E User Description, Multiband Operation

User Description, Multiband

Operation
©Ericsson Radio Systems AB

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User Description, Multiband Operation

2 (11) ©Ericsson Radio Systems AB 18/1553-HSC 103 12 A

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 User Description, Multiband Operation

Contents
1 Feature overview........................................................................................... 5
1.1 Introduction .............................................................................................. 5
1.2 Background.............................................................................................. 5
1.3 What can be achieved............................................................................. 5
2 Technical description................................................................................... 7
2.1 General .................................................................................................... 7
2.2 Power and frequency capability of a mobile station ............................... 7

2.3 Broadcast of measurement frequencies.................................................. 8

2.4 Measurement reporting............................................................................ 8
2.5 Main difference Ericsson’s GSM System R6.1 ....................................... 8
3 Parameters..................................................................................................... 9
3.1 Main controlling parameters .................................................................... 9
3.2 Additional parameters.............................................................................. 9
3.3 Value ranges and default value...............................................................10
4 References.....................................................................................................11

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User Description, Multiband Operation

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 Feature overview

1 Feature overview
1.1 Introduction
An operator with a license to operate in the GSM 900 frequency band,
as well as in the GSM 1800 frequency band can choose to have the
GSM 900 network and the GSM 1800 network combined into the same
network. The network will then work as a multiband network able to
handle multiband mobile stations.
Each cell in a multiband network has frequencies from only one
frequency band. The Multiband operation feature allows cell re-
selection, assignment and handover between the GSM 900 cells and the
GSM 1800 cells.
With the Multiband operation feature it is also possible to have GSM
900 and/or GSM 1800 cells together with GSM 1900 cells, supported by
the same BSC. However, it is not possible to perform cell re-selection,
assignment or handover between GSM 1900 and the other bands.
The Multiband operation feature is implemented in the Base Station
Controller (BSC).

1.2 Background
Many operators have, or will have in the near future, a licence to
operate on the GSM 900 frequency band as well as on the GSM 1800
frequency band. If the operator can use all their available frequencies
from both frequency bands in the same network it can increase the
capacity in the network, and at the same time give service to both GSM
900 and GSM 1800 roamers.
Multiband mobile stations can operate on the GSM 900 band as well as
on the GSM 1800 MHz band. The radio waves on the 900 MHz and
1800 MHz frequency band have different pathloss characteristics. GSM
900 cells generally have a larger range than GSM 1800 cells. If cells
from the different frequency bands can be joined into one single
network, GSM 900 cells can be used to cover large areas with limited
traffic density. GSM 1800 cells can provide additional capacity in high
density areas.

1.3 What can be achieved

The Multiband operation feature allows operators with an existing GSM
900 network, and a licence to operate on the 1800 MHz band, to
increase the capacity of their network. For operators with an existing
GSM 1800 network, GSM 900 can be used to increase coverage.
The operator can choose whether to have separate networks for each of
the different frequency bands or join the GSM 900 cells and the GSM
1800 cells into one combined network. In a multiband network, the
system supports cell re-selection, assignment and handover between
GSM 900 cells and GSM 1800 cells for multiband mobile stations.
GSM 1900 cells must always form a separate network. Multiband
mobile stations, and single band mobile stations (GSM 900 or GSM
1800) can co-exist. This has two benefits:

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Feature overview

1 An operator that is changing the network from a single band

(GSM 900 or GSM 1800) to a multiband network is still able to
serve the single band mobile stations on both frequency bands.
2 A multiband subscriber will be able to use the multiband mobile
station in a pure GSM 900 network as well as in a pure GSM
1800 network.
A combined GSM 900 and GSM 1800 multiband network provides a
very efficient solution for building a cost efficient high capacity network
together with good coverage.

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 Technical description

2 Technical description
2.1 General
A Mobile station Switching Center (MSC) is able to handle BSCs of
different system types, which means that it is possible to have GSM
900 BSCs, GSM 1800 BSCs and GSM 1900 BSCs connected to the
same MSC. Correspondingly, a BSC is able to handle cells of different
system types, which means that it is possible to have GSM 900 cells,
GSM 1800 cells and GSM 1900 cells connected to the same BSC. Each
cell must however only contain frequencies within one frequency band.
A multiband mobile station is able to receive, transmit and measure on
GSM 900 frequencies as well as on GSM 1800 frequencies. A
multiband mobile station performs neighbouring cell measurements on
GSM 900 cells as well as on GSM 1800 cells. Both types of cells are
evaluated in the idle mode cell re-selection algorithm and in locating.
This means that cell re-selection, assignment and handover can be
performed between the frequency bands.
A single band mobile station will not measure neighbouring signal
strength on frequencies it can not handle. This means that a single band
mobile station will never be allocated a channel in the wrong frequency
band.
Multiband operation does not put any restrictions on normal traffic
handling.

2.2 Power and frequency capability of a mobile station

All mobile stations inform the network of their power capability during
the call set up procedure. The information regarding the frequency band
that is not currently used is included in Mobile Station Classmark 3
(CM3). A message including CM3 received by the BSC is transferred
to the MSC.
The MSC needs to have the CM3 information in case of an inter BSC
handover. The MSC then transfers the CM3-information to the target
BSC. If a multiband mobile stations performs an inter-BSC handover,
and the MSC does not have the CM3 information, the target BSC will
not have the correct information regarding the mobile’s power
capabilities. If the handover was between two cells belonging to the
same frequency band, the target BSC will treat the mobile as a sigle
band station for the remainder of the call. Locating will discard
neighbours that the mobile reports that are from the frequency band not
currently used. If the inter BSC handover was between two frequency
bands, depending on the content of CM2 the result will either be a
handover failure, or the target BSC will use incorrect values regarding
the mobiles power capability.
In order to reduce the load on the A interface (between the BSC and the
MSC), the sending of CM3 is possible to suppress or delay by
parameter CLMRKMSG. For CLMRKMSG = 0, the BSC will
allways transfer the meassage to the MSC. For CLMRKMSG = 1 the
message is surpressed in all situations, i.e. the CM3 information is
never transferred to the MSC. The sending can be delayed until a call

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Technical description

set up is performed (CLMRKMSG = 3) or it can be delayed even

further, until an inter-BSC handover is performed ( CLMRKMSG = 2).

2.3 Broadcast of measurement frequencies

A mobile station performs neighbouring cell measurements in idle mode
as well as in active mode. The information about which neighbours that
shall be measured on is broadcasted to all mobiles in the cell. A single
band mobile station ignores frequencies it can not handle.
The frequencies of neighbouring cells are given by parameter
MBCCHNO, see ref. 1 on page 11. With this parameter GSM 900
frequencies as well as GSM 1800 frequencies can be defined as
neighbouring frequencies in a multiband network.

2.4 Measurement reporting

A multiband mobile station measures the signal strength from GSM 900
neighbours as well as from GSM 1800 neighbours. It is possible to
control how many GSM 900 cells and GSM 1800 cells respectively that
are reported in the measurement report by parameter MBCR. This
implies that not always the six strongest cells will be reported. If no
cells are available in one band, all six positions in the measurement
report can be used for cells belonging to the other frequency band.

2.5 Main difference Ericsson’s GSM System R6.1

No changes from Ericsson’s GSM System R6.1.

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 Parameters

3 Parameters
3.1 Main controlling parameters
GSYSTYPE is the global system type for the whole BSC. It defines
which type of cells the BSC contains. The BSC must not contain any
cells when changing the GSYSTYPE.

GSYSTYPE can have four values:

• GSM:
All cells in the BSC is of type GSM 900
• DCS:
All cells in the BSC is of type GSM 1800.
• PCS:
All the cells in the BSC is of type GSM 1900
• Mixed:
The BSC contains cells of more then one type

MODE defines whether the BSC is in single or in multi band mode.

The parameter shall be set to MULTI in order to support cell re-
selection, assignment and handover between GSM 900 cells and GSM
1800 cells. When the parameter is set to SINGLE, each frequency band
forms a separate network.

MBCCHNO is the list of the neighbouring cells frequencies (see ref. 1

on page 11). The parameter is set per cell.

ECSC indicates if early classmark sending should be used by the MS.

In order to allow multiband operation the value must be YES. The
parameter is set per cell.

3.2 Additional parameters

MBCR defines the number of neighbours from each frequency band
that shall be reported in the measurement report. The parameter can
take the values between 0 and 3, where the different settings mean:

0: the multiband mobile station reports the strongest identified neighbours

irrespective of the frequency band used in the cells,
1: the multiband mobile station attempts to report, at least, the strongest
identified neighbour cells in each frequency band,
2: at least the two strongest identified neighbour cells in each frequency
band are reported,
3: at least the three strongest identified neighbour cells in each frequency
band are reported.

The parameter is set per cell.

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Parameters

CLMRKMSG suppresses or delays the sending of a multiband mobile

station’s frequency and power capability from the BSC to the MSC.
The parameter can take the values between 0 and 3, where the different
settings mean:

0: the sending is neither suppressed nor delayed

1: the sending is suppressed in all situations
2: the sending is delayed until an inter-BSC handover
3: the sending is delayed until a call set-up is performed.The meassage is
also sent in case of an an inter-BSC handover at location updating

The parameter is a BSC exchange property, and is set per BSC.

3.3 Value ranges and default value

Table 1 Controlling parameters

Parameter name Default value Recommended value Value range Unit

GSYSTYPE - GSM, DCS1800,
PCS1900, MIXED
MODE - SINGLE, MULTI
MBCCHNO -
GSM 900 1 to 124
GSM 1800 512 to 885
GSM 1900 512 to 810
MBCR 0 2 0 to 3
ECSC NO YES NO, YES
CLMRKMSG 0 0 0 to 3

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 References

4 References
1 User Description, Double BA-lists, 15/1553-HSC 103 12 Uen
2 User Description, Idle Mode Behaviour, 2/1553-HSC 103 12 Uen
3 User Description, Hierarchical Cell Structures, 3/1553-HSC 103
12 Uen
4 User Description, Assignment to Another Cell, 10/1553-HSC 103
12 Uen

18/1553-HSC 103 12 A ©Ericsson Radio Systems AB 11 (11)

1997-09-09