Design and Simulation LTE Network Planning in

Bengkulu City
Rian Arighi Mahan

Fadhli Kabir

Department of Electrical Engineering

Universitas Riau
Pekanbaru, Indonesia
rian.arighi@gmail.com

Department of Electrical Engineering

Universitas Riau
Pekanbaru, Indonesia
fadhli.kabir@gmail.com

AbstractNowadays, the communications mobile is the part

of society life style. Many user access many information through
chatting and internet. Many users are need more higher access
speed. As the result, many companies need more capacities, more
speed and higher efficiency to service the customers. Fourth
Generation is the next step of mobile radio communication
technology known as LTE (Long Term Evolution) that succeeds
the HSPA with 3GPP standardization body. LTE provides the
broader channel up to 20 MHz and also the higher downlink rate
up to 100 MHz and the uplink up to 50 MHz. This paper present
the network planning and link budget measurement in Bengkulu
City and also the simulated result and analysis of the coverage
area by signal level and overlapping zone.
KeywordsLTE; Coverage area; Capacity; Link Budget;
Signal Level.

I.

INTRODUCTION

Bengkulu city is the capital city of Bengkulu province that

located in Sumatera Island of Indonesia and also centre of
tourism, education and economic in Bengkulu province. The
topology of Bengkulu city is relative flat and several areas are
tilt 15%. Currently, there are two wireless communication
systems operated by GSM and CDMA in Bengkulu city. This
system used for call, text messaging, video call and internet.
But, both systems still not good for newer technology device.
The future communication predicted will support many
demanding applications such as smart TV, mobile video
blogging and advance gaming. We need to better
communication system in Bengkulu city.
The literature of this research is 4. Marwa Elbagir
Mohammed and Khalid Hamid Bilal have designed the
simulation of LTE communication with atoll software.
Kharthoum city in Sudan are designed for LTE communication
system. The frequency LTE that used for this system is 2100
MHZ with the gain of the antenna is 18 dBi [1]. Paper [2]
shows the planning designed of LTE communication system
which is work at frequency 1800 MHz and the bandwidth of 20
MHz. The system is measured with Cost231-Hata propagation.
Furthermore, Siren Seven Rina, Pudji Astuti and Budi Prasetya
have designed the LTE communication system in Phnom Penh
city at the frequency 1800 MHz with propagation model of
Cost231-Hata as well and simulated with atoll software [3]. In
paper [4] shows the comparison of several propagation model
and the research area is Universiti Technology Malaysia. The

frequency used for this research is 2600 MHz and the

bandwidth of 10 MHz. This paper present the network planning
and link budget measurement in Bengkulu City and also the
simulated result and analysis of the coverage area by signal
level and overlapping zone. Conclusions of the entire paper and
suggestions the possibilities of future research.
II. RADIO NETWORK PLANNING PROCESS
Radio network planning contains several number of pace.
First, site survey included the information of coverage cell,
topology of the area, and capacity planning calculations.
Second, determine the frequency works of the radio network,
data rate and bandwidth. Third, link budget and coverage
planning included the Tx and Rx power, losses, tower height,
mobile station height. Fourth, capacity planning that used to
determine the cell size and sites count.
A. Site Survey
Site survey is the first step to design the radio network
planning. The information included the topology of area and
population which is used to determine the tower to be used.
Also, the population data used to determine the users in
several area or district according to the age.
B. Link Budget
The link budget calculations estimate the maximum
allowed signal attenuation, called path loss, between the
mobile and the base station antenna. The maximum path loss
allows the maximum cell range to be estimated with a suitable
propagation model. The propagation model used for LTE
communication system is cost231-Hata. The cell range gives
the number of base station sites required to cover the target
geographical area. The link budget calculation can also be
used to compare the relative coverage of the different systems.
III. SYSTEM DESIGN
A. Data of Population and Map
The Bengkulu city is located at latitude of 3.7928 S and
longitude of 102.2608 E with land area of 151,7 km 2 and
have an average building height of 10 m. In this network

design, Bengkulu city has been divided into three sections.

These sections are Urban, Suburban and Rural. Figure 1 shows
the Bengkulu city map with sections.

Fig. 1. The sections of Bengkulu. The blue is Urban, the green

is suburban and the yellow is rural.
The table 1 provides the population data of Bengkulu city
according to district and estimation user.
TABLE I. DATA OF PEOPLE IN BENGKULU

The total user that estimate in table 1 is 102.840 people.

The population data in Bengkulu city is original from BPS
Bengkulu city data 2014.
B. Step Design of LTE Radio System in Bengkulu
This section provides the flowchart of LTE radio system
step in Bengkulu city. First, take data from Bengkulu city such
as population, sections and user that provides in section A.
Furthermore, calculate the coverage area and capacity known
as link budget. The link budget is imported to atoll software to
be simulated. The simulated result obtained to determine and
verify the requirement in Bengkulu city. The flowchart 1
provides the step design of LTE radio system in Bengkulu city.

C. Link Budget
The link budget could be calculated by many formula and
some parameters could be found from telecommunication
industry or datasheet. The general parameters of LTE radio
system in Bengkulu city provides in table 2.

START

Take data from

Bengkulu

District

Selebar
Kampung
Melayu
Gading
Cempaka
Ratu Agung
Ratu Samban

Density

Calculate coverage
area and link budget
Population
Percent

(1000)

1.46

59.9

30

17.97

Rural

35.6

30

10.68

Rural

42.3

30

12.69

Suburban

6.44

50.5

30

15.15

Urban

8.85

25.2

30

7.56

Urban

12.36

Suburban

7.14

Urban

30

6.99

Suburban

1.68

Determine
and
41
30
verify

12.3

Rural

2.33

342.8

4.37

Design and
simulation in Atoll

3.79

Teluk Segara

9.3

Sungai Serut

3.01

23.3

TOTAL

Sections

user(%)

Singaran Pati

Bangkahulu

User

(1000)

Collect and
41.2
analyze the30
data 30
23.8

Muara

TABLE 2. GENERAL PARAMETERS LTE OF RADIO SYSTEM IN BENGKULU

CITY

(%)

0.89

Flowchart 1. Step Design of LTE Radio System in

Bengkulu City

General
Parameters

Link Budget

Formula

Operating
Band (MHz)
Data rate
Allocated RB
Allocated
subcarrier

FDD 10 MHz
Downlink
Uplink
1800 MHz

B
C
D=C*12

1032
6
72

680
4
48

Allocated RB (Resource Block) is determined by using the

MCS and TBS index from 3GPP TS 36.213 version 10.1.0
according to the data rate and modulation that would be apply
to system. Allocated subcarrier in LTE is 12 times to RB. After
determine the general parameter, then calculate the transmitter
parameters and receiver parameters. Table 3 and 4 provide the
transmitter parameters and receiver parameters of the LTE
radio system.
TABLE 3. TRANSMITTER PARAMETERS OF LTE RADIO SYSTEM IN
BENGKULU CITY

STOP
Transmitte
r End

Link Budget

Formula

Tx RF power (dBm)
Tx Antenna Gain (dBi)
Feeder Loss per m
(dB/m)
Feeder Length (m)
Feeder Loss (dB)
EIRP (dBm)

E
F
G
H
I=G x H
J= E+F-I

FDD 10 MHz
Downlin
Uplink
k
46
23
18
0
0.06
0
50
3
61

0
0
23

TABLE 4. RECEIVER PARAMETERS OF LTE RADIO SYSTEM IN

BENGKULU CITY

Receive
r End

Link Budget

Formula

kT (dBm/Hz)

K = 10 log (k
x T)

FDD 10 MHz
Downlink
Uplink
-174
-174

Thermal noise per

Subcarrier (dBm)
Aggregate Thermal
noise (dBm)
Noise Figure (dB)
Required SINR at Cell
Edge (dB)
Rx Sensitivity (dBm)

L = K + 10
log (15Khz)
M = L + 10
log(D)
N

-132.2

-132.2

-113.7

-115.4

4.5

4.14

2.794

Q=M+N+
O

-102.56

108.106

18

-102.56

-123.11

0
50%

0
50%

0,93

0,73

Rx Antenna Gain
R
(dBi)
Rx RF Line Loss (dB)
S
Effective Rx
T = Q - R +S
Sensitivity (dBm)
Geometry Factor (dB)
U
Cell load (%)
V
Interference Margin w = -10 log (1
(dB)
- SINR.v/u)

SINR at cell edge determined by checking the table of

relation between MCS and SINR. The antenna gain at
transmitter and receiver determined by datasheet LTE antenna.
Line loss is known as feeder loss. Effective Rx sensitivity is
the sensitivity of user or system to take the signal power.
From several parameters that provide above, the next step
is to determine the parameter cell each section. Table 5 and 6
provide the losses and the parameters of cell in Bengkulu city.

figure 1. Figure 2 is the table of data sites in software atoll.

117 sites are needed to cover the whole city.

Fig. 2. Table of position site in Bengkulu city

Figure 3 shows the position site Bengkulu city in google
earth. The position according to the link budget estimation.

TABLE 5. LOSSES PARAMETERS OF LTE RADIO SYSTEM IN BENGKULU

CITY

Parameter

Urban

Suburban

Rural

Min MAPL
Shadowing Margin (dB)
MAPL per clutter type (dB)

148.376
5.36
122.016

148.376
5.36
134.016

148.376
4.69
132.686

Operating Band (MHz)

1800

1800

1800

eNodeB Height (m)

30

30

30

UE Height (m)

1,5

1,5

1,5

TABLE 5. CELL COVERAGE PARAMETERS OF LTE RADIO SYSTEM IN

BENGKULU CITY

Bandwidth
(MHz)

10

Urban
hexago
cell
n

suburban
hexago
cell
n

Rural
Hexago
cell
n

Radius (km)

Radius (km)

Radius (km)

0,724

1.448

0.820

1.640

0.820

1.6

The cell radius and hexagon radius are calculated by

MAPL value with formula cost231-hata. Cost231-hata works
for the frequency of 1500 2000 MHz which is suitable for
LTE radio system.
IV. RESULT AND SIMULATION
Map is the first thing that need to have for LTE system
map planning. Here is the location of a base station in th
Bengkulu city. The link budget parameters are imported to the
atoll software with 3 sections as well, according to the map in

Fig. 3. Position site Bengkulu city in google earth view

Figure 4 and 5 show the coverage signal in Bengkulu city
and the histogram of signal level. The red color is the strongest
signal level.

Fig. 4. Coverage signal in Bengkulu city

Fig. 6. Overlapping signal level in Bengkulu city

Fig. 5. Histogram of signal level in Bengkulu city

In figure 5, the most signal level in Bengkulu city is -100
until -95 dBm coverage the city about 50.89 Km2. The
simulated result shows the standard deviation -54.49 dBm and
mean signal level of -75.54 dBm. The signal level -105 until
-100 coverage the city about 29.5 Km 2. The simulated data
shows the good performance LTE radio communication
system that applied in Bengkulu city.

Fig. 7. Histogram of overlapping signal level in Bengkulu city

Figure 6 and 7 show the overlapping zone of signal level in
Bengkulu city and the histogram. The standard deviation of
overlapping zone of 0.47 and mean value of 1.22. The
overlapping zone in this simulation is 185.69 Km2. According
to histogram of the overlapping zone, it can say that the
operator or servers were serve enough service in the city. The
figure shows that, 1 or 2 can be overlapping up to 150.4 Km 2
and 3 until 4 servers also overlap about 4.6 Km2.
V. CONCLUSION
To maintain its competitive edge in the world of mobile
networks in the future, 3GPP has initiated work on LTE. The
growing popularity of innovative mobile technologies is
coming together with trends showing high predominance of
data networks. It means that consumer demand for data
services is increasing and nowadays, the penetration of
smartphones, tablets and other data devices as well as the
launching of 4G/LTE service reflects the high levels of data
traffic carried on mobile networks. This work was cover the
area around 151.7 Km2. According to the simulation result, the
coverage area and overlapping zone be able to cover up to the

whole city very well. This is good enough for requirement for
Bengkulu city need. The coverage of the LTE system is also
calculated on the base of Base Station parameters. Moreover,
the unavailability of reliable LTE network simulators is a big
hurdle in full calibration of this tool. Currently, the simulation
results for only a limited antenna and in the city. Using a more
accurate simulator will yield better results for capacity
planning exercise.
REFERENCES
[1]

[2]
[3]

[4]

M. E. Mohammed and K. H. Bilal, "LTE Radio

Planning Using Atoll Radio Planning and
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2014.
I. EL-FEGHI, Z. S. ZUBI, A. Jamil, and H.
Algabroun, "Long Term Evolution Network Planning
and Performance Measurement," ed: Libia.
S. Seven, R. P. Astuti, and B. Prasetya, "Design and
simulation of LTE radio system for broadband
wireless access in central Phnom Penh," in Wireless
and Mobile (APWiMob), 2015 IEEE Asia Pacific
Conference on, 2015, pp. 223-228.
R. S. Hassan, T. Rahman, and A. Abdulrahman, "LTE
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