GSM Optimization and Troubleshooting

GSM Optimization and Troubleshooting
Introduction
Mobile Network-A living Organism
A radio mobile network may be compared to a living organism.

Like all living systems, the mobile network has a period of gestation before its birth.
This period estimates the financial validity and profitability of the mobile network to deploy. If the
gestation period concludes on the decision to deploy the network, the network starts with the
deployment of the first base stations.
At the very first stage of its life, the network aims at extending its cover to handle all
communications on the given area.
Then, as a second step, it grows at every local or global extension based on service quality
criteria.
Each of these extension steps are called new deployments.
Regarding economical criteria, a good (cheap) deployment must involve a minimal set of
base stations while performing an optimal radio coverage e.g. as larger as possible for a
given signal quality threshold.
Each of the deployment and the optimization phases of radio mobile network may be
considered has a stage, or period.
We focus in this course on Optimization stages and of their relationships inside an
optimization problem: the optimal location and parameterization of base stations.
With the rapid growth of the wireless industry, GSM (Global System for Mobile
communications) networks are rolling out and expanding at a high rate. The industry is also
becoming intensely competitive.
In this environment, high quality of service is a competitive advantage for a service
provider. Quality of service can be characterized by such factors as contiguity of coverage,
accessibility to the network, speech quality and number of dropped calls.
The primary tool used by most service providers to solve network problems is a drive-test
system.
A conventional drive-test system is comprised of a test mobile phone, software to control
and log data from the phone, and a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for position
information.
A test mobile gives a customers view of the network, but can only indicate the type of
problem that exists. It can-not show the cause of the problem. These limitations are overcome if a GSM receiver is integrated with the phone if a GSM receiver is integrated with
the phone.
The Optimization Process

Optimization is an important step in the life cycle of a wireless network.
Drive-testing is the first step in the
process, with the goal of collecting
measurement data as a function of
location.
When the problems, causes and
solutions have been identified,
steps are performed to solve the
problems
Optimization
Process
Engineers can use the collection

and post-processing software to
identify the causes of RF coverage
or interference problems and
determine how these problems can
be solved
Once the data has been collected

over the desired RF coverage area,
it is output to post-processing
software
Optimization Plan
Cluster Definition
Cluster Site
Readiness
Verification
Route Definition
Drive test
Measurement
Report
Drive test/NOC
Measurement
Report Analysis
Cluster Analysis
NOC
Measurements
Drive test
Measurement
Yes
No
No
Yes
Is there need of
New Drive Test?
Is the KPI met?
Cluster sign off

Report and
summary of optimization
Next Cluster
Overall Network
Optimization
Optimization Process
Drive test and optimization activities generally are started six weeks before network launch
date at each market.
Time reserved for optimization at each market is five to six weeks.
Actual cluster optimization can be started when 80% of sites has been integrated at each
cluster.
Pre-work activities as cluster- and route definitions and getting the drive test equipment to
market should be done as early as possible.
If it is necessary to start optimization earlier, less than 80% of the sites integrated, clusters
or drive routes may be changed or modified to make optimization happen sooner
All Operator Specific
Key Performance Parameters

Operator specifies the KPI which the optimization team has to achieve for acceptable
network performance.
Key Performance Indicators
Call Success Rate, TCH Drop Call Ratio (%)
Downlink Quality (%)
Within the coverage area when requested by user, ratio of successful SDCCH reservations and made call attempts.
Acceptable CSSR value in general is 95% and excellent value is 99%.
Coverage (% of time), Downlink Level
The GSM Quality is categorized in 8 different classes based on received Bit Error Ratio (BER). In the quality
measurements the measured samples are cumulatively shared in different classes.
Acceptable cumulative Downlink RX Quality is classes 05 of 95% of the time. 99 % of the time is excellent
value.
Call Setup Success Ratio
Acceptable CSR is down to 95 % over network. Excellent value is CSR 98% or bigger. CSR = 100% - DCR%.
Within the coverage area the received downlink signal is measured to define if the recommended signal threshold is
reached. Threshold is dependent on the used frequency, and must be terminated to 50 Ohms. Acceptable Downlink
Link level's value of time in general is 95% and excellent value is 99%.
Handover Success Ratio
Within the coverage area, ratio of successful handovers and handover attempts. Acceptable HOSR value in general
is 95% and excellent value is 99%.
Before any drive tests and optimization is performed the site readiness have to be checked.
Every site goes through the acceptance verification.
The network analysis and optimization is done by clusters.
A cluster is set of adjacent sites which have already been defined. Sites belong to the same
BSC.
Cluster are created using apprx. 10-30 adjacent sites (BTSs) or 30-90 sectors depending of
area geography.
Mapinfo software is used to create clusters.
The sites belonging to one optimization cluster have been accepted by implementation
before any drive test or optimization activities are started in that specific cluster. The
following items has to be performed at the BTS:
Antenna and cable installation checked
Cable Sweeps
Link Budget Verification
BTS checked
BTS parameters checked (adjacencies, frequencies, handovers, timeslots, BTS
TRX power, Cell ID,LAC, BSIC), done from NMS.
Acceptance verification will be performed prior to optimization on per site basis. As sites
come on air, they will be tested in order to verify site functionality and confirm that site
data fill is correct.
The evaluation will include successful call origination and termination, intra-site
handovers, frequency and BSIC verification.
Radio network planner provides default parameter list to implementation teams.
Dominance areas of the each cell and frequency plan are needed. This information is is
provided planning process.
Drive routes are designed by using e.g. Mapinfo software.Printouts of the each drive route
are generated.
Drive routes are defined carefully before drive tests are started. Once drive route is defined
the same route is used all the way during optimization process. Following things have to
take into account while planning the drive routes
Max. duration of the drive test of the each cluster is 4 hrs. Still enough calls (>=200) have
to be generated during each drive tests to have reliable results
Route design have to include all the sectors/cells of the cluster
Handovers are measured in both ways (clockwise and anticlockwise) if possible At least all
the major roads are drive tested in the cluster
Drive test are performed in one person teams. The driver, local people should be used for
that job, does the actual driving and checks also the measurement system works properly
during drive tests. The real live site information, including azimuth and downtilt is checked
visually during drive test if possible.
Drive test system includes
Measurement software and laptop

Measurement rack, power supply and connection cable to the laptop
GPS system connected to the laptop
GSM phones:Two phones in call generator mode, call length 90 seconds and duration between
calls 20 seconds. The third phone is making a call until it drops, call duration max. possible and
duration between calls is 15 seconds. Third one is only for coverage purposes.
During each drive measurements system generates at least 200 GSM calls to produce correct and
reliable status of the current network quality
During drive test driver checks failures of the measurement system and problems of the
network (e.g. dropped calls). Driver makes notes if something fails during drive tests and
report afterwards
All the measurement files from the drive tests are saved and processed with the post
processing tools
Drive Test Measurement per drive
Weekly NOC Statistics
Cluster Analysis Process

Process for measurement analysis is following
Make the drive test analysis
Study the handovers between the cells
Study the level and quality values
Study the drive test statistics
KPI DL Quality criteria shown below will be applied to the system drive test results:
RXLEV 98 dBm or better in 95% of the samples
RXQUAL < 5 in 95 % of the samples
Uplink quality will be monitored using NMS call tracing feature with the drive test
mobiles and will target the same thresholds:
RXLEV 98 dBm or better in 95% of the samples
RXQUAL <5 in 95 % of the samples
From these studies RF planner comes conclusion to execute needed modifications to the
network.
The first thing is to identify if the problem detected is a hardware or a software problem.
Hardware problem can be for example tilting, azimuth, cables, timeslots, frequencies.
Software problem can be for example RX-level, RX-quality, handover failures, call setup
problems or drop calls.
If everything is performing according to predefined network criteria planner signs off the
cluster optimization.
To perform inter-cluster optimization at least two adjacent clusters are having common
border.The purpose of inter-cluster verification is to check that the performance of the
system (mainly handovers) is good in the border area between the clusters. The process
itself is exactly the same as for a single cluster.
GSM Cell selection and reselection process
MS operates in two modes: idle mode and dedicated mode.

In the idle mode, MS monitors the broadcast channels in order to "hear" if it is being paged.
It also measures other BTSs' BCCH carrier and decides whether it should camp on another
cell.
This is called cell reselection and the reselection algorithm used in GSM .
In dedicated mode (i.e. during a call), changing cell is called a handover (HO).
For the purpose of cell selection and reselection, the MS shall be capable
of detecting and synchronizing to a BCCH carrier and read the BCCH data
at reference sensitivity level and reference interference levels.
These levels are specified in 3GPP TS 05.05.
For the purposes of cell selection and reselection, the MS is required to
maintain an average of received signal levels for all monitored
frequencies. These quantities termed the "received level averages"
(RLA_C), shall be unweighted averages of the received signal levels
measured in dBm
Cell selection
Cell selection is performed immediately after MS is switched on. If MS is located in the
same cell it in which it was previously was switched off, the SIM card should have the local
BCCH frequency stored in memory and MS should find network quite expeditiously. If MS
has moved to another cell since it was turned off, it enters a cell selection procedure
The MS shall not use the discontinuous reception (DRX) mode of operation (i.e., powering
itself down when it is not expecting paging messages from the network) while performing
cell selection algorithms. However, use of powering down is permitted at all other times in
idle mode.
For the cell selection, the MS shall be able to select the correct (fourth strongest) cell and
be able to respond to paging on that cell within 30 seconds of switch on, when the three
strongest cells are not suitable.
Cell selection
Measurements for normal cell selection
This type of measurements is performed by an MS which has no prior knowledge of which
RF channels are BCCH carriers.
The MS shall search all RF channels within its bands of operation, take readings of
received RF signal level on each RF channel, and calculate the RLA_C for each.
The averaging is based on at least five measurement samples per RF carrier spread over 3 to
5 s, the measurement samples from the different RF carriers being spread evenly during this
period.
A multi band MS shall search all channels within its bands of operation as specified above.
Cell selection
Measurements for normal cell selection
The number of channels searched will be the sum of channels on each band of operation.
BCCH carriers can be identified by, for example, searching for frequency correction bursts.
On finding a BCCH carrier, the MS shall attempt to synchronize to it and read the BCCH
data. The maximum time allowed for synchronization to a BCCH carrier is 0.5 s, and the
maximum time allowed to read the BCCH data, when being synchronized to a BCCH
carrier, is 1.9 s or equal to the scheduling period for the BCCH data, whichever is greater
(see 3GPP TS 05.02).
The MS is allowed to camp on a cell and access the cell after decoding all relevant BCCH
data.
Cell selection
Measurements for stored list cell selection
The MS may include optional storage of BCCH carrier information when switched off
A MS may also store BCCH carriers for more than one PLMN which it has selected previously (e.g. at
national borders or when more than one PLMN serves a country), in which case the BCCH carrier lists
must be kept quite separate.
The stored BCCH carrier information used by the MS may be derived by a variety of different methods.
For example, the MS may store the BCCH carriers in use by the PLMN selected when it was last active in network.
The BCCH list may include BCCH carriers from more than one band in a multi band operation PLMN.
The MS may use the BA_RANGE information element, which, if transmitted in the channel release message
indicates ranges of carriers which include the BCCH carriers in use over a wide area or even the whole PLMN.
It should be noted that the BA(BCCH) list might only contain carriers in use in the vicinity of the cell on which it
was broadcast, and therefore might not be appropriate if the MS is switched off and moved to a new location.
The BA_RANGE information element contains the Number of Ranges parameter (defined as NR) as
well as NR sets of parameters RANGEi_LOWER and RANGEi_HIGHER.
Cell selection
The MS should interpret these to mean that all the BCCH carriers of the network have
ARFCNs in the following ranges:
Range1 = ARFCN(RANGE1_LOWER) to ARFCN(RANGE1_HIGHER);
Range2 = ARFCN(RANGE2_LOWER) to ARFCN(RANGE2_HIGHER);
RangeNR = ARFCN(RANGENR_LOWER) to ARFCN(RANGENR_HIGHER).
If RANGEi_LOWER is greater than RANGEi_HIGHER, the range shall be considered

cyclic and encompasses carriers with ARFCN from range RANGEi_LOWER to 1 023 and
from 0 to RANGEi_HIGHER.
If RANGEi_LOWER equals RANGEi_HIGHER then the range shall only consist of the
carrier whose ARFCN is RANGEi_LOWER.
Cell selection
If an MS includes a stored BCCH carrier list of the selected PLMN it shall perform the
same measurements as in normal cell selection except that only the BCCH carriers in the
list need to be measured.
If stored list cell selection is not successful, normal cell selection shall take place.
Since information concerning a number of channels is already known to the MS, it may
assign high priority to measurements on the strongest carriers from which it has not
previously made attempts to obtain BCCH information, and omit repeated measurements on
the known ones.
Cell Reselection
Phase 1
Cell reselection is performed as MS traverses through a network in idle mode. MS
continuously keeps list of the six strongest BCCH carriers.
From the radio propagation point of view it is desirable that MS camps to a cell with the
lowest path loss.
The most favorable cell is indicated by the so called C1 parameter for a MS of phase 1,or
by C2 for a MS of phase 2 capabilities.
The parameter C2 is essentially an improved version of C1. C1 is evaluated separately for
each cell and it is defined according to the criterion
Cell Reselection
Phase 1
The path loss criterion parameter C1 used for cell selection and reselection is defined by:
C1 = (A - Max(B,0))
where
A = RLA_C - RXLEV_ACCESS_MIN
B = MS_TXPWR_MAX_CCH P (In dBm)
The path loss criterion (3GPP TS 03.22) is satisfied if C1 > 0
The received average level (AV_RXLEV) is found by averaging RXLEV samples over a period of
3-5 seconds. RX_ACCESS_MIN is a cell dependent parameter dictating the minimum allowed
RXLEV for an MS to access that cell. MS_TXPWR_MAX_CCH is the maximum TX power an
MS may use when accessing the system (using RACH). P is the maximum RF output power of the
MS, usually 33 dBm for a handheld GSM900 and 30 dBm for a handheld GSM1800 MS. Often
the latter term in C1 equals 0 and equation can be simplified to:
C1 = A = AV_RXLEV RX_ACCESS_MIN
For example, if the minimum allowed level to gain access to a cell is 100dBm and the
received average level at the cells BCCH frequency is 80 dBm, MS calculates C1 as
+20 for that particular cell. MS camps to the cell with the highest C1 value.
Cell Reselection
Phase 1
There is an exception to the standard procedure described above. When MS evaluates C1 values
for cells belonging to a different Location Area (LA), it subtracts a parameter called
CELL_RESELECT_HYSTERESIS from the C1 value, which means that those cells are given a
negative offset.
The reason for this is that changing LA requires a Location Update (LU) procedure that consumes
network signaling capacity. Thus, by assigning a negative offset to C1, unnecessary LUs caused
by slow fading can be reduced. MS receives information of the cell dependent
CELL_RESELECT_HYSTERESIS values through BCCH
Cell Reselection
Phase 1
In class 3 DCS 1 800 MS Parameter
B = MS_TXPWR_MAX_CCH + POWER OFFSET P
RXLEV_ACCESS_MIN = Minimum received signal level at the MS required for access to the
system.
MS_TXPWR_MAX_CCH = Maximum TX power level an MS may use when accessing the system
until otherwise commanded.
POWER OFFSET = The power offset to be used in conjunction with the MS_TXPWR_MAX_CCH
parameter by the class 3 DCS 1 800 MS.
P = Maximum RF output power of the MS. All values are expressed in dBm.
Cell Reselection
Phase 2
Cell Reselection Criterion C2 is defined as
C2 = C1 +CELL_RESELECT_OFFSET-TEMPORARY_OFFSET
When timer T<PENALTY_TIME and
C2 = C1 + CELL_RESELECT_OFFSET otherwise
T is a timer implemented for each cell in the list of strongest carriers (6 Stronger). T shall be
started from zero at the time the cell is placed by the MS on the list of strongest carriers,
except when the previous serving cell is placed on the list of strongest carriers at cell
reselection. In this, case, T shall be set to the value of PENALTY_TIME (i.e. expired).

Cell Reselection
Phase 2
CELL_RESELECT_OFFSET
C2
TEMPORARY_OFFSET
C1
PENALITY_TIME
Cell Reselection
Phase 2
CELL_RESELECT_OFFSET applies an offset to the C2 reselection criterion for that cell.
CELL_RESELECT_OFFSET may be used to give different priorities to different bands when

multiband operation is used.
TEMPORARY_OFFSET applies a negative offset to C2 for the duration of

PENALTY_TIME after the timer T has started for that cell.
PENALTY_TIME is the duration for which TEMPORARY_OFFSET applies.
CELL_RESELECT_OFFSET, TEMPORARY_OFFSET, PENALTY_TIME and
CELL_BAR_QUALIFY are optionally broadcast on the BCCH of the cell. If not
broadcast, the default values are CELL_BAR_QUALIFY = 0, and C2 = C1.
These parameters are used to ensure that the MS is camped on the cell with which it has the
highest probability of successful communication on uplink and downlink.
Cell Reselection
Phase 2
C2 criterion C2 is applied in hierarchical cell structures to keep fast moving MS in an upper
layer and the slow moving MS in micro cells. It is assumed that a fast moving MS passes
through the microcell before PENALITY_TIME is reached. This efficiently prevents
unnecessary Lus and thus saves network signaling capacity.
A parameter called CELL_RESELECT_PARAM_IND informs MS about which reselection
criterion is used in the cell. It is broadcast on the BCCH.
Cell Reselection
Phase 2
The signal strength threshold criterion parameter C4 is used to determine whether
prioritised LSA cell reselection shall apply and is defined by:
C4 = A - PRIO_THR
Where A is defined earlier and PRIO_THR is the signal threshold for applying LSA
reselection. PRIO_THR is broadcast on the BCCH. If the idle mode support is disabled for
the LSA or if the cell does not belong to any LSA to which the MS is subscribed or if no
PRIO_THR parameter is broadcast, PRIO_THR shall be set to .
GSM Radio link measurements
Radio link measurements are used in the handover and RF power control processes.
Signal Level
The received signal level is employed as a criterion in the RF power control and handover
processes.
The R.M.S received signal level at the receiver input shall be measured by the MS and the BSS
over the full range of -110 dBm to -48 dBm with an absolute accuracy of 4 dB from -110 dBm to
-70 dBm under normal conditions and 6 dB over the full range under both normal and extreme
conditions.
The R.M.S received signal level at the receiver input shall be measured by the MS above -48 dBm
up to -38 dBm with an absolute accuracy of 9 dB under both normal and extreme conditions.
For each channel, the measured parameters (RXLEV) shall be the average of the received signal
level measurement samples in dBm taken on that channel within the reporting period of length one
SACCH multiframe
Signal Level
Range of parameter
The measured signal level shall be mapped to an RXLEV value between 0 and 63, as follows:
RXLEV 0 = less than -110 dBm + SCALE.
RXLEV 1 = -110 dBm + SCALE to -109 dBm + SCALE
RXLEV 2 = -109 dBm + SCALE to -108 dBm + SCALE.
:
:
RXLEV 62 = -49 dBm + SCALE to -48 dBm + SCALE.
RXLEV 63 = greater than -48 dBm + SCALE.
where SCALE is an offset that is used only in the ENHANCED MEASUREMENT REPORT message, otherwise
it is set to 0.
The network may request the MS to report serving cell and neighbour cell measurements
with Enhanced Measurement Report message by the parameter REPORT_TYPE, provided
that BSIC for all GSM neighbour cells has been sent to the MS . This reporting is referred
as Enhanced Measurement Reporting.
Signal quality
The received signal quality shall be measured by the MS and BSS in a manner that can be related
to an equivalent average BER before channel decoding (i.e. chip error ratio), assessed over the
reporting period of 1 SACCH block.
For each channel, the measured parameters (RXQUAL) shall be the received signal quality,
averaged on that channel over the reporting period of length one SACCH multiframe .
In averaging, measurements made during previous reporting periods shall always be discarded.
When the quality is assessed over the full-set and sub-set of frames defined in subclause 8.4, eight
levels of RXQUAL are defined and shall be mapped to the equivalent BER before channel
decoding as follows:
RXQUAL_0 BER < 0,2 % Assumed value = 0,14 %
RXQUAL_1 0,2 % < BER < 0,4 % Assumed value = 0,28 %
RXQUAL_6 6,4 % < BER < 12,8 %Assumed value = 9,05 %
RXQUAL_7 12,8 %< BER Assumed value = 18,10 %.
Measurement Reporting
Measurement reporting for the MS on a TCH
For a TCH, the reporting period of length 104 TDMA frames (480 ms) is defined in terms
of TDMA frame numbers
When on a TCH, the MS shall assess during the reporting period and transmit to the BSS in
the next SACCH message block the following:
RXLEV for the BCCH carrier of the 6 cells with the highest RXLEV among those with known
and allowed NCC part of BSIC. For a multi band MS the number of cells, for each frequency band
supported.
RXLEV_FULL and RXQUAL_FULL: RXLEV and RXQUAL for the full set of TCH and
SACCH TDMA frames. The full set of TDMA frames is either 100 (i.e. 104 - 4 idle) frames for a
full rate TCH or 52 frames for a half-rate TCH.
RXLEV_SUB and RXQUAL_SUB: RXLEV and RXQUAL for the subset of 4 SACCH frames
and the SID TDMA frames/L2 fill frames. In case of data traffic channels TCH/F9.6, TCH/F4.8,
TCH/H4.8 and TCH/H2.4
Measurement reporting for the MS on a SDCCH
For a SDCCH, the reporting period of length 102 TDMA frames (470.8 ms) is defined in
terms of TDMA frame numbers (FN)
When on a SDCCH, the MS shall assess during the reporting period and transmit to the
BSS in the next SACCH message block the following:
RXLEV for the BCCH carrier of the 6 cells with the highest RXLEV among those with known
and allowed NCC part of BSIC. For a multi band MS the number of cells, for each frequency band
supported .
RXLEV and RXQUAL for the full set of 12 (8 SDCCH and 4 SACCH) frames within the
reporting period. As DTX is not allowed on the SDCCH, -SUB values are set equal to the -FULL
values in the SACCH message.
Measurement reporting for the BSS
Unless otherwise specified by the operator, the BSS shall make the same RXLEV (full and
sub) and RXQUAL (full and sub) assessments as described for the MS for all TCH's and
SDCCH's assigned to an MS, using the associated reporting periods
Extended measurement reporting
When on a TCH or SDCCH, the mobile station may receive an Extended Measurement
Order (EMO) message. The mobile station shall then, during one reporting period, perform
received signal level measurements according to the frequency list contained in the EMO
message
Enhanced Measurement Reporting
The network may request the MS to report serving cell and neighbour cell measurements
with Enhanced Measurement Report message by the parameter REPORT_TYPE, provided
that BSIC for all GSM neighbour cells has been sent to the MS. T
his reporting is referred as Enhanced Measurement Reporting.
If Enhanced Measurement Reporting is used, the BCCH carriers and corresponding valid
BSICs of the GSM neighbour cells are sent to the MS within System Information messages
and MEASUREMENT INFORMATION message .
The MEASUREMENT INFORMATION message also includes the parameters

SERVING_BAND_REPORTING, MULTIBAND_REPORTING,
XXX_MULTIRAT_REPORTING (XXX indicates other radio access technology/mode),
XXX_REPORTING_THRESHOLD (XXX indicates GSM band or other radio access
technology/mode), XXX_REPORTING_OFFSET (XXX indicates GSM band or other radio
access technology/mode), REP_PRIORITY, REPORTING_RATE and
NKNOWN_BSIC_REPORTING.
Only GSM cells with the valid BSIC shall be reported unless otherwise stated
GSM Handover
The handover algorithm decides when, why, how and to which cell the HO is made. Some
of the many aspects of HO are touched upon briefly in the following discussion. In the
GSM system MS takes active part in HO process. This type of HO is called Mobile
Assisted Handover (MAHO).
Handover types
There are many different types of HOs. They can be enabled or disabled by using several
flags in the BSS
parameter database.
The different HO types, in the order of signaling complexity, are:
1. Intracell HO
2. Intra-BSS HO
3. Intra-MSC HO
4. Inter-MSC HO
Intracell HO can be executed whenever the co-channel interference is too high and some
other physical channel
in cell has less interference.
GSM Handover
Handover types
There are many different types of HOs. They can be enabled or disabled by using several
flags in the BSS parameter database.
The different HO types, in the order of signaling complexity, are:
1. Intracell HO
2. Intra-BSS HO
3. Intra-MSC HO
4. Inter-MSC HO
Intracell HO can be executed whenever the co-channel interference is too high and some
other physical channel in cell has less interference.
GSM Handover
Handover causes
There are four causes for HO defined.
1. Quality, RXQUAL too high
2. Received level, RXLEV too low
3. MS > BTS distance too large, maximum radius of a GSM cell is about 35
km
4. Better cell, power budget for another cell is more favorable, i.e., path loss is
smaller
If the network is strictly noise limited (very low interference), RXLEV HO (or more
preferably power budget HO) should be the dominant reason for a HO.
In an interference limited network (i.e. urban area) power budget related HO should be the
overwhelming HO cause because this guarantees that MS expends as little RF power as
possible (assuming that uplink power control is used) thus creating less interference and
saving MS battery.
GSM Handover
Handover measurements
During each SACCH multiframe the MS measures the following parameters:
1. RXQUAL, quality of reception, depends on BER.
2. RXLEV, received power level from home BTS.
3. RXLEV_NCELL(n), received power level from neighbor cells defined on home cell
BCCH.
The measurement results are transmitted to BTS during the next SACCH multiframe
for processing.
BTS carries out similar measurements in uplink, in addition to
4. MS_BS_DIST, distance between MS and BTS, evaluated from Timing Advance
(TA)
5. Interference level, measured in unallocated time slots.
GSM Handover
Measurement preprocessing
The information gathered by BTS and MS is preprocessed within BTS before making a
decision on HO. Several BSS parameters influence this algorithm. The measurement results
are averaged and weighted.
Discontinuous transmission (DTX) affects preprocessing because SID frames are
considered less reliable. The averaging window size and the importance weight given to
SID frames can be adjusted for each of the parameters.
For instance, A_LEV_HO is the parameter that controls averaging window size for
measured RXLEV values. A_LEV_HO = 10 means that the last ten measured RXLEV
values are averaged for HO decision purposes.W_LEV_HO = 2 means that measured
RXLEV values for normal speech frames are weighted by a factor of two, as compared to
RXLEV measured for SID frames.
GSM Handover
Handover decision
Here XX = UL or DL (uplink or downlink)

MS_TX_PWR_MAX = Maximum allowed TX power of the MS in the serving cell
MS_TX_PWR_MAX(n) = Maximum allowed TX power of the MS in the adjacent cell n
P [dBm] = Maximum power capability of the MS
GSM Handover
Handover decision
From the decision criteria listed it can be seen that HO due to quality or received level is
performed only if transmit power in DL and UL is on its maximum. This means that power
control should function before HO.
Example:
L_RXLEV_UL_H = 20.
MS_TXPWR = MS_TXPWR_MAX = 26 dBm (MS transmits maximum power allowed in the cell i.e.
MS power control has done all it can)
P = 30 dBm (handheld GSM1800 MS TX power capability).
RXLEV_UL = 15 (received averaged level). Now the received level is smaller than the threshold
L_RXLEV_UL_H by 5 steps and HO is initiated.
GSM Handover
Handover decision
The Power budget is computed for all cells separately and it is expressed for cell n as
PBGT (n) = RX_LEV_NCELL (n) (RXLEV_DL + PWR_C_D) + min
(MS_TX_PWR_MAX,P) -min (MS_TX_PWR_MAX(n),P)
Here PWR_C_D is the averaged difference between the maximum
downlink RF power BS_TXPWR_MAX, and the actual used downlink
power due to power control.
In a simplified case the downlink power control is not used and MS_TXPWR_MAX is the
same for all cells. Power budget can now be written as
PBGT(n) =RX_LEV_NCELL (n) RXLEV_DL
which portrays the path loss difference between cell n compared to
serving cell, if the TX power of both BTS is the same.
GSM Handover
Handover decision
In order to initiate a power budget HO to cell n, PBGT(n) must exceed PBGT of the serving
cell by at least HOMARGIN(n) which is also defined separately for each cell.
HOMARGIN assures that MS will not bounce back and forth between cells due to slow
fading or minor user movements. In other words, the condition
PBGT (n) > HOMARGIN (n)
must be fulfilled in order to initiate a

power budget HO to cell n.
GSM Handover
L_RXQUAL_XX_IH
RXQUAL
7
Intercell
HO due to
quality
Intarcell
HO due to
quality
L_RXQUAL_XX_H
Intercell
HO due to
level
No HO
action due to
quality or
level
63
L_RXLEV_XX_H
RXLEV
GSM Handover
L_RXLEV_XX_IH
RXLEV_MIN
Receiver Sensitivity
L_RXLEV_XX_H
GSM Handover
In the figure, the limits for different RXLEV HO thresholds are presented. The innermost
limit indicates RXLEV_MIN, the minimum required RXLEV for a MS to enter the cell by
HO. The outermost limit indicates the largest possible radius of the cell limited by the MS
receiver sensitivity.
It should be noted that the figure represents sensible threshold settings. One could adjust
the parameters to any ridiculous value.
GSM Handover
Speed sensitive HO algorithm

A subclass of the power budget HO is the speed sensitive power budget HO that is
employed in hierarchical cell structures.
A hierarchical cell structure consists of overlayer macro cells and embedded underlayer
micro cells.
This kind of architecture is often utilized in high traffic areas.
The network is interference limited and the power budget HO is the dominant HO
mechanism to in minimizing TX power.
Ideally, the macro cell layer serves fast moving mobiles, and pedestrian mobiles stay in the
micro cell layer.
This can be achieved by means of C2 cell reselection (idle mode) and the speed sensitive
HO algorithm (dedicated mode).
There are quite a few BSS parameters associated with hierarchical cell structures, priority
layers and ways to control them.
GSM Handover
Speed sensitive HO algorithm

Speed sensitive HO is analogous to C2 cell reselection. It differs from the ordinary power
budget HO in that HO_MARGIN(n) is replaced by HO_MARGIN_TIME(n). Thus HO is
initiated if the condition
PBGT (n) > HO_MARGIN_TIME (n) is fulfilled.
The time dependent handover margin is given by
HO_MARGIN_TIME (n) = HO_MARGIN (n) + HO_STATIC_OFFSET(n) when
timer T < DELAY_TIME
And
HO_MARGIN_TIME (n) = HO_MARGIN(n) + HO_STATIC_OFFSET(n)
HO_DYNAMIC_OFFSET(n) when T > DELAY_TIME.
The parameter DELAY_TIME is measured in SACCH multiframes and the static and
dynamic offsets are measured in dBm.
By setting a large static offset, HO can be prevented during the runtime of the timer T for
that cell
GSM Handover
HANDOVER Parameters
GSM Power Control
Like frequency hopping and DTX, power control is a tool for reducing the interference in
the network. T
his can be understood easily if we consider a case of only one allowed transmit power for
MS.
Mobiles far from BTS will not produce unnecessary interference because they would have
to use more RF power to reach the quality target anyway.
But if mobiles near the BTS expend the same amount of power, most of this power will be
wasted and the overall power level in the network increases and excess interference is
created.
This situation is known as the near-far problem and it is even more harmful in CDMA
systems.
GSM Power Control
Power control can be used in both uplink and downlink. All MS have power control
capability; this is required by the specifications. It is up to the operator whether to use
power control or not.
The TX power can be controlled by BSS parameters. This is done much in the same way as
for HO. For instance, a RXQUAL threshold for power increase can be set. If RXQUAL
falls under the set threshold level, MS (or BTS) is ordered to increase the TX power by an
amount that is defined by parameters
GSM Power Control
Example:
L_RX_QUAL_UL_P = 5, U_RX_QUAL_UL_P = 3, POW_INCR_STEP_SIZE = 4dB,
POW_RED_STEP_SIZE = 2 dB.
The downlink power control is disabled. Assume we have interference causing the averaged
RXQUAL at MS (which is reported to BTS on SACCH) to rise to 5.
BTS commands MS on SACCH to increase the TX power by one step, i.e., 4dB. The C/I
value increases by 4 dB as well and we presume that RXQUAL falls to 3.
This should trigger the upper threshold and BTS commands MS to lower its TX power by
one step, i.e., 2 dB.
Now RXQUAL falls to the deadband region which in this case is RXQUAL = 4 and no
further power control commands are issued for a while.
The example is totally fictious and its purpose is to clarify the power control process.
Note that the HO thresholds and power control thresholds have similar parameter names.
The difference is in the last letter, H and P, respectively.
The power control and HO threshold limits should usually be set in such a way that the
power control acts before HO.
GSM Power Control

RXQUAL
7
Power
Increased
Bad Quality
L_RXQUAL_XX_P
Dead Band
Power
Increased
Bad Level
U_RXQUAL_XX_P
Power
Decreased
Good Level
Power
Decreased
Good
Quality
0
U_RXLEV_XX_P
L_RXLEV_XX_P
63
2 X POW_RED_STEP_SIZE
RXLEV
GSM Power Control
Example:
L_RX_QUAL_UL_P = 5, U_RX_QUAL_UL_P = 3, POW_INCR_STEP_SIZE = 4dB,
POW_RED_STEP_SIZE = 2 dB.
The downlink power control is disabled. Assume we have interference causing the averaged
RXQUAL at MS (which is reported to BTS on SACCH) to rise to 5.
BTS commands MS on SACCH to increase the TX power by one step, i.e., 4dB. The C/I
value increases by 4 dB as well and we presume that RXQUAL falls to 3.
This should trigger the upper threshold and BTS commands MS to lower its TX power by
one step, i.e., 2 dB.
Now RXQUAL falls to the deadband region which in this case is RXQUAL = 4 and no
further power control commands are issued for a while.
The example is totally fictious and its purpose is to clarify the power control process.
Note that the HO thresholds and power control thresholds have similar parameter names.
The difference is in the last letter, H and P, respectively.
The power control and HO threshold limits should usually be set in such a way that the
power control acts before HO.
GSM Troubleshooting
Causes for GSM Network Congestion and Call Loss
Contiguous Coverage Plot

According to GSM specifications for generating RXLEV measurements, a
mobile should take a running average of five samples spread over a
period of 5 seconds or the duration of 5 consecutive paging blocks of
that mobile, whichever is larger.
The duration of these 5 consecutive paging blocks is decided by the
BCCH parameter BS_PA_MFRMS, which informs the mobile of the number
of multiframes after which the same paging block is repeated. This can
range from 1 to 9 multiframes.
This means a mobiles paging block can occur at intervals ranging from
470 ms to 2.1 s. Therefore, 5 consecutive paging blocks for that mobile
will occur over a period ranging from 2.35 s to 10.5 s.
According to GSM specifications, then, the average will be taken over a
period ranging from 5s to 10.5 s.
Contiguous Coverage Plot

If we drive at a nominal speed of 40 km/h, we will cover 55 m in 5 s and
110 m in 10 s. Over any averaging period between 5 and 10 s, the mobile
will take only 5 samples.
If the averaging period is 5 s, then 1 sample is taken every 5.5 m. If the
period is 10 s, then 1 sample is taken every 22.5 m.
With this much distance between samples, there is a possibility that there
will be many areas in which the mobile has not made measurements.
Since coverage holes due to normal log fading at the edges of the cells
can be found in the range of 5 to 50 m, a normal mobile phones RXLEV
measurement can miss these holes.
So, even though the coverage plot produced by a mobile phone may
indicate contiguous coverage, there may actually be many holes, resulting
in patchy coverage, frequent handovers and dropped calls.
However, if we use a GSM receiver that can synchronize itself with the
BCCH carrier, make carrier power measurements and perform a
continuous RXLEV measurement at a specified distance of 1 to 5 m, we
can get a true picture of coverage contiguity over the networks drive area
What Causes poor RXQUAL?
Quality of the received signal (RXQUAL) is a key parameter for evaluating network
performance. RXQUAL is the Bit Error Rate (BER) derived from the 26 bits midamble on
the TDMA burst.
RXQUAL levels characterize speech quality and dropped calls, where 0 indicates the
highest quality and 7 the worst. If we are doing a drive-test in a trouble zone with a phone,
we can easily locate poor quality spots by monitoring RXQUAL. However, we may want to
identify the cause of poor RXQUAL.
RXQUAL can be poor because of poor RXLEV (coverage), low carrier-to-noise ratio
(C/N), co-channel interference, adjacent channel interference or multipath. A phone-based
system will report RXLEV, but will not provide adequate information about the other
potential problems.
If RXQUAL is poor and RXLEV is good, then it is generally assumed that the cause is
interference. However, interference can exist in several forms, including co-channel,
adjacent channel, multipath and external.
What Causes poor RXQUAL?
How do we determine which types of interference are present?

There are several traditional ways of isolating different forms of interference.
For example, if RXQUAL improves when all the co-channel cells are switched off, then cochannel interference is present. Adjacent channel interference can be measured using a spectrum
analyzer, but at present it is difficult to isolate multipath.
Conventional methods are time-consuming and do not characterize interference over the
entire coverage area of the network.
Measurement tools come with interference analyzer which can do real-time
measurements of co-channel interference, adjacent channel interference
and multipath.
The results from the tool can be drawn on the drive route through map info with specific
information on the co channel and the adjacent channel interference data points.
TCH- TCH Interference
A GSM cell has more than one carrier to handle subscriber capacity
require-ments. Only one of the available carriers will be the BCH, which
will be on con-tinuously; the remaining TCH carriers will only turn on for
specific timeslots when a call is initiated on that channel.
During peak hours, the activity on the TCH carriers will be at a
maximum, whereas activity may be zero during off-peak hours.
TCH carriers are also reused, and hence can contribute to co-channel
interference, although this interference will not always be present; it will
only be present when these TCH carriers have call activity (not
necessarily during peak hours).
How do we measure the C/I for these reused TCH carriers?

One approach is to pick the suspected reuse interferer, set up calls on each timeslot
(eight calls), and then drive around in the interfering cell measuring the C/I. This is a
tedious process. The easiest way to solve this measurement problem is to make
delta (difference) measurements. As an example, consider two cells, Cell 1 and Cell
2.
Cell 1 has a BCH carrier on ARFCN B1 and Cell 2 has a BCH carrier on ARFCN B2,
while the TCH carriers in both Cell 1 and Cell 2 are on ARFCN T1. Instead of making
the C/I measurement on T1, we can make a delta measurement of B2/B1, which is
near to the C/I value of T1 when both the T1 carriers are on air, since the
propagation loss for B2/B1 and T1 is nearly the same. . The delta measurement is
the same as measuring the C/I on T1.
Using post-processing software, we can also plot the C/I map for TCH-TCH
interference
Optimizing Handover Margin
The difference between the RXLEV of the server and that of the
neighbor can be recorded as delta value.
At some point on the drive-test route, the neighbors RXLEV will become
stronger than the servers signal and this delta reading will become
negative; when the delta exceeds the handover margin, a handover will
occur.
The value of the handover margin is set in the cell, but not broadcast on
the air interface. By simultaneously monitoring RXQUAL during the
handover, the value of the handover margin can be determined and a
decision can be made whether that value is appropriate for the quality of
service desired. A handover margin on the high side will result in a
handover occurring after the user has experienced some deterioration in
quality.
High handover margins can result in poor reception and dropped calls,
while very low values of handover margin can produce Ping-Pong
effects as a mobile switches too often between cells
C2 Parameter, Reselection and BA Table
In the idle mode, the mobile always prefers to remain with or move to
the best serving cell. The best cell is decided on the basis of uplink and
downlink path balance in the cells. This balance is calculated by GSMdefined C1 calculations. C1 calculations force the mobile to move to the
strongest cell. In certain cases, such as macro-micro cell architecture,
optimization may require that in certain areas the mobile not remain in
the best cell, but instead remain in a cell depending on traffic loading. C2
parameters provide the option of adding fixed positive or negative
offsets to the C1 calculation in each cell. So, although C1 might be better
for a neighbor cell, the application of C2 parameters could delay reselection. C2 parameters also allow the mobile to apply temporary offsets for
a period known as penalty time, which helps reduce Ping-Pong effects.
A mobile does a cell selection when it turns on or comes out of a

coverage area.When the mobile has successfully camped onto a cell, it
monitors the neighbor cells ARFCN (per the BA table, described below)
and does C1 and/or C2 calculations for each of the neighbor and serving
cell ARFCNs at regular intervals. C1 and C2 calculations inform the
mobile of the uplink and downlink path balance in the cell, allowing it to
select or reject the cell. Once the mobile finds a neighbor cells C1 and/or
C2 (since C2 is optional) better than the C1 and/or C2 of the serving cell,
it switches to the neighbor cell. This process of switching to another cell
in the idle mode is known as cell reselection. Cell reselection is
completely controlled by the mobile. The equivalent of cell reselection in
the dedicated mode is handover, which is controlled by the network
A BCCH Allocation (BA) table or list is a set of ARFCNs broadcast to the

mobile in the idle and dedicated modes for monitoring as potential
neighbor cells. In the idle mode, this list is broadcast on the BCCH in a
System Information Type 2 message. The mobile decodes this message
and monitors the ARFCNs listed in the table as idle mode neighbors. In
the dedicated mode, a similarly formatted table is sent to the mobile on
the Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH) in a System Information
Type 5 message. This dedicated mode table can contain the same list of
ARFCNs as the idle mode table, or a different list.
Optimizing Neighbor Lists
In GSM, we can define several neighbors for a serving cell. Usually, we

want a handover to be made to the strongest neighbor, but in some
cases frequent handovers to this best neighbor can result in congestion
in the neighbor cell, affecting the users initiating calls from that cell. The
situation can also occur in reverse, when a handover required to the best
neighbor can result in a rejection due to unavailability of resources,
causing the handover to be attempted to the next best neighbor, which
can delay the process and deteriorate the quality further. Under certain
circumstances, we may need to remove a potential neighbor from the
neighbor list and provide alternatives. Usually, such decisions are made
using demographic considerations. The BCH analyzer in the GSM
receiver makes it easier to determine these alternative neighbors
Optimizing Neighbor Lists
The BCH analyzer can be used to create a list of all the possible BCH
carriers in the nearby vicinity and perform the RXLEV measurement
(linked to the phones RXQUAL performance) on each of these carriers.
When the RXQUAL reaches the handover decision threshold, we can
determine the potential neighbors at that stage and set one of those as
the optimum neighbor. This can also be done with the phone, but in this
case you are limited to the BA list set in the network, which may not
include good potential neighbors. For example, a cell that is a good
neighbor because of propagation over water may not be set in the BA
list. Also, the number of neighbors in the BA list is usually limited,
because a large number reduces the measurement samples per
neighbor and hence deteriorates the authenticity of handovers. The
receiver gives a complete, independent view of all the BCH carriers
available at a particular location where a handover is required, and its
control software capabilities (including markers, delta markers and post
processing) simplify the task of making neighbor settings.
Congestion and call loss caused by shortage of wireless resources:

The number of subscribers acceptable for a base station is limited by the base station's
capacity of carriers.
Taking a 6/6/6 directional base station for example, each base station cell's control channel
and voice channel configuration is 1BCCH+ 24SDCCH+44TCH.
Excluding the control channel, each cell permits 44 subscribers' simultaneous conversation
at most.
This is far from enough for a dense subscribers group. Therefore, many subscribers, when
calling in a "high traffic area", namely a highly centralized customers area, can't occupy the
idle channel of the base station, even can't occupy the base station's dedicated control
channel SDCCH, occurring a phenomenon of instantaneous no-signal of the handset during
handover.
The handover failure (SDCCH call loss) caused by lack of idle channel would result in
marked increase of call loss. Any failure to repair the fault in time would also give rise to
congestion.
Congestion and call loss resulted from co-channel interference:

GSM mobile cellular communication systems adopt frequency reuse technique to improve
spectrum efficiency, and increase system capacity. But co-channel interference is resulted
the service area of the base station is continuously reduced by splitting of the cell and the
same-frequency re-use coefficient increases, mass co-channel interference will replace
man-made noise and other interference, becoming the main constraint to the cell system.
Then the mobile radio environment will change from noise limited environment into
interference limited environment. When the carrier-interference ratio subject to co-channel
interference is smaller than a given value (Ericsson system empirical value approximates to
10dB), the communication quality of the handset will directly be affected, resulting in call
loss or making it possible for handset users to set up normal call in case of severity.
Congestion and call loss as a result of adjacent channel interference:

It refers to the interference caused by falling of the adjacent channel power of the
interfering station into the pass-band of adjacent channel receiver. Adjacent channel
interference will be caused by either the existence in the adjacent cell of channels adjacent
to the operating channels in the local cell due to frequency planning reason, or the fact that
the coverage of the base station cell is larger than design requirement for some reason.
When the carrier-interference ratio in the adjacent channel is smaller than a given value
(Ericsson system empirical value being 3dB), the communication quality of the handset will
be directly affected, resulting in call loss or making it possible for handset users to set up
normal call in case of severity.
Failure of calling due to too weak signal strength of handset:

Nowadays many shopping arcades and entertainment centers are decorated exteriorly
with large glass (this will cause strong reflection of electric waves), while many shielding
materials are used for interior decoration (indoor penetration will affect the receiving level),
both of which will reduce the indoor signal strength of handsets. And in urban areas, "high
traffic areas" in particular, base stations are relatively close to each other and the maximum
transmitting power of some busy base stations is artificially lowered in order to reduce the
traffic by narrowing the coverage. So the handset's received signal is very weak in
buildings. In BSC, a minimum threshold is set for handset users' received signal. When the
signal is weaker than this threshold, normal conversation is impossible.
Call loss caused by irrational setting up of cell parameters:

As actual geographical environment is always somewhat different from the ideal model,
plus wave reflection and dispersion and other reasons, there are always some deficiencies in
preliminary network design. Irrationality of partial cell parameters, especially adjacent cell
relation and switching band setting up, is inevitable. When cells are actually adjacent but
not set up or the switching bands are not rationally set up, call loss may occur.
Methods of Analysis of GSM Network Congestion and

Call Loss
Study of cell and traffic STS statistical results:

STS statistical results are used to analyze each cell's traffic, wireless channel congestion
rate, channel damage rate, switchover success rate and other indexes. Based on work
practice, stress is laid on cells most serious with the foregoing problems, and analyses are
made to find out the causes and solutions.
Study of ANT measurement results:
ANT is a test tool combining TEMS test handset with digital map. ANT is applied for a
general survey of the wireless coverage and speech quality for the whole city. The aim is to
get to know in time the signal strength, speech quality, the success of switchover, and check
up whether the coverage of the cells transcends boundary, whether there exists co/adjacent
channel interference
The analyses of the STS statistical results and ANT statistical results will give the status
of network quality and an all-round understanding of the areas and rough causes of the
congestion and call loss, and provide a basis for carrying out network optimization.
Solutions to GSM Network Congestion and Call Loss
Solutions to Wireless Resources Shortage:

1) Readjustment of equipment configuration to reduce the congestion:
If it is found from STS statistical analysis that SDCCH congestion is high and
TCH congestion is not high, SDCCH congestion can be solved by increasing the
quantity of SDCCH at the expense of TCH. In case of TCH congestion and noncongested SDCCH, reducing SDCCH and increasing TCH may be adopted, with
limited effects, however.

2) Adjustment of traffic to reduce the congestion: As it is difficult to predict user
density distribution in construction planning and project design, and equipment
allocation and use differs from reality. Traffic statement and ANT test results
show that some equipment has high congestion rate with each line's traffic being
high too, while some equipment are idle. So it is necessary to adjust the number
of equipment for each cell based on the traffic. This is the best method to solve
congestion, which has marked effect though such adjustment has limitations.
Traffic balancing and traffic bifurcation can also be applied to balance and
bifurcate high and low traffics in the adjacent cell. For a high traffic cell, such
methods as adjusting of power, switchover parameters, antenna inclination and
priority are applied to reduce its coverage and raise the power and priority in the
adjacent low-traffic cell so as to attain the objective of balance and bifurcation.

3) For a really high-traffic cell, capacity expansion is the fundamental
solution. We can set up a microcellular base station in the cell with the highest
traffic and increase the priority of that microcellular base station to bifurcate part
of the high traffic to the microcellular base station.
Solution for network quality deterioration caused by interference:

1) For co/adjacent channel interference caused by improper frequency planning,
optimization adjustment should be made. CAD may be adopted for optimization adjustment
of frequency allocation. The objective function of optimization is co/adjacent channel
interference that should be minimized while changes in the original frequency allocation
should be minimized. The statistics indicate that signal strength attenuates in accordance
with the rule of 4th power exponent. Co-channel interference can be avoided if two cells
using the same frequency group kept a distance long enough between them.
2) Decreasing base station transmitting power level and increasing antenna inclination
can reduce interference with handsets in the co/adjacent channel cell. If we can judge a
certain co/adjacent channel cell to see if it's a very strong co/adjacent channel interference
source through tests of co/adjacent channel interference or analyses of OMC statistics, and
find the coverage of that cell too large through field strength tests, then we may lower the
transmitting power of base stations or increase the antenna inclination. This is a very good
countermeasure for reducing the interference. The reduced power value and antenna
inclination should depend on the right coverage.
Solution for network quality deterioration caused by interference:

2) Decreasing base station transmitting power level and increasing antenna inclination can
reduce interference with handsets in the co/adjacent channel cell. If we can judge a certain
co/adjacent channel cell to see if it's a very strong co/adjacent channel interference source
through tests of co/adjacent channel interference or analyses of OMC statistics, and find the
coverage of that cell too large through field strength tests, then we may lower the
transmitting power of base stations or increase the antenna inclination. This is a very good
countermeasure for reducing the interference. The reduced power value and antenna
inclination should depend on the right coverage.
Solution for network quality problem caused by too weak indoor signal:
In urban areas, "high traffic areas" in particular, base stations are relatively close to each
other, and some busy base stations artificially lower their maximum transmitting power in
order to reduce traffic by narrowing the coverage, thus making the handsets' received signal
strength very weak in buildings and communications impossible. This kind of problem can
only be solved through indoor coverage technique. "Indoor coverage" is to introduce
outdoor signals into indoor or to build a base station indoor, send the signals uniformly to
all indoor points via optical fiber or copper cables.
Solution for irrational cell parameters set-up:

Using ANT test tools to conduct on-the-spot examination of GSM coverage and speech
quality, to check whether such parameters are rational as signal strength in a given area,
power parameters, switchover parameters, and cell priority. And modifications will be made
whenever irrationality is found.

GSM Optimization and Troubleshooting

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GSM Optimization and Troubleshooting

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GSM Optimization and Troubleshooting

Mobile Network-A living Organism

A radio mobile network may be compared to a living organism.

Mobile Network-A living Organism

Mobile Network-A living Organism

Mobile Network-A living Organism

The Optimization Process

The Optimization Process

Engineers can use the collection

Once the data has been collected

The Optimization Process

Is the KPI met?

Cluster sign off

Key Performance Parameters

Key Performance Indicators

Call Success Rate, TCH Drop Call Ratio (%)

Downlink Quality (%)

Coverage (% of time), Downlink Level

Call Setup Success Ratio

Handover Success Ratio

Measurement software and laptop

Drive Test Measurement per drive

Weekly NOC Statistics

Cluster Analysis Process

GSM Cell selection and reselection process

MS operates in two modes: idle mode and dedicated mode.

GSM Cell selection and reselection process

GSM Cell selection and reselection process

GSM Cell selection and reselection process

GSM Cell selection and reselection process

GSM Cell selection and reselection process

If RANGEi_LOWER is greater than RANGEi_HIGHER, the range shall be considered

GSM Cell selection and reselection process

GSM Cell selection and reselection process

GSM Cell selection and reselection process

GSM Cell selection and reselection process

GSM Cell selection and reselection process

GSM Cell selection and reselection process

GSM Cell selection and reselection process

GSM Cell selection and reselection process

CELL_RESELECT_OFFSET may be used to give different priorities to different bands when

TEMPORARY_OFFSET applies a negative offset to C2 for the duration of

GSM Cell selection and reselection process

GSM Cell selection and reselection process

GSM Cell selection and reselection process

GSM Cell selection and reselection process

GSM Cell selection and reselection process

GSM Cell selection and reselection process

GSM Radio link measurements

GSM Radio link measurements

GSM Radio link measurements

GSM Radio link measurements

GSM Radio link measurements

GSM Radio link measurements

GSM Radio link measurements

GSM Radio link measurements

The MEASUREMENT INFORMATION message also includes the parameters

Here XX = UL or DL (uplink or downlink)

must be fulfilled in order to initiate a

Speed sensitive HO algorithm

Speed sensitive HO algorithm

GSM Power Control

GSM Power Control

GSM Power Control