Design Paper: Overview of the GPRS/EDGE Radio Network Design

Process in Release B10

Overview of the GPRS/EDGE Radio

Network Design Process in B10

1. INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE

This paper provides an overview of the Radio Network Design Process in B10, as it relates to the
deployment of GPRS & EDGE in the Alcatel-Lucent BSS. A summary is given of the evolution of the GSM
BSS as a result of the B10 release, paying particular attention to those features that affect network
design. Then, an overview is given of the GPRS/EDGE radio network dimensioning process.

2. FEATURES OF B10 THAT AFFECT NETWORK DESIGN

The following sections give a summary of the evolution of the GSM BSS that takes place as a result of
GSM Release B10. In each case, a brief description of the feature is given, plus an indication of how
this feature affects the dimensioning of the radio network.

2.1 Increased BSC Capacity & Connectivity

In B10, the capacity of the BSC EvolutionTM increases to 1000 TRX, 500 Cells and 4500 Erlangs. In
addition, Optimised HR Connectivity allows dynamic load-sharing between cells mapped onto the same
CCP board, which means that a single CCP board can now support 200 TRX, irrespective of whether
they are FR or DR. The benefit of these features is improved CAPEX and OPEX.

The BSC dimensioning process must be updated to take account of these new capacities, although the
basic dimensioning methodology remains the same.

2.2 Multiple CCCH

This feature allows the possibility of defining two CCCH signalling channels per cell, rather than the
one that is allowed under B9. The benefits of this are that it will allow the use of larger cells and cells
with heavier traffic requirements, and also larger location areas. It also removes the need for
deployment of dedicated PBCCH and PCCCH channels for packet traffic.

It is recommended that the 64k Statistical Multiplexing scheme is used for BTS signalling when
multiple CCCH feature is active, especially for larger cells. The presence of an additional CCCH will
have an effect on the capacity of the cell, and so must be accounted for in the network design.

2.3 Extended Dynamic Allocation (EDA)

In B9, MS can already use more than one PDCH for packet data transfer, the number used being
determined by the multislot class. EDA allows the possibility to have more than 2 PDCH in the UL, to
be used in the case of UL-biased services. Two new multislot classes, 11 and 12, may now be included
in designs.

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 Design Paper: Overview of the GPRS/EDGE Radio Network Design
Process in Release B10

Multislot class 11: <= 4 PDCH DL, <= 3 PDCH UL, <= 5 PDCH Total

Multislot class 12: <= 4 PDCH DL, <= 4 PDCH UL, <= 5 PDCH Total

These will allow for higher UL throughput and an improved end-user experience for UL-biased
services. The new classes must now be included in the network dimensioning process.

2.4 STM-1 in the Transcoder

From B10 it is possible to have an STM-1 interface on the Transcoder, on both the Ater-CS and A
Interfaces. It is possible to mix E1 and STM-1 interfaces on the same TC, since selection of the
transport option is done on a BSC basis. This gives benefits of reduced transmission infrastructure and
more flexible transmission using SDH.

Network dimensioning must be updated to account for this feature. If STM-1 is selected as the
transport option for either Ater-CS or A interfaces, the required number of STM-1 links must be
calculated and the STM-1 interface card deployed on the TC. This does not affect GPRS or EDGE
dimensioning. Note that the BSC has no native STM-1 capability in B10, so an external ADM is required.

2.5 Gb over IP
In B10, a new transport option is available for the Gb interface, using UDP/IP over Ethernet instead of
Frame Relay. The benefits of this are that IP transport networks are
now the de facto standard for the data world, and this feature allows
easier connection to external networks.

The existing Frame Relay Gb interface is already connectionless, but

the headers in UDP/IP are different from those in Frame Relay, and
in addition the IP-based Gb is dimensioned on an MFS basis rather
than by individual GP(U) boards. The network design process must be
updated accordingly.

2.6 SS7 High Speed Links

In B10 (on the BSC EvolutionTM), there is an option to use SS7 Signalling High Speed Links (HSL), which
are E1 links, rather than the individual 64kbps Low Speed Links (LSL) used in B9. Above a certain SS7
load, it is more efficient to use higher capacity links. This does not affect packet data dimensioning.

The network dimensioning process must be updated to take account of HSL. If it is determined during
SS7 dimensioning that 16 LSL or more would be required, HSL will be used instead (with 1+1
redundancy). If HSL is to be used, then the number of E1 available for Ater-CS/PS is reduced by 2.

3. OTHER FEATURES OF B10 NOT AFFECTING NETWORK DESIGN

The following other features are listed here for information only. They do not have an effect on the
Network Design process, although they may improve the end-user experience.

‰ Wideband AMR – GMSK codecs only in B10

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 Design Paper: Overview of the GPRS/EDGE Radio Network Design
Process in Release B10

‰ Ping Time Reduction in TDM mode

‰ Improved Extended Uplink TBF Mode

‰ New RLC/MAC Scheduling Algorithm

‰ 2G/3G Interoperability Features (3GPP R5, R6)

ƒ Use of CPICH Ec/No & CPICH RSCP for 2G/3G Cell Reselection

ƒ Fast 3G Cell Reselection at 2G CS Call Release

ƒ Compressed Inter-RAT HO INFO Element

‰ Dual Transfer Mode

4. RADIO NETWORK DIMENSIONING PROCESS

The methodology for GPRS/EDGE radio network dimensioning is as follows:

‰ First, the achievable GPRS/EDGE throughput per radio TS is assessed. This depends on the
MCS/BLER distribution, which in turn is linked to the SINR (Signal to Interference + Noise Ratio),
the user speed, presence of frequency hopping, etc.

‰ Once the achievable throughput is known, the Air Interface dimensioning is performed. This
relies on the Alcatel-Lucent traffic model and provides the cell configuration or cell capacity
based on the configuration requirements, expected CS and PS traffic mix and the required QoS.

‰ Based on the dimensioned cell configurations, Site Design & Abis Dimensioning are performed;

‰ Using the site configuration and CS traffic load, BSC Design is performed, providing the required
number of BSCs and their configurations.

‰ Finally, MFS Design and Ater & Gb-interface Dimensioning are carried out, completing the
network design.

4.1 Throughput Analysis

Throughput analysis first requires a prediction of the Signal to Interference + Noise Ratio (SINR) levels
in the network and a mapping between SINR and throughputs. The achievable SINR levels depend on
several parameters: output power, interferer load, antenna gain and height, frequency reuse, cluster
size, morphology, propagation model, etc.

An (M)CS/BLER distribution is obtained, and the achievable throughput per radio timeslot is computed
as the weighted sum of all (M)CS usage values, using as a weighting factor the corresponding Block
Erasure Rate (BLER). The table below shows a typical example:

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 Design Paper: Overview of the GPRS/EDGE Radio Network Design
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4.2 Air Interface Dimensioning

The purpose of Air Interface dimensioning is to find the optimum radio configuration that will handle
peaks of traffic and meet all GoS requirements. The granularity of the Air interface is a single radio
TS.

The intention of the Capacity-on-demand concept is that radio resources form a common pool shared
by both speech and data users, with speech being given the higher priority. TRXs can simultaneously
handle Speech (FR/DR), Circuit-switched Data, GPRS & EDGE traffic.

The dimensioning process is based on the following inputs:

‰ Signalling: BHCA, SDCCH Call Hold Time, MO/MT Call Ratio, Number of SMS, etc.

‰ CS Traffic: Voice Load (Erl per Sub), FR/HR Call Ratio, CSD Load, CSD Penetration, etc.

‰ PS Traffic: Service Descriptions (Type, Penetration, Volume, Target Throughput, BH Sessions),

Available Throughputs for GPRS/EDGE.

O ver - D im en sio n in g
V id e o str e a m in g ,
V o ic e , S M S , O p tim ised
A ver a g e
S h o p p in g o n lin e , tr a ffic
D im en sio n in g
W e b b r o w sin g ,
F ile tr a n sfe r ,
U n d er - d im en sio n in g
A g g r eg a te
V id e o g a m e s... tr a ffic
C o m b in a tio n o f 1 ED G E u ser B u sy h o u r
(4 + 1 ) + 3 vo ice u ser s
+ 1 G PRS u ser (3 + 1 )

Dimensioning relies on the Alcatel Traffic Model, and has the following characteristics:

‰ Resource sharing can be complete or partial (i.e. some shared, some dedicated to CS or to PS)

‰ Works at the packet level to reproduce burstiness of data

‰ Respects the target QoS parameters: blocking probability for CS services, minimum throughput
vs. average available throughput per radio TS for non-real-time PS services, guaranteed
throughput vs. minimum available throughput for real-time PS services.

In the Alcatel-Lucent GPRS/EDGE solution, radio resource allocation is dynamic, avoiding the
need to reserve timeslots for GPRS/EDGE. TS are shared between CS, GPRS & EDGE services.

4.3 Site Design & Abis Dimensioning

The Dynamic Abis & Statistical Multiplexing features mean that all the PS traffic of one TRX is
treated as a single pipe, which is then dynamically allocated a number of Abis nibbles as required.

Furthermore, all the Extra TS are shared between the cells of a given BTS. The Abis usage is thus
highly optimised, allowing the number of Extra TS to be minimised.

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 Design Paper: Overview of the GPRS/EDGE Radio Network Design
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The output of the Site Design and Abis Dimensioning processes is the number of required Extra TS, the
site capacity, the required number of
TRX, the number of GCH for each site and
the CS and PS loads, values which are
required in the next stage.

For high EDGE traffic, it is possible that a

BTS may require more than one Abis link.
The EvoliumTM BTS allows the
establishment of a secondary Abis link.

Note: The traffic intensity considered on

the Abis interface is only that associated
with first transmissions. Retransmissions
are performed by the BTS and ordered via
a very short signalling message.

From release B9 onwards, the introduction of GPRS and EDGE has a minimal impact on the
Abis interface. However, to get full benefit from GPRS and EDGE, an increase in Abis and BSC
capacity will be needed.

4.4 BSC Design

Based on the previous Site and Abis Dimensioning stages, the required number of Abis links is now
known. These links are then connected one by one to a BSC. During this process, the average number
of GCH, the total CS traffic load and PS traffic load is also calculated. When one of the limits of the
BSC is reached, the process is repeated with another BSC, and so on, and thus the required number of
BSCs and their configurations are obtained.

The BSC Evolution is completely transparent to all Extra TS. The presence of GPRS and EDGE
has no impact on TRX connectivity of the BSC Evolution.

4.5 MFS Design and Ater-PS/Gb Interface Dimensioning

4.5.1 Ater-PS Dimensioning

The Ater-PS interface is dynamic and carries PS traffic from all cells connected to the BSC. Moreover,
instead of requiring dedicated links for PS and CS traffic, the Alcatel-Lucent solution also allows the
dimensioning of mixed Ater-CS/PS links.

To calculate the average requirement for Ater nibbles, the overheads generated by certain timers
should also be considered, namely the GCH Inactivity Timer, the Last GCH Inactivity Timer and the
Delayed DL TBF Release.

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 Design Paper: Overview of the GPRS/EDGE Radio Network Design
Process in Release B10

Using the traffic calculated during the site design and the required QoS on the Ater, the number of GP
boards is determined and then based on this figure and the number of GCH required per BSC, the
required number of Ater-PS links is determined.

4.5.2 MFS Dimensioning

The number of GP boards required has already been determined. Based on this, the required number
of MFS cabinets is calculated, based on the fact that the MFS Evolution can support up to 21 GP boards
with one additional board for redundancy.

The MFS Evolution can host up to 21+1 GP boards and can handle up to 21 BSCs and up to 3000
cells. Within each GP board, the available bandwidth is dynamically allocated to each cell
according to their traffic needs.

4.5.3 Gb Dimensioning

The Gb Interface may use either a Frame Relay or an IP transport layer, allowing a full sharing of
available bandwidth between all MS transferring data through a given GP (for FR), or through a given
MFS (for IP). Using the Alcatel Traffic Model, the maximum number of GPRS & EDGE PDCHs can be
determined for each GP or each MFS. Knowing the average throughput offered by GPRS/EDGE to the
LLC layer, and adding the Gb overheads, the peak throughput needed on the Gb interface and the
number of Gb links are calculated.

5. CONCLUSION
The ongoing evolution of the GSM BSS to B10 can be managed in a smooth, incremental way. New
features in GSM Release B10 that affect network design are:

□ Higher BSC Capacity □ Optimised HR Connectivity

□ Multiple CCCH □ Extended Dynamic Allocation

□ STM-1 in the Transcoder □ Gb over IP

□ SS7 High Speed Links

Some stages of the Radio Network Design Process are impacted by the introduction of B10 Features:

□ BSC Dimensioning □ TC Dimensioning

□ SS7 Dimensioning □ MFS/Gb Dimensioning

Design Paper – Traffic Modelling in GSM/GPRS/EDGE

Design Paper – Over view of GPRS/EDGE Network Design Process in B9

End of DOCUMENT

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