UK

Radio Datasheet 0004 GSM1800 and EGSM Usage Policy

This datasheet is compiled and owned by Radio Engineering. Date of last update : 19 June 2009.

SUMMARY: This datasheet provides policy guidelines for when and where to deploy
GSM 1800 & EGSM at existing and new sites. This updated datasheet
provides guidelines on the clearance of the full 5Mhz EGSM band in
preparation for use for a UMTS 900 carrier.

Target Audience Radio and Capacity Planners

General Policy O2 UKs GSM1800 and EGSM spectrum allocation shall be used primarily to
provide additional network capacity with improved quality. GSM1800 and EGSM
spectrum shall not normally be deployed to provide primary macrocell coverage.
The 5MHz of spectrum currently occupied by the EGSM band is due to be
progressively cleared of GSM use in preparation for utilisation as a UMTS900
carrier. This process (known as re-farming) will take place progressively on a
geographical basis with urban areas most likely to be re-farmed first.
In areas specifically designated for EGSM spectrum clearance no additional
EGSM carriers are to be planned or integrated.
In areas where spectrum has been cleared and UMTS 900 has been
implemented then no EGSM carriers may be operational either in the
UMTS900 area or in the designated buffer zone surrounding the UMTS900
area.
In areas not designated for EGSM Spectrum clearance then full use of EGSM
is to be encouraged.
Outside of EGSM spectrum clearance areas GSM1800-only or EGSM-only
microcells may be deployed where the additional coverage provided by these
microcells, either primary or in-building, is minimal. Also, GSM1800 or EGSM
only in-building cells may be deployed to meet corporate requirements providing
suitable handset provision is made at the same time.
Penetration of GSM1800 and EGSM capable mobiles within the customer base
effectively 100%. However, the majority of carriers on any primary coverage
macrocell must still be from the PGSM band to ensure sufficient Grade of Service is
maintained for PGSM only mobiles, and to ensure sufficient traffic in the primary
coverage layer to utilise fully the capacity relief layers.

GSM 1800 Coverage:
O2 UKs GSM1800 deployment policy provides non-contiguous GSM1800
coverage. In areas where adjacent BTSs are upgraded to dual band operation,
GSM1800 coverage will typically remain non-contiguous due to the higher
propagation losses experienced at these frequencies, compared to PGSM. However,
within the M25, areas of contiguous coverage may exist.

EGSM Coverage: Outside of designated EGSM spectrum clearance areas O2 UKs deployment policy
provides non-contiguous EGSM coverage. Even in areas where adjacent BTSs are
upgraded to multi band operation, EGSM coverage is not designed to be
contiguous. Although the coverage of the EGSM cell should match that of the
PGSM cell, interference criteria are not necessarily guaranteed to cell edge.

Network Architecture
Camping on the capacity relief layers is deterred. This minimises call set-up
attempts to the capacity layers where congestion is high and hence the probability
of successful cell set-up is low. Mobiles are actively encouraged to reselect to the
PGSM layer from where all new call attempts are preferred and where congestion is
kept to a minimum. Camping on the capacity relief layer is deterred through C2

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O2 UK Radio Datasheet 0004
Site Capability Requirement
Carrier Combinations
Issue 3 19 June 2009
GSM1800 and EGSM Usage Policy
parameters, with a negative 20 dB offset. However, cells in the capacity relief layers
must not be cell-barred due to operational difficulties with a number of dual band
mobiles. In dedicated mode, the capacity layers are accessed via the PGSM layer,
from where traffic is handed to the capacity cells if quality criteria are met. Mobiles
are handed back to the PGSM layer if quality becomes poor due to interference or
lack of coverage. The capacity layers do not, therefore, need to be dimensioned for
normal blocking levels, since congestion will merely result in traffic being retained
on the PGSM layer. Any GSM1800 only mobiles that access O2 UKs GSM
network will suffer poor performance as the network is not designed for these
mobiles.
Where sites are equipped with all spectrum bands, traffic management is
configured to prioritise the GSM1800 layer first, then the EGSM layer. This
maximises the utilisation of each layer by ensuring any mobile capable of using the
GSM1800 cell does so because coverage in this layer is the most limited, then
allowing mobiles access to the EGSM layer where the coverage will match that of
the PGSM cell.
New Sites:
All new macrocell sites where the GSM End Game capacity requirement shows
that any sector will require in excess of 4 carriers should be acquired and built to
provide PGSM and GSM1800 capability. EGSM capability should not be planned.
NOTE: It is the responsibility of the Radio Planner to indicate on the site selection
form when GSM1800 capability is required.
Existing Operational Site Enhancements:
When an existing operational site needs expanding to achieve the agreed End
Game capacity requirements, EGSM spectrum deployment, not GSM1800, is the
preferred initial capacity enhancement option, outside of designated EGSM
clearance areas, as it is generally significantly cheaper to install than GSM1800.
Within such areas no additional EGSM carriers are to be planned or integrated and
the use of existing EGSM carriers should be planned to be replaced with Dual Rate
additional PGSM carriers or GSM1800 hardware in accordance with local
priorities. However, the desire to balance spectrum usage and the cost of change-
outs to achieve the per-band transceiver capability must also be considered prior to
a final decision. EGSM should not be selected if EGSM frequency reuse is already
excessive in the area and GSM1800 usage is sparse. The introduction of EGSM
spectrum can be easily achieved, provided the RF equipment is Nokia Ultrasite
whereas GSM1800 expansion will require an additional rack in most cases. Nokia
DE34 kit can support EGSM, but configuration is generally more complex than for
Ultrasite kit
The GSM hotspot process [6] should be regarded as the determining factor for any
GSM/GPRS capacity hardware upgrade
Sites of special importance may exceptionally be upgraded for quality reasons
alone, even when capacity relief is not required.
The preferred carrier configurations for sites are given in Datasheet 0033 Network
Dimensioning [1]. However, there are limitations with some kit types as to the
combinations of PGSM and EGSM carrier types that can be supported. These are
listed in table 1 below. Per-cell carrier configurations therefore become a
combination of the optimum split for traffic management and the limitations of the
installed kit type.
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O2 UK Radio Datasheet 0004 GSM1800 and EGSM Usage Policy

Kit type Carrier Hardware Limits

Nokia DE34 P/EGSM carriers must be installed on a shelf
basis up to 6 max per sector. That is, in
combinations of 2 carrier steps of EGSM.
(4+0, 6+0, 4+2, 2+4 or 2+2.)
GSM1800 carriers must be installed on a
shelf basis up to 4 max per sector.

Nokia Ultrasite P/EGSM carriers can be deployed with no

physical restriction between numbers in each
band
GSM1800 carriers must be installed on a
shelf basis up to 4 max per sector.

Table 1 Carrier Hardware limitations

Reference Documents: [1] Datasheet 0012 GSM Network Architecture, Radio Engineering
[2] Datasheet 0254 Nokia Dual Rate Guidelines, Radio Engineering.
[3] Datasheet 0033 GSM Radio Network Dimensioning.
[4] Datasheet 0030 GSM Spectrum Usage, Radio Engineering
[5] Datasheet 0217 Nokia Dynamic SDCCH Assignment Feature, Radio
Engineering
[6] GSM Hotspot Process
[7] Datasheet 0072 Nokia Directed Retry, Radio Engineering
[8] Datasheet 0037 Radio Resource Management Features, Radio Engineering
[9] Datasheet 0207 GPRS Radio Network Dimensioning, Radio Engineering.
[10] Datasheet 0258 GSM Common Control Channel Dimensioning

END OF DOCUMENT

The author of this document is John Button & Dave Fraley, Radio Engineering. For any questions or issues, please
contact the Radio Engineering helpdesk on 01753 565882 or e-mail radio.engineering.uk@O2.com.

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