3G Handover parameter optimization

October 2013

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Nokia Siemens Networks 2011

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Mobility Robustness Optimization versus

Handover Optimization
Mobility Robustness for LTE:
Target to prevent too early/too late HOs and ping pong
By optimizing the handover parameters for execution criteria
Mobility Robustness for WCDMA
Target to prevent too early/too late HOs and ping pong
Specified in 3GPP as RRM functionality for RNCs
For WCDMA intra-frequency soft handover and hard handover
For WCDMA inter-frequency and inter-system hard handovers
Has been available since early days of WCDMA, even not called as
Mobility Robustness Optimization
The same as LTE MRO is not needed for WCDMA any more
Currently there are other reasons for optimizing handover settings for
WCDMA
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Motivation to pay attention to 3G HO parameters

1) Need to make the current neighbors to work better

When optimizing 3G neighbors very often the conclusion after identified the
poor neighbors is to keep them but to optimize the behavior

Increase the amount of handovers

Improve handover performance

By optimizing radio conditions

Or by optimizing handover parameter settings

2) Need to ensure data call performance also through cell-reselection

Different re-selection criteria are applied for different types of cells and
handover directions

3) Need to managing the traffic steering in overlapping network layers

In order to maximize the utilization of network resources or use them

according to operator strategy, there is a need to control what traffic is served
in each layer and how

Need to optimize UE handling in idle and connected mode

Need to optimize handover triggering criteria

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Nokia Siemens Networks 2011

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Full process for handover optimization available

NetAct Optimizer current release supports WCDMA HO optimization process
Actual network situation can be easily analyzed in one view
Overlapping cell layers and neighbors, from different vendors
Performance of cells and neighbors can be viewed or
automatically analyzed
KPI analysis Traffic in classes, HO statistics
Cell pair level signal overlap analysis
Geo-KPI analysis for area troubleshooting
Current HO settings

Neighbor relations can be optimized

Creation, deletion, list length optimization
for all neighbor types based on
measurements

Radio conditions can be optimized

Signal overlap situation can be
improved to enable successful handovers

Handover parameters can be manually modified

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Nokia Siemens Networks 2011

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Automated WCDMA Handover optimization

An optimization algorithm added in NetAct Optimizer to
Identify the WCDMA intra-frequency and inter-frequency neighbors
where handover performance is not on target level
Clarify the root cause for the poor handover performance
Propose better parameter values for handover triggering

Algorithm considers both speech and data calls separately

Visual methods enhanced to evaluate the
algorithm impact to network
Optimizer functionality is controlled via SON Operations Manager
to enable highly automated process
Triggering criteria for algorithm execution can be set
Ability to control the execution order of the alternative algorithm
E.g. whether poorly working neighbors are deleted or if they are optimizer

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Controlled Traffic Steering

in Heterogeneous Networks
October 2013

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Nokia Siemens Networks 2011

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Operator strategies/targets with multiple

overlapping radio networks
Most of the operators have radio network from multiple vendors and multiple
technologies covering the same area
GSM 900 and GSM1800
WCDMA several frequencies
LTE spots or seamless coverage
Large umbrella cells, small micro cells,
even pico cells and femto cells

Via the overlapping coverage they are usually targeting to

Seamless coverage
Adequate capacity in general
Adequate capacity for specific value added traffic (services, subscribers)
Operator strategies in investing on all the layers and using these are very different
In order to use the investment according to strategy it must be possible to
monitor and control on how the traffic is moved across the network layers
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Traffic Steering layers

Service Mgmt
The service and subscriber dimension,

Management of Traffic Steering

Optimize

Control

Monitor

Service Mgmt
Resource Mgmt
Automation

Resource Mgmt
Monitor NW QoS, usage and capacity
Control the configuration of network

radio
macro
3G
LTE

Small cells

transport

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Nokia Siemens Networks 2011

traffic steering functionalities for desired

outcome, e.g. priorities
Optimize the relevant parameters, e.g.
triggering thresholds,

Network functionalities
Steering of traffic to the desired layers
Based on e.g. priorities, services, UE,

core

2G

QoE
Control from the service layer, e.g.
policies, subscriptions,

Dept. / Author / Date

coverage and load

Requires control
Distributed functions and intelligence

Traffic Steering in heterogeneous networks

Traffic steering targets in load balancing and
improving the subscriber performance by
forwarding the traffic efficiently between the
network layers based on available
information

UE / network capability
Requested service, QoS/QoE KPIs, QoS
differentiation
Cell load
Power consumption in UE and BTS
UE measurements
UE speed and mobility

Traffic steering in idle mode

Traffic steering in connected mode

Direct idle devices to the preferred active state use

layer to avoid unnecessary handovers and pingpong for improved network service quality
Layer selection is steered by adjusting measurement
rules, cell reselection priorities, thresholds and
offsets
Criteria for layer selection: device capability and
penetration, UE velocity and cell load

Pushing the active calls to the appropriate layer

according the session characteristics and
network capability
Layer change is usually based on handover and
cell reselection criteria
Criteria for layer selection: used services, UE
velocity, UE and network capabilities matching,
load in source and target cells, signal strength

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Nokia Siemens Networks 2011

Traffic Management functionality for Optimizer

Traffic management starts by seamless analysis of the network and traffic
conditions
All radio technologies and inter-system traffic
Traffic class analysis in each geographical area
All relevant domains like radio and transport

Traffic management functionality is handled in two levels

1. Target behavior setting by optimizing idle mode parameters

To ensure the right types of calls are activated in the right network layer
User controlled adjustment for the cell selection criteria
Algorithm analyses the network based on statistics and according the given control
criteria sets the optimal parameters

2. Traffic management principles for active calls

To help network elements to execute traffic steering according to operator strategy
Adjustments for Handover or cell reselection criteria are made based on network
performance and given control criteria

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Nokia Siemens Networks 2011

Traffic Management capabilities in Optimizer today

NetAct Optimizer in OSS5.3 releases onwards provides a good base line for
managing the traffic steering in multi-radio network
Complete view to all overlapping network layers
Optimizer provides one view to see 2G,3G and LTE network of any vendor
Network settings like neighbors or performance like traffic can be presented in the
common view

Means to analyze the capacity utilization from end to end

Optimizer provides automated functionality to check the capacity bottlenecks in

the network now or near future

In radio and transmission domain

Means to adjust the traffic steering related parameters manually

In the current Optimizer the changes to parameters can be done manually and
provisioned automatically
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Nokia Siemens Networks 2011

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Balancing traffic load between GSM & WCDMA in a

capital area
The problem of one of the leading operators in Europe was to balance the load
between GSM and WCDMA
NetAct Optimizer was used to analyze the
network behavior in both layers
Problematic cells were identified using
the data provided in Optimizer

Measurement based signal overlap and interference

analysis executed for GSM and WCDMA

neighbors, handover attempts, traffic in cells and handovers

signal strength and quality measurements from UEs,

propagation delay, timing advance

Identification and elimination of the

overshooting signals executed
We met the target.
The network was clearly stabilized and
forced handover amount decreased.
Optimizer provides unique visibility
and easy analysis of WCDMA behavior
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Analysis of an interferer:
RSCP Threshold > -95, Distance >1km
prioritized with number of interference
samples
Problematic cells are ones with most
measured interference pairs