CELL PLANNING

CELL PLANNING
Introduction
Every cellular network needs cell planning, in order to ensure coverage and avoid
interference. The cell planning process consists of many different tasks, all
together making it possible to achieve a well working network.
Definitions
Some definitions are important to understand, before going deeper into the cell
planning process:
Radio coverage
Received signal strength in the MS (from the BTS) above a chosen value.
Cell
The area that is covered from a BTS.
Omni cell
A cell with an omnidirectional BTS antenna system.
Sector cell
A cell with a (uni-) directional BTS antenna system.

 Site
The geographical location where the RBS equipment is stored, and the BTS
antennas are mounted.
3sectorsite
A site with equipment for three sector cells.
So what is the maximum size of a cell? Well, there are limiting factors for how big
an area a base station can cover. A crucial factor is the ability for the sent burst
from the MS to arrive in the intended time slot at the base station. This depends on
the relation between how far away the MS is, and the timing advance parameter.
With 8 time slots per carrier a maximum distance between the base station and the
cell border is 35 km. 4 time slots per carrier extends the allowed distance to 72 km.
The hexagon cell shape
If we have two BTSs with omniantennas and we require that the border between
the coverage area of each BTS is the set of points where the signal strength from
both BTSs is the same, we obtain a straight line. If we repeat the procedure placing
5 more BTSs around the original one, the obtained coverage area, i.e. the cell, has
a hexagonal shape.

The hexagons have become a symbol for cells in a radio network. Realworld
planning must, however, consider the fact that radio propagation is very much
dependent on terrain and other factors, and that hexagons are extremely simplified
models of radio coverage patterns. Still, the first geometrical plan based on
hexagons (the nominal cell plan) gives a good view when planning a system.

CELL PLANNING PROCESS

Cell planning can briefly be described as all the activities involved in determining
which sites should be used for the radio equipment, which equipment should be
used, and how the equipment should be configured. To ensure coverage and to
avoid interference, each cellular network needs planning. The major activities
involved in the cell planning process are represented in Figure 1-1.

[1] TRAFFIC AND COVERAGE ANALYSIS

(SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS)
The cell planning process is started by a traffic and coverage analysis. The
analysis should produce information about the geographical area and the expected
capacity need. The different types of data collected are:
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<!--[if !supportLists]--> <!--[endif]-->Capacity
<!--[if !supportLists]--> <!--[endif]-->Coverage

Grade of Service (GoS)

Available frequencies

Speech Quality Index

System growth capability

The traffic demand (that is, how many subscribers access the system and how
much traffic is generated) provides the basis of cellular network engineering. The
geographical distribution of the traffic demand can be calculated using
demographic data, such as:
<!--[if !supportLists]--> <!--[endif]-->Population distribution
<!--[if !supportLists]--> <!--[endif]-->Car usage distribution
<!--[if !supportLists]--> <!--[endif]-->Income level distribution

Land usage data

Telephone usage statistics

Other factors, such as subscription charges, call charges, and costs of

mobile stations

Traffic calculations
The input for the traffic calculations is mentioned above. The output should be
information about how many sites and cells are needed. In order to be able to
decide this, the available number of frequencies per cell, as well as the Grade Of
Service (GOS), have to be known.
Available number of frequencies per cell can only be decided when knowing
which cell pattern should be used; (see Figure 104 and Figure 105). Then, the total
number of available frequencies are evenly divided into frequency groups.
Which cell pattern to choose depends on the type of system, as it is based upon
frequency reuse distance. This will be explained below (see Frequency reuse).
GOS is defined as allowed percentage of unsuccessful call setups due to
congestion. Normally, a value between 2% and 5% is applicable in mobile
telephone systems.
The Erlang table is used when wanting to find out the third factor, when knowing
two of the three factors: number of traffic channels, traffic (in Erlang) and GOS.

Traffic per subscriber is calculated with the Erlang formula, as below:

Example of traffic calculation

Input data:
Traffic per subscriber: 25 mE; Number of subscribers: 10 000; Number of available
frequencies: 24; Cell pattern: 4/12 (12 frequency groups); GOS: 2%. How many 3
sector-sites are needed?
frequencies per cell = 24/12 = 2 frequencies
traffic channels per cell = 2 x 8 - 2 (control channels) = 14 TCH
traffic per cell = 14 TCH, 2% GOS 8.2 E/cell (use the Erlang table)

 subscribers per cell = 8.2 E / 0.025 E = 328 subscribers per cell

needed number of cells = 10 000 / 328 = 30 cells
needed number of 3sectorsites = 30 / 3 = 10 The Answer
Frequency reuse
A fundamental principle in the design of cellular systems is the frequency reuse
patterns. Frequency reuse is defined as the use of radio channels on the same
carrier frequency, covering geographically different areas. These areas must be
separated from one another by a sufficient distance, in order to avoid cochannel
interference. Based on the traffic calculations, the cell pattern and frequency plan
are worked out. Not only for the initial network but with the possibility to adapt
smoothly to the demands of traffic growth.
Interference
C/I
The carriertointerference ratio (C/I) is defined as the ratio of the level of the
received desired signal to the level of the received undesired signal.

This C/I ratio is dependent on the instantaneous position of the mobile and is due
to irregular terrain and various shapes, types and numbers of local scatterers.
Other factors such as antenna type, directionality and height, site elevations and
positions, and the number of local sources of interference also affect the
distribution of the C/I ratio in a system.

GSM states C/I > 9dB, with frequency hopping implemented, and recommends C/I
> 12dB when frequency hopping is not employed.
C/A
The carriertoadjacent ratio (C/A) is defined as the relation in dB in signal
strength between the serving and an adjacent frequency. In GSM, a multiple of 200
kHz away. GSM specifies C/A > -9dB.

Cell patterns
The distribution of the C/I ratio desired in a system determines the number of
frequency groups, F, which may be used. If the total allocation of N channels is
partitioned into F groups, then each group will contain N/F channels. Since the total
number of channels (N) is fixed, a smaller number of frequency groups (F) would
result in more channels per set and per cell.
Therefore, a reduction in the number of frequency groups would allow each site to
carry more traffic, reducing the total number of sites needed for a given traffic load.
However, decreasing the number of frequency groups and reducing the frequency
reuse distance will result in a lower average C/I distribution in the system.
There are three types of frequency reuse patterns: 7/21, 4/12 and 3/9. Only 4/12
and 3/9 are interesting for CME 20. In all three cases the site geometry has the
following features:
Three cells (sectors) at each site. The antenna pointing azimuths of the cells are
separated by 120 degrees and the cells are arranged with antennas pointing at one
of the nearest site locations thus forming cells in a cloverleaf fashion. Each cell

uses one 60degree transmitting antenna and two 60degree diversity receiving
antennas with the same pointing azimuths.
Each cell approximates the shape of a hexagon.
We assume that the traffic is homogeneously distributed within the cells.
The cell size is normally given in terms of the distance between two neighboring
sites. The cell radius R (= the side of the hexagon) is always onethird of the site
tosite distance when 3sector sites are used.
A group of neighboring cells using all the channels in the system, but not reusing
them, according to the patterns described below is called a cluster.
The 4/12 cell pattern uses 12 frequency groups in a 4 site reuse pattern.

The 3/9 cell pattern uses 9 frequency groups in a 3 site reuse pattern.

Example of how to divide the available frequencies into frequency groups:

24 frequencies in a 3/9 cell pattern

It should be noted, that when using 3/9, there will be adjacent channels in
neighboring cells, which gives lower C/A values.
To see this, the example can be compared with Figure 3/9 Cell Pattern above.
Cells with frequency groups A1 and C3 are neighbors, as well as A2C1, and A3
C2.
[2] NOMINAL CELL PLAN
Upon compilation of the data received from the traffic and coverage analysis, a
nominal cell plan is produced. The nominal cell plan is a graphical representation
of the network and it simply looks like a cell pattern on a map. However, there is a
lot of work behind it (as previously described).

Nominal cell plans are the first cell plans produced and these form the basis of
further planning. Quite often, a nominal cell plan, together with one or two
examples of coverage predictions, is included in tenders.
Coverage and interference predictions are usually initiated at this stage. Such
planning needs computer-aided analysis tools for radio propagation studies.

[3] SURVEYS (AND RADIO MEASUREMENTS)

The nominal cell plan has been produced and the coverage and interference
predictions have been roughly verified. Now, it is time to visit the sites where the
radio equipment is to be placed and perform radio measurements. The former is
important because it is necessary to assess the real environment to determine
whether it is a suitable site location for a cellular network. The latter is even more
important because better predictions can be obtained using field measurements of
the signal strengths in the actual terrain where the mobile station is to be located.
Site surveys

Site surveys are performed for all proposed site locations. Many issues have to be
checked and verified, such as:
Exact location
Space for equipment, including antennas
Cable runs
Power facilities
Contract with owner
Also, the radio environment has to be checked, so that there is no other radio
equipment on the site that will cause intermodulation problems, or too high
buildings surrounding the possible site.
Radio measurements
Radio measurements are performed to be able to adjust the parameters used in
the planning tool to reality, to the specific climate and terrain in the area of interest.
Parameters used in Sweden, would be different to the ones to be used in a tropical
country, for example.
A test transmitter is mounted, and then the signal strength is measured while
driving around in the area. Back in the office, the results from the measurements
can be compared with the values the planning tool produces when simulating the
same type of transmitter, and the parameters for the planning are adjusted to
match reality.
[4] SYSTEM DESIGN
After optimization and when the predictions generated by the planning tool can be
considered reliable, a dimensioning of the RBS equipment, BSC, and MSC is
performed. The final cell plan is produced. As the name implies, this plan is later
used at system installation. In addition, a document called Cell Design Data (CDD)
containing all cell parameters for each cell is completed.
[5] IMPLEMENTATION

System installation, commissioning, and testing are performed following the final
cell planning and system design.
Installation Engineering

Figure 1-2 illustrates the main steps of the implementation of a new radio site.
The output from the system design step in the cell planning process results in a
hardware order (for example, BSC, RBS) to the factory.
Installation engineering personnel perform site investigations, which means taking
a closer look at the actual location where the site is to be built. This results in an
installation documentation, which is put into a binder for each site. The installation
documentation contains all information needed to build the site, for example, floor
plan, cable drawings, antenna arrangement drawing, grounding plan, site material
list, etc. The material needed to build the site is then ordered according to the
installation documents.
When all equipment has arrived the installation can begin. After installing the
equipment, it is time to check its functionality. Firstly, the nodes are tested for full
functionality on their own this is called installation test.
Secondly, the interworking function is tested this is called integration test. The
two tests together is called the network element test, which is further explained
below.

Network Element Tests

The picture below shows the main process steps of the Network element test of the
BSC and RBS.

[6] SYSTEM TUNING

Once the system has been installed, it is continually evaluated to determine how
well it meets the demands. This is called system tuning and it involves:
<!--[if !supportLists]--> <!--[endif]-->A check that the final cell plan has been
implemented successfully
<!--[if !supportLists]--> <!--[endif]-->An evaluation of customer complaints
<!--[if !supportLists]--> <!--[endif]-->A check that the network performance is
acceptable

Changing parameters and undertaking other measures (if needed)

The system needs constant re-tuning, due to the fact that the traffic and number of
subscribers continuously increase.
Eventually, the system reaches a point where it must be expanded so that it can
manage the increasing load and new traffic. At this point, a coverage analysis is
performed and the cell planning process cycle starts all over again.