Traffic Calculation Methods

Like any mobile communications technology, traffic calculation and system dimensioning for GSM begin with the estimation of how much traffic demand there will be and from where it will come. In other words, one must estimate the traffic demand in the coverage of each cell. This is rather an inexact science. One can certainly acquire demographic data such as population density, average household income, and so on. One can also acquire data related to vehicular traffic in order to estimate traffic demand for cells that cover roads. Based on these factors and others (such as how many competing operators exist), one makes an estimate of the peak traffic demand per cell. This estimate may well be incorrect. Fortunately, however, time is an ally. In a new network, traffic demand grows gradually, which provides the operator with sufficient time to monitor usage and more accurately predict traffic demand over time. Because all GSM traffic is circuit-switched, network dimensioning is a relatively straightforward process once traffic demand per cell is specified. The process largely involves determining the amount of traffic to be carried in the busy hour and dimensioning the network according to Erlang tables. The air interface, which represents the scarcest resource in the network, is dimensioned with the highest blocking probability. Typically, network designers dimension the air interface according to a two-percent blocking probability (Erlang B). For a one-TRX cell with seven TCHs (BCCH, CCCH, and SDCCH/4 are sharing timeslot 0), the cell can accommodate approximately 2.9 Erlangs. For a two-TRX cell with 14 TCHs (timeslot 0 on one carrier is used for BCCH and CCCH and timeslot 1 is used for SDCCH/8), the cell can accommodate approximately 8.2 Erlangs. For a three-TRX cell with 22 TCHs (one timeslot is allocated for SDCCH/8), the cell can accommodate approximately 14.9 Erlangs. It is important to note that the traffic-carrying capacity of each cell must be calculated independently. Other interfaces in the network are usually dimensioned at much lower blocking probabilities. For example, the A interface would typically be designed for a 0.1-percent blocking probability. Similar blocking would apply to other network-internal interfaces such as the interface between the MSC and IWF. Typically, interfaces to other networks, such as the PSTN, are dimensioned at slightly higher blocking probabilitiessuch as 0.5 percent. Of course, the choice of blocking probability for any interface is a balance between cost and quality. The lower the blocking probability, the higher the quality and the higher the cost. The higher the lower blocking probability, the lower the quality and the lower the cost. An Erlang is a unit of telecommunications traffic measurement. Strictly speaking, an Erlang represents the continuous use of one voice path. In practice, it is used to describe the total traffic volume of one hour.

For example, if a group of user made 30 calls in one hour, and each call had an average call duration of 5 minutes, then the number of Erlangs this represents is worked out as follows: Minutes of traffic in the hour = number of calls x duration Minutes of traffic in the hour = 30 x 5 Minutes of traffic in the hour = 150 Hours of traffic in the hour Hours of traffic in the hour Traffic figure = 150 / 60 = 2.5 = 2.5 Erlangs

Erlang traffic measurements are made in order to help telecommunications network designers understand traffic patterns within their voice networks. This is essential if they are to successfully design their network topology and establish the necessary trunk group sizes. Erlang traffic measurements or estimates can be used to work out how many lines are required between a telephone system and a central office (PSTN exchange lines), or between multiple network