Where do mobile phone fits in Electromagnetic Spectrum

According to ITU Radio Regulation and NFAP*,

BTRC is the Government body for providing Telecom
License and Spectrum
 824 – 849 (UL) , 869 – 894 (DL) MHz - E-GSM
 890 – 915 (UL) , 935 – 960 (DL) MHz - GSM 900
 1710 – 1785 (UL) , 1805 – 1880 (DL) MHz - GSM 1800
 1920 -1980 (UL) , 2110-2170 (DL) MHz - UMTS (3G)
 2500 – 2690 MHz (UL & DL) – 4G
*Bangladesh National Frequency Allocation Plan, BTRC
 Where we Stand in terms of Spectrum?

Frequency Allocation (MHz) of Different Operator

Teletalk 5.2 10 10
SUBSCRIBER Per
SUBSCRIBER*
Operator Total (MHz) MHz
(IN MILLIONS)
GP 7.4 19.6 10 (IN MILLIONS)

Teletalk 25.2 4.6 0.18

Robi 9 17.4 10 Banglalink 30.6 32.4 1.06
Robi 36.4 44.2 1.21
GP 37 65.9 1.78
Banglalink 5 15.6 10
*Subscriber Data is from BTRC Publication, January 2018

GSM 900 GSM 1800 UMTS 2100

Key Points
 In Terms of Spectrum, BL stands in 3rd Position but most importantly BL stands in 1st
position when considering “Subscriber Per MHz” (Ignore Teletalk)
 BL got Tech Neutrality License and now it’s possible to provide services to any spectrum
like 4G in 1800/900 Band, 3G in 900/1800 Band etc.
 How the Spectrum is used in the Network?

Spectrum according to ITU and NFAP Spectrum according to ITU and NFAP Spectrum according to ITU and NFAP
Downlink Total GSM Channel Downlink 3G Channel
Uplink Range Max ARFCN Uplink Range Total BW Number
Band
(MHz)
Range BW BW
Number Band Range BW Banglalink got “Tech Neutrality” License so can
(MHz) (MHz) (KHz) (MHz) (MHz) of Carrier
(MHz) (MHz) deploy LTE in any purchased Band
GSM 900 890 to 915 935 to 960 25 200 125 2100 1920 -1980 2110-2170 60 5MHz 12
GSM 1800 1710 to 1785 1805 1880 75 200 375 Tx BW 1.25 MHz 2.5 MHz 5 MHz 10 MHz 15 MHz 20 MHz

Banglalink Banglalink Banglalink

GSM Channel GSM Max 3G Channel Banglalink use 1800 band for deploying LTE and
Total BW Total BW Number of
Band BW ARFCN Usable Channel Band BW Usable Bandwidth
(MHz) (MHz) Carrier the transmission bandwidth is varies between 5
(KHz) Number (MHz)
900 5 200 25 24 2100 10 5 MHz 2 3.45 MHz in each carrier and 10 MHz
1800 (2G) 10 200 50 49
5 MHz is using for LTE
1800 (4G) 5.6
(Re farming also possible)

Same Frequency is used everywhere, Subscriber is Same Frequency is used everywhere, Subscriber is
Frequency reuse
identified by codes identified by codes

2G 3G 4G
Benefits of advanced Technology

4G
 IP Based Mobility
3G  Very High Speed Data
 VoIP
 All Packet Switching
3G 4G
2G 2G 2G 3G 3G 1
21 Mbps 50 Mbps
3
 High Quality Voice 4
 High Speed Data
171 kbps 384 kbps 2 Mbps 14 Mbps 42 Mbps2 100 Mbps
 All Packet Switching
1G
 Digital Signal
 Advanced Mobility
 Voice, Data, SMS, MMS
 Circuit & Packet Switching

 Analog Signal
 Basic Mobility
 Voice only 1. Single Carrier (5MHz)
 Circuit Switching 2. Dual Carrier (10 MHz)
3. LTE 5MHz with 2X2 MIMO
4. LTE 10MHZ with 2X2 MIMO
 Coverage/Signal Strength

Coverage Antenna Height and Tilting

 Coverage of a BTS depends on following points
 Antenna Height and Tilting
 BTS output power (20/40 Watt) and sensitivity
 MS output power (2 Watt) and sensitivity
 Spectrum and Technology used

Coverage of Different Bands

Signal Strength Measurements

2100 1800 900

Technology (Cell Breathing effect in 3G)

Bad Outdoor
No Network
Coverage Shrinks
during high load

High Load Low Load

2G (Rx Level), dBm -65 -71 -81 -95 -105
3G (RSCP), dBm -75 -85 -95 -101 -105
4G (RSRP), dBm -80 -90 -102 -110 -120
Coverage/Signal Strength Cont.

Coverage Prediction
 Banglalink use “Planet” tool for coverage prediction of different technologies
 Planet Tool use Clutter Type, BTS & MS Sensitivity, BTS and MS Output Power, Antenna Height, Tilt, Azimuth, Technology, Services etc. for
producing coverage prediction

2G 3G 4G

Outdoor Coverage (-95 dBm) Outdoor Coverage (-101 dBm) Outdoor Coverage (-110 dBm)
 Quality of the Signal

Quality
Subscriber always rate a Network based on “Quality” of the Network. Network Quality is mainly depends on Signal Quality. If Signal Quality is
poor then customer will experience poor voice and Data Performance and in some cases Call Dropped and Data Disconnections

Quality of the signal is depends on below points

 Internal & External Interference
 Distance of the User from the Base Station (Signal Strength of the Serving BTS)
 Very High Load (Many User is using receiving service from the same BTS)
 Spectrum and Technology used (GSM 1800 Band’s Quality is good, 2G Quality < 3G Quality < 4G Quality)

Internal & External Interference Distance of the User from Base Station Quality Definition in 2G, 3G & 4G

0 0 0

1 -3 dB -3 dB
Good
Internal 2 -6dB -6dB
Interference from
Adjacent BTS 3
-10dB -9dB
Good Quality 4
Poor Quality
Service
Medium Quality Service Fair
Service 5 -15dB -12dB
External Interference from
TV/Radio broadcasting Very High Load 6 -20dB -13dB
tower
Poor
7
RxQual Ec/No RSRQ
2G 3G 4G

In very high load situation customer

experience will be poor than normal load BTS
 Capacity

Capacity
Every Network Nodes and Links has a certain capacity for Services. Reaching the maximum capacity results network failure, Service interruption,
Blocked call, low internet speed etc. Based on utilization, upgradation have to be done. A “Threshold” (which is lower than maximum capacity)
is set and if a network entity reach the “Threshold” then network planning team upgrade it. This “Threshold” is different for different
Nodes/Links
BTS/NodeB/eNodeB Core
 Hardware  Hardware
 Software Version  Software Version
 Power  Processing Power
 Processing Power  Simultaneous User
Transport Hub  PDP
 Bandwidth
 Port Capacity Maximum Capacity
Optical 100%
 Bandwidth Internet
 Port Capacity
GMSC
Node B 70% Threshold

Transport Internet

RNC GGSN

Node B
Interface Interface
 Bandwidth 0%
 Bandwidth
 Port Capacity  Port Capacity
Air Microwave  IIG Capacity
 Bandwidth RNC/BSC
 Channels No.
 Port Capacity  Hardware
 Carrier No.
 Software Version
 Total BW
 Processing Power
 Simultaneous User
Terminology & Frequently Asked Questions

Drop Call Blocked Call Low Throughput

Dropped call occurred when the Blocked call occurred when Customer will experience low
Network “Signal strength” , “Network has limited/No Capacity” Throughput when Network has
“Quality” decreases or the network or has any “Operational problem”. In “limited/No Capacity”, “Poor Signal
have any “Operational Issue” then this scenario the network blocks the Strength and Quality” or has any
the Network is unable to call to maintain the Quality of the “Operational problem”.
communicate to the UE. In this existing call.
scenario the network releases the
call.
Mobile is in cell
Edge

Signal strength and

Quality is very poor
Network Blocked the Call due
to High Load
Throughput is varied with the
coverage and Quality. Cell
edge customer will receive low
where as the closer users will
receive higher throughput

Signal strength is
good but Quality is
very poor
Network Blocked the Call due
to operational issue like HW
fault. In this case lots of call
will be blocked

Good Signal Strength and Quality but

has operational issue like. HW fault. In
this case lots of call will be dropped
Voice Call Flow

Mobile Terminating call Flow

1. The incoming call is passed from the fixed network to the
gateway MSC (GMSC)
2. Then, based on the IMSI numbers of the called party, its
HLR is determined
3. The HLR checks for the existence of the called number. Then
the relevant VLR is requested to provide a mobile station
roaming number (MSRN)
4. This is transmitted back to the GMSC
5. Then the connection is switched through to the responsible
MSC
6. Now the VLR is queried for the location range and
reachability status of the mobile subscriber
7. If the MS is marked reachable, a radio call is enabled
8. and executed in all radio zones assigned to the VLR
9. When the mobile subscriber telephone responds to the
page request from the current radio cell
10. all necessary security procedures are executed
11. If this is successful, the VLR indicates to the MSC
12. that the call can be completed
Voice Call Cont.

Mobile Originating call Flow

1. The MS uses RACH to ask for a signaling channel
2. The BSC/TRC allocates a signaling channel, using AGCH
3. The MS sends a call set-up request via SDCCH to the
MSC/VLR. Over SDCCH all signaling preceding a call takes
place. This includes:
• Marking the MS as “active” in the VLR
• The authentication procedure
• Start ciphering equipment identification
• Sending the B-subscriber’s number to the network
• Checking if the subscriber has the service “Barring of
outgoing calls” activated
4. The MSC/VLR instructs the BSC/TRC to allocate an idle TCH.
The RBS and MS are told to tune to the TCH
5. The MSC/VLR forwards the B–number to an exchange in the
PSTN, which establishes a connection to the subscriber.
6. If the B-subscriber answers, the connection is established
VoIP

Two Method for VoIP:

Method 1:
VoIP Gateway serves to establish direct connection
between GSM network and VoIP.

Sim-card is put into GSM Gateway in order to register it

with the GSM network, at the same time the gateway is
connected with VoIP. Accordingly the communication
(traffic / calls / SMS) can be converted in and out
between GSM and VoIP channels.

Method 2:
Use mobile Application that use Packet Data for Voice
Communication like WhatsApp, Viber, Skype
Roaming

Roaming Process
 The “Mobile User A” has an international roaming service
with their “Home Operator” and is automatically connected
to “Visited Operator A” while roaming.
 “Mobile User A” is automatically granted access to “Visited
Operator A’s” network when arriving in the visited country by
an exchange of a data between “Home Operator” and
“Visited Operator A”, where “Visited Operator A” confirms
Mobile User A is a roaming customer with “Home Operator”
 There should be roaming agreement between “Visited
Operator A” and “Home Operator” specifies how this data is
to be provided to the visited operator.
 “Mobile User A” pays a retail price to “Home Operator” for
the roaming service and does not pay “Visited Operator A”
 “Mobile User B” is not also roaming, they will not incur any
extra charges to receive a call from, or to make calls to
“Mobile User A”.
 “Visited Operator A” sends transferred account procedure
(TAP) files to a clearing house which forwards them to the
“Home Operator”. TAP files are used for billing of calls while
roaming.
 “Home Operator” can then pay “Visited Operator A” the
wholesale charges as per call volumes in the TAP file and rates
in the wholesale roaming agreement.
 “Visited Operator A” pays an “International carrier” for
carrying the call and handing over the call to “Home
Operator”. “International Carrier” pays “Home Operator” a
termination rate for terminating the call in the home country
Brief description of BL Roaming Service

International roaming service since inception has focused more on inbound roamers

Since 2013 Banglalink is principally responsible for Retail Roaming – Outbound

In addition Banglalink as a local OpCo provides full operational and strategy implementation support to
VEON in achieving Wholesale Roaming KPIs

Customers who use international roaming provides much higher revenue than non-roamers,

In today’s competitive business scenario, acquiring potentially high revenue customers is very important
and retaining them and keeping them satisfied is a must

Banglalink recently launched Outbound Roaming for our prepaid subscribers

Banglalink’s IR coverage currently stand at:

GSM Roaming: 455 Operators in 165 Countries

GPRS Roaming: 350 Operators in 121 Countries

CAMEL Roaming: 108 Operators in 44 Countries

Current total Outbound roamers 3415 and average inbound roamers per day 30k – 35k
 Radio, Health & Environment

“Mobile Phone” and “BTS” radiates Electromagnetic Energy and often EMF is used to indicate the presence of electromagnetic radiation.
ITU (International Telecommunication Union) has “EMF” Guideline and Standardization of “Human exposure guidelines”

The EMF guide and details can be reach through ITU website. Every mobile operator operate their services within the standardization parameter set
by WHO & IEEE. Below is some important FAQ..

 What are the effects of RF EMF?

 Heating of tissues that leads to an increase in the body temperature This is known as the thermal effect. Although the body has its effective
ways of regulating its temperature, nevertheless, if the RF exposures are too high, the body may no longer be able to cope.
 What are the EMF levels around base stations?
 Recent surveys have shown that RF exposures from BS range from 0.002% to 2% of the levels of international exposure guidelines,
depending on a variety of factors such as the proximity to the antenna and the surrounding environment
 Is it safe to live near a base station or locate base stations near schools or hospitals?
 Yes. It is safe to live near a mobile phone base station as they operate at low power, produce low EMF exposure levels in public areas and
are specifically designed for the environment they are located in.
 "Studies to date provide no indication that environmental exposure to RF fields, such as from base stations, increases the risk of cancer or
any other disease.“
 Do more base stations reduce EMF?
 Yes. As a matter of fact, by increasing the number of base stations and locating them near where people use mobile phones actually
reduces EMF levels. This is because the mobile phones only need to transmit over a short distance to the nearest base station using less
power, and the network is also operating more efficiently only needing to communicate with nearby users.
 Are there restricted areas in front of base station antennas?
 Yes. Base station antennas typically have an area directly in front of the antenna where the radio frequency field level will exceed the
human exposure limits recommended by ICNIRP. These restricted areas are typically not accessible to the public as the base station
antennas are mounted well clear of public areas.
 Mobile network operators need to ensure that restricted areas around base stations are incorporated into the site design.
How we work?

Teams:
 Planning Strategy &
Standardization
 BSS Planning
 Transport Planning
 Core Planning
 Radio Planning & Optimization
 Acquisition
 NI
 SOC
 NSS Operations
 Field Operations

 SA&E