Metric KPI

Pcong < 2%

Pdrop < 1.97%

Erlang According to site design

TCH Avaliability > 99%

PCCong < 1%

PBADICM < 2%

PTFail < 5%

PSFail < 5%

PCFail < 5%

HO Success Rate > 96%

1.3 Counter Definitions

TNDROP: Number of calls dropped after the call has been successfully set up. The call is abnormally
released after successful setup on a TCH (actual number).
TCONG: Number of calls rejected from the cell due to the unavailability of TCH resources (actual
number).
SFAIL%: Percentage failure of calls that were either unable to be set up or received on a particular cell
(does not include Handover failure attempts). The failure occurs from the signalling stage on the
SDCCH channel to the seizure of a traffic channel and is represented by the following formula: SFAIL%
= 1 - (TCASSAL / TASSALL).

TFAIL%: Percentage of calls failing to seize a traffic channel on either call setup or any attempt to seize
a TCH (handover or intra-cell). The failure occurs from the signalling stage on the SDCCH channel to the
seizure of a traffic channel.
ERLANG: Average number of traffic channels that were occupied for a specified period. ERLANG =
(NUMBER OF CALLS * MHT) / (60*60).
MHT: Average time period measured in seconds in which traffic channels were occupied (actual
number in seconds).
PCNDROP: Percentage of calls that were dropped while on the signalling channel.
PCCONG: Percentage of calls rejected from the network due to unavailable resources on the signalling
channel.
NOTE
When traffic carried on a cell is low, percentage counters may be abnormally high indicating the
possibility of a network fault. To avoid such misconceptions, the counter should be graphically analysed
over a longer period, thereby displaying the natural trend of the counter.

1.4 Common Fault Resolution Techniques

The tables below shows some of the ways to resolve problems associated with the primary KPIs and
ways of resolving
TNDROP

Fault Reason Solution

TNDROP counter Co or adjacent channel interference Replan frequencies

increases rapidly while either downlink or uplink from
Check and determine source of external
remaining counters do surrounding base stations or
interference. Escalate to HQ for further
not fluctuate. mobiles respectively. (Check
escalation to regulatory authorities.
PBADICM counter)

TNDROP counter Missing Neighbor Relations, Replace missing or undefined MF, NCC
increases rapidly, with Network Colour Code or or NR.
TCONG increasing Measurement Frequency.
simultaneously,

TCH AVAILABILITY Loss of, or High Bit error rate on the Responsibility of the NMC/FSE to
counter indicates loss transmission link. monitor and maintain TCH availability.
of assigned TCH.
Contact the FSE to determine reasons
for loss of TCH availability and expected
time of resolution

TNDROP counter Physical hardware fault on TRX. Check for Alarm on RBS and escalate to
increases proportional FSE to replace faulty TRX
to Erlang counter.

Faulty time slot.

TNDROP counter Hardware fault within repeater. Request special project to halt cell
increase rapidly. extender for certain duration's.
Remaining counters
Note if the TNDROP counter is reduced
behave as normal
within that specific period. Request
(Repeaters/Cell special project to repair cell extender if
extender). found to be faulty.

TCONG

Fault Reason Solution

TCH AVAILABILITY Loss of, or high bit error rate on the 2 Mb Responsibility of the NMC/FSE to
counter indicates loss transmission link. maintain TCH availability.
of assigned TCH.
Contact the FSE to determine
TCONG increases reasons for loss of TCH availability
once traffic levels and expected time of resolution
increase.

Neighboring site Neighboring site lost the controlling Responsibility of the NMC/FSE to
inactive. transmission link resulting in the dispersion monitor and maintain TCH
of traffic to surrounding sites thereby availability.
TCONG counter
causing congestion to particular cells.
increases to Contact the FSE to determine
surrounding cells. reasons for loss of TCH availability
Neighbouring sites and expected time of resolution.
Incorrect parameter settings on either
carrying below
congesting cell or its neighbour. Check traffic affecting settings
expected volume of
such as power settings, layer, CRO
traffic
etc on the site and its nieghbour
and correct accordingly.

Neighbor relations or Missing Neighbor Relations, Network Replace missing or undefined MF,
measurement Colour Code or Measurement Frequency. NCC or NR.
frequencies missing.

TCONG counter
increases rapidly with
simultaneous
increase in TNDROP.
ERLANG level rises
significantly.
Under dimensioned Under dimensioned cells congest due to
cells or burst traffic either natural increase in traffic, or due to
the surrounding volume of traffic that the
cell caters for, i.e., shopping centers. Burst
traffic is the result of a sudden capacity
demand, i.e., sporting functions, traffic
accident, etc.
Under dimensioned cells need to
be upgraded
Cells that have frequent
(biweekly/monthly) burst traffic
should be equipped with capacity
TRXs. Release WA for mobile BTS
deployment well ahead of special
function.

SFAIL %

Fault Reason Solution

High SFAIL% and Fluctuation in 2 Mb controlling link results Reset the site once FSE has
TFAIL% but minimal in the malfunctioning of the filter combiner. resolved link fluctuation
CCONG%
Escalate to FSE to carry out
physical rest on RBS.

Transcoder congestion on the BSC

High SFAIL & TFAIL Redimension codecs (EFR-HR etc
but low TCONG if possible).
Escalate to RF Tech. specialist to
upgrade TRA if possible.
Reparent sites unto other BSCs
with available capacity.

Faulty TRX High Hardware fault, software lockup or problem Escalate to FSE to replace faulty
SFAIL% and relating to feeder cables. TRX
PCNDROP

TFAIL %

Symptom / Fault Reason Solution

High TFAIL and Fluctuation in 2 Mb controlling link results in the Escalate to FSE to resolve
excessive malfunctioning of the filter combiner. link and restart cell.
CCONG% but minimal
SFAIL%
TFAIL=100% , SFAIL=0 , Cell transmits RF yet no BSIC or BCCH is Restart cell and if this does
MHT=0 detectable by the mobile and the cell is referred not work escalate to FSE
to as a sleeping cell. Reason for fault presumed to to do a physical reset on
be a software lockup. the RBS