UMTS Cell Selection and

Reselection
ZTE University

Content

Strategy of PLMN Selection

Strategy of Cell Selection and Reselection
Strategy of LA and RA Update
Strategy of URA Update
Strategy of CELL Update

UE Registers upon Switch-on

Strategy of PLMN Selection

The USIM maintains a list of allowed PLMN types. During

PLMN selection and reselection, based on the list of
allowed PLMN types and a list of PLMN identities in priority
order, the particular PLMN may be selected either
automatically or manually. The UE will select a PLMN
when it registers at power-on or re-registers after leaving
connected mode. In addition, the UE can make periodic
PLMN selection.

Support for PLMN Selection

The UE scans all RF channels according to its capabilities

to find available PLMNs. On each carrier, the UE shall
search for the strongest cell and read its system
information. The allowed PLMN information in USIM
determines which PLMN will be selected finally.
Whenever a UE is switched on or re-registers after leaving
connected mode, it attempts to camp on the last registered
PLMN. If there is no registered PLMN stored in the USIM,
the UE selects and attempts registration on other PLMNs
using either the automatic mode or the manual mode.
Once the UE has selected a PLMN, the cell selection
procedure will be performed in order to select a suitable
cell of that PLMN to camp on.

PLMN Selection-Automatic Mode

Manual PLMN Selection Mode

The UE displays all PLMNs that it finds by scanning all

frequency carriers. The UE displays those PLMNs that are
allowed as well as those that are not allowed. The user
makes a manual selection, according to the available
access technology for the chosen PLMN, and the UE
attempts registration on this PLMN.
If the user selects an available PLMN in the forbidden
PLMN list, the UE attempts to register and may receive a
positive acknowledgement from the CN. In this case, the
PLMN is removed from the forbidden list.

Roaming

Roaming is a service through which a UE is able to obtain

services from another PLMN than the HPLMN. The
behavior that the UE must follow is specified by
agreements among the network operators. A UE in
automatic mode, having selected and registered on a
VPLMN, periodically attempts to return to its HPLMN. The
time interval between consecutive attempts is stored in the
USIM. The timer may have a value of between 6 minutes
and 8 hours, with a step size of 6 minutes. In the absence
of a fixed value, a default value of 30 minutes is used by
the UE.

Content

Strategy of PLMN Selection

Strategy of Cell Selection and Reselection
Strategy of LA and RA Update
Strategy of URA Update
Strategy of CELL Update

Strategy of Cell Selection and Reselection

For normal service, the UE has to camp on a suitable cell,

tune to that cell's control channel(s) so that the UE can:

Receive system information from the PLMN;

Receive registration area information from the PLMN, e.g., location
area and routing area;
Identify to which service area as specified by NAS that the serving
cell belongs.
Receive other AS and NAS Information;
Receive paging and notification messages from the PLMN;
Initiate call setup for outgoing calls or other actions from the UE.

Cell Selection and Reselection (A)

To B

Cell Selection and Reselection (B)

From A

Cell selection criteria-Rule S

Srxlev > 0 AND Squal > 0
Squal Qqualmeas Qqualmin
Srxlev Qrxlevmeas Qrxlevmin
Pcompensation

Qqualmeas Measured cell quality value. The quality of the received

signal expressed in CPICH Ec/No (dB).
Qrxlevmeas Measured cell RX level value. The quality of the received
signal expressed in CPICH RSCP (dBm).
Qqualmin Minimum required quality level in the cell (dB).
Qrxlevmin Minimum required RX level in the cell (dBm).
Pcompensation max(UE_TXPWR_MAX_RACH P_MAX, 0) (dB)
UE_TXPWR_MAX_RACH Maximum TX power level on RACH (dBm)
P_MAX Maximum RF output power of the UE (dBm)

Camped Normally State

Select and monitor the indicated PICH and PCH of the cell
according to information sent in system information.
Monitor relevant system information.
Perform necessary measurements for the cell reselection
evaluation procedure.
Execute the cell reselection evaluation process.

Measurement rules for cell re-selection

If Sx > SIntraSearch, UE does not measure intra-frequency cells.

If Sx <= Sintrasearch, UE measure intra-frequency cells.
If Sintrasearch is not broadcast, UE measure intra-frequency cells.
Whether to broadcast Sintrasearch or not is controlled by SintrasearchPre.

If Sx > Sintersearch, UE does not measure inter-frequency cells.

If Sx <= Sintersearch, UE measure inter-frequency cells.
If Sintersearch is not broadcast, UE measure inter-frequency cells.
Whether to broadcast Sintersearch or not is controlled by SintersearchPre.

If Sx > SSearchRat, UE does not measure inter-RAT cells.

If Sx <= SSearchRat, UE measure inter-RAT cells.
If SsearchRat is not broadcast, UE measure inter-RAT cells. Whether to
broadcast SsearchRat or not is controlled by OtherRATInfoPre.

Where, Sx is Squal.

Cell reselection criteria-Rule R

Rs Qmap,s + Qhyst,s
Rn Qmap,n
Qoffsets,n

Qmap,s Mapping value of serving cell quality measurement.

Qmap,n Mapping value of neighbor cell quality measurement
Qhyst1s Hysteresis value when measurement value is CPICH RSCP.
Qhyst2s Hysteresis value when measurement value is CPICH Ec/No.
Qoffset1s,n Cell reselection offset when measurement value is CPICH
RSCP.
Qoffset2s,n Cell reselection offset when measurement value is CPICH
Ec/No.
The new cell is better ranked than the serving cell during a time interval
Treselection according to the R criteria.
More than 1 second has elapsed since the UE camped on the current serving
cell.

Intra-Frequency Cell Re-Selection

Inter-RAT Cell Re-Selection

Inter-RAT Cell Re-Selection

Yes

Quality measure for Cell Selection and

Reselection

Parameter Name

QualMeas

Description

This parameter indicates the quality measure for cell selection

and reselection.

Range and Step

1: CPICH Ec/No
2: CPICH RSCP

Default Value

Configuration
Path

View->Configuration Management->RNC NE->RNC Radio

Resource Management->UltranCell->UltranCellXXX->Modify
Advanced Parameter-> Cell Selection and Reselection ->
Measurement Quality for Cell Selection and Reselection

Minimum Required Quality Level in the Cell

Parameter Name

QQualMin

Description

This parameter indicates the minimum required quality level of

the cell which satisfies the condition of being selected or
reselected by UE. When the quality measure is CPICH Ec/No,
only the measured quality of the cell is over Qqualmin can the
cell be selected. Its -18dB by default.If value of the parameter
is increased, its harder for the cell to satisfy the condition of
being selected.If value of the parameter is decreased, its
easier for the cell to satisfy the condition of being selected.

Range and Step

-24 0 dB step 1dB

-18dB

Default Value
Configuration
Path

View->Configuration Management->RNC NE->RNC Radio

Resource Management->UtranCell->UtranCellXX->Modify
Advanced Parameter->Cell Selection and Reselection>Qqualmin-offset

Minimum Required Received Level in the Cell

Parameter Name

QRxLevMin

Description

This parameter indicates the minimum required received

power level of the cell which satisfies the condition of being
selected or reselected by UE. When the quality measure is
CPICH RSCP, only the measured received power level of the
cell is over Qrxlevmin can the cell be selected. If value of the
parameter is increased, its harder for the cell to satisfy the
condition of being selected. If value of the parameter is
decreased, its easier for the cell to satisfy the condition of
being selected.

Range and Step

-115 -25 dBm step 2dBm

-115dBm

Default Value
Configuration
Path

View->Configuration Management->RNC NE->RNC Radio

Resource Management->UtranCell->UtranCellXX->Modify
Advanced Parameter->Cell Selection and Reselection>Minimum Required Received Level in the Cell (Qrxlevmin)

Maximum Allowed UL TX Power of RACH

Parameter Name

MaxRACHTxPwr

Description

This parameter indicates the maximum allowed UL

transmission power of RACH.If value of configuration is
increased, the maximum allowed UL transmission power of
RACH increases.If value of configuration is decreased, the
maximum allowed UL transmission power of RACH
decreases.

Range and Step

-50 33 dBm
24dBm

Default Value
Configuration
Path

View->Configuration Management->RNC NE->RNC Radio

Resource Management->UltranCell->UltranCellXXX->Modify
Advanced Parameter->Prach->Maximum Allowed UL TX
Power of RACH

Sintrasearch Configuration Tag

Parameter Name

SIntraSearchPre

Description

This parameter is a switch indicating whether Sintrasearch is

configured or not. If the value is False, Sintrasearch is not
configured to UE and UE performs periodical intra-frequency
measurement. If the value is True, Sintrasearch is configured to
UE, and UE judges whether to perform the intra-frequency
measurement.

Range and Step

False: Not configured to UE.

True: Configured to UE.

Default Value

True: Configured to UE.

Configuration
Path

View->Configuration Management->RNC NE->RNC Radio

Resource Management->UltranCell->UltranCellXXX->Modify
Advanced Parameter->Cell Selection and Reselection->
Sintrasearch Configuration Tag

Intra-Frequency Measurement Trigger

Threshold for Cell Reselection

Parameter Name

Sintrasearch

Description

This parameter indicates the intra-frequency measurement triggering

threshold for cell reselection (Sintrasearch) used by UE to judge whether
intra-frequency measurement should be performed. When HCS is not
used, if the quality of serving cell exceeds Sintrasearch, UE doesnt perform
intra-frequency measurement. If the quality of serving cell is not larger
than Sintrasearch or if Sintrasearch is not configured, UE performs intrafrequency measurement. Sintrasearch is delivered to the UE, if its value is
increased, its easier for the UE to trigger intra-frequency measurement.
If value of the parameter is decreased, its harder for the UE to trigger
intra-frequency measurement.

Range and Step

0 20 dB Step 2dB

Default Value

14dB

Configuration Path

View->Configuration Management->RNC NE->RNC Radio Resource

Management->UltranCell->UltranCellXXX->Modify Advanced
Parameter->Cell Selection and Reselection->Intra-Frequency
Measurement Trigger Threshold for Cell Reselection (Sintrasearch)

Sintersearch Configuration Tag

Parameter Name

SInterSearchPre

Description

This parameter is a switch which indicates whether Sintersearch is

configured or not. If the value is False, Sintersearch is not
configured to UE and UE performs periodical inter-frequency
measurement. If the value is True, Sintersearch is configured to
UE, and UE judges whether to perform the inter-frequency
measurement.

Range and Step

False: Not configured to UE.

True: Configured to UE.

Default Value

True: Configured to UE.

Configuration
Path

View->Configuration Management->RNC NE->RNC Radio

Resource Management->UltranCell->UltranCellXXX->Modify
Advanced Parameter->Cell Selection and Reselection>Sintersearch Configuration Tag

Inter-Frequency Measurement Trigger

Threshold for Cell Reselection

Parameter Name

Sintersearch

Description

This parameter indicates the inter-frequency measurement triggering

threshold for cell reselection (Sintersearch) used by UE to judge whether
inter-frequency measurement should be performed. When HCS is not
used, if the quality of serving cell exceeds Sintersearch, UE doesnt perform
inter-frequency measurement. If the quality of serving cell is not larger
than Sintersearch or if Sintersearch is not configured, UE performs interfrequency measurement. When Sintersearch is delivered to the UE, if its
value is increased, its easier for the UE to trigger inter-frequency
measurement. If value of the parameter is decreased, its harder for the
UE to trigger inter-frequency measurement.

Range and Step

0 20 dB Step 2dB

Default Value

10dB

Configuration Path

View->Configuration Management->RNC NE->RNC Radio Resource

Management->UltranCell->UltranCellXXX->Modify Advanced
Parameter->Cell Selection and Reselection->Inter-Frequency
Measurement Trigger Threshold for Cell Reselection (Sintersearch)

Inter-system Information Configuration Tag

Parameter Name

OtherRATInfoPre

Description

This parameter is a switch indicating whether inter-RAT

information parameters used for cell reselection are
configured or not. If the value is False, inter-RAT information
parameters are not configured to UE and UE performs
periodical inter-RAT measurement. If the value is True, interRAT information parameters are configured to UE, and UE
judges whether to perform the inter-RAT measurement.

Range and Step

False: Not configured to UE.

True: Configured to UE.

Default Value

True: Configured to UE.

Configuration
Path

View->Configuration Management->RNC NE->RNC Radio

Resource Management->UltranCell->UltranCellXXX->Modify
Advanced Parameter->Cell Selection and Reselection->InterSystem Information Configuration Tag

Inter-System Measurement Trigger Threshold

for Cell Reselection

Parameter Name

Ssearch,RAT

Description

This parameter indicates the inter-RAT measurement triggering

threshold for cell reselection (Ssearch,RAT) used by UE to judge whether
inter-RAT measurement should be performed. When HCS is not used,
if the quality of serving cell exceeds Ssearch,RAT, UE may choose to not
perform inter-RAT measurement. If the quality of serving cell is not
larger than Ssearch,RAT or if Ssearch,RAT is not configured, UE performs interRAT measurement. When Ssearch,RAT is delivered to the UE, if its value is
increased, its easier for the UE to trigger inter-RAT measurement. If
value of the parameter is decreased, its harder for the UE to trigger
inter-RAT measurement.

Range and Step

0 20 dB Step 2dB

Default Value

6dB

Configuration Path

View->Configuration Management->RNC NE->RNC Radio Resource

Management->UltranCell->UltranCellXXX->Modify Advanced
Parameter->Cell Selection and Reselection->Inter-System
Measurement Trigger Threshold for Cell Reselection (Ssearch,RAT)

Reselection Hysteresis 1 of Serving Cell

Parameter Name

Qhyst1s

Description

This parameter indicates the hysteresis value for FDD cells in

case the quality measure for cell selection and reselection is
set to CPICH RSCP. In cell-ranking criterion R of cell
reselection, the R value of serving cell equals to the measured
value plus the hysteresis value. If value of the parameter is
increased, its harder to trigger cell reselection as the R value
of the serving cell will increase. If value of the parameter is
decreased, its easier to trigger cell reselection as the R value
of the serving cell will decrease.

Range and Step

0 40 dB step 2dB
10dB

Default Value
Configuration
Path

View->Configuration Management->RNC NE->RNC Radio

Resource Management->UltranCell->UltranCellXXX->Modify
Advanced Parameter->Cell Selection and Reselection->
Reselection Hysteresis 1 of Serving Cell (QHyst1s)

Reselection Hysteresis 2 of Serving Cell

Parameter Name

Qhyst2s

Description

This parameter indicates the hysteresis value for FDD cells in

case the quality measure for cell selection and reselection is
set to CPICH Ec/No. In cell-ranking criterion R of cell
reselection, the R value of serving cell equals to the measured
value plus Qhyst2s. If value of the parameter is increased, its
harder to trigger cell reselection as the R value of the serving
cell will increase. If value of the parameter is decreased, its
easier to trigger cell reselection as the R value of the serving
cell will decrease.

Range and Step

0 40 dB step 2dB
2dB

Default Value
Configuration
Path

View->Configuration Management->RNC NE->RNC Radio

Resource Management->UltranCell->UltranCellXXX->Modify
Advanced Parameter->Cell Selection and Reselection->
Reselection Hysteresis 2 of Serving Cell (QHyst2s)

Quality Offset 1 Between Serving Cell and

Neighbouring Cell

Parameter Name

Qoffset1s,n

Description

This parameter indicates the quality offset of the serving cell and
neighbor cell when the quality measure is CPICH RSCP. This
parameter is required when queues cells in the cell reselection rule.
This parameter is broadcast to UE in SIB11. R of neighbor cell =
measured signal quality of neighbor cell - this offset. If value of the
parameter is increased, its harder to trigger cell reselection as the R
value of the neighbor cell will decrease. If value of the parameter is
decreased, its easier to trigger cell reselection as the R value of
neighbor cell will probably increase.

Range and Step

OMCR -50 50 dB
RNC D=P+50 0 100
0dB

Default Value
Configuration Path

View->Configuration Management->RNC NE->RNC Radio Resource

Management->UltranCell->UltranCellXXX->Neighbouring Cell ->
Advanced Parameter Manager-> Quality Offset 1(Qoffset1s,n ) Between
Serving Cell and Neighbouring Cell Broadcasted in SIB11

Quality Offset 2 Between Serving Cell and

Neighbouring Cell

Parameter Name

Qoffset2s,n

Description

This parameter indicates the quality offset of the serving cell and
neighbor cell when the quality measure is CPICH Ec/No. This
parameter is required when queues cells in the cell reselection rule.
This parameter is broadcast to UE in SIB11. R of neighbor cell =
measured signal quality of neighbor cell - this offset. If value of the
parameter is increased, its harder to trigger cell reselection as the R
value of the neighbor cell will decrease. If value of the parameter is
decreased, its easier to trigger cell reselection as the R value of
neighbor cell will increase.

Range and Step

OMCR -50 50 dB
RNC D=P+50 0 100
0dB

Default Value
Configuration Path

View->Configuration Management->RNC NE->RNC Radio Resource

Management->UltranCell->UltranCellXXX-> Neighbouring Cell ->
Advanced Parameter Manager-> Quality Offset 2(Qoffset2s,n ) Between
Serving Cell and Neighbouring Cell Broadcasted in SIB11

Cell Reselection Timer Value

Parameter Name

Treselections

Description

This parameter indicates the cell reselection timer value. UE

will reselect the new cell if the new cell is best ranked
according to the criterion R during a time interval indicated by
Treselection and the new cell can be selected as new serving
cell only after extension of the reselection timer. If value of the
parameter is increased, its harder to trigger cell reselection. If
value of the parameter is decreased, its easier to trigger cell
reselection.

Range and Step

0 31 s step 1s
1s

Default Value
Configuration
Path

View->Configuration Management->RNC NE->RNC Radio

Resource Management->UltranCell->UltranCellXXX->Modify
Advanced Parameter->Cell Selection and Reselection->Cell
Reselection Timer Value (Treselections)

Cell Barred Indicator

Parameter Name

CellBarredInd

Description

This parameter is cell barred indicator. If the cell barred

indicator is set to Barred, UEs are not permitted to select/reselect this cell, even for emergency calls.

Range and Step

1: Barred
2: Not Barred

Default Value

2: Not Barred

Configuration
Path

View->Configuration Management->RNC NE->RNC Radio

Resource Management->UltranCell->UltranCellXXX->Modify
Advanced Parameter->Cell Selection and Reselection->Cell
Barred Indicator

Intra-frequency Cell Reselection Indicator

Parameter Name

InFreqReselInd

Description

This parameter is intra-frequency cell reselection indicator. If

cell is barred, if the value of this parameter is Allowed, UE is
allowed to select other intra-frequency cell in case it satisfies
the cell selection/relection condition. If it is set Not Allowed,
when cell is barred, UE will not select another intra-frequency
cell.

Range and Step

0: Allowed
1: Not Allowed

Default Value

0: Allowed

Configuration
Path

View->Configuration Management->RNC NE->RNC Radio

Resource Management->UltranCell->UltranCellXXX-> Cell
Selection and Reselection -> Cell Selection and ReselectionX> Advanced Parameter Manager-> Intra-frequency Cell
Reselection Indicator

Broadcast in either SIB11 or SIB11bis

Parameter Name

Sib11orSib11bis

Description

This parameter indicates UTRAN neighbour cells are

broadcast in either SIB11 or SIB11bis, the default parameter is
SIB11. If there are so many neighbour cells, and the size of
system message larger than 3552bit, select part of cells
broadcast in SIB11bis

Range and Step

0: SIB11
1: SIB11bis

Default Value

0: SIB11

Configuration
Path

View->Configuration Management->RNC NE->RNC Radio

Resource Management->UltranCell->neighbouring cellXXX>Broadcast in either SIB11 or SIB11bis

Measurement Priority of Neighboring Cell

Parameter Name

MeasPrio

Description

This parameter indicates the measurement priority of the

neighboring cell. The smaller value it is, the higher priority the
cell has.

Range and Step

02
0

Default Value
Configuration
Path

View->Configuration Management->RNC NE->RNC Radio

Resource Management->UltranCell->neighbouring cellXXX>Measurement Priority of Neighboring Cell

Content

Strategy of PLMN Selection

Strategy of Cell Selection and Reselection
Strategy of LA and RA Update
Strategy of URA Update
Strategy of CELL Update

Strategy of LA and RA Update

If the LAI or RAI read from system information are different

from those stored in USIM before the UE switches off, the
UE will perform LA or RA update.
When the UE in IDLE mode moves to a new LA or RA or
PLMN, it will perform update.
The process of LA or RA update is controlled by CN and is
transparently transmitted as the RAN is concerned.
There are three types of update: normal update, periodic
update and IMSI attach and detach.

LA and RA Structure

The LA is an area to which the CN sends a paging

message for circuit switched service and the RA is an area
to which the CN sends a paging message for packet
switched services. Each area, LA or RA, may consist of
several cells of one or more RNC, which are connected to
the same core network. Each cell could belong to only one
LA and one RA.

Normal LA and RA Updating

Normal update is performed when the UE moves in a cell

belonging to a new LA or RA. The UE reads the LAI and
the RAI in the system information and detects that one or
both of the received area identities differ from the ones
stored on the USIM. If the LAI or RAI received from the
system information is not in the forbidden LAIs or RAIs list,
an LA or RA update request is sent by the UE.

Periodic LA and RA Updating

Periodic LA and RA updating is used to notify the network

of the UEs availability, and to avoid unnecessary paging
attempts for a UE that has lost coverage and is not able to
inform the CN that it is inactive. The periodic LA update
procedure is controlled by a timer, called t3212, whose
value is sent to UEs with broadcast message. The periodic
RA update is controlled by a timer, called t3312, whose
value is sent by the CN to the UE in the IMSI attach or in
the routing area update message accept.

Location Update Flow

System Information
RRC Connection Setup

NAS Connection

RRC Connection Release

IMSI Attach/Detach

the UE sends an attach or detach message when it is

powered on or off indicating whether the UE is active or
inactive. The CN avoids performing paging attempts when
IMSI detach is applied and the UE is switched off. When
the UE is switched on, the UE performs a location
registration request, indicating IMSI attach, if it is in the
same LA or RA in which it was switched off. If the
registration area is changed, a normal LA update is
performed by the UE.

Content

Strategy of PLMN Selection

Strategy of Cell Selection and Reselection
Strategy of LA and RA Update
Strategy of URA Update
Strategy of CELL Update

Strategy of URA Update

If the new cell that the UE camps on is not in the same

URA area as the former cell that the UE camps on, the
URA Update is triggered.
The UE enters a cell that has no URAs defined. This will
trigger a release of the RRC Connection and the UE enters
Idle mode.

Process of URA Update

UE

UTRAN
URA UPDATE
URA UPDATE CONFIRM

UE

UTRAN
URA UPDATE
RRC CONNECTION RELEASE

Content

Strategy of PLMN Selection

Strategy of Cell Selection and Reselection
Strategy of LA and RA Update
Strategy of URA Update
Strategy of CELL Update

Strategy of CELL Update

Cell reselection in state CELL_FACH.

Radio link failure in state CELL_DCH.
T305 periodic cell update.
The UE in state URA_PCH sends data in uplink.
The UE in state CELL_FACH/CELL_DCH detects that an
RLC unrecoverable error of AM RLC entity.

Process of CELL Update

UE

UTRAN
CELL UPDATE
CELL UPDATE CONFIRM

UE

UTRAN
CELL UPDATE
CELL UPDATE CONFIRM

UE

UTRAN
CELL UPDATE
CELL UPDATE CONFIRM
RADIO BEARER
RECONFIGURATION COMPLETE

PHYSICAL CHANNEL RECONFIGURATION COMPLETE