Radio Network Optimization
RADIO ACCESS NETWORK SERVICES
RAN Services involve carrying out a performance improvement and redesign study to improve network quality, traffic, and revenues.
The following section describes RAN Service contents, schedules and deliverables.
Service Description
- Evaluate and improve the performance of the mobile network, focusing on subscriber perceived quality
- Give valuable information about current network state and possible future improvements
- Improve operators' competitiveness by increasing revenue and improving subscriber satisfaction
RAN SERVICES Basic Modules
Basic Radio Platform Check
PIWorks will check the existing inventory and configuration of BTS towers. This is not a total site audit, but a collection of information to help in performance evaluation. Some sites may require physical visits, subject to the time frame of the review project.
The following data will be collected:
-Site locations (distance of sites from traffic hot-spots)
-Antenna types
-BTS types used
-TRU configurations
Fault Clearance
Fault clearance is very important to ensure that the network operates as designed. If a cell is temporarily non-operational or experiences inconsistencies or HW faults, the performance of the entire region around the cell can be impaired.
PIWorks will conduct the following analysis:
-Alarm analysis
-DIP, LAPD and Transcoder performance
-Dropped call analysis (Time Slot basis)
-Consistency checks
Traffic Analysis
The purpose of this module is to investigate traffic and capacity related issues in a GSM radio network and resolve them, thereby increasing traffic. The traffic and capacity investigation includes both SDCCH and TCH traffic and capacity related issues such as traffic dimensioning, channel utilization, congestion, and channel availability.
-SDCCH/TCH Utilization
· SDCCH Congestion
· TCH Congestion
-Micro /Macro Cell Analysis
-Traffic Reason Handover (TRHO) -Load Sharing, Hierarchical Cell Layers
-GPRS Traffic analysis
-Congestion in Transcoders
Quality Analysis
The quality of the network depends on the retainability and integrity of calls. The purpose of this module is to investigate issues that occur after radio resources have been assigned. The following items will be analyzed:
-Dropped Calls
· High Interference
· Poor Coverage
· HW Problems
· Excessive TA
· Traffic Congestion
· Handover Related Problems
-SQI and RXQual investigation
-Drive Test illustrations
-Disconnection Reason Distribution
Adjacency Definition
The goal of adjacency management is to have the right BCCH carrier frequencies in the neighbor definition list so that handovers are always performed using the best target cells. Missing or unnecessary neighbor relations are common sources of network performance degradation, which may cause significant traffic and revenue losses. One of the aims of RAN SERVICES is to optimize the adjacency definition conditions.
The following items will be covered in the study:
-General HO performance, faults, reason distribution
-Auxiliary features effect on Locating Algorithm
-Missing Adjacencies
-Obsolete Adjacencies
Frequency Analysis
A good frequency plan is of paramount importance for network performance. The better the frequency plan, the less co- and adjacent-channel interference is experienced by subscribers. This means better call quality and subsequently better DCR. Reduced dropped calls means more carried traffic with the same number of subscribers, thus more revenue without additional investment.
A better frequency plan also allows integrating more cells between existing sites for better coverage and higher capacity.
RAN SERVICES aims to evaluate frequency planning strategies, uncover quality degradation caused by frequency planning, and recommend possibilities for improved planning.
The following investigations take place during the RAN SERVICES:
-Analysis of the frequency matrix and planning strategy
-Interference analysis
-C/I ratio derived from the drive tests
-Icmband measurements
-Frequency Hopping and Related Parameters
General Parameter Analysis
Parameters define the unique condition of each cell in the system. Properly optimized parameter configurations can significantly improve network performance and increase revenue without extra investments.
The following features will be analyzed:
-Cell design data evaluation
-MO data evaluation
Network Features
PIWorks can analyze available network features to look for better settings to improve performance.
The following features will be analyzed:
-Idle Mode Behavior
-Locating
-Dynamic Power Control
-Intra-Cell Handover
-Directed Retry
-Overlaid/Underlaid Cells
-Hierarchical Cell Structure
-Cell Load Sharing
-Frequency Hopping
-Adaptive Configuration of Logical Channels
-Discontinuous Transmission
-Immediate Assignment on TCH
-AMR (if available)