GSM1800 Network Refarming Proposal

For Ncell-Axiata(Nepal)

July, 2016
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Overview....................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Overview.......................................................................................................... 3
2 Ncell-Axiata Current Situation and Challenges ........................................ 3
2.1 Current Situation for Ncell-Axiata Network ....................................................... 3
2.1.1 DCS1800 Frequency Spectrum and Site configuration ..........................................3
2.1.2 DCS1800 Site Traffic and HR rate ..........................................................................4
2.2 Challenges for Refarming 5M to LTE in DSC system ...................................... 5
2.2.1 Refarming Challenges - Interference ...................................................................5
2.2.2 Refarming Challenges - Capacity ........................................................................5
2.2.3 Refarming Challenges Repeater and IBC sites ...............................................6
3 Ncell-Axiata 1800M Refarming Huawei Solution ....................................... 6
3.1 Frequency and Interference Solution ............................................................... 6
3.1.1 Frequency Planning after refarming ....................................................................6
3.1.2 Interference reduction solution ............................................................................7
3.2 Traffic transfer and Capacity Expansion Solution ............................................. 7
3.3 Repeater sites solution .................................................................................... 8
3.3.1 Repeater solution.....................................................................................................8
4 Features for Performance Improvement.................................................... 8
4.1 Speech/ signaling Anti-Interference ................................................................. 8
4.1.1 Full Rate (FR) and Enhanced Full Rate (EFR) ........................................................9
4.1.2 AMR (AMR FR, AMR HR) .......................................................................................9
4.1.3 Robust Air Interface Signaling ...............................................................................10
4.2 Interference Pre-elimination Technique.......................................................... 10
4.2.1 Power Control/ Huawei Power Control III ..............................................................10
4.2.2 Flex MAIO ..............................................................................................................11
4.3 Interference Impact Elimination Technique .................................................... 11
4.3.1 Interference Counteract Combine (ICC) ................................................................11
4.3.2 Enhanced Interference Counteract Combine (EICC) ............................................12
5 Refarming Delivery .................................................................................... 13
5.1 Refarming Delivery Process........................................................................... 13
5.1.1 Information Collection ............................................................................................13
5.1.2 Performance Evaluation ........................................................................................14
5.1.3 RF tuning to control the overooting coverage .......................................................14
5.1.4 Performance Optimization .....................................................................................14
5.1.5 Traffic Migration .....................................................................................................16
5.1.6 Frequency re-plan..................................................................................................17
5.1.7 Implementation ......................................................................................................17
5.1.8 Verification .............................................................................................................18
5.2 Tools .............................................................................................................. 18
5.3 KPI forecast and analysis after refarming .................................................. 19

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6 Assumption ................................................................................................ 19

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1 Overview
1.1 Overview
Global expectations of wireless communication anticipate the advent of LTE. With LTE,
what we communicate and how fast and far we communicate will inevitably change for
the better. Many of the worlds leading Tier One operators have declared the launch of
their next generation networks will be based on LTE. Huawei firmly believes LTE to be
the right choice for a new era in mobile communication.

Advantage of choosing 1800M band:

The advantage of using LTE1800 is that it could offer improved in building coverage, as
radio waves at lower frequencies can better penetrate walls.
With the rapid growing data traffic of UMTS2100 network, the frequency resources
become limited. Thus, LTE1800 network could be built to are the 3G traffic.
Reused the existing GSM network resources:
Site room
Air conditioner
Power supply
Battery
Transmission

Difficulties of choosing this band:

It is difficult to get the frequency resources because the frequency licenses around
1800MHz had been auctioned for operators using second generation systems.
Though the GSM operators using 1800MHz band could split 5MHz for LTE1800 the
following factors has to be considered seriously:
Interference between LTE1800 and GSM1800 if same frequency spectrum used
under both networks;
Frequency re-farming of existing GSM1800 system;
Influences on existing GSM1800 network and subscribers during frequency re-
farming.

2 Ncell-Axiata Current Situation and Challenges

2.1 Current Situation for Ncell-Axiata Network
2.1.1 DCS1800 Frequency Spectrum and Site configuration
Ncell-Axiata has a 11MHz bandwidth on1800MHz spectrum. Once allocated 5MHz
of bandwidth for LTE network and remain the 6 MHz used for the existing 2G 1800
MHz network to satisfy Ncell-Axiata GSM network capacity requirement.
The table below ows spectrum allocation for Existing Ncell-Axiata 1800MHz:

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 676 1838 1743
675 1837.8 1742.8
674 1837.6 1742.6

Page 4 of 21
The main cell configuration is S2 to S6, Most of the cells with more than 8 TRX are

673 1837.4 1742.4

676 1838 676 1838 672 1837.2 1742.2
675 1837.8 675 1837.8

Here listed the HR Traffic Rate in whole cells, more than 90% cell no HR traffic.
671 1837 1742
674 1837.6 674 1837.6 670 1836.8 1741.8
673 1837.4 673 1837.4 669 1836.6 1741.6
672 1837.2 672 1837.2
TCH

668 1836.4 1741.4

671 1837 671 1837
670 1836.8 670 1836.8 667 1836.2 1741.2
669 1836.6 669 1836.6 666 1836 1741
665 1835.8 1740.8
TCH

668 1836.4 668 1836.4

667 1836.2 667 1836.2 664 1835.6 1740.6
666 1836 666 1836 663 1835.4 1740.4
665 1835.8 665 1835.8 662 1835.2 1740.2
664 1835.6 664 1835.6 661 1835 1740
663 1835.4 663 1835.4 660 1834.8 1739.8

91.08%
Weight
5.24%
2.84%
0.84%
662 1835.2 662 1835.2 659 1834.6 1739.6
661 1835 661 1835 658 1834.4 1739.4
660 1834.8 660 1834.8 657 1834.2 1739.2
Final DCS1800 Resources after Refarming

659 1834.6 659 1834.6 656 1834 1739

658 1834.4 658 1834.4 655 1833.8 1738.8
TCH

657 1834.2 657 1834.2 654 1833.6 1738.6

Table 2-1: Frequency resources

656 1834 656 1834 653 1833.4 1738.4

Commercial in Confidence
655 1833.8 655 1833.8
654 1833.6 654 1833.6 652 1833.2 1738.2
653 1833.4 653 1833.4 651 1833 1738

Table 2-3: Existing network HR rate

652 1833.2 652 1833.2 650 1832.8 1737.8

UL EARFCN: 19470
DL EARFCN: 1470

649 1832.6 1737.6

Cell Quantity
651 1833 651 1833
650 1832.8 650 1832.8 648 1832.4 1737.4
649 1832.6 649 1832.6 647 1832.2 1737.2
LTE

648 1832.4 648 1832.4 646 1832 1737

236
128

250
647 1832.2 647 1832.2 645 1831.8 1736.8

38
LTE

646 1832 646 1832 644 1831.6 1736.6

645 1831.8 645 1831.8 643 1831.4 1736.4
644 1831.6 644 1831.6 642 1831.2 1736.2

DCS1800 Site Traffic and HR rate

643 1831.4 643 1831.4 641 1831 1736
642 1831.2 642 1831.2 640 1830.8 1735.8
641 1831 641 1831 639 1830.6 1735.6
640 1830.8 640 1830.8 638 1830.4 1735.4
639 1830.6 639 1830.6
638 1830.4 638 1830.4 637 1830.2 1735.2
637 1830.2 637 1830.2 636 1830 1735
636 1830 636 1830 635 1829.8 1734.8
635 1829.8 635 1829.8 634 1829.6 1734.6
634 1829.6 634 1829.6 633 1829.4 1734.4
633 1829.4 633 1829.4 632 1829.2 1734.2
632 1829.2 632 1829.2 631 1829 1734

50%~80%
20%~50%
631 1829 631 1829 630 1828.8 1733.8

HR Rate Range
630 1828.8 630 1828.8 629 1828.6 1733.6
BCCH

>80%
BCCH

GSM Network Refarming-Ncell Axiata

629 1828.6 629 1828.6 628 1828.4 1733.4

0%
BCCH

628 1828.4 628 1828.4 627 1828.2 1733.2

627 1828.2 627 1828.2 626 1828 1733
626 1828 626 1828 625 1827.8 1732.8
625 1827.8 625 1827.8 624 1827.6 1732.6
624 1827.6 624 1827.6 623 1827.4 1732.4
623 1827.4 623 1827.4
622 1827.2 622 1827.2 622 1827.2 1732.2

DL Frequency

UL frequency
Channel type

IBC sites.
Channel type
Channel type

Frequency

Frequency

ARFCN
ARFCN

ARFCN

2.1.2
 676 1838 1743
Assume no traffic keep same before and after refarming, the capacity will be limited

Page 5 of 21
After The DCS1800M frequency spectrum reduce from 11M to 6M, base on thenew

675 1837.8 1742.8

674 1837.6 1742.6
configuration is S4. with assumption no traffic change before and after refarming

673 1837.4 1742.4

672 1837.2 1742.2
Reduction of Frequency spectrum will cause tighter frequency reuse, increase

671 1837 1742

670 1836.8 1741.8
frequency planning and the Power setting, we proposed the Maximum TRX

669 1836.6 1741.6

TCH
668 1836.4 1741.4
667 1836.2 1741.2
666 1836 1741
665 1835.8 1740.8
664 1835.6 1740.6
663 1835.4 1740.4
662 1835.2 1740.2
661 1835 1740 103 955.6
660 1834.8 1739.8 102 955.4
Challenges for Refarming 5M to LTE in DSC system

659 1834.6 1739.6 101 955.2

658 1834.4 1739.4 100 955
657 1834.2 1739.2 99 954.8
656 1834 1739 98 954.6
655 1833.8 1738.8 97 954.4
654 1833.6 1738.6 96 954.2

Commercial in Confidence
in the cells which existing configuration more than S4.
653 1833.4 1738.4 95 954
652 1833.2 1738.2 94 953.8

Figure 2-2: Frequency spectrum after refarming

651 1833 1738 93 953.6
650 1832.8 1737.8 92 953.4

UL EARFCN: 19470
DL EARFCN: 1470
649 1832.6 1737.6 91 953.2
Figure 2-1: FAR Caculation

TCH
648 1832.4 1737.4 90 953
frequency collision probability and worsen C/I.

647 1832.2 1737.2 89 952.8

LTE
646 1832 1737 88 952.6
645 1831.8 1736.8 87 952.4
644 1831.6 1736.6 86 952.2
Refarming Challenges - Interference

643 1831.4 1736.4 85 952

642 1831.2 1736.2 84 951.8
641 1831 1736 83 951.6

Refarming Challenges - Capacity

640 1830.8 1735.8 82 951.4
639 1830.6 1735.6 81 951.2
638 1830.4 1735.4 80 951
637 1830.2 1735.2 79 950.8
636 1830 1735 78 950.6
635 1829.8 1734.8 77 950.4
634 1829.6 1734.6 76 950.2
633 1829.4 1734.4 75 950
632 1829.2 1734.2 74 949.8
631 1829 1734 73 949.6
630 1828.8 1733.8 72 949.4
629 1828.6 1733.6 71 949.2

BCCH

BCCH
628 1828.4 1733.4 70 949

GSM Network Refarming-Ncell Axiata

627 1828.2 1733.2 69 948.8
626 1828 1733 68 948.6
625 1827.8 1732.8 67 948.4
624 1827.6 1732.6 66 948.2
623 1827.4 1732.4 65 948
622 1827.2 1732.2 64 947.8

DL Frequency

UL frequency

Channel type
Channel type

Frequency
ARFCN

ARFCN
activity,
2.2.1

2.2.2
2.2
2.2.3 Refarming Challenges Repeater and IBC sites
2G already has more than 15 years development, At the beginning of network
deployed. we have to use a lot of Repeater to enhance the coverage in the basement,
parking area and other poor signal area. Furthermore, most of these Repeaters are
bandwidth type. if the frequency spectrum changed, the reduced spectrum still can be
amplified by the Repeater, and this part of amplified power will create interference for
the LTE Macro sites.
.
After Refarming, only few channel can be dedicate to IBC sites. So, it is a huge
challenge to the IBC site Capacity and Frequency planning.

3 Ncell-Axiata 1800M Refarming Huawei Solution

3.1 Frequency and Interference Solution
3.1.1 Frequency Planning after refarming
For LTE1800 frequency re-farming, 5 MHz will be reserved for LTE from current
11MHz 1800 frequency spectrum. Thus the GSM1800MHz network will utilizing the
remaining 6MHz bandwidth with higher frequency re-use than before in order to
support the current most of the TRXs configuration per site.
Under 6M frequency spectrum, we give the frequency planning guide as below:

Channel type BCCH LTE TCH

622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
ARFCN
1827.2
1827.4
1827.6
1827.8
1828.2
1828.4
1828.6
1828.8
1829.2
1829.4
1829.6
1829.8
1830.2
1830.4
1830.6
1830.8
1831.2
1831.4
1831.6
1831.8
1832.2
1832.4
1832.6
1832.8
1833.2
1833.4
1833.6
1833.8
1834.2
1834.4
1834.6
1834.8
1835.2
1835.4
1835.6
1835.8
1836.2
1836.4
1836.6
1836.8
1837.2
1837.4
1837.6
1837.8
1828

1829

1830

1831

1832

1833

1834

1835

1836

1837

1838
DL Frequency
1732.2
1732.4
1732.6
1732.8
1733.2
1733.4
1733.6
1733.8
1734.2
1734.4
1734.6
1734.8
1735.2
1735.4
1735.6
1735.8
1736.2
1736.4
1736.6
1736.8
1737.2
1737.4
1737.6
1737.8
1738.2
1738.4
1738.6
1738.8
1739.2
1739.4
1739.6
1739.8
1740.2
1740.4
1740.6
1740.8
1741.2
1741.4
1741.6
1741.8
1742.2
1742.4
1742.6
1742.8
1733

1734

1735

1736

1737

1738

1739

1740

1741

1742

1743
UL frequency

Figure 3-3: New Frequency Planning guide after refarming

For BCCH in Macro sites: GSM network performance very much dependant on
the BCCH interference, therefore sufficient frequency could be reserved for BCCH
planning. We propose use from 622 to 633 Total 2M bandwidth for BCCH in Macro
sites
For TCH in Macro sites: Propose use the RF hoping in all of the Macro sites.
Allocate the channel from 659 to 676 total 3spectrum and use 1*3 Frequency reuse.

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3.1.2 Interference reduction solution
LTE will deploy together with the GSM1800 refarming, so buffer zone will be
introduced to avoid interference between GSM1800 and LTE1800.

Figure 3-4: Huawei Buffer Zoon solution

3.2 Traffic transfer and Capacity Expansion Solution

Base on the frequency preplanning guide after Refarming, the Maximum Cell
configuration after refarming will get S4, In existing network still have around 250
Cells configuration more than 4.Assumed the traffic remains unchanged on G1800M
network, the Congestion will happened in these cells after refarming.
Consider Existing network with low HR usage, we have two solutions to solve
the Capacity issue:
Expand the Existing cells capacity
Transfer the GSM traffic to Idle Neighbours or other System(UMTS)

Here is the General solution to Expansion capacity and transfer traffic.

Consider there still low half rate utilization rate in existing 1800M network. We
propose active more HR/AMR after refarming to absorb the traffic if the GSM traffic still
keep in raise.
Analyzed the traffic in high configuration cells. Most of these cells already with high
HR utilization rate, so, it is only can transfer the traffic to idle G1800 neighbors and other
systems.
Below is Huawei general Traffic balancing rules in multi-layer conditions.

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 In GSM 1800M Layer, use the Load HO algorithm to transfer the traffic from congestion
cells to idle cells
Between GSM 1800M layer and UMTS layer, setting 2G-3G cell reselection parameter to
guide the MS stay in UMTS in idle mode.
In UMTS Layer, setting traffic are strategy in multi-Carriers, balancing the traffic and
maximum the UMTS utilization rate.

3.3 Repeater sites solution

3.3.1 Repeater solution
In existing network more than 20 Repeaters to be used to enhance the coverage,
Basically, there are two type of repeater in existing network:
Type 1: Channel choice Repeater
Type 2: 15M wideband choice Repeater.
Both of these two type of repeater, ould be satisfied with the New frequency planning
after refarming:
support 10M(1872.2-1838)
Check the source cells capacity, keep the number of TRX less than 4 in the Source
cell and use the new MA for the source cell. Then no need change any filter
bandwidth in this type of repeater.
Change the repeater to Huawei Micro BTS and use the new frequency proposal to
plan the Frequency directly.

4 Features for Performance Improvement

Combined with the optimized channel allocation strategy, the Tight Frequency
Reuse Solution developed by Huawei can effectively reduce or eliminate the
interference in the network and a guaranteed speech quality in the whole network.
The techniques effectively enhance network performance, enlarge network capacity,
improve spectrum efficiency, improve the user experience, and keep increasing
operation benefits. It is especially the case when network capacity is low, traffic is
heavy and frequency hopping is not so effective, during which the Tight Frequency
Reuse Solution by Huawei will ow more benefits.
Huawei Tight Frequency Reuse Solution mainly includes three techniques:
speech/signaling anti-interference, interference pre-elimination, and interference
impact elimination. The following chapters deal with the three techniques in detail.

4.1 Speech/ signaling Anti-Interference

Speech/ signaling anti-interference technique mainly refers to the anti-interference
coding technique for speech and the anti-interference transmission of signaling links.
Speech/signaling anti-interference includes the following techniques:
Full Rate and Enhanced Full Rate

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 AMR (AMR FR, AMR HR)
Robust Air Interface Signaling

4.1.1 Full Rate (FR) and Enhanced Full Rate (EFR)

The FR coding scheme is used in the GSM network by default to ensure quality.FR
service is the Telephone Service (TS11) as defined in GSM specifications. It is a
basic function of GSM equipment and also a basic service provided by Huawei
GBSS.FR speech call service consists of the mobile-originated call and the mobile-
terminated call.
Compared with FR, EFR uses an enhanced FR speech coding scheme.EFR can
obtain better speech quality using the ordinary FR channel resources. The EFR
coding scheme is characterized by good anti-noise performance. Therefore under
the same air condition, EFR can make subscribers feel better than FR.

4.1.2 AMR (AMR FR, AMR HR)

AMR is a set of multiple rates of speech coding/decoding, where different
coding/decoding rates generate speech code streams of different rates. AMR allows
the BTS and MS to use appropriate coding/decoding algorithms and to adjust the
coding rate according to the specific radio environment. In this manner, the speech
quality in the wireless communication system is improved.

Under the same radio environment, AMR is by far stronger in anti-interference than
FR, EFR, and HR. Therefore AMR can provide better speech quality and improve
user experience. On the basis of the strong anti-interference of AMR, a bigger ratio
of AMR subscribers in network means more improvement space in network capacity
in the future.
Tight Frequency Reuse Solution and the popularity of AMR-supporting terminals
can increase spectrum utilization of GSM system, effectively expand network
capacity and improve network quality.

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4.1.3 Robust Air Interface Signaling
On the occasion of tight frequency reuse, the high BER on the Um interface leads to
poor transmission. Information sent by FACCH frame or SACCH frame may get lost.
Robust Air Interface Signaling includes Retransmission of Downlink FACCH Frame
and Retransmission of Uplink/Downlink SACCH Frames.
Retransmission of the Downlink FACCH Frame: After obtaining the information
that the MS supports retransmission of FACCH frames, the BTS determines
whether a FACCH frame ould be retransmitted or not if the receive quality in
downlink measurement report is lower than a predefined threold. The
retransmission of the FACCH frame increases the possibility for the MS to
successfully receive the signaling.
Retransmission of Uplink/Downlink SACCH Frames: After obtaining the
information that the MS supports retransmission of SACCH frames, the BTS will
command the MS to retransmit the latest SACCH frame if the SACCH frame cannot
be decoded correctly on the BTS side. If the SACCH frame cannot be decoded
correctly on the MS side, the MS will command the BTS to retransmit the latest
SACCH frame.

4.2 Interference Pre-elimination Technique

Interference pre-elimination technique is used to minimize the occurrence of
interference in the network and eliminate network interference at the earliest stage,
thus improving network quality and expanding network capacity. Interference pre-
elimination technique mainly consists of the following parts.
Power Control
Flexible MAIO (Flex MAIO)

4.2.1 Power Control/ Huawei Power Control III

Power control in radio paths is used to reduce the transmit power when fairly good
transmission does not require the maximum transmit power. Power control is an
important method of radio link control. The BSC determines whether to adjust the
transmit powers of the MS and BTS based on the parameter settings of the system
and the measurement reports from the BTS, which contain the uplink/downlink
receive level and receive quality.
The algorithm of Huawei Power Control III enhances and optimizes the old
algorithm in terms of filtering/interpolation algorithm, decision algorithm, threold
configuration flexibility, and so on.
Optimized filtering/interpolation algorithm: By avoiding the impact of
inaccurate measurement reports at initial stages of MS channel access on
power control algorithm, the new algorithm can predict variation trend of

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 the MS transmit power more punctually and accurately according to the
measurement values.
Optimized decision algorithm: Combining the receive level and receive
quality after filtering and meanwhile considering the gain of radio channels
from frequency hopping, decision results become more accurate.
Flexible threold setting of power control: You can set different power
control threold values for AMRFR, AMRHR, FR and HR to satisfy the
demand of AMR power control optimization.
Power control can not only reduce power consumption of terminals and BTSs and
thus save energy, but also reduce network interference, expand available network
capacity, and meanwhile improve network quality.

4.2.2 Flex MAIO

In a site of large capacity, co-channel or adjacent-channel interference may easily
occur among channels due to limited frequency resources and tight frequency reuse.
When the mobile allocation (MA) contains adjacent frequencies, if the channels in
the same timeslot of different TRXs use adjacent MAIOs and are occupied at the
same time, these channels cause adjacent-channel interference to one another.
When an MAIO is assigned to a channel under activation, the MAIO value is
dynamically adjusted according to the current interference status and the MAIO
value with the minimum interference is assigned to the channel. Thus the call has
the minimum interference from the perspective of the entire network and network
interference is reduced.

4.3 Interference Impact Elimination Technique

Network interference is inevitable due to network capacity expansion under limited
frequency resources. The following techniques are used to eliminate as much
impact of network interference as possible while improving frequency spectrum
utilization. In this manner, every effort to expand network capacity is made as
network quality allows. There are many techniques for eliminating network
interference impact. We will focus on the following techniques:
Interference Counteract Combine (ICC)
Enhanced Interference Counteract Combine (EICC)

4.3.1 Interference Counteract Combine (ICC)

Interference Counteract Combine (ICC) is a technique that combines signals from
multiple antennas to suppress interference. Generally speaking, the interference to
multiple antennas is caused by the same user signal. Thus, there are correlations
between the interference signals received by different antennas. On the basis of the
correlations, some interference signals can be eliminated during the combination of
the signals through the technique of ICC.

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 The principle of Interference Counteract Combine (ICC)

4.3.2 Enhanced Interference Counteract Combine (EICC)

Similar to ICC, EICC is mainly used in the network where tight frequency reuse is
used and the traffic is fairly heavy.
The interferers of the signals received by multiple antennas are associated with Co-
Channel Interference (CCI) and Inter-Symbol Interference (ISI). ICC processes
these two types of interference independently and eliminates the space domain
interference and the time domain interference respectively. Considering the
correlation of these two types of interference, EICC constructs the multidimensional
combining ratio matrix to combine the signals based on the maximum signal-to-
noise ratio criterion. In this manner, EICC provides better uplink signals.
This function requires the relevant matrix of interference, which is calculated on the
basis of the training sequence of useful signals. For each RX signal, the network
estimates a channel model based on the training sequence of the signal,
reconstructs the useful signal, and subtracts the useful signal from the RX signal to
obtain the interference signal. The network then estimates the matrix of the
interference and analyzes the statistical dependency of these interference signals.
Based on the statistical dependency, some interference is counteracted during the
combination of RX signals to maximize the combination gain.

Working principle of EICC

EICC has the following benefits:

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 It optimizes uplink signals to meet the demanding requirements for radio
communications in certain cases and to improve the uplink performance on
the occasion of wide coverage.
The improvement in uplink anti-interference capability allows a tighter frequency
reuse and system capacity expansion.

5 Refarming Delivery
5.1 Refarming Delivery Process
The following figure ows the frequency re-farming solution process.

Figure 5-1 Refarming Delivery Process

5.1.1 Information Collection

Collect the GSM1800 information to support solution design, including but not
limited to:
Hardware configuration data of the cell
Engineering parameters (Latitude, Longitude, Azimuth, Tilting, etc)
Alarm information
Output power from top of rack
Traffic mode for current GSM1800 network
Collect Measurement Report by turning on MR switch
Traffic statistics
Network KPIs (drive test KPIs and OSS KPIs)
Frequency allocation table of the cell
Frequency required for LTE1800
Complaints from users
VIP area and VIP cell

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 Repeater information

5.1.2 Performance Evaluation

1) Description
Analyze the allocation and configuration of frequencies, and the interference in
the existing network to find out the problems in frequency planning. The
evaluation results serve as a reference for frequency re-farming.
Overooting coverage area will be located based on drive test data analysis and
MR analysis from Nastar, for further RF tuning in the next step.
2) Work Flow
Step 1: DT evaluation
Carry out the DT according to the test plans worked out with the customer.
Identify the overooting area, work out the solution to reduce the overooting
coverage.
Step 2: Analysis of complaints and traffic statistics
Analyze the KPIs and interference band in the traffic statistics, and the
complaints from the users. Identify the potential interference area.
Step 3: Simulation evaluation
Perform simulation to evaluate the original network according to the engineering
parameters and the data in the original frequency planning, and check the C/I
ratio and the coverage.

5.1.3 RF tuning to control the overooting coverage

There may be overooting coverage in the original network. However, since the
frequency resources are abundant, the interference caused by overooting
coverage might be controlled by allocating the special frequencies. The
frequency reuse becomes tight after refarming then the overooting interference
becomes distinctive. So overooting will be controlled before change the
frequency plan for the refarming.
The best way to control the overooting is to tilt the antenna. But if some sites are
installed extra high and has a serious overooting coverage, the height of the
antenna need to be reduced, or sites may need to be moved to another suitable
location. Thus another new site may need to installed to guarantee the coverage.
Neighbor cell will be optimization together.
BSIC may need to re-tune, to distance the co-BCCH and co-BSIC sites.

5.1.4 Performance Optimization

1) Description

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 To ensure high network performance, adjust and optimize the usage of
frequencies and RF fine tuning in these areas is necessary to improve the
network performance.
2) Work Flow
Step 1: Problem area identify or Complaints analysis
Compare the quality among the drive test route before and after the re-farming
will assist engineer to identify the problem area, then engineer will confirm if it is
due to the frequency re-farming after further analyse.
Also the complaints caused by frequency re-farming may assist engineer to
identify the problem area.
Step 2: Performance optimization
According to the drive test analyse, traffic statistics, analyze the decreased KPIs,
and optimize the KPIs to meet the requirements by modifying the system
parameters as well as the engineering parameter or optimizing a single site.
During the optimization stage, MR will be used to evaluate the real interference
level of the network, frequency fine tuning may be conducted upon the
assistance of the MR analyse function.
Also, the features to reduce the interference will be introduced to the network to
improve the performance of the network after new frequency planning applied.

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 GSM frequency redesign

Open Power Control, DTX

Open ICC (or EICC)

Request can be satisfied

Half Rate +AMR

Request cannot be satisfied

Request can be satisfied
Traffic Migrate to 3G

Request cannot be satisfied

Request can be satisfied
Co-BCCH

Request cannot be satisfied

Request can be satisfied
Frequency Multiplexing
Request cannot be satisfied
Request can be satisfied
Tight BCCH

Request cannot be satisfied

AISS+IBCA

Request can be satisfied

End

Figure 5-2 Optimization Flow

Aims: the optimization solution above to guarantee network quality.

5.1.5 Traffic Migration

1) Description
Traffic migration is necessary for those ee cells or sectors where original setting is more
than S7 configuration. Those cells or sectors will be reduced to S6. To ensure it could
handle the desire traffic after reduction, traffic require to transfer to nearest or available
site.

2) Work Flow
Step1: Collection Peak Traffic data

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 Daily peak traffic data is collected for a month. The average peak of the months is
selected as traffic analysis. This figure will be use as benchmark for traffic comparison
with predicts traffic.
Step 2: Calculation of existing traffic data and predicted traffic data
Listed up cell or sector which more than S7. Based on TCH active channel in each TRX,
calculated the traffic with B erlang table with mutual agreed TCHHR. the value will set as
predicted traffic where it will compare with benchmark traffic as mention above
Step 3: Migrate Traffic to cole or nearby site.
The calculated exceed traffic will be transfer to colo or nearby cell. It is depend on actual
condition where target cell or site is available to welcome additional traffic.

5.1.6 Frequency re-plan

1) Description
Huawei will introduce an intelligence frequency automatic plan tool (CellOpt) to
re-plan the frequency based on the available frequency band and the
interference matrix (IM). For those sites outage of site down during the MR
collection period, HUAWEI planning tool prediction interference matrix data will
be used as a complementary data.

2) Work flow
Step 1: Freeze network and MR collection
Enable MR collection from the GSM BSC to collect the MR data at least 2 weeks,
to collect sufficient MR data for the interference matrix generation.
Step 2: Frequency planning
Conduct frequency re-farming for the defined area to meet the requirements for
LTE1800 frequency resource requirements and network configuration in the
future.
The frequencies re-plan in for refarming will be conducted by Huawei Global
Frequency Re-tuning Center, a dedicated department absorbed in high quality
frequency re-tuning. Cost will be introduced to calculate the network interference
till get a minimum cost value.
Step 3: Simulation and verification
Import the reviewed results into the simulation database for simulation and
prediction, to double check the new frequency re-tuning result.
Module Input Deliverable
intelligence IM Frequency re-planning
Frequency auto report
replan Engineering Parameter

5.1.7 Implementation
1) Description

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 Frequency configuration script can be prepared after the frequency replan.
According to implementation plan, script will be loaded to the life network.
2) Work Flow
Step 1: Frequency configuration script preparation
Frequency configuration script all be prepared after the frequency re-planning
result is mutually agreed by Huawei and Ncell-Axiata.
Step 2: Frequency configuration script loading
According to implementation plan, script can be loaded to the life network.
3) Preparations and Deliverables
Module Input Deliverable
Implementation Frequency re-planning report Frequency configuration
script

5.1.8 Verification
1.1 Description
After frequency pattern for the re-farming implemented, test the interference in
the current network along the same route as that for testing the interference in
the original network. Then, compare the interference levels, KPIs, and
interference band in traffic statistics of the current network and those of the
original network to verify the results of frequency re-farming.
1.2 Work Flow
Step1: Network performance verification
After frequency re-farming, test the interference in the current network along the
same route as that for testing the interference in the original network. Compare
the interference levels, KPIs, and interference band in traffic statistics of the
network before and after frequency re-farming, and then monitor the KPIs for a
week to verify the results of frequency re-farming.
1.3 Preparations and Deliverables
Module Input Deliverable
GSM1800 network DT/CQT for GSM1800 performance
performance verification GSM1800 network verification report
and analysis

5.2 Tools
Huawei has developed a suite of Radio Network Planning and Optimization tools
throughout the entire life cycle of GSM and LTE network. Huawei tools are branded
under a uniform name GENEX which implies GENerating EXcellence. An overview of
these tools is given as follows:
Huawei GENEX Radio Network Planning and Optimization Tools Family
U-Net Professional Radio Planning Tool

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 U-Net is a radio network cell planning tool that integrates Huaweis eight years of
experiences in radio network dimensioning and cell planning. U-Net offers functions of
coverage and capacity planning and so on. It will interwork with the CellOpt, the
intelligence frequency automatic plan tool.
Probe Drive Testing Tool
Probe is a highly useful drive testing tool for radio network optimization (signal
measurement, signalling capturing, frequency scanning and etc).
Assistant Drive Test Post Processing Tool
Assistant is an drive test post processing tool used to integrate drive testing data and
RNC analysis data and then translate them into relevant data to support the decision
making in network optimization activities.
Nastar Intelligence Performance Analysis and optimization Tool
Nastar is a set of performance-analysis software to aid the performance optimization
and tuning of radio networks. New generation of Nastar can carry the frequency analyse
based on the volume MR data.
CellOpt
An intelligence AFP tool. It can automatically plan frequency base on the cost
calculation with interference matrix. It is located in Huawei HQ, operated by a group of
experts, dedicated for frequency planning.

5.3 KPI forecast and analysis after refarming

Disadvantage Factor:
In-use Spectrum reduce by 25% from 11M to 5M.
Quite a few sites only support partial frequency, possibly resulting in higher
interference and churn after refarming.
Advantage Factor:
2G traffic estimated to decline slightly by 10% per year as more smart phone and
data service use 3G/4G
Rollout U900 network to absorb some 2G traffic
Forecast and suggestion:
2G KPI variation <+- 1% (CDR/HSR/CSSR) (See note.)
KPI acceptance by network;
For special case, if refarming is based on area, acceptance also will be based on
area level

Note: Absolute Value variation <0.5%

6 Assumption
1) Interference from other nation such as Malaysia or Indonesia which impact to cell level KPI will
be excluded from KPI acceptance.
2) Those cell which not able to fulfill traffic migration proposal such as add TRX, add hardware,
add new sites, etc will be excluded from KPI acceptance.
3) Repeater ould meet requirement of Reframing optimal goal.

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