferences and profiles and
basically enables access to the
enhanced service portfolios that
make 3G such an exciting
proposition.
The relationship of these layers
with each other and the
characteristics of the access
technology employed lie at the
4

Planning a network is a bit like

trying to do a jigsaw with some of
the pieces missing. For example,
operators and planners need to
make assumptions about the kind of
services customers will want, as well
as where and how often theyll
want them.
So right from the start, close
collaboration between operator and
planner is critical. The former need

Planning priorities

Making network optimization simple

Service
layer
definition

Iub homing
plan

Input
review

UTRAN product
dimensioning
Location area,
routing area
and UTRAN reg
area planning

Traffic
conversion

Radio
network
planning

Handover
probability
mapping

UTRAN
transport
network
optimisation
IP Subnet
planning
IN planning
VAS planning
HLR/AuC
SS7 planning

Core
transport
dimensioning
Core network
product
configuration
O&M planning

Synchronisation
planning

Performance
analysis

Design
review
Design
complete

Network planning overview

to be clear about what they expect

from their new network and its up
to the latter to tie down and then
deliver on those expectations. With
millions resting on their
methodology, planners grapple with
long lists of priorities but the key
ones are:
the cost of building and
maintaining a network because
this is the bottom line that drives
the operators business case;

creating an efficient network that

strikes a balance between the
operators capital expenses
(capex) and operating expenses
(opex);
creating a reliable network
because markets are becoming
increasingly competitive and
reliability is an important
differentiator for operators.

The role of the network planner is

to design the network from top to
bottom. This means having an
in-depth understanding of the
operators plans for launching and
developing services and applications
critical if operators are to attract
customers to the 3G network and
keep them there as well as
planning the nuts and bolts of the
actual radio network.

Understanding service
requirements
In fact, the service layer
definition is the first stage of the
planning process. It is here a profile
of the operators customers is
established. This means determining

Fact New 3G
services are likely
to include:
enterprise
solutions like
mobile email
and intranet
access
location-based
services
mobile
transactions
entertainment
services like
games,
video-clips,
music
downloads
video
messaging

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5

Making network optimization simple

the kind of services they are likely

to require and how they might use
such services. Such criteria must be
considered from the perspective of
each proposed service and this stage
of the planning process requires
in-depth understanding of the
operators business model.

Fact As far as
the choice of
migratory path is
concerned, the
final destination
and the route
will vary
considerably
with the starting
point. A GSM
operator can
opt for any
combination of
GSM, GPRS,
EDGE, and on
to W-CDMA.
A cdmaOne
operator has
the choice of
CDMA2000 1X,
1xEV-DO and
1xEV.

Service Profiles
Before it is possible to progress any
further, what is known as an
input review is required to
ensure the planners assumptions
about service and subscriber profiles
match those of the operator. This is
also the point at which any
existing infrastructure enters the
planning process.
Except for greenfield roll-outs, most
UMTS planning is for operators
with existing networks. This means
planners need to understand the
operators strategy with regard to
the relationship between existing
capabilities and the new 3G
deployment.
The cost-effective deployment of
existing infrastructure is a critical
component in the business models
of most incumbent operators. It can
prove extremely time-consuming
redesigning a new network in the
light of something that has been
overlooked in relation to existing
infrastructure or how an operator
wants it deployed. As a result, a
comprehensive audit of existing

resources needs to be undertaken

this involves knowing what
hardware and software is where,
what capacity remains on
transmission links, whether or not
those links can be utilized and so
on.
Once the operator has agreed the
services portfolio including the
dynamic aspects of each service and
the characteristics of the subscribers
that are going to use them this
information must be converted into
a picture of network traffic. It is
then necessary to start making
assumptions about actual data rates,
average throughput and the
dynamic nature of that throughput.
At this stage, the preparatory work
has been completed and the
information gained can inform the
planning of the radio network itself.

Radio network planning

Handover probability mapping
The first stage of planning the radio
network is known as handover
probability mapping.
A handover is the process that takes
place when someone with an
established call moves away from a
cell or base station (Node B) to
which they are connected. The call
has to be successfully handed over
to another cell or the call may well

Radio network planning

be dropped. Within W-CDMA based

networks, soft handovers (see
right) can be used this means that
two or more cells have an
established connection with a
terminal.
While soft handovers are good
news for customers because
multiple connections mean less
chance of dropped calls they also
mean more traffic on a network.
For this reason, an optimized plan,
called a homing plan, is even
more important for a W-CDMA
based network than a GSM
network. This is because a
handover process is likely to
monopolise valuable network
resources for several minutes.
Homing plan
The homing plan establishes:
the connections between the
various components of the
UTRAN (which includes base
stations and radio network
controllers (RNCs)); and
where and even when these
handovers are likely to occur.
As its name implies, the RNC is the

Making network optimization simple

Handover mapping The objective of handover probability

mapping is to work out the handover probability that exists
between particular cells. With incumbent operators, this will
be based on existing information about where handovers
occur. For example, on an existing network the handover
probability between cells A and B might be 60 per cent,
while between cell C and D it might be 10 per cent. For
greenfield operators, estimates are made with the knowledge
of local information, such as the locations of roads, shopping
areas and so on, coupled with data relating to the service
profile. An analysis of this information will help planners
estimate the volume of soft handover traffic at each and
every point on the UMTS network.

part of the system that organises

and directs traffic to other parts of
the network.
This handover knowledge forms
an essential part of the total
network scenario, enabling network
planners to build in handover
capacity in appropriate parts of the
network.
The first priority of the homing plan
is to maximize the number of
handovers that take place within a
RNC rather then between RNCs.
There are two main reason for this.
First, intra-RNC handovers are
more reliable than inter-RNC
handovers ie, fewer dropped calls.
Second, with inter-RNC handovers
traffic must be supported by the
transport network, which means
that this kind of handover is a drain
on network resources.

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Making network optimization simple

Youll notice that at this

stage in the process the
focus is primarily on the
UTRAN. This is because
part of the secret of
planning an efficient,
cost-effective network is
to develop strategies that
optimize communications
within the network. This
is the role of the
networks transport
infrastructure that
interconnects the network
components, base stations,
base station controllers
and mobile switches.

What is IP? Internet protocols were

first developed in the mid-1970s when
the Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency (DARPA) started
looking for ways to establish a packetswitched network to facilitate
communication between dissimilar
computer systems.
The Internet Protocol (IP) is a network
layer protocol that contains addressing
information and some control
information so that packets can be
routed. There are two distinct parts to
IP. Input extracts the data payload from
a datagram, processes header
information and takes the appropriate
action. Output encapsulates transport
layer segments, multiplexes higher
level input streams, and compiles
header information based on payload.

And with regard to

transport, the planners
main focus must first be
the UTRAN. This is
because as far as the
economics of mobile networks are
concerned, capex is considerably
lower than opex. And as far as opex
is concerned, between 70 and 80
per cent relates to UTRAN
expenses.
This means that if a network is to
be cost effective, operators have to
ensure that their UTRAN is
optimized.
The target of this optimization will
depend on the priorities of the
individual operator, but areas of
focus are likely to include the
optimization of revenue,
8

throughput, delay and

operational costs.

UTRAN dimensioning
At this point planners can
select the infrastructure
equipment needed to
support the volume of
traffic calculated. Within
the UMTS environment
this is known as UTRAN
product dimensioning
and primarily relates to
the type of components
assigned to the base
stations (Node Bs) and
radio network controllers
(RNCs). This is a critical
point in the planning
process. As far as
dimensioning base
stations are concerned,
the kind of considerations
planners need to take account of
include:
number of users
call mix of expected traffic
voice and data traffic to be carried
Node B software features
requirements for special antenna
systems
requirements for power and
transmission systems
When considering the RNC from a
product dimensioning perspective
planners need to think about issues
like:
total traffic and signalling load
total number of Node Bs

Radio network planning

Fact An IP
address is a
unique 32-bit
number specified
as four 8-bit
numbers
(represented as
integers) called
octets. The
numbers must be
in the range
0-255. Users are
assigned an IP
address when
they access the
internet and it
serves to identify
the computer or
device on a
TCP/IP network.
An example of a
IP address is
1.163.10.220.

total number of cells

total number of carriers
RNC software features
required RNC optional features
type of transmission interfaces

IP subnet planning
A second critical issue to be tackled
to optimize the efficacy of the
transport network is internet
protocol (IP) subnet planning.
This part of the planners work
involves facilitating efficient
gateways to the internet and
applications. It is also the point at
which planning a W-CDMA
network parts company with
planning basic GSM voice-centric
networks.
3G technology means a service
planning environment in which a
wide range of diverse services needs
to be routed in different ways in
the network. As a result, planners
must take account of connectivity
to WAP servers, corporate intranets
and the large number of games,
messaging and applications servers
that are likely to be on offer in the
new service portfolios.
This is where the spadework
undertaken at the service layer
definition stage of the planning
process begins to pay off. The
planner should be clear precisely
what kind of IP-related services the
operator intends to offer and be

Making network optimization simple

able to characterize the anticipated

traffic associated with each service.
The objective of IP subnet planning
is to understand where the operator
needs to offer connectivity on the
network. This means developing IP
address plans and overall
connectivity for the entire network.
For a large service provider this can
mean literally hundreds of
connections to a variety of servers
as well as the internet itself.
IP subnet planning is complex and
time-consuming and it is essential
to get it right. Much will depend on
the quality of the original service
layer analysis.
Other factors that must be taken
into account at this stage include
intelligent network (IN)
planning obviously operators
will continue to offer IN-based

>>

What is ATM? Asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) is a celloriented switching and multiplexing technology that employs
fixed-length packets to carry different types of data traffic for
local-area and wide-area networks. Call data is broken up
into 53 byte cells in order to multiplex it with other calls; this
increases overall link efficiency. As a result, ATM facilitates
flexible allocation of available bandwidth for data, voice,
images and video. The technologys scalable architecture
means it is easy to upgrade; it allows a virtually unlimited
number of users to have dedicated, high-speed connections
with high-performance network servers.

Making network optimization simple

By now the planner has a pretty

good idea how much signalling is
going to take place on the network.
So now the transport network
design can be completed.

RNC
UTRAN
Node B
Node B

Node B

PSTN

lu
Core
HLR

3G
SGSN
ps

3G
MSC

3G
GGSN

cs

IP Core
ATM Core
IP
PDN
ATM or IP
Network Backbone

ATM or IP
Other UMTS
UMSCs

3G network overview

services even in an IP dominated

environment and this needs to be
accomplished in parallel with
planning the network for valueadded services like voicemail and
SMS. Once again the service drivers
established earlier will determine
the dimensioning of equipment.
10

Core network dimensioning

Core transport dimensioning takes
the theoretical design of the UTRAN
transport network and strengthens
it. This part of the network needs
pumping up because up to this
point the planners have only
dimensioned the asynchronous
transfer mode (ATM) core, the
UTRAN and defined connectivity up
to the core network elements. In
other words, they have defined
requirements for both the circuitswitch and packet-switch core
equipment.
However, quite apart from the core,
there still remains a great deal of
connectivity to be dealt with on the
network. This is because even today
on most networks a great deal of
traffic still goes from the user to a
public network and needs to be
carried not only through the core
equipment but also out to the
public network (see diagram left).
Having determined the volume and
nature of the traffic the core
network needs to support, it is now
possible to determine the
characteristics of the core
equipment. A key component in
the core network is the mobile-

Radio network planning

services switching centre (MSC).

Some of the considerations
planners might need to take into
account when dimensioning an
MSC are:

number of subscribers
average call lengths
call mix
MSC software features
total traffic and signalling loads
interface dimensioning
type of transmission interfaces
MSC capacity
number of RNC in served area

There are three other main

components that need to be taken
into account in core network
planning:
the gateway GPRS support node
(GGSN) which serves as an
interface between the 3G network
and other external packet
networks (eg, the internet);
the serving GPRS support node
(SGSN) which provides what is
known as mobility management;
this ensures users are able to use
the network wherever they are
located.
the home location register (HLR)
which is a database that looks
after subscriber information like
directory number, electronic serial
number of the subscribers
equipment, and the services/
features the subscriber is assigned.
In addition, the planners will

Making network optimization simple

elaborate the operations and

maintenance (O&M)
architecture that will define the
systems that oversee the running
and integration of various parts of
the network.
In a very large network, this might
require the deployment of a
network management system
(NMS).

Performance analysis
The final stage of the planning
process is known as performance
analysis. This stage is critical,
because it is at this point that
operators and planners have the
opportunity to simulate a live
network under a wide range of
operating conditions.
Performance analysis might reveal,
for example, that under specific
circumstances a bottleneck causes a
higher than average number of
dropped calls on a particular part of
the network. Such problems can
usually be resolved with minor
modifications, but the point is that
such issues can be addressed during
the planning process rather than
after the network has been built.
While this offers a fairly succinct
overview of the planning process
itself, it only tells part of the story.
In the first instance, while there are

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11

Making network optimization simple

well-established procedures for

planning a network, the process
must be informed by experience.
Given the significant differences
between GSM and W-CDMA based
systems, it makes sense to deploy
planning teams that are familiar
with the nuances of CDMA
networks. The complex nature of
spread spectrum technology
demands respect from network
planners and deployment
professionals.
Planning and optimizing W-CDMA
networks means getting to grips
with characteristics of spread
spectrum technology that will be
unfamiliar to most GSM
operators.
Freq 1

W-CDMA characteristics

Soft handover
In GSM networks when the mobile
reaches the cells operational edge,
the signal quality has dropped to
the point where it becomes possible
to measure comparable quality
from an adjoining cell or cells. Its
in this region that the system
attempts to conduct what is known
as a hard handover of the call
from one cell to another. Calls can
be dropped if there is no available
cell with better reported quality
metrics available to hand over to.
In W-CDMA networks, on the other
hand, when the mobile user moves
towards the edge of the cell,
the base station in the
Freq 2
adjoining cell accepts
contact with the mobile
before the base station
currently
handling the call
Cell 2
breaks off. On the plus side,
this means fewer dropped
Hard handover
region
calls, but it also means that
for a time both base stations
are transmitting the same data to
the mobile. In fact, the mobile
might even be receiving a
signal from more than two
base stations before finally
Freq 1
being handed over to the
adjoining cell.

The new W-CDMA

Cell 1
networks need to be
planned, built, optimized and
tested. None of these stages can
be rushed without significant
negative impact down the
track. For example, at the
early optimization stage,
issues such as soft
handover, power control
Freq 1
and pilot pollution must
Soft handover
be identified and
region
pre-empted if theyre not
to add to an operators
operating costs.
Hard and soft handover
12

W-CDMA characteristics

Cell capacity
W-CDMA cell capacity varies with a
number of factors. These include the
average level of interference generated
by surrounding cells, along with the
location, speed of travel, signal fading
and speech patterns of users. For
example, a central cell in a network can
achieve higher-than-average loads when
the surrounding cells are lightly loaded.
This is because such a situation lowers
the average interference background
that users in the central cell must
combat.
In addition, capacity can be higher for a
universe of users with certain

Fact Soft
handover often
takes place if a
mobile device is
roughly midway
between cells or
on the dividing
line between
sectors. The
feature permits
calls to continue
even though the
signal from any
one cell would
not be strong
enough to keep
the call up.

So while from a user perspective

soft handover is a good thing, its
also a characteristic that makes the
implementation of W-CDMA
networks difficult to plan. This is in
part because a base station in a
spread spectrum network that is not
contributing in a positive way isnt
just neutral, its actually generating
interference. In a GSM network, on
the other hand, the mobile would
be separated from the other base
stations by different frequencies and
other users by different timeslots.
Spread spectrum is significantly
more resource efficient than time
division technology and will enable
the deployment of high capacity
base stations in the new W-CDMA

Making network optimization simple

characteristics for example, zero

motion, or groupings that are
generously distributed deep within the
cell interior (and therefore closer to the
base station). This brings about a
condition in which the lower
transmitted power needed per user
allows more traffic to be packed within
the wideband channel.
On the other hand, capacity can be
lower under a variety of other
conditions for example, a situation in
which users tend to cluster at cell edges
or where surrounding cells are highly
loaded.

networks. However, the downside

is that techniques like soft
handover need extremely
sophisticated planning and
management. For example, when a
base stations signal becomes strong
it needs to be rapidly identified as
such and accepted for handover. As
we have noted, sluggish soft
handover means base stations will
be generating interference that will
actually degrade call quality.
The quality of a W-CDMA network
depends on the quality of the
algorithm that controls the
execution of techniques like soft
handover. In this instance, its not
simply a question of following the
standards, but of developing

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13

Making network optimization simple

complex algorithms to build on the

strengths of a spread spectrum
network.

Definition What
is an algorithm?
An algorithm is
just a formal and
rigorous set of
instructions for
solving a
problem.

Design is part of the story, but even

more important is the
implementation. Algorithms built
into base station software and at
the next layer up in the network
the radio network controller (RNC)
make decisions about accepting
and dropping subscribers from soft
handoff. Those algorithms and the
degree of sophistication
incorporated into them are what
add value to a W-CDMA network.
Such intelligence contributes to
both the quality of service
subscribers experience and the
capacity of individual base stations.
And maximizing capacity is central
to optimizing ROI and the long
term vindication of 3G business
models.
Cell breathing
Sophisticated algorithms also play a
key role in controlling network
power levels required to handle
another spread spectrum
characteristic known as cell
breathing.
The uplink is the signal that moves
from the mobile device to the base
station. Imagine a user is making a
call and two other people join the
same cell and start using their
mobile devices. Because of the way
spread spectrum networks work,

14

the increase in traffic generated by

additional users causes a
corresponding increase in
interference. This means that to
maintain the original users call
quality it is necessary for their
mobile device to increase its power
level. And if their power level
increases, the other pair of users in
the same cell will also experience
additional interference. So they can
then up their power levels and
this seems to be moving towards
some kind of infinite loop.
In fact there is a stable range in
which interference is handled.
Certainly at lower levels of cell
loading, the situation is quite
manageable with the power control
algorithms that have been created
for spread spectrum networks.
However, as cell loading becomes
greater, the difference in the power
level for all users must increase. In
other words, as you approach the
greatest possible cell loading, a
situation arises in which mobile
devices must transmit infinite
power in order to achieve what is
called the pole capacity. Of course,
this is impossible because mobile
devices can never transmit infinite
power. Instead, it is necessary to
back off the capacity for a given
radio channel until it reaches a
manageable level. Calculating that
level and identifying the operating
range in which you have stability
for your power control algorithms is

W-CDMA characteristics

paramount to operating a W-CDMA

system in an efficient manner.
This is where cell breathing comes
in to the story. Lets return to the
scenario in which multiple users are
making calls in a cell and that the
original users mobile device must
increase its power to maintain
performance. Suppose before the
other callers arrived the first users
mobile device was transmitting at
maximum power level. Since it is
impossible for that mobile to
increase its power level, the only
solution is to get closer to the base
station which of course is
impossible in real time. So the
coverage experienced by mobile
users can vary as other users access
and drop off the system. Which is
why CDMA cells are said to
breathe. Addressing this effect via
design and customized software is
an important part of W-CDMA
planning.
Undeclared neighbors
Another feature of a spread
spectrum deployment is known as
undeclared neighbors so called
because every base station sector in
such a network will have associated
with it a list of neighboring
sectors. When the mobile terminal
moves towards the edge of the
sector and it picks up a fairly strong
signal, it will expect this to come
from a sector on the list, and it will
initially search only that list.

Making network optimization simple

However, if the mobile receives a

strong signal from another sector
thats not on its list, it will be
unable to accept it into soft
handoff. That means the other
sector will permanently remain an
interferer, rather than making a
positive contribution.
So the compilation of this list of
neighboring sectors is a critical part
of design, and also an important
part of the ongoing maintenance of
the network. Some network designs
tackle the undeclared neighbor
issue by monitoring live network
traffic. If it is found that there is
frequently a strong signal from a
sector which is not a neighbor, this
is reported at the operations and
management centre (OMC), where
statistics showing handoff between
sectors are collected. Once such a
problem has been identified,
engineers can then take the
appropriate action by either adding
that other sector to the neighboring
list where appropriate, or changing
the design perhaps by altering the
tilt angle of the offending antenna
so that it doesnt cover quite such a
big area, and is not generating
interference.
Pilot pollution
Pilot pollution occurs when many
sectors overlap so that the active set
on the mobile is full, meaning that
any additional sectors will act as
interference. Its a problem inherent

>>
15

Making network optimization simple

in spread spectrum networks that

leads to a reduction in both
coverage and capacity, with an
increase in call set-up failures and
dropped calls, and a reduction in
the users data throughput.
Common trouble spots are upper
floors of buildings, elevated
highways, street intersections,
bridges, and large bodies of water.
An incorrect diagnosis here can
result in unnecessary parameter
changes and repeated drive testing,
leading to increased operating
expense.

ongoing analysis of network data,

identifying trends and trouble
shooting to maintain network
quality and customer satisfaction.
It includes products such as the
Ocelot predictive cell optimization
tool, which can configure cell sites
for optimum coverage and/or
capacity, matching coverage and
capacity to the traffic distribution.
Ocelot has been used successfully in
over 100 cities worldwide, typically
increasing network coverage five
per cent, and network capacity by
20 per cent.

Tools for the Job

At the early optimization stage,
issues such as pilot pollution and
the implications of cell breathing
can be identified and pre-empted.
Lucents suite of CDMA
optimization tools is also adapted
for W-CDMA networks. This suite
can be used throughout the design
and optimization process for preoptimization of the RF network;
initial optimization for installing
and integrating sites; and for
16

By applying its experience of spread

spectrum technology from product
design, through network
deployment, to testing and
optimization, Lucent has won the
approval of its operator customers.
Asked to vote on the best networks
in terms of performance and
reliability, local service providers in
one large Asian market where
Lucent has 50 per cent of the
CDMA installed base gave the
company eight out of the top 11
places.

When considering market advantage its worth keeping in mind

that UMTS is a CDMA-based technology. This means that
operators and vendors with CDMA experience have a clear
advantage over those that do not. And all the lessons learned
from CDMA are now being applied to UMTS.
Arthur D Little, Analysts

Lucent is a world-class supplier of mobility solutions.

Innovation is at the heart of our business. Our Centers of
Excellence and the global facilities of Bell Labs, are shaping
the way our world communicates. We offer unchallenged
market leadership in CDMA radio access, the underlying
technology for UMTS, ATM backbone networking
technology, circuit and packet switching as well as the
expertise to integrate and deploy complex networks.

Response Centres:
EMEA
Tel: +44 (0) 7000 582 368
Fax: +44 (0) 1344 488 045
Email: mobility@lucent.com
Asia Pacific
Email: wirelessap@lucent.com

Call Lucent for complete end-to-end mobility solutions.

Visit our website at www.lucent.com
Lucent Technologies
Global Mobility Marketing
Lucent Technologies
The Quadrant
Stonehill Green
Westlea
Swindon
Wiltshire SN5 7DJ
UK

Brochure number: Net Opt 02.2004.

Copyright 2004 Lucent Technologies

NAR/CALA
Tel: +1 888 426 2252
Fax: +1 314 317 6480
This document is for planning purposes only and is not
intended to modify or supplement any specifications or
warranties or tariffs relating to these products. Any
technical specifications contained herein are approximate
and subject to change without notice.