Mobile (Cellular) Network Dimensioning and Planning

Jaspreet Singh Walia

467355, jaspreet.walia@aalto.fi
28-10-2014

Abstract
The purpose of network dimensioning and planning of a telecommunications network is to ensure that the
expected need will be met in an economical way, both for the operators and the subscribers.
In the field of network building and expansion the main advances have been in planning the radio and
transmission part of the network and in optimizing the processes and activities in the existing networks.
Second generation (2G) mobile communications have enabled voice traffic to go wireless. The third
Generation (3G) mobile communications known as Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)
uses variable data rates and also independence of service platforms. The variable bit rate enhances the
usability and performance efficiency for both customers and operators but also poses greater challenges in
network planning and optimization.
This report gives description of the main phases of network planning and important aspects like link budget
modeling and network capacity, by providing solutions for the given problems.

1) Introduction:
Network planning is a rather iterative process from topology design, network synthesis to
realization. Its purpose is to ensure that new networks and services meets the demand of subscribers
and operators.
Need of Network Planning:
Meet current standards and demands and also comply with future requirements.
Uncertainty of future traffic growth and service needs.
High bit rate services require knowledge of coverage and capacity enhancements methods.
Real constraints
o Coexistence and co-operation of 2G and 3G for old operators.
o Environmental constraints for new operators.
Network planning depends not only on the coverage but also on load.
Dimensioning
Radio network dimensioning is an iterative process in which possible configurations and amount of
network equipment are estimated, based on the operators and subscribers requirements related to
the following:
Coverage:
coverage regions
area type information
propagation conditions
Capacity:
spectrum available
subscriber growth forecast
traffic density information
Quality of Service:
area location probability (coverage probability)
blocking probability
end user throughput
Dimensioning activities include radio link budget and coverage analysis, capacity estimation, and
finally, estimations on the amount of sites and base station hardware, radio network controllers
(RNC), equipment at different interfaces, and core network elements (i.e. Circuit Switched Domain
and Packet Switched Domain Core Networks).

Detailed Planning
In detailed planning the target is to find the optimum configuration of BTS in each site in planning
area or nominal configuration for different parts of the planning area.
Several factors to be considered:
Propagation environment (macro, micro, indoor cell)
Site characteristics (indoor, outdoor, wall, mast)
Required capacity and coverage
BTS antenna configuration has strong impact on interference level and on capacity
Optimum combination among several options is to be selected to fulfill quality requirements. Main
tool is link budget and cell size calculations. Detailed planning incorporates system level
simulations for a certain cluster of cells to estimate maximum traffic or load of the network in
different cells.[4].
In Monte-Carlo type of simulations a certain number of mobiles are located over a coverage area

and distributed homogenously or non-homogenously

Results include coverage, capacity, and interference-related information (BTS TX powers, max.
number of mobiles in each cell, one-cell-to-other-cell interference)

Figure 1, System level simulations [4]

Network Optimization
Radio network optimization is performed to improve the performance of the network with existing
resources. The goal is to better utilize existing network resources, to solve existing and potential
problems and to identify possible solutions for future planning. Through Radio Network
Optimization, the service quality and resources usage of the network are greatly improved to
achieve a balance between coverage, capacity and quality. In general, the following steps are
followed during the Radio Network Optimization process:

Data Collection and Verification

Data Analysis

Parameter and Hardware Adjustment

Optimization result confirmation and reporting.

Due to the mobility of subscribers and the complexity of radio propagation, most of network
problems are caused by increasing subscribers and the changing radio environment. Radio Network
Optimization is a continuous process that is required as the network evolves.

Common parameters in link budget calculations

Table 1, Uplink [1],[2]

Table 2, Downlink [1],[2]

2) Dimensioning Part
Municipality
Espoo
Helsinki
Vantaa
Kauniainen
Hyvinkaa
Jarvenpaa
Kerava
Kirkkonummi
Nurmijarvi
Sipoo
Tuusula
Vihti

Area(km2)
312.75
213.26
238.37
5.88
322.62
37.55
30.62
366.10
361.84
339.62
219.51
522.06

Urban/Sub-Urban/Rural
Sub-Urban
Urban
Sub-Urban
Sub-Urban
Rural
Rural
Rural
Rural
Rural
Rural
Rural
Rural

Total Sub-Urban area= 556.95 km2

Total Urban area= 213.26 km2
Total Rural area= 2199.92 Km2
Losses
Tx Power
Antenna Gain
Cable Loss
EIRP
UE Noise Figure
Thermal Noise
Rx Noise
SINR
Rx Sensitivity
Control Channel Overhead
Rx Antenna Gain
Body Loss

Respective Values
46 dBm
18 dBi
2 dB
62 dB
7 dB
-104.5 dB
-97.5 dB
-9 dB
-106.5 dB
1 dB
0 dB
0 dB

Interference margin; rural 3 dB; sub-urban 5 dB; city 8 dB

Indoor penetration loss; rural 15 dB; sub-urban 15 dB; urban 20 dB
Maximum path loss = EIRP Interference margin Penetration loss Control channel overheadreceiver sensitivity
Maximum path loss for rural= 149.5 dB
Maximum path loss for sub urban= 147.5 dB
Maximum path loss for city= 139.5 dB
For calculation purpose, frequency of LTE is taken as 1800 MHz
h(ms)= 1.2 m
h(bs)= 25 m
Medium/small size (i=2)
a2 = 0.8 + (1.1 log (f) 0.7)hms 1.56 log (f)

a2 = -0.8213
Sub urban (i=3)
a3 = a2 + 2(log (f/28))2 + 5.4
a3 = 11.1173
Rural (i=4)
a4 = a2 + 4.78 (log (f))2 18.3 log (f) + 40.9
a4 = 31.1599
By using COST 231 extension of Okumura-Hata model, the radius covered by each cell site is
calculated as
r(rural) = 18.47 km
r(sub urban) = 2.07 km
r(city) = 1.24 km
Area type

Radius of cell Area of cell

(r)
(33 r2)/ 2

Rural
Sub urban
Urban

18.47
2.07
1.24

886.3101
11.1325
3.9948

Coverage
area of cell
(km2)
2199.92
556.95
213.26

Cell sites

Cost of cell
sites

2.4821= 3
50.0292= 51
53.3844= 54

300 x 103
3000 x 103
21350 x 103

Conclusion: More cell sites are needed in dense areas as compared to rural areas.

3) Network Capacity Provision Part:

Population in Kauniainen municipality = 9039
Market share of the mobile operator (Nu) = 55% of the population = 4971
Arrival rates for voice calls = v = k1 Nu = 1.7 104 4971 = 3.4797 per second
Arrival rates for data services = D = k2 Nu = 8.9 103 4971 = 0.627 per second
Service type
Data service
Voice service

Minimum rate (r)

Arrival rate ()

500 kbps
0.627 per sec
16 kbps
3.479 per sec
Sum Total Throughput

Area of Kauniainen municipality = 5.88 km2

Throughput density = 118.6 / 5.88 = 20.17 Mbps per km2

Duration ()
365 sec
75 sec

Total throughput
=r
114427.5 kbps
4175.64 kbps
118.6 Mbps

Calculation of SIR at cell edge:

Cell number

Distance of MS
from base station
(d)

Average path loss

Lo + 10log10(d-)

L1= Lo + 10log10((r)-)

L2 = L2= Lo + 10log10((r)-)

2r

L3= Lo + 10log10((2r)-)

(7)r

L4= Lo + 10log10(((7)r)-)

(7)r

L5= L4= Lo + 10log10(((7)r)-)

2r

L6=L3= Lo + 10log10((2r)-)

L7= L2= Lo + 10log10((r)-)

For Transmitted power, P; Transmitter gain, G; Radius of cell, r km and propagation loss exponent
() = 2.5

= 0.0277
= -15.57 db

(linear)

Since EIRP is same for all base stations, SIR at cell edge does not depend on cell radius.
Spectral efficiency:
= A log2 (1 + B SIR)

[bps/Hz]

A = 0.88 , B = 0.8, SIRi = -7.57 db

= 0.1662
W = 10 MHz
Throughput (TP) = W = 1.6622 Mbps
TPdensity= TP/(Cell area)
Cell area = TP / TPdensity = 1.6622 / 20.17 = 0.0824 sq. km
Cell radius = 0.1781 km

Impact of propagation loss exponent ():

Spectral efficiency

0.2559

2.423

Cell radius
(km)
0.2150

2.5
3
3.5
4

0.1662
0.1113
0.0733
0.0476

1.6622
1.113
0.7334
0.4764

0.1781
0.1457
0.1183
0.0953

Throughput (Mbps)

Conclusion:If the value for path loss exponent is more, spectral efficiency is less. Hence,
throughput comes out to be less and same is the case for the cell radius.
Since single cell reuse and omni directional antennas are considered in all cell sites, interference at
cell edge is more and hence, SIR would be less.

References
[1] H.Holma & A.Toskala, WCDMA for UMTS: HSPA Evolution and LTE, John Wiley & Sons,
2010
[2] H.Holma & A.Toskala, LTE for UMTS: OFDMA and SC-FDMA based radio access, John
Wiley & Sons, 2009
[3] https://sites.google.com/site/lteencyclopedia/lte-radio-link-budgeting-and-rf-planning/lte-linkbudget-comparison
[4] http://www.comlab.hut.fi/opetus/4210/presentations/16_wcdma_rnp.pdf