MSC timers (T306,T308)

change impact

27- November- 2011

Prepared by: Ahmed
Adel

Content
1-Abstract

This document clarify the main impact of change the MSC timers (T306,
T308) at the UM interface (MS user end) network performance & main

network KPIs (CDN, CDR,..).

2-Purpose

This document aims to introduce and standardize the operation procedure to

perform MSC timer change (T306, T308). It is mainly divided into 5 subjects.

1)
2)
3)
4)
)

UM Radio link failure due to T200 & N200 Expired (Call drop).
MSC timers (T306 & T308) Definition.
MSC Timers change impact at the MSC side.
MSC Timers change impact at the BSS Side.
Radio link failure expected during call terminating flow (T306 & T308 put at high
value).
) Radio link failure expected during call terminating flow (T306 & T308 put at very low
value).
5)
Restriction & case study:

All Rights Reserved HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. 2006

1)

UM Radio link failure due to T200 & N200 Expired (Call drop).
T200 is a timer of acknowledgment transmission from BTS to MS through LAPD. When BTS
transmits a acknowledgment message to MS, T200 times is started in LAPD. If this acknowledgment
message is not received by MS until T200 timer is expired then the transmission will be repeated
(retransmission).The maximum retransmission is N200+1 times. T200 will be restarted in each
retransmission.
N200 is the maximum number of retransmission of LAPD (Layer-2). If until N200+1 times of
retransmission the acknowledgment message, MS still doesnt receive this message, then the
connection will be dropped.

All Rights Reserved HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. 2006

2) MSC timers (T306 & T308) timer Definition:

from the below graph we can understand the MSC timers (T306 & T 308) working

All Rights Reserved HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. 2006

3) MSC Timers change impact at MSC Side:

Based on the MSC timers Definition
If the timer value is much smaller than the default value, MSC A fails to receive the
RELEASE COMPLETE message in time as the below. This affects the call
disconnection flow. And If the timer value is much greater than the default value,
more system resources are consumed and the circuit of MSC A cannot be released in
time.

All Rights Reserved HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. 2006

4)

MSC Timers change impact at BSS Side:

Two Expected impact at BSS when change the MSC Timers (T306 & T308), one if
these timers put at high value & other at very small value

Radio link failure expected during call terminating flow (T306 & T308 put
at high value).
If the MSC timers T306 & T308 put at great value that will increase the radio link failures at BSC
side and also the CDN, due to the timers T200 & N200 will expired and the MSC still wait till the
T306 & T308 Expired.

All Rights Reserved HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. 2006

Radio link failure expected during call terminating flow (T306 & T308 put at
very low value).
A. The main advantage due to change the MSC timers to very low value:
The Radio link failures will decreased after call terminated due to the MM resource will release from
MSC & BSC Side before the Radio link failure timers (T200 & N200) expired at UM interface side.

All Rights Reserved HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. 2006

5)

Restriction & case study:

Due to the very low value of T306 & T308 the BSC will release the MM Resource but the
MS will keep UM resource (TCH/FACCH) till the radio link timers (T200, N200) expired,
and that may cause the below problems:
A- BSC & MSC Expected that the MS free but actually the MS keep using the UM
resource for some time
B- the TCH Cong may slightly increased, or be the same even that the call release
become faster from MSC Side.

All Rights Reserved HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. 2006

 Thank You

All Rights Reserved HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. 2006

www.huawei.com