Optimis xACP 2G AUTOMATIC CELL PLANNING

May 2009

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Optimi Product Portfolio 2009

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Automatic Cell Planning

What is xACP? xACP is a solution that optimizes the RF environment (for 2G):
RSSI Coverage Quality (C/I) Dominance Capacity

By potentially suggesting one or more of the following changes (on a sector by sector basis):
PA Power Antenna type Azimuth Mechanical tilt Electric tilt Antenna height

ACP = Optimization Agent + Scoring Mechanism

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Some of xACP main applications

Greenfield RF planning with minimum Capex expenditure Overlay of new technologies (e.g. WCDMA, LTE, WiMax) on top of existing 2G network reusing existing sites Optimization of RF environment during/after site consolidations exercises Capex savings in network growth scenarios Coverage/Quality/Capacity optimization in existing networks
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xACP advanced modeling of network KPI

xACP cost function allows the user to balance coverage, quality and capacity effectively, both for uplink and downlink. Capacity is a key KPI that xACP accounts for
Coverage and Quality/Dominance issues can be solved at the expense of creating boomers, which will reduce the capacity of 2G and 3G systems. xACP avoid this by producing the best network design that improves coverage, quality & capacity

xACP cost function

Coverage
0 1 0

Capacity
1 0

Quality
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Automatic Cell Planning process flow

Traffic Demand Antenna Patterns OSS Counters
Cell Site Configuration

GIS & clutter Data

Path Loss Data

Scan Drive Data

Coverage/Quality Metrics

Simulation / Measured Data

UL/DL Loading

xACP
User-defined Optimization Weights and Settings

Optimized Cell Site Configuration 6

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2G xACP modules
Optimi xACP is an Optimization suite that includes Optimization and Simulation modules:
ACP module optimizes the RF parameters (Antenna configuration & Power Settings) of the network by balancing coverage, quality and capacity while taking into account scheduling, and financial considerations OSS Based Solution offers a unique approach that integrates OSS counters to compensate path loss errors. Eliminates need to have accurate prediction models as a required input. OSS counters also provide loading conditions. Site Selection module is used for designing new networks or decommissioning sites of existing network by selecting the minimum number of sites needed to meet a target design service level for mix of services taking into account Capacity and HR/FR distribution

Neighbor List Optimization module that optimizes the neighbor list after ACP run that will change the coverage footprint of the sectors
2G Monte Carlo Static Simulator that predicts the QoS for GSM
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ACP Evolution: From Theory to Practice

Purely predictions based ACP

Very vulnerable to database errors and prediction inaccuracy

Interpolation of predictions and DT

Extra accuracy and robustness against database errors

High Scalability
Applicable to the whole network Easy to use Realistic work order

OSS Assisted ACP

Extra accuracy from real network data. Traffic maps from OSS data

OSS based ACP

No need for Drive Test Robust against database errors

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Drive Data Smoothing

Smoothing Target: Improving predictions in non-driven bins using drive data Interpolate the error between drive and prediction Interpolation must be practical Mathematical interpolation is not enough Driven bins averaged with different weights depending on the distance to the bin which is being smoothed Propagation Smoothing using drive data runs in minutes and not hours

Propagation Drive Data

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Smoothing Example
Best server before smoothing Best server after smoothing

Best server before smoothing with drive measurements

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xACP realistic work order

xACP generates a schedule of changes to optimize ROI and considering budget Changes grouped & sorted in order of importance in terms of performance improvement
In this way, the operator can decide the point at which it is not worth to keep on updating the network any longer.

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xACP realistic work order

Structured in such a way that a soft and safe transition path is provided, making sure that temporary network quality problems due to intermediate states associated with long lasting update operations are minimized :
Unlike frequency plans, RF plans cannot be implemented at once in a short period of time

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Site Selection
Given a set of site candidates to be decommissioned, it selects the optimal subset of candidates that fulfils a performance target Given a set of site candidates to be deployed, it selects the optimal subset that meet the performance targets Several usage cases: - Initial technology rollouts (UMTS, WiMAX, LTE...) - Two commercial network consolidation processes to select the optimal subset of sites - UMTS overlay over existing GSM site base - Joint xACP optimization plus site additions.
Final Design

Candidates

Site removed / added

Anchored Network

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High Scalability
xACP runs on large projects without artificially splitting them
Splitting the projects increases the complexity of managing ACP projects and analyzing the results The project cannot be easily divided into sub projects. No overlap between projects will yield a design that neglects interference from neighboring project, large overlap yields to increase in ACP run time

xACP runs on state wide projects (400km*400km) at high resolution (30m) in hours and not days!
Engineer can execute the ACP run overnight so that results are available in the morning to be analyzed Medium Size markets run in 3-4 hours

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Neighbor List Optimization

Missing neighbors are one of the main reasons for dropped calls New neighbor list has to be implemented after ACP run as the best server coverage changes Neighbor list optimization module allows the users to automatically create new neighbor list It allows the user to define neighbors based on overlap, co-site, distance etc. OSS neighbor measurements can be imported for extra accuracy

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OSS Based xACP concept

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ACP input data

Fundamental inputs to ACP:
1. Physical information LAT, LON for every site RF configuration for every sector Transmission powers 2. Raster data Elevation maps Clutter data Propagation predictions Traffic maps 3. Environment related information Indoor & clutter penetration losses Thermal noise level 4. Load factors DL traffic channel power Uplink NR
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OSS based ACP input data

Fundamental inputs to ACP:
1. Physical information LAT, LON for every site RF configuration for every sector Transmission powers 2. Raster data Elevation maps Clutter data Propagation predictions Traffic maps 3. Environment related information Indoor penetration losses Thermal noise level 4. Load factors DL traffic channel power Uplink NR
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Usually based on estimations and/or inaccurate assumptions

If taken from OSS counters Boost accuracy Cost effective: no probes, etc.

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ACP process flow

Planning tool OSS
Traffic Map Path Loss (pred, DT) Elev & clutter Antenna Patterns Cell Site Config

User-defined Optimization Objectives and Settings

xACP Simulation engine

UL/DL Loading

Coverage/Quality Metrics

xACP optimization engine xACP

Optimized Cell Site Configuration

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OSS based ACP process flow

Planning tool OSS
OSS KPIS DL/UL Load Traffic Map Traffic Elev & clutter Path Loss (pred, DT) Antenna Patterns Cell Site Config

User-defined Optimization Objectives and Settings

xACP Simulation engine

Coverage/Quality Metrics

xACP optimization engine xACP

Optimized Cell Site Configuration

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2G OSS Interface
Import Interference Matrix and RxLev-RxQual data (from xAFP project)

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2G OSS Interface
Import Time delay information (timing advance)

Adjust Coverage and interference:

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OSS based traffic map generation

Create a demand grid traffic with sector specific traffic from OSS
Using polygons to spread the traffic Using clutter weights Using prop delay information

With timing information

More realistic traffic maps

Without timing information

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Dominance View
Dominance Raster view

Dominance Delta view (predictions vs OSS)

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Accurate RSSI and C/I rasters

It is well-known the propagation predictions may contain inaccuracies that, if severe, can seriously jeopardize the entire optimization process. Statistical KPIs from OSS are used to better match the measured data and thus, user experience.
Better match RSSI holes and C/I or dominance problems

Main advantages of OSS based ACP are therefore two-fold: Reduction or even elimination of the need for drive tests Possibility to capture the real user experienced radio conditions (indoor losses, traffic distributions)

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Accurate RSSI and C/I rasters

Coverage holes detected after evaluating raw predictions with a threshold of -80dBm

Coverage holes detected with OSS based ACP

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xAFP and 2G OSS-based xACP

Antenna changes
Sector 1 ET 1 2 Sector 4 ET 3 1 Sector 5 ET 4 6 OSS stats OSS stats Scaled OSS stats New frequency plan + NL optimization

xAFP

OSS based ACP

xAFP

QoS baseline

QoS after ACP

QoS after AFP

2G simulator
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Automated scaling of IM and RxLev data for AFP execution after OSS based ACP
Update RxLev histogram per cell Generate IM from scaled predictions

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Basic 2G ACP OSS based case: Live Network Optimization in a European City July 2008

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OSS Based ACP Example: Pilot Europe

2G optimization, Siemens:

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AZI and M-TILT were optimized with 2G OSS based ACP Schedule of changes sorted by importance and sites was provided Neighbor list optimization also done Retune1 : part of MMR collection after physical changes Retune2 : MMR collected after physical changes implemented
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2G performance analysis based on OSS KPIs Improvements table

Overall 2G performance improvement was perceived. Quality improvement comes from dominance and C/I cleaning which was achieved with azimuth and M-Tilt optimization.
KPI

Optimi
8668 Erl
0.36% 96.14% 97.02%

Baseline
7932 Erl
0.41% 95.50% 96.21%

Gain
9%
16 % 14 % 20 %

CS traffic (Erl)
CS Call Drop Rate (%) Good DL Quality Share (%) Good UL Quality Share (%)

Bad DL Quality Share (%)

Bad UL Quality Share (%) HO Best Cell Share (%) HO DL Quality Share (%)

2.90%
2.01% 89.02% 4.62%

3.37%
2.66% 87.49% 5.54%

14 %
23 % 15 % 22 %

HO UL Quality Share (%)

3.71%

4.26%

15 %

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Summary
xACP is a key optimization solution for mobile operators and will be even more in the future with the introduction of new technologies, Optimis xACP goes beyond optimizing a design and showing improvements in a planning tool. The advanced interfaces and feature set included in xACP makes it possible to integrate it smoothly in any operators process. xACP uses advanced modeling and innovative sources of information for extra accuracy and better usability. This allows xACP to be a fully operational tool without even requiring drive test data.

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