GSM Measurements for Inter-RAT

Cell Reselection & Handover

3GRPLS Module 7

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Objectives
At the end of this module, you will be able to
Name the key parameters, which help the UE perform cell reselection from GSM to UMTS
Outline the difference between the cell re-selection and
handover in GSM

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Cell Reselection and Handover

In idle mode, the mobile phone is responsible for cell selection and reselection. As soon as the MS
has selected a cell and camps on it, it can access the network. A distinction is drawn between Circuit
Switched (CS) MSs and Packet Switched (PS) MSs.
A CS MS has to be capable to detect and synchronise to a BCCH carrier. It has to read the BCCH data at
reference sensitivity level and reference interference level. It measures the receive level for all
monitored frequencies and calculate un-weighted average receive levels (RLA_C) in dBm.
A PS MS performs cell reselection both in the packet idle mode and packet transfer mode!
In the GPRS Standby and Ready state, the MS performs cell re-selection. There is one exception: A
class A MS can be simultaneously in the GPRS Standby or Ready state and in the CS Connected mode.
In this case, a new cell is determined by the network as part of the handover procedure. If the CS
connection is released, the class A resumes cell re-selection. Cell selection and reselection of a
packet switched MS can vary depending on the existence of PBCCH.
A handover is only performed for a CS call. The handover from GSM to UMTS is supported.

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Cell Reselection and Handover

Cell Reselection

Handover

Done by MS in the
(circuit switched) idle mode,
and
packet idle and packet
transfer mode
GSM cell re-selection to WCDMA
may differ between
non-GPRS capable mobiles,
GPRS capable mobiles, and
GPRS capable mobile with
Packet BCCH
Cell reselection to weaker
WCDMA cells is possible

Handover from GSM is

supported if the load of the
serving GSM cell is above
certain threshold and the
measured quality (CPICH
Ec/No) from adjacent WCDMA
cell is above a minimum
value.

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Handover and cell re-selection concept

GSM high
loaded

Load
Loadreason
reason
Handover
Handoverfor
forspeech
speech WCDMA
WCDMAcan
canbe
beused
used
and
for
HSCSD
to
and for HSCSD
torelieve
relieveGSM
GSMoverload
overload
WCDMA low
loaded

GSM
GSM
Load reason
Handover

Handover

GSM
GSM

GPRS based cell

re-selection

Cell
re-selection
5

GPRS
GPRS

Nokia Siemens Networks

GSM
GSM
WCDMA
WCDMA

GSM
GSMcan
canbe
beused
usedto
toextend
extend
WCDMA
coverage
area
WCDMA coverage area

GSM
GSM
Coverage reason
Handover

WCDMA
WCDMA

GSM
GSM

GSM
GSM
WCDMA
WCDMA
GSM
GSM

Connected mobile
moving

WCDMA
WCDMA
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Speech call continues in GSM

if there is no overload
GPRS based cell

re-selection

GPRS
GPRS
WCDMA based
cell re-selection

WCDMA
WCDMA

Measurements Capabilities for Multi-Rat MSs

A multi-RAT MS is able to monitor 64 UTRAN cells, divided into (depending on the MS capability):
FDD cells on up to 3 FDD frequencies, with a maximum of 32 cells per frequency; and/or
TDD cells on up to 3 TDD frequencies with a maximum of 32 cells per frequency, and/or
CDMA2000 cells. (TS 45.008 V5.8.0)
In case of a conflict with GSM tasks, the GSM tasks take precedence.
Measurement quantities in GSM for UTRAN FDD
For UTRAN FDD cells, the measurement quantities to be used are
CPICH Ec/No,
CPICH RSCP and
RSSI.
RSCP must be used for the cell re-selection ranking criteria. Ec/No is used for a minimum quality
requirement. On the BCCH, SACCH, PBCCH and/or PACCH, the reporting quantity parameter for the FDD
mode FDD_REP_QUANT is transmitted. It informs the MS, whether the RSCP or the Ec/No is used for
measurement reporting. It is also possible to add a frequency in the neighbour cell list, without
adding a scrambling code. If this is the case, the Ms must report the RSSI for this UTRA carrier band.
(The measured value will then replace the RXLEV in the measurement report.)

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ISHO 2G->3G and radio network

Speech calls can be served adequately both in GSM and UMTS. Consequently, only in a high load
situations, multiple RAT phones are handed over from GSM to UMTS. The number of occupied traffic
channels on the available transmission resources triggers the handover decision in the BSC.
Circuit switched data calls may not surpass a capacity threshold before the BSC initiates the HO
procedure.
The 3GPP standards allow the BSC to send max. 96 adjacent cells, including both GSM and WCDMA
RAN (FDD and TDD) neighbours, to the mobile
Max number of neighbour WCDMA cells can be defined to GSM cell = 32
(FDD)

In Nokia BSS
Max number of the adjacent GSM cells = 32
- 31 if Inter-system handover feature is activated
- 30 if there also any of Common BCCH features is activated

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Handover Measurement
The Network controls the identification and the measurements of cells, which belong to other radio access
technologies, by the parameter qSearchC. This parameter is sent on the SACCH. If this parameter is not made
available there, the MS uses the parameter Qsearch_C_Initial, which is sent on the BCCH. The parameter qSearchC
has the same meaning as the parameter qSearchI.
The MS can use search frames, which are required for BSIC decoding, to perform the required measurements. The
parameter 3G_SEARCH_PRIO indicates to the MS, whether is can use up to 25 search frames per 13 seconds without
BSIC decoding in these frames.
At latest 5 seconds after it had been activated, The MS must report the best UTRAN cell. The time only holds, when
no new GSM cell is activated at the same time, and there are good radio conditions. The allowed reporting time
increases by 5 seconds for each additional UTRAN carrier band.
Then the MS has only a signalling connection on a SDCCH, the MS can use all TDMA frames for measurements,
which are not allocated or used for GSM signal strength measurements. The MS then must report the best UTRAN
cell within 1.7 seconds, given the same assumptions as above.
Handover Parameters:
Qsearch_C_Initial identifies the Qsearch value to be used in connected mode before qSearchC is received. 0 = use
Qsearch_I, 1 = always. Default value = use qSearchI.
qSearchC specifies the signal threshold to search for 3G cells (see qSearchI). Default=15 .
FDD_MULTIRAT_REPORTING gives the number of cells (0..3) from the access technology/mode FDD that the UE has
to include in the list of strongest cells or in the measurement report.
Min Ec/No Threshold gives the minimum CPICH Ec/No value for a UTRAN cell before a handover is possible.
Reporting range: - 24..0.5 dB (step size 0.5 dB). Default value -15 dB.
The value 0.5 dB of this parameter means that the BSC is never allowed to initiate a handover attempt from the serving GSM
cell towards the WCDMA RAN cell because a CPICH Ec/Io level measured by mobiles can be maximum 0 dB
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Handover Process
The BSC initiates an inter-system handover attempt to the WCDMA RAN if:
A neighbour WCDMA RAN cell is available (coverage).
The cell-specific penalty timer does not exist in the BSC for the WCDMA RAN cell.
Ec/No measured by the mobile has to exceed the handover threshold minimum CPICH Ec/Io
level (MET).
Traffic load of the serving GSM cell exceeds the threshold (load). The operator defines the
load threshold by the parameters minimum traffic load for a speech call (LTSC).
The procedure of the traffic load checking is similar compared to the BSC initiated Traffic
Reason Handover. The BSC initiates only as many inter-system handovers as the number of
ongoing calls in the serving GSM cell is over the traffic load threshold. That is, the serving GSM
cell is not emptied into the WCDMA RAN.
The mobile is forced to measure the WCDMA neighbors in dedicated state if the RxLev of the serving
GSM cell is below or above the threshold Qsearch_C. The recommendation is to use 7 which means
that the mobiles will always measure the neighboring WCDMA cells even if the traffic load would be
far from the inter-system handover triggering threshold. The next step of inter-system handover
procedure is about decision-making. The BSC has received averaged measurement results for the
neighbor WCDMA cell and calculated the traffic load of the serving GSM cell. If both of these values
will meet the thresholds, load and CPICH Ec/No level, inter-system handover can be triggered.

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Handover Process
Parameters are sent from the BSC to the
mobile
Handover
Triggering
Thresholds
set
in
BSC
Handover Triggering Thresholds set in BSCin the Measurement Information message

MS is measuring the UTRAN cells continuously if

they are defined as a neighbour, measurements
are done during idle periods

Inter-RAT
Inter-RATmeasurements
measurementsstarts
startsinincase
case
The
RXLEV
of
the
serving
cell
is
above
The RXLEV of the serving cell is aboveor
or
The number of GSM neighbor reported could be 3
below
the
given
threshold
qSearchC
below the given threshold qSearchC
depending on the set value of parameter
FDD_MULTIRAT_REPORTING (0,1,2=Nokia,3).
Handover
HandoverDecision
Decisionisisdone
doneinincase
caseof
of The load is measured in the cell level by
Load
Loadof
ofthe
theserving
servingcell
cell>>Load_Threshold
Load_Thresholdcomparing the occupied TCHs to the
and
andCPICH
CPICHEc/No>
Ec/No>min
minEc/No
Ec/NoThreshold
Threshold available TCHs (20 s interval used)
Load Threshold for Speech Calls or
MS
selects
the
target
UTRAN
cell
based
MS selects the target UTRAN cell based Transparent Data inter-RAT Handover:
on
utranHoThScTpdc (Min Traffic Load
onmeasurement
measurementresults
results
TDHO), default = 80%
Handover
Handovercommand
commandisissend
sendto
toMSC
MSC minEcnoThreshold (Min CPICH EC/NO
Threshold), default 15 dB
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GSM ISHO example

Load Threshold for Speech Calls inter-RAT Handover

utranHoThScTpdc = 80%
Min Ec/No threshold for a handover to the UTRAN adjacent cell
minEcnoThreshold = -15 dB

qSearchC = 7 (measure UTRAN adjacent cells always)

1.

Load of the serving cell = 45% and the measured Ec/No = - 20 dB

--> Handover to the UTRAN not possible due to low load and low Ec/No

2.

Load of the serving cell = 45% and the measured Ec/No = - 10 dB

--> Handover to the UTRAN not possible due to low load

3.

Load of the serving cell = 95% and the measured Ec/No = -10 dB
--> Handover to the UTRAN possible

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ISHO 2G -> 3G Parameters

The maximum number of reported cells is 6, the number of WCDMA cells depends on the parameter
FDD_MULTIRAT_REPORTING. Then the number of GSM neighbour reported could be 3-6 depending
on the set value of parameter FDD_MULTIRAT_REPORTING. With Enhanced Measurement report (in
BSS11) the maximum number of reported cells is 12 adjacent cells in case MS is reporting more than
6 neighbours !
The target WCDMA cell is identified by the MCC + MNC + LAC + RNC + Cell ID + SAC.
Because the MCC + MNC are included, handover from the BSC in the PLMN_1 to the RNC in the
PLMN_2 is possible, i.e. an inter-PLMN handover from GSM to WCDMA is supported.
Load threshold parameters are defined for
Speech Calls & Transparent Data
The load is measured in the cell level by comparing the occupied TCHs to the available TCHs
(20 s interval used)
Parameters & defaults
min traffic load for speech call (LTSC) = utranHoThScTpdc (range 0-100% , default 80%)
After a successful handover new handover for the same connection is not allowed in 30 seconds.
After an unsuccessful handover attempt it is not allowed to initiate a new handover attempt to the
same cell within time defined by the parameter min interval between unsucc ISHO attempt
(UMIU), = minIntUnsuccIsHo (range 0255 s , default 3 s)

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Hidden

Changeable

ISHO 2G -> 3G Parameters

13

Parameter

Specification
name

Nokia parameter

Range

Default value

min traffic load for speech call

LOAD_THRESHOLD_FOR_S
C_IS_HO

utranHoThScTpdc
(LTSC)

0-100%

80%

minimum CPICH Ec/Io level

MIN_ECNO_THRESHOLD

minEcnoThreshold

-240.5 dB

-15 dB

(MET)
min interval between unsucc ISHO
attempt

MIN_INTERVAL_BETWEEN
_UNSUCC_ISHO_ATTEMPT

minIntUnsuccIsHo
(UMIU)

0255 s

3s

threshold for multi-RAT MS

Qsearch_C

qSearchC (QSRC)

015

15 (never)
rec. 7 (always)

Specification name

Parameter explanation

Value range

Note

FDD_REP_QUANT

Indicates the reporting quantity for

UTRAN FDD cells

0=RSCP,
1=EC/NO

Not tunable,
Fixed value 1

3G_SEARCH_PRIO

Indicates if 3G cells may be searched

when BSIC decoding is required

0 = no,
1 = yes

Not tunable,
Fixed value 1

FDD_MULTIRAT_REPORTING

The number of cells from the access

technology/mode FDD that shall be
included in the measurement report

03

Not tunable,
Fixed value 2

Qsearch_C_Initial

Indicates the Qsearch value to be

used in connected mode before
Qsearch_C is received

0 = use Qsearch_I,
1 = (always)

Not tunable,
Fixed value 0

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Cell Reselection Algorithm from GSM to WCDMA

Re-selection measurements are controlled by the parameter threshold to search WCDMA RAN cells
(QSRI)
The parameter defines a threshold and also indicates whether these measurements are
performed when RLA_C (a running average of received signal level) of the serving GSM cell is
below or above the threshold
Pre-requisite for cell re-selection to UMTS is, that UTRAN carrier bands are included in the (GPRS)
3G Cell Reselection list. If so, the MS must update RLA_C (RLA_P) value for the serving GSM cell and
at least 6 strongest non serving GSM cells at least every 5 seconds.
Thereafter, the MS can re-select a suitable UTRAN cell if cell measured RSCP value exceeds for a
period of 5 seconds the value of RLA_C (RLA_P) for the serving cell and all of the suitable nonserving GSM cells by the value (GPRS) fdd cell reselect offset (fddQOffset/fddGprsQOffset)
In case a cell re-selection occurs within the previous 15 seconds, fdd cell reselect offset is
increased by 5 dB, where:
Ec/No and RSCP are the measured quantities
minimum fdd threshold and fdd cell reselect offset are broadcast on BCCH of the serving cell
For FDD the mobile selects the WCDMA cells, whose measured Ec/No value is equal or greater
than the value minimum fdd threshold (fddQMin/gprsFddQMin) .
Cell reselection to UTRAN shall not occur within 5 seconds after the MS has reselected a GSM cell
from an UTRAN cell if a suitable GSM cell can be found.
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Cell Reselection Algorithm from GSM to WCDMA

Cell Reselection List
BCCH: FddQmin, FddQOffset

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UE
UEwill
willre-select
re-selectWCDMA
WCDMAcell
cellinincase
caseit's
it's
quality
is
acceptable:
quality is acceptable:
CPICH
Ec/No
CPICH Ec/NoMinimum_FDD_Threshold
Minimum_FDD_Threshold
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05.08:This may take up to 30s

UE
UEcan
canselect
selectWCDMA
WCDMAcell
cellifif the
thelevel
levelofofthe
the
serving
GSM
and
non-serving
GSM
cells
has
serving GSM and non-serving GSM cells hasbeen
been
exceeded
by
certain
offset
for
a
period
of
5
exceeded by certain offset for a period of 5s:s:
CPICH
CPICHRSCP
RSCP>> RLA_C
RLA_C++
FDD_Cell_Reselect_Offset
FDD_Cell_Reselect_Offset

Check quality
of neighbour
WCDMA cells, no
priorities between
WCDMA
neighbours
16

minimum
minimumfdd
fdd
threshold
threshold==-12
-12dB
dB

UE
UEstarts
startsWCDMA
WCDMAmeasurements
measurementsififRxlev
Rxlev
running
average
(RLA_C)
is
below
or
above
running average (RLA_C) is below or above
certain
certainthreshold:
threshold:
RLA_C
#
Qsearch_I
and
RLA_C # Qsearch_I andQsearch_P
Qsearch_P(GPRS)
(GPRS)

Check levels every 5s

from serving GSM cell
and best 6 GSM
neighbour cells

Compare levels
of all GSM cells
to WCDMA
neighbour

DEFAULT:
DEFAULT:
fdd
fddcell
cellreselect
reselectoffset:
offset:
select
always
select always
(value
(valueisis-infinity)
-infinity)

WCDMA cell
reselection

Cell Reselection Measurements

Cell Reselection for Circuit Switched Services (Packet Switched Services)
A multi-RAT mobile phone reads the (GPRS) 3G Cell Reselection list, which may hold other RATs. The
network controls the cell reselection measurements by the parameter Qsearch_I (Qsearch_P), which
is broadcasted on the BCCH (PBCCH). The two parameters define thresholds, which tell the UE
whether measurements have to be performed when the RLA_C (RLA_P) of the serving cell is below
or above the threshold. GSM cell measurements are often conducted more frequently then interfrequency measurements to save battery power.
The MS identifies and selects the best UTRAN cell, given in the (GPRS) 3G Cell Reselection list, within
30 seconds. This holds, too, when several UTRAN cells of the same frequency are listed. This time
increases by 30 seconds for each additional UTRAN frequency band in the (GPRS) 3G Cell Reselection
list. The time limits are only valid under good radio conditions.
In the packet transfer mode, a MS must sent the first access to the best new UTRAN cell at latest
10+x seconds. x stands for the time required to read the relevant cell system information. The time
holds only, when no new GSM cell is activated and good radio conditions. The time increases by 5
seconds for each additional UTRAN carrier band listed in the GPRS 3G Cell Reselection list.

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Cell Reselection Measurements

Re-selection measurements are controlled by the parameter threshold to search WCDMA RAN
cells (QSRI)
The parameter defines a threshold and also indicates whether these measurements are
performed when RLA_C (a running average of received signal level) of the serving GSM
cell is below or above the threshold

GSM MS starts WCDMA measurements in case

running average signal (RLA_C) level is below or above
certain threshold:
RLA_C # Qsearch _I (Non GPRS)

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Cell Re-selection Example-Weaker WCDMA

Non GPRS case
RSCP/
RLA_C

Ec/No
Cell re-selection to WCDMA

RLA_C

Serving GSM Cell

Qsearch_I=0
(-98 dBm)
FDD_Qoffset =6 (-8 dB)

Measurements starts (serving cell)

FDD_Qmin=0
(-20 dB)

RSCP
Neighbour WCDMA Cell
Ec/N0

Minimum Quality Requirement for WCDMA

5 sec.

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Cell Re-selection Example-Weaker WCDMA

GPRS case

RSCP/
RLA_C

Ec/No
RLA_P
Cell re-selection to WCDMA

FDD_GPRS_Qoffset =10 (8 dB
Qsearch_P=0
(-98 dBm)

Serving GSM Cell (Best)

RSCP

Measurements starts (serving cell)

FDD_Qmin
=-20 dB
Neighbour WCDMA Cell

Ec/N0

Minimum Quality Requirement for WCDMA

t
5 sec.

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Cell Re-selection Parameters

Qsearch_I and Qsearch_P define the threshold for non-GPRS/GPRS (respectively) capable UEs to
measure 3G neighbour cells when a running average of the received downlink signal level (RLA_C)
of the serving cell is below (0-7) or above (8-15) the threshold
Value

10

14

15

dBm

-98

-94

-74

Always

-78

-74

-70

-54

Never

If RLA_C < -94 UE

starts 3G
measurements

If RLA_C > -70 UE

starts 3G
measurements

UE always measures
3G cells

UE never measures 3G
cells

FddQoffset and FddGprsOffset the non-GPRS/GPRS (respectively) capable UEs add this offset
to the RLA_C of the GSM cells. After that the UE compares the measured RSCP values of 3G
cells with signal levels of the GSM cells

21

Value

14

15

dBm

-32
(infinity)

-28

-24

-20

24

28

Always select
irrespective of RSCP
value
Nokia Siemens Networks

Reselect in case RSCP >

GSM RXLev (RLA_C)
+28dB
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Cell Re-selection Parameters

FddQmin, defines minimum Ec/No threshold that a 3G cell must exceed, in order the UE
makes a cell reselection from 2G to 3G. This is the new mapping table
Fdd_Qmin mapping
Aif parameter
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Fdd_Qmin (old) [dB] -20 -19 -18 -17 -16 -15 -14 -13
Fdd_Qmin (new) [dB] -20 -6 -18 -8 -16 -10 -14 -12

FDD_REP_QUANT defines the reporting quantity for UTRAN cell (1=Ec/No or 0=RSCP, default 1).
This parameter is hidden and it can not be tuned
3G_Search_PRIO parameter allows to extend the BSIC reporting interval from 10 s to 13s by
checking the BSICs from non-serving BCCH carriers and also make WCDMA measurements as
often as possible. Range is 0=no, 1=yes, default value .This parameter is hidden and it can
not be tuned

Defined in the SI2quater and PSI3quater if PBCCH is allocated

FDD_(GPRS)
FDD_REP_
3G_search_
FDD_(GPRS)
FDD_REP_
3G_search_
Parameter
Qsearch_I
Qsearch_P
Qsearch_P
FDD_QMin
Parameter Qsearch_IQsearch_PQsearch_PFDD_QMin Qoffset
QUANT
PRIO
Qoffset
QUANT
PRIO
2(3)quarter
Name
for
2(3)quarter
Name for 2quater 2quater 3quater
2ter
2quater
2ter
2quater
2quater
3quater
2ter
2quater
2ter
Sys
Info
(SI)
(PBCCH)
Sys Info (SI)
(PBCCH)
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Hidden

Changeable

Cell Re-selection Parameters

23

Parameter

Specification name

Nokia
parameter

Range/Default
value

Recommended
value

GPRS threshold to search

WCDMA RAN cells (QSRP)

Qsearch_P

qSearchP

015/
15 (never)

7 (always)

threshold to search WCDMA RAN

cells (QSRI)

Qsearch_I

qSearchI

015/
15 (never)

7 (always)

GPRS fdd cell reselect offset

(GFDD)

FDD_GPRS_Qoffset

FddGprsQoffset

-3228 dB/
-32 (infinity)

Same as default

FDD cell reselect offset (FDD)

FDD_Qoffset

FddQoffset

-3228 dB/
-32 (infinity)

Same as default

minimum fdd threshold (FDM)

FDD_Qmin

FddQmin

07 / 7 (-12 dB)

Same as default

Specification name

Parameter explanation

Value range

Note

FDD_REP_QUANT

Indicates the reporting quantity for

UTRAN FDD cells

0 = RSCP,
1 = EC/NO

Not tunable,
Fixed value 1

3G_SEARCH_PRIO

Indicates if 3G cells may be searched

when BSIC decoding is required

0 = no,
1 = yes

Not tunable,
Fixed value 1

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References
For this course module, following ETSI specifications were used:
TS 45.008 V5.21.0

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