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GSM TCH Allocation Failure & Solutions

Special Subject Guidebook

Version: V 2.0

Released by:

GSM Network Planning & Optimization Dept.

Engineering Service Division
ZTE Corporation

This document contains proprietary information of ZTE Corporation and is not to be disclosed or used
except in accordance with applicable agreements.

Internal Use Only

GSM Network Planning & Optimization Dept.

Special Subject Guidebook

Version introduction:
Version

Date

Writer

Assessor

V1.0

2007-2-21

Ji Jun

Gan Wenjun

V2.0

2009-3-11

Ji Jun

Gan Wenjun

Amendment records
Counters relevant to TCH allocation of V2
and V3 were added;
The document template was renewed.

This document contains proprietary information of ZTE Corporation and is not to be disclosed or used
except in accordance with applicable agreements.

Internal Use Only

Key words:
TCH allocation

Abstract:
This guidebook mainly describes TCH allocation failure and investigation of the
problem.

References:
GSM Traffic Statistics
ZXG10 BSSV2.97 BSC Performance Counter Manual
ZXG10 iBSCV6.20 BSC Performance Counter Manual (I)

This document contains proprietary information of ZTE Corporation and is not to be disclosed or used
except in accordance with applicable agreements.

Contents
1

TCH Allocation Failure & Investigation...........................................................................................1

1.1

Definition of TCH allocation failure.................................................................................................1

1.2

Main causes of TCH allocation failure.............................................................................................2

1.3

Problem handling procedures:...........................................................................................................4

Relevant Counters& KPI....................................................................................................................6

2.1

ZXG10-BSSV2.97 counters......................................................................................................6
2.1.1

C11609 total number of attempts for TCH (excl. HO).........................................................6

2.1.2

C11610 total number of unsuccessful assignments due to TCH overflow (excl. HO).........6

2.1.3

C11653 total number of successful TCH assignments (excl.HO)........................................7

2.1.4

C11654 total number of TCH allocation failures (excl.HO).................................................7

2.1.5

C11658 total number of unsuccessful TCH assignments.....................................................7

2.2

ZXG10-IBSCV6.20 counters....................................................................................................7

2.3

Definition of TCH assignment success rate......................................................................................7

Typical Cases........................................................................................................................................9
3.1

Low TCH allocation success rate in a cell........................................................................................9

3.2

Antenna connection problem............................................................................................................9

3.3

Interference within network............................................................................................................11

3.4

Discrepancy in time at BSC and OMCR........................................................................................12

This document contains proprietary information of ZTE Corporation and is not to be disclosed or used
except in accordance with applicable agreements.

Figure Contents
Fig 1-1 TCH allocation flow....................................................................................................................2
Fig 1-2 Flow for handling TCH assignment failure.................................................................................5
Fig 3-1 Signaling trace.............................................................................................................................10
Fig 3-2 Signaling trace.............................................................................................................................11

This document contains proprietary information of ZTE Corporation and is not to be disclosed or used
except in accordance with applicable agreements.

II

Table Contents
Table 2-1 Definition of TCH assignment success rate (excl. HO)...........................................................7
Table 3-1 Contrast of TCH allocation success rate indicator before and after problem handling............9
Fig 3-2 Contrast before and after antenna problem is solved.................................................................11
Table 3-3 Contrast of number of TCH assignment failures....................................................................12

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except in accordance with applicable agreements.

III

Internal Use Only

1 TCH Allocation Failure & Investigation

1.1 Definition of TCH allocation failure
When MS fails to access into TCH after it sends out request for TCH allocation to
BSC, and it must be MOC or MTC to the MS, excluding HO (except for intra-cell
HO), we can regard this situation as TCH allocation failure.
TCH allocation failure rate is calculated as follows:
Number of busy hour TCH allocation failures (excl. HO)/ number of busy hour TCH
call attempts (excl. HO)*100%
Number of busy hour TCH call attempts (excl. HO) refers to the number of TCH
call attempts after MS occupies SDCCH. The statistics counted is number of
Assignment Request sent from MSC to BSC.
Number of busy hour TCH allocation failures (excl. HO) refers to the number of
calls when MS fails to occupy TCH after it seizes SDCCH. The statistics gathered is
Assignment Failure + Clear Request(radio interface failure). Allocation failure may
be caused due to lack of TCHs or problems on lower layers.
TCH allocation flow:

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except in accordance with applicable agreements.

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Fig 1-1 TCH allocation flow

Assignment Failure and Assignment Request correspond with each other, they reflect
one time of TCH allocation failure. As for situation (1) shown in Fig 1-1 TCH
assignment flow, the reason in most cases is the lack of idle TCHs; as for situation (2),
TCH assignment failure is caused by BTS problems; as for situation (3), it mainly
refers to TCH assignment failure at air interface, which can be caused by coverage and
interference, etc

1.2 Main causes of TCH allocation failure

Common causes of TCH allocation failure are as follows:
Traffic congestion in cells
If traffic congestion rate is high in cells, when MS applies for TCH, the system
will find there are no TCHs available for allocation, which causes allocation
failure.
Hardware problem

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Transceiver problem: TCH allocation failure rate is usually high when something
wrong with TRX, so does incoming HO failure rate, because BSC also assigns
TCH to MS during incoming HO. If TCH allocation failure rate exceeds 10% in a
cell, the most probably cause will be TRX problem. As for cells like this, in order
to locate the TRX with problem, we can record the signaling at Abis interface, and
through signaling analysis find out the specific TRX, which causes allocation
failure.
Combiner problem: like forward power output problem.
Co-channel or adjacent channel interference
High error rate caused by interference will hinder MS from establishing the
second layer link with BTS, which results in assignment failure.
Antenna feeder problem
Broken or eroded feeders can cause high VSWR, which will affect transceiver
performance.
Antenna is blocked or coverage is not even-distributed. When antenna carrying
TCH only is blocked or its coverage is different from that carrying BCCH or
SDCCH, MS may fail to occupy the TCH.
Unreasonable setting of parameters
If FH is adopted, while HSN or MAIO isn't set correct, serious interference may
be resulted, such as interference within a cell, or co-channel or adjacent channel
interference between cells with the same MA list, which can cause serious
assignment failure rate.
If T3107 is set with a too small number, the network will release the channel
before it receives Assignment complete due to T3107 expiration.
Transmission problem at A interface or Abis interface
If error rate is high at A interface or Abis interface, signaling exchange between
MS and network can not be completed normally, which will result in assignment
failure as well.
Influence of repeater

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Radio transmission is usually adopted in external repeater. When the repeater
amplifies the UL/DL signals, it amplifies interference signals as well, hence signal
quality will deteriorate and call drop will be resulted, and TCH assignment failure
rate will inevitably increase.

1.3 Problem handling procedures:

Checking radio parameters and hardware is recommended for locating problems.
Procedures for handling TCH assignment failure:
(1) Check if traffic congestion exists in the cell. If it does, solve the problem through
methods like expanding BTS, balancing traffic, etc..
(2) Check if cell radio parameters are correctly set, such as FH parameter, frequency
data, etc.. Optimize those which are set unreasonable.
(3) Check indicators like BER, idle interference band class, reduce or eliminate radio
interference.
(4) Check cell hardware, like transceiver, combiner, divider, RF cables between
boards, change those with problems.
(5) Check antenna system, like VSWR, whether antennas in one cell radiate in the
same direction, antenna feeders are connected falsely/ reversely or not.
Flow for handling TCH assignment failure:

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except in accordance with applicable agreements.

Internal Use Only

Fig 1-2 Flow for handling TCH assignment failure

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except in accordance with applicable agreements.

Internal Use Only

2 Relevant Counters& KPI

2.1 ZXG10-BSSV2.97 counters
2.1.1

C11609 total number of attempts for TCH (excl. HO)

Definition: It represents the total number of attempts to acquire TCHs (seizure

attempts) after all SDCCHs in cells are seized. It includes MOC and MTC, and
very early assignment of TCH as SDCCH, but handovers are excluded. TCH
falls into TCH/F and TCH/H.

Calculation formula: C11609 (total number of attempts for TCH (excl. HO)) =
C10301 (TCH/F seizure attempts(signaling)(for assignment)) + C10320 (TCH/F
seizure attempts (speech)(for assignment)) + C10351 (TCH/F seizure attempts
(data)(for assignment)) + C10401 TCH/H seizure attempts(signaling)(for
assignment)) + C10420 (TCH/H seizure attempts (speech)(for assignment)) +
C10451 (TCH/H seizure attempts(data)(for assignment))

2.1.2

C11610 total number of unsuccessful assignments due to TCH

overflow (excl. HO)

Definition: It represents the total number of overflows in calls to TCHs after all
SDCCHs in cells are seized. It includes MOC and MTC and the situation of
MTC failing in setting up TCH after it's seized SDCCH. It also includes very
early assignment of TCH as SDCCH, but handovers are excluded. TCH falls into
TCH/F and TCH/H.

Calculation formula: C11610 (Total number of unsuccessful assignments due to

TCH overflow (excl. HO)) = C10303 (TCH/F seizure failures (signaling)(for
assignment)) + C10322 (TCH/F seizure failures (speech)(for assignment)) +
C10353 (TCH/F seizure failures (data)(for assignment)) + C10403 (TCH/H
seizure failures (signaling)(for assignment)) + C10422 (TCH/H seizure failures
(speech)(for assignment)) + C10453 (TCH/H seizure failures (data)(for
assignment))

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except in accordance with applicable agreements.

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2.1.3

C11653 total number of successful TCH assignments (excl.HO)

Definition: It represents the number of received activation response messages

after channels are activated for TCH assignment (signaling, speech and data).

Calculation formula: C11653 = C10308 + C10327 + C10333 + C10339

+C10358+ C10408 + C10427 + C10433 + C10439 +C10458

2.1.4

C11654 total number of TCH allocation failures (excl.HO)

Definition: It represents the number of negative replies in response to TCH

activation request for assignment or the number of activation acknowledge
which havent been received (signaling, voice and data).

Calculation formula: C11654 = C10309 + C10328 + C10334 + C10340

+C10359+ C10409 + C10428 + C10434 + C10440 +C10459

2.1.5

C11658 total number of unsuccessful TCH assignments

Definition: It represents the number of negative replies in response to TCH

assignment command (signaling, speech and data), or the number of unreceived
Establish Indication or Assignment Complete. Refer to chapter 3.5 TCH/F
Measurement for explanations of C10315C10346 C10365, and chapter 3.16.1
TCH/H Measurement for explanations of C10415 C10446 C10465.

Calculation formula:C11658 = C10315 C10346 C10365+ C10415 +

C10446 +C10465

2.2 ZXG10-IBSCV6.20 counters

Refer to chapter 2.3 for explanations of the counters.

2.3 Definition of TCH assignment success rate

Table 2-1 Definition of TCH assignment success rate (excl. HO)
KPI name
Definition

TCH allocation success rate(%)(exclude handover)

Number of TCH assignment success times (excl. HO)/number of TCH assignment
attempts (excl. HO)

Counter formula

V2

(1-C11654+C11610+C11658/ C11609)*100%

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(C900060017+C900060028+C900060036+C900060235 +
V3

V6.2

C900060199+C900060210)*100%/(C900060010+C900060019
+C900060030+C900060038+C900060042+C900060046)

ZTE TCH assignment falls into three phases: seizure (congestion), allocation (channel
activation) and assignment.
Seizure (congestion) of TCH: BSC searches for idle TCHs in database after it receives
ASSIGN REQUEST. If TCHs are available, seizure success is marked; if not, and
queuing, directed retry and forced release do not exist, one time of TCH congestion is
recorded; if queuing, directed retry and forced release exist, start the corresponding
timer and wait for usable TCHs; if usable TCHs are obtained before the timer expires,
seizure success can be marked; if not, one time of TCH congestion will be recorded.
TCH allocation (channel activation): after succeeding in applying for TCH from
database, BSC sends out Channel Activation to BTS, which is TCH allocation attempt.
When BSC receives ChannelActivationAck from BTS, allocation is a success. If it
receives ChannelActivationNack from BTS or Channel Activation Ack isnt received
when the timer expires, the allocation is regarded a failure.
TCH assignment: after having received ChannelActivationAck during TCH allocation,
BSC sends out ASSIGN COMMAND on DL SDCCH, and TCH assignment attempt is
recorded once. When BSC receives ASSIGN COMPLETE from BTS, the assignment
is regarded a success; if not, a failure.

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except in accordance with applicable agreements.

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3 Typical Cases
3.1 Low TCH allocation success rate in a cell
Problem description
Indicator statistics at OMCR showed that TCH allocation success rate was low
in Cell2 under BTS D1A.
Problem analysis
Checked radio parameters, but no problem was found. From the dynamic
management at OMCR, we found that one TRX in the cell couldn't be seized.
We confirmed the TRX has problem and delivered a report, asking for checking
of hardware.
Problem handling
After the TRX board with problem was replaced, TCH allocation success rate
increased greatly and problem was solved.
Table 3-2 Contrast of TCH allocation success rate indicator before and after problem handling
Total of

Total of
Date

BTS name

TCH

Cell location area (LAC-

TCH

CI)

allocation
requests

allocation
success
times

TCH
allocation
success
rate(%)

2005-07-16 18:00-19:00

D1A

LAC8416-CI25017

825

650

78.79

2005-07-17 18:00-19:00

D1A

LAC8416-CI25017

847

646

76.27

2005-07-18 18:00-19:00

D1A

LAC8416-CI25017

853

661

77.49

2005-07-20 18:00-19:00

D1A

LAC8416-CI25017

816

801

98.16

2005-06-21 18:00-19:00

D1A

LAC8416-CI25017

829

817

98.55

After problem was solved

3.2 Antenna connection problem

Problem description

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TCH allocation success rate was low in Cell1 in an area, which was below
94.0%.
Problem analysis
From analysis of OMCR performance indicators, we found the problem was
caused by the low TCH assignment success rate at air interface. From further
analysis, we found the assignment failure rate of TRX3 was high (Maio=2), and
DL signal was weak (weaker than DL signal of BCCH TRX by about 20dB.)

Fig 3-3 Signaling trace

Fig 3-4 Signaling trace

Problem handling
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Hardware engineers went to the site and checked, finding that antenna system
was connected wrong (the TRX3 of Cell1 was connected to the antenna of
Cell2.)
Fig 3-3 Contrast before and after antenna problem is solved
Total of TCH
Name

Cell location area (LAC-CI)

Date

allocation
requests
(excl.HO)

Total of TCH

TCH allocation

allocation success

success rate(%)

times(excl.HO)

(excl.HO)

5281

LAC37683-CI5281

2007-1-22

814

764

93.86

5281

LAC37683-CI5281

2007-1-23

827

752

91.05

5281

LAC37683-CI5281

2007-1-24

761

711

93.56

5281

LAC37683-CI5281

2007-1-25

742

697

94.07

After problem was solved

5281

LAC37683-CI5281

2007-1-27

670

663

98.96

5281

LAC37683-CI5281

2007-1-28

607

596

98.35

3.3 Interference within network

Problem description
Performance statistics showed that TCH assignment failure rate was high in
Cell2 and Cell3, which led to low TCH allocation success rate.
Problem analysis
As for this kind of problem, we usually check if co-channel or adjacent channel
interference exists. From the planning software, we could see the two cells were
right opposite each other, and their overlapped coverage area was large, and cochannel existed (frequency 119 in Cell2 shared frequency with Cell3), thus
serious interference was inevitable, and TCH assignment failure rate was high
as well.
Problem handling
After we changed frequency point in Cell3 from 119 to 101, number of TCH
assignment failures in the two cells reduced greatly.

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Table 3-4 Contrast of number of TCH assignment failures
Total of
Cell name

TCH

Cell location area

BTS ID

Date

(LAC-CI)

allocation
requests
(excl.HO)

Number of
TCH
assignment
failures

Cell2

Bsc3-Site315-Bts2

LAC16498-CI53192

2006-12-8

99

17

Cell2

Bsc3-Site315-Bts2

LAC16498-CI53192

2006-12-9

102

17

Cell2

Bsc3-Site315-Bts2

LAC16498-CI53192

2006-12-10

97

15

Cell2

Bsc3-Site315-Bts2

LAC16498-CI53192

2006-12-11

83

Cell2

Bsc3-Site315-Bts2

LAC16498-CI53192

2006-12-12

73

Cell2

Bsc3-Site315-Bts2

LAC16498-CI53192

2006-12-13

69

Cell3

Bsc3-Site306-Bts3

LAC16498-CI53083

2006-12-8

345

Cell3

Bsc3-Site306-Bts3

LAC16498-CI53083

2006-12-9

408

14

Cell3

Bsc3-Site306-Bts3

LAC16498-CI53083

2006-12-10

386

Cell3

Bsc3-Site306-Bts3

LAC16498-CI53083

2006-12-11

329

Cell3

Bsc3-Site306-Bts3

LAC16498-CI53083

2006-12-12

349

Cell3

Bsc3-Site306-Bts3

LAC16498-CI53083

2006-12-13

366

3.4 Discrepancy in time at BSC and OMCR

Problem description
A customer reported that call completion rate exceeded 100%, almost
reached115%.
Problem analysis
Analysis

of

basic

measurement

data:D246=C11609-

(C11610+C11654+C11658) 4955times sum of CallProceeding and

CallConfirm measured at MSC, which was 4955. Sum of CallProceeding and
CallConfirm measured by the customer was 9428. While the number of TCH
assignment success (excl. HO) (D246) shown in the performance report was
3847 and 7427. After checking statistics, we found that 3847 and 7427 were
counted in only three granularities, while usually statistics of four granularities
should be gathered (15mins per granularity). We also found that time at BSC
was 5mins 30secs behind the time at OMCR. So when renewing data 5mins

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past integral hour, only data in three granularities could be renewed, since the
data of the fourth granularity hasnt been created yet.
Through signaling at interface A, we found that the sum of CallProceeding and
CallConfirm was much larger than the number of TCH assignment success
counted at OMCR of the same period. Because in the formula of switching
system completion rate, the denominator consists of the number of TCH
assignment success, in this case it became smaller, then increase in the
completion rate was inevitable, even exceeded 100%.
Problem handling
We adjusted time at OMCR and renewed data of OMCR with PMDR, and the
data in OMCR and signaling device conformed to each other.

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13