Broadband Wireless Access Workshop

A New Approach for Improving Indoor LTE

Coverage
C. Gandarillas, V. Iglesias, M. Aparicio, E. Mino-Daz, P. Olmos
Mobile Broadband Area
Telefonica I+D
Madrid, Spain
e-mail:{cgd,via,mtap,emino,pedro}@tid.es

Abstract New generations of cellular technologies, like LTE, are
focused primarily in the provision of broadband mobile services
with the highest spectral efficiency, but in indoors, the through-
the-walls propagation losses could not allow providing mobile
services with enough quality. Femtocells have emerged as
macrocell alternative to provide indoor coverage without
incurring in a high deployment costs. In this paper it is proposed
another approach to improve LTE FDD indoor coverage in band
VII (2500MHz-2690MHz) from a macrocell. The method takes
advantage of the legacy coaxial TV cable transport
infrastructure, deployed in buildings, to carry LTE signals,
fulfilling 3GPP and Common Telecommunication Infrastructure
specifications. Measurements and simulations on users premises
have validated the LTE indoor coverage improvement using this
solution.
I. INTRODUCTION
Macro and micro cellular architectures may be considered
the first options for deploying any new radio access network
technology, and they are the default solutions when the main
objective is to provide simultaneous outdoor and indoor
coverage. These deployments are characterized by radiating
mostly from masts or rooftops. This type of deployments
cannot always ensure a good indoor coverage. High SINR
ratios are needed for properly receiving the highest rank
modulations (16QAM, 64QAM), associated to high
throughputs. Exterior building walls and internal divisions
introduce additional losses that can only be overcome by
means of an extra radiated power, which increases outdoor
interference.
The solution from outdoor to indoor is not efficient, being
preferable a from indoor to indoor approach. As a result of
this new traffic demand pattern, mobile telecom industry is
working on the femtonode concept [1] to provide indoor
coverage from Base Stations placed at the customers premises.
Recently, femtocells have been added as a solution on users
facilities for indoor coverage. It is estimated that in 2016 80%
of wireless data traffic will be generated indoors [2], the
challenges are to improve LTE throughputs in indoor premises.
To improve users coverage range and average throughput
on indoor mobile communications there are different
approaches. The ultimate goal is to split the wireless mobile
traffic between the biggest number of mobile cells, increasing
the coverage and communication quality. Furthermore, being
the Base Stations (eNodeBs) closer to the user means an
increase of the SNR perceived by the user's receiver, increasing
the efficiency of communication, which appreciably increases
the users throughput and communication quality.
In the case of LTE and other mobile technologies, there are
currently several technological options to solve coverage
problem inside buildings; they can be divided into three
groups: radio repeaters (including LTE relaying), femtonodes
and solutions based on wired distribution of radio signals.
A new approach for improving indoor coverage is proposed
on this paper, specifically for LTE FDD working on Band VII
and it is based on re-using in-building coaxial TV cable
infrastructure, in this document this solution is named as
LTEoC.
This paper is organized as follows; section II describes
system architecture of this LTE signal distribution system,
section III presents measurements at different frequencies on a
building with a coaxial distribution network. Section IV
compares indoors throughput using LTEoC with only
macrocell and Radio Repeaters solutions. Section V drafts
some considerations on LTEoC impact on mobile networks.
Finally, section VI is devoted to conclusions.
II. SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE. LTE SIGNAL
DISTRIBUTION
A. Method Description for LTE Indoor Coverage Solution
The method for improving LTE coverage on buildings is
based on the reuse of the existing TV coaxial cable
infrastructure including: cable and building distribution
elements (combiners, derivers, splitters and user outlets or wall
units). This infrastructure, which distributes and broadcast FM
radio, DVB-T, analog terrestrial TV, IF satellite TV and other
possible existing technologies for digitally modulated data
transmission, such as MoCA or Home Grid Forum-Home PNA
Alliance, is defined on frequency bands up to 2150MHz. It has
been assessed (see Section III) that TV coaxial infrastructure
can carry higher frequency bands, as LTE FDD Band VII on
2.6GHz defined on 3GPP [3], with only a moderate increment
on power losses in respect of lower frequencies signals, which
allows carrying LTE over buildings TV coaxial infrastructure
without using frequency shifting and costly stable frequency
oscillators, supposing a low complexity solution. LTE FDD
Band VII is defined on frequency bands out of the coaxial

978-1-4673-0040-7/11/$26.00 2011 IEEE 1330

cable specified bands and not allocated by any technology
carried on the TV signal distribution infrastructure.
Figure 1. LTE signal distribution over TV coaxial cable network
eNodeB; it filters, amplifies and injects LTE signals in coaxial
cable for transmitting them towards the LTE User Units. In the
uplink direction, it receives user LTE signals from the LTE
User Units through the coaxial TV infrastructure; it filters,
amplifies and transmits those signals to the LTE eNodeB
through the outdoor high gain LTE directive antenna.
The LTE User Unit is connected to standard TV wall outlet
on user premises. In the downlink, it receives LTE signals from
a LTE Head Unit through the TV coaxial infrastructure; it
filters, amplifies these signals for transmitting them through its
small LTE indoor antenna, giving service to the LTE Users
Equipments (UEs). In the uplink, it receives LTE signals from
LTE UEs, amplifies, filters and transmits them to the LTE
Head Unit through the TV coaxial network infrastructure. LTE
Head Unit amplifies and filters again in order to transmit them
to the eNodeB. Figure 2 and Figure 3 show LTE Head Unit and
LTE User Unit functional schemes.
In addition to this, the LTE Head and User Units are low
power consumption devices (around 2.2W) and can be
remotely powered thought the coaxial cable network by the TV
infrastructure power unit located on the Headend. Currently
this power supply unit is dimensioned for powering additional
TV devices located on the Headend (typically 12V and more
than 400mA).

To implement LTEoC some new modules are added to the

existing TV coaxial distribution network always without
affecting the currently supported services. The LTE signals are
adjusted and filtered according to coaxial cable network
regulations, without interfering on any other technologies
carried on TV coaxial cable. I.e., LTE signals power level
injected into the TV coaxial cable network must be below the
maximum transmit power allowed by the national ICT
(Telecommunications Common Infrastructure) regulations at
2150MHz. In the case of Spanish ICT regulations this value is
(110dBPV over 75: or 1.26dBm) [4]. Therefore, it is
necessary to filter out of band frequencies and to limit power
levels, in order to transmit LTE signals without creating any
interference in either radio, TV or satellite systems, neither to
the infrastructure or existing users equipment.
Figure 2. LTE Head Unit scheme
B. Basic Architecture of LTE Distribution Over Coaxial TV
Infrastructure
System architecture consists of a LTE high gain directive
antenna, a LTE Head Unit located on the FM-TV headend, a
legacy TV coaxial transmission infrastructure and several
LTE User Unit located on users premises.
Figure 1 shows overall LTE signal coaxial distribution
system architecture. The TV passive coaxial infrastructure
basically consists of coaxial TV cable, derivers (e.g. UDL-
425), splitters (e.g. PAU-904) and user outlets (e.g. ARTU-
900).
The LTE Head Unit is connected to the output of TV
coaxial Headend, it receives and transmits LTE signals through
coaxial TV infrastructure. In the downlink, from the eNodeB to
the users equipment, it receives LTE signals from a LTE
outdoor high gain directive antenna (typically with G>15dBi)
Figure 3. LTE User Unit scheme
located on the roof, near TV antenna and oriented towards LTE

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 III. MEASUREMENTS ON TV COAXIAL NETWORK.
LTE OVER COAXIAL SYSTEM PERFORMANCES
A. Measurements of Coaxial TV cable network insertion
losses on out-band frequencies- LTE FDD Band VII
The insertion losses (ILs) of a passive TV coaxial cable
infrastructure measured from the TV Headend to the TV user
outlets must satisfy the specified range defined by ICT
regulations, which depends on several factors such as
frequency bands, dedicated BW, minimum SNR requirements,
and modulation schemes.
Measurements have been carried out over a typical TV
coaxial network distribution infrastructure showing that
maximum power losses on 2.6GHz Band are typically below
75dB (see Figure 4). The increment on ILs at 2.6GHz, on each
coaxial network device, raises the overall ILs on coaxial
distribution networks, being higher than the one at lower
frequencies.
As reference scenario for testing LTEoC in a representative
infrastructure, it has been selected a 7 storey building, with 4
flats per floor, except on the ground floor and the 6th floor,
with 3 flats. Each flat has a minimum of 3 coaxial TV
connections and an average area of 100m2.
The coaxial cable losses at 2600MHz were measured
obtaining a value of 33.84dB/100m. ILs measurements for
different passive network elements have been carried out and
considered in the design of the automatic gain control (AGC)
blocks in the LTE Units. The overall ILs, between the Headend
and users coaxial outlets, were measured at different
frequencies and different floors.
Figure 4 shows the results of the measured insertion losses
per floor, in the described indoor scenario (Figure 1). The ILs
measured values at 862 MHz are between -39.1 and -47.48dB
(5th and 1st floors); at 2150MHz maximum ILs are within the
range of -44.8 and -56.5dB (5th and ground floors). Both
measurements fulfill ILs defined on ICT regulations for DVB-
T and IF TV [5]. Measured ILs at 2600MHz are within -54.4
and -71.9 dB corresponding to 6th and ground floors.
Figure 4. Coaxial Network Infrastructure Insertion Losses
The differences on ILs at 2.6GHz between users outlets at
different floors are compensated by the AGC module located in
the LTE User and LTE Head Units. On-band ripple increases
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due to the non linearity of passive elements on Band VII. This
ripple is reduced and equalized on the LTE Head and User
units.
B. Main Features of the LTE Over Coaxial System.
LTE Head Unit and LTE User Unit system functional
schemes are shown in Figures 2 and 3.
The LTE Head Unit main features on downlink direction
are: LTE input power between -85dBm and -55dBm, 3.1dB
NF, 0dBm max Output Power, 85dB max Gain, and AGC
range from 0 to 30dB. Its main features on uplink are: 5.01dB
NF, LTE power received between -45 and -75dBm, 85dB
maximum gain, +10dBm maximum output power and AGC
from 0 to 30dB.
LTE User Unit main features on downlink are: received
power levels between -45 and -75dBm, 5.01dB NF, +10dBm
max. LTE output power, 85dB maximum gain, AGC from 0 to
30dB. Its main features on uplink direction are: 3.01dB NF,
power received levels between -45 and -85dBm, 85dB
maximum gain, +0dBm maximum output power and AGC
from 0 to 30dB.
In both units, and in the uplink and downlink directions, the
out of band attenuation (>40MHz) is higher than 120dB and
the ripple on LTE Band VII is equalized.
The estimated ILs for the LTE system on the coaxial
distribution network must be between -45 and -75 dB.
Measurements in Figure 4 fulfill this requirement.
Overall system performance entails a maximum gain of
110dB in downlink and uplink directions, NF between 3.6dB
and 7dB, and an accumulated delay of less than 4us. Besides,
other performance factors such as, out of band spurious,
emission mask, ripple and intermodulation fulfill the 3GPP
specification for repeaters [6] and Telecommunications
Common Infrastructure regulation [5], without interfering any
other technologies working on the TV coaxial network
infrastructure.
IV. LTE MACROCEL COVERAGE ANALISYS AND
COMPARISON
A. LTE Macrocell Coverage Scenario Simulations: Received
Power Level, SINR and Throughput in Indoors
The system performance of LTEoC has been simulated in a
scenario with 30 LTE eNodeBs sites (83 cells) as an example
of an urban deployment (see Figure 6) where all the traffic is
served by macrocells, identified by red colored symbols.
This scenario has been evaluated by means of an in-house
LTE planning and simulation tool developed by Telefonica
I+D. It uses LTE eNBs sites main characteristics (height, sector
orientation, antenna models, downtilt, diagram, etc.) that
correspond to 3G NodeB real data locations on a dense urban
area of Madrid city centre, covering 2.89 Km2. A real city
database 3D cartography of the scenario has been used to
estimate the path loss by means of ray tracing algorithms.
Other simulation parameters are: +43dBm eNodeBs output
power per sector (40dBm per antenna), 2.6GHz as operation
frequency, 20 MHz LTE bandwidth and LTE receivers with
diversity in reception. The overall capacity of this scenario is
calculated for user equipments (UEs) with omnidirectional
antennas with a target throughput of 2.2Mbps on indoors.
Simulations have been carried out for comparing indoor SINR
(Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio) obtained from a macro
deployment with the obtained using the proposed system. The
indoor scenario for LTE over coaxial was the same as the
described on section III.A.
Indoor SINR is estimated at different floors for the
macrocell deployment, with average propagation losses from
outdoors to indoors of 26 dB due to signal building penetration.
Figure 5 represent the CDF of the SINR values in indoors
from the macrocell LTE eNBs. For the 90% of the indoor
scenario, the SINR at ground floor is higher than -7.5dB, at 4th
floor is higher than -6dB and on top 6th floor is higher than -
5.1dB. These SINR values turn out to be average throughputs
of 0Mbps, 1.65Mbps and 1.88Mbps, respectively, based on real
lab measurements carried out by Telefnica/O2.
cases. The average power received in the antenna is -79dBm,
the overall repeater gain is 79dB, 5dB of NF, out power 0dBm.
LTE coverage and throughput on indoors is estimated with
another tool developed for Repeaters studies, based on
empirical indoors propagation models [8]. This tool is designed
to set the final LTE coverage on indoors for Repeaters based
on input parameters obtained from macrocell measurements.
Final result is a coverage distribution range for a certain SINR
or throughput on indoor user premises. In order to validate the
LTEoC system features, LTEoC is compared with the macro
cell coverage directly received from the eNodeB and a solution
based on Residential Repeaters [9], the minimum SINR target
in indoor premises is -6dB (which is equivalent to a throughput
of 1.65Mbps, according to a look-up table obtained from
Telefnica/O2 lab LTE measurements). Figure 8 shows SINR
distribution. Residential Repeater specifications are similar as
LTEoC system (80dB Gain, 5dB NF, 0dBm Output power and
7dBi integrated antenna gain).

SINR (dB)
Figure 5. LTE SINR distribution in indoor, signal from macro LTE eNodeBs

B. LTE Over Coaxial TV Network: Received power, SINR Figure 6. LTE SINR distribution on buildings rooftops
and Throughput in Indoors
Figure 6 presents the outdoor SINR distribution results on
top of buildings (rooftops) at their real different heights for
LTE receivers with an omnidirectional antenna. Figure 7
presents these values in a CDF distribution.
50% SINR on top of buildings are below 0dB; these are
caused by high levels of interference due to neighbor high
power eNBs transmission for achieving indoors goal 2.2Mbps
throughput. Macrocell deployment simulations show a typical
received power of -79dBm with -4.3dB SINR on buildings
roof at equivalent 7th floor on 90% cases.
LTE over coaxial system has a high gain (16dBi) directional
antenna on reception, with 30 beamwidth [7]. Considering a
uniform distributed interference caused by all surrounded
eNodeB emissions, the directive antenna reduces this
interference on 1/12, equivalent to 10 dB from a very Figure 7. LTE DL SINR distribution at different roof heights
conservative estimation, so it can be considered that the LTE
over coaxial system directional antenna improves 10dB the SINR on distributed LTE over coaxial system is, on average,
calculated SINR received on building roofs. between 0.7dB and -2.7dB inside every flat, on all floors. It is
Regarding the LTEoC system, the estimated average SINR equivalent to 7.0 to 3.0Mbps of guaranteed throughput in a flat
on the 7th roof is 5.7dB (-4.3dB of SINR + 10dB) in the 90% of 100m2 (this flat has been simulated through an in-house

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indoor propagation losses tool developed by Telefonica I+D.
The propagation losses are 100 dB for 95% cases, which is
similar to consider a linear distance of 50m according to the
empirical model implemented [8]).
Compared with SINR from macro cell coverage on indoor
scenario, there is an improvement on SINR, higher as closer is
from the ground floor. Macrocell SINR on indoors is presented
on Figure 8 for its best indoors case simulated (6th floor),
obtaining a maximum SINR of -5dB (equivalent to a
throughput of 1.88Mbps). The improvement on SINR is always
better than 5dB in all cases, guarantying a good coverage and
throughput at indoor premises while macro cell solution is only
able to maintain a throughput of 2Mbps for a smaller area
inside the user premises.
Compared with a Residential Repeater solution, the
improvement is always better than 2dB. The Residential
Repeater located on user premises is not able to guarantee the
target throughput in all area, when the LTE over coaxial cable
can do it.
Figure 8. SINR of LTE signal in indoors, versus distance. Macrocell,
Residential Repeater and LTE over Coaxial cases
V. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS IN THE LTE NETWORK
A. eNodeB and Energy Savings
The overall eNodeB LTE Network RF radiated power and
eNodeB system energy consumption calculated for achieving
indoor coverage can be reduced by using signal repeater
systems, like the proposed LTEoC system. This results in a
decreasing RF power transmission and less energy
consumption on the eNodeBs and User Equipments.
Additionally, the increase of SINR is translated on that less
LTE resource blocks will be needed to transport the same
amount of information, increasing LTE eNodeB spectral
efficiency, and capacity.
The system repeats the macrocell signal without introducing
new interference sources. In the case of femtocells, they can
interfere with macrocell users especially when it uses a closed
subscriber group at the same frequency that the macrocell. A
future work will compare LTEoC to femtonodes performances.
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Another approach is to use LTEoC, connecting the Head
Unit to a femtonode/picocell in order to provide indoor
coverage in zones without LTE macrocell coverage.
B. Double channel on network distribution allows diversity
on LTE and system reception antenna
According to Spanish Regulations [10], new buildings must
have two parallel coaxial TV cables from Headend to user
coaxial Access points. This feature can be considered for
deploying LTE MIMO systems, allowing LTE signals with
channel diversity. But, for using LTE MIMO it is necessary to
have a high SINR ratio (typically 15 dB) and duplicate the LTE
Head and User Units, which reduces the number of cases
where this improbement can be applied.
VI. CONCLUSIONS
A new architecture for the distribution of LTE signals in
indoor deployments has been described and evaluated; it is
based on distributed coverage for LTE networks over the
coaxial TV infrastructure. It has been demonstrated that LTE
FDD Band VII can be carried over coaxial TV network
distributions using the new defined LTE Head and User Units.
This method allows an improvement on LTE coverage in
indoors, increasing indoors LTE range and user data rate, due
to the improvement of users received SINR. This concept can
be used for improving coverage on LTE macrocell border, high
density urban areas or large buildings. The approach only
needs to add a few new elements; it doesnt introduce any
modifications in buildings coaxial TV networks and simplifies
traditional mobile networks deployments; which also makes it
an inexpensive solution.
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pages, January 2010
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from-MWC-2010/ .
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[10] RD401-2003 BOE. Anex 1. Section 3.3
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