C AS E STUDY

ST U DY
CASE

PREDICTING COVERAGE AND SIMULATING NETWORK DESIGN WITH QUEST

Delivering technical evaluations and services to operators

COMPANY
- Operator in North America

Qualcomm Corporate Engineerings ESG

helps operators to manage network coverage
and capacity more effectively using their
proprietary QUEST simulation tool.

- Nationwide deployment of UMTS/HSPA

SITUATION
u

SITUATION

Performing indoor network coverage and capacity analysis

The operator lacked tools for predicting data traffic at a high attendance
sporting event and looked to Qualcomm ESG for an independent, third party
network coverage and capacity analysis. During non-game days network traffic
remained idle, but increased dramatically during sporting events. Twenty
thousand subscribers were expected on game day, each using their cells phone
to make calls and access data. There are planning tools for designing outdoor
networks to handle data traffic surges; however tools for analyzing indoor
environments such as stadiums, convention halls, or concert halls typically dont
exist.
Operators can benefit from using QUEST, a simulation tool that accurately
predicts network coverage, capacity and data traffic for indoor environments.
QUEST uses real-world network data and generates network coverage and
capacity results for a given mix of inputs (such as morphology, user equipment,
traffic patterns, and/or applications).

Anticipated a surge in network traffic

during a championship game at a
large, indoor stadium
Required capacity and coverage
dimensioning for a large indoor event
Limited time and resources did not
allow for stress tests

Figure 1: Managing Data Capacity

Constraints

Network Optimized
Recommendations
Improvements
to network
configuration
(e.g. RF
configuration,
parameter
settings)

Improvements
to
dimensioning
process

Network
planning
tools

CHALLENGE
Predicting usage surges & anticipating coverage constraints
A global wireless operator based in North America anticipated a surge in
network traffic during a major indoor sporting event and wanted to improve its
network coverage and capacity. They engaged Qualcomm to optimize network
capacity and deliver an improved user experience.

Determine network constraints

and limitations based on QUEST

Run QUEST

SOLUTION
Forecasting data traffic to improve
Qualcomm collaborated with the operator to run the QUEST steps depicted in
Figure 2 and provided technical consulting and analysis including::
u

RF optimization at indoor sites and surrounding macro sites

Throughput estimates based on network traffic and operator assumptions

Parameter recommendations to manage network traffic during the event

Planning and stress test support at the event

www.qualcomm.com/esg

Collect data on existing network

configuration, traffic forecast

Capacity Constraints &

Network Not Optimized

C AS E STUDY
ST U DY
CASE

PREDICTING COVERAGE AND SIMULATING NETWORK DESIGN WITH QUEST

RESULTS

RESULTS

Using the QUEST simulation for capacity planning

Minimized call drops

Improved coverage

Qualcomm ESG used their propriety tool to estimate cell capacity

before and after antenna optimization. As shown in Figure 3,
QUEST can accurately predict actual HSDPA throughput traffic.
QUEST helped predict the operators RF needs and required
distributed antennae systems (DAS). Using recommendations
from Qualcomm ESG, the operator determined optimal antenna
placement for providing uniform coverage and sufficient capacity.

 ptimized data throughput and managed

O
capacity
Potential CAPEX and OPEX savings

FIGURE 2: QUEST simulation tool

QUEST Output
Cell Statistics (aggregated)
Throughput
Power, Code Utilization for
HSPA, HSPA+

Mobile Statistics
Position
Throughput
Latency

Simulation
Application
Emulation Models

Air Interface
Simulator

3GPP/3GPP2
Application
Emulation
Models
Packet Tracing

Advanced
Schedulers for
Radio Resource
Management
Rate Predictions
Using Detailed
Link Curves

Voice Traffic
Full Buffer,
Browsing, Video
Streaming Models
Ability to
Simulate Packet
Arrival of Actual
Web Sites

HSPA Code,
Power, HS-SCCH
Number
UE Categories,
Types of UE
Receivers
64 QAM, MIMO,
DC-HSPA
Scheduler
Capabilities, QOS
Rise over Thermal

RF Layer
Actual Network
Configuration
(Import Pathloss
Information from
Network Planning
Tool / Actual
Measurements)

Cell Site
Information
Models to
Simulate Fading
Actual
Measurement
Feasible
User Placement in
Cell
Indoor /Outdoor
Users
Traffic Demand

Inputs

FIGURE 3: Example of capacity prediction at an

indoor event
HSDPA Throughput in kbps

1200

QUEST

1000

ACTUA

800
600
400
200
0
Cell 0

Cell 1

Cell 2

Cell 3

www.qualcomm.com/esg
2012.04.V01