3G Planning Methods

3G Planning Methods

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3G Planning Methods

Contents
• Planning Methodologies
• Static Calculation
• Static Simulation
• Dynamic Simulation
• Comparison
• Planning Processes

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3G Planning Methods

Introduction
• This section includes a comparison of the different
methods of analysis that could be carried out to analyse a
UMTS network
• It is important the we understand the differences between
these methods to understand:
! their merits and demerits
! likely advantages of tools employing them
• The aim of this section is to understand the alternatives
and how/when they might be used

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3G Planning Methods

Planning Methodologies
• There are basically two possible types of 3rd Generation
planning methods
! Static Calculation
" A deterministic algorithm is used to analyse the performance of the
network configured within the planning tool
" Repeating an analysis gives the same result
! Simulation
" Statistical processes and an iterative system status calculation
used to analyse the performance of the network configured within
the planning tool
" Repeating an analysis may give different results

• Some tools use a combination of methods or hybrid

methods

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3G Planning Methods

Static Calculation
• Static Calculation is a similar approach to that taken in
ASSET for GSM planning
• A statistical analysis of the network is used to derive
design thresholds
• In UMTS the following mechanisms must be accounted
for:
! Soft handover gain (typically ~5dB at the cell edge)
! Interference Margins (both intra cell and inter cell)
! Control and signalling overheads
! Fade Margins (to design to a given coverage probability)
! Special technique margins(Adaptive antennas, Transmit diversity,
Smart Radio…)

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3G Planning Methods

Simulation
• There are two types of simulation that might be used for
radio planning
• Static Simulations
! Static simulations analyse the performance of a ‘snapshot’ of the
network
! A snapshot is an instance in time, with UEs in statistically
determined places
• Dynamic Simulations
! Dynamic simulations simulate UEs moving through the network in
successive timeslots

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3G Planning Methods

Static Simulations
• One or more snapshots of the network are taken
• In each snapshot a mobile or terminal list is generated
• The ability of each terminal to make its connection to the
network is calculated through an iterative process
• Various failure mechanisms will typically be considered
(maximum mobile power, maximum Node B power
reached, no available channels, low pilot Ec/Io,
uplink/downlink interference)
• The performance of the network is then analysed from the
results of the snapshots carried out

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3G Planning Methods

Monte Carlo Simulations

• Monte Carlo Simulations are a form of static simulation
! Also a very trendy form…the Gucci of simulators
• They rely upon a large number of statistically independent
snapshots
• The mean performance of the network over these
snapshots is then determined
• 3G uses a Monte Carlo Simulation engine

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3G Planning Methods
Monte Carlo Simulation - Coverage
Probability

100% 20% 60% 100%

0% 75% 60% 40%

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3G Planning Methods
Monte Carlo Simulation

1 iteration 10 iteration 100 iteration

500 iteration 1000 iteration 10000 iteration

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3G Planning Methods

Dynamic Simulations
• Dynamic simulations look at mobiles moving through the
network
• A mobile list is generated and solved for the first timeslot
• The simulation may consider time to be split into:
! chip periods
! bit periods
! timeslots (SNR considered)
• Successive timeslots are then simulated dependant upon
the results of the previous timeslot
• New mobiles are simulated coming into the network and
terminating their calls

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3G Planning Methods

Dynamic Simulation
I think I think
I’ll I’ll
make make
a call a call

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3G Planning Methods

Which method is best?

• This is a little like saying - which is the best tool:
! A hammer
! A screwdriver
! A spanner
• All three methods have different advantages and
disadvantages - and may be used for different tasks
• These can be broadly considered in three areas:
! Accuracy
! Complexity
! Computational overhead -i.e. time taken to use the tool

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Comparison of methods
Static Analysis Static Dynamic
Simulation Simulation

Accuracy Not very – particularly Reasonable – but Probably quite high -

with global margins doesn’t deal with the assuming no bad
(IS-95 experience) dynamic network assumptions are
performance made to speed it up
Complexity Relatively More difficult to Difficult to judge
straightforward to use configure and more results.
once configured complicated results.

Time Taken Shortest – as ‘quick’ Moderate – Extremely long if

as for GSM depending on number multiple runs
of terminals and cells performed for
statistical validity

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3G Planning Methods

Planning Processes
• Due to the difference in performance of the techniques we
probably want to use a combination for our planning
‘toolbox’
• Our aims are to achieve:
! Fast Network Rollout
! Good Network Design
• A number of tasks are highlighted in the following slides

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3G Planning Methods

Nominal Planning
• Nominal Planning requires:
! Quick issue of SARFs etc to Site Acquisition
! Approximate Site Densities and Locations
! Detailed optimisation of nominal sites is pointless
• Probably best to use:
! Static Analysis for bulk of planning
! Static Simulation for regional validation

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Final Site Selection and Detailed Design

• Final Site Selection requires
! Relatively quick analysis of candidates
! Confidence in Final Candidate Selection
! A reasonable amount of work on individual selected sites can be
expected
• Probably best to use:
! Static analysis for initial candidate shortlisting
! Static Simulation over a small area for final candidate selection
! Static Simulation over a large area for final validation

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Optimisation
• Repeated Static and Dynamic simulations may prove
useful for detailed optimisation of
! site configurations
! problem/high sensitivity areas
! call admission and radio resource management algorithms

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