USING 2G DRIVE TEST DATA FOR
3G UMTS RADIO PLANNING IN A LARGE CBD:
A CASE STUDY
Issue Date: August 2005
Abstract—This paper presents a method for using GSM BCCH drive test data to estimate CPICH coverage
and Ec/Io coverage in 3G UMTS or CDMA networks. The benefits of the presented method are twofold: first,
it can be used to estimate coverage achievable using the existing 2G sites only. Second, it can complement
predictions obtained using radio planning tools in scenarios where the predictions are inherently less reliable,
such as dense urban areas. The results obtained from applying this method to the radio design of a 3G UMTS
network in a large CBD are also presented.
INTRODUCTION
adio planning in third-generation (3G)
R networks [1] is fundamentally different from
radio planning in second-generation (2G)
networks. The major difference is that network
carriers expect to be able to reuse most of their
existing 2G site infrastructure for 3G deployment.
When 2G networks were originally designed and
deployed, all or most of the sites were
greenfields; in 3G networks, on the other hand,
carriers want only a small portion of greenfield
sites. This is, of course, due to business and
financial considerations, since developing
greenfield sites is associated with higher costs
and longer time to market, compared to
upgrading existing 2G sites. The percentage of
existing 2G sites in 3G networks typically ranges
from 70 to 95. Consequently, one cannot speak of
radio design for 3G in the same terms as for 2G.
In 3G, the starting point for radio design is the
coverage achieved using existing 2G sites; new
sites are used to “fill the holes” and provide
continuous 3G coverage in accordance with the
desired key performance indicators (KPIs). This
approach generally results in a less-than-optimal
design and puts more emphasis on the pre-launch
and post-launch optimization phases.
The opportunity to use 2G drive test data in the
radio design of 3G networks is advantageous.
Suvath Lee
Since the existing 2G sites constitute most of the
slee@bechtel.com 3G network sites, the drive test data from the 2G
network can be used to pinpoint areas where the
Amer Catovic existing 2G sites cannot provide adequate 3G
acatovic@bechtel.com coverage. This data, accompanied by the analysis
performed using radio planning tools, can then
© 2005 Bechtel Corporation. All rights reserved.
be used to determine the number and best
locations of new 3G sites. The importance of drive
test data rises in areas inherently unfriendly to
radio planning tools, such as dense urban areas.
To be used in the 3G radio planning process, 2G
drive test data must be scaled to 3G signal levels.
Also, since 3G planning is equally based on
common pilot channel (CPICH) coverage plots
and on CPICH power-to-total-interference plus
carrier-to-interference (notationally, Ec/Io) noise
ratio plots, Ec/Io coverage needs to be estimated
from the 2G drive test data. This paper presents
the method for doing so.
A case study is also presented illustrating the use
of 2G drive test data for the radio design of a 3G
universal mobile telecommunications system
(UMTS) network in a large central business
district (CBD). This approach provides crucial
insight into the validity of the radio design when
the design based on the radio planning tools
proves to be unreliable due to low propagation
model resolution and the very nature of urban
downtown clutter. This approach also allows
each proposed new site to be analyzed and
coverage holes and areas with potential quality
issues to be predicted, resulting in an increased
overall level of confidence in the radio design.
While this paper focuses on the use of global
system for mobile communication (GSM) drive
test data, the approach can be applied easily to
other 2G technologies. In fact, it is even better
suited for code division multiple access (CDMA)
systems, such as those based on the
Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)
57
 According to existing 2G estimates, between
ABBREVIATIONS, ACRONYMS, AND TERMS 30 and 40 percent of users were located in the
2G second generation CBD, accounting for most of the high-data-rate
services and making the CBD the major
3G third generation revenue-generating area. This must be kept in
BCCH broadcast control channel mind when performing radio design.

CBD central business district The two major design criteria used in the first
iteration of radio design to fix site count and
CDMA code division multiple rough site locations are CPICH signal strength
access and Ec/Io level. (In later iterations, simulations of
different services based on specific traffic
CPICH common pilot channel
distribution are used for fine-tuning and
Ec/Io ratio of the signal energy optimization.) For the case study, the target
within one chip duration of outdoor values for these two parameters for an
the pilot signal to the power unloaded network in a CBD were set to –81 dBm
spectrum of the interference and –10 dB, respectively.
and noise
Radio design based on CPICH signal strength
GSM global system for mobile and Ec/Io level is usually performed using a
communication radio planning tool. However, for the case study,
only a propagation model with a 50 m x 50 m
KPI key performance indicator
resolution was available. In CBDs, this
RF radio frequency corresponds to one street block and is highly
unreliable. Hence, conventional radio planning
RSCP received signal code power
based on a planning tool was not feasible. On the
UMTS universal mobile other hand, even when a high-resolution model is
telecommunications system available, it is difficult to accurately model the
radio environment in CBDs. First, the radio signal
propagates differently at low heights than at high
Interim Standard 95 (IS-95). In general, it is safe to
heights; using the same propagation model for
say that 2G drive test data can be used as a
both results in an inaccurate design. Also, UMTS
standard procedure to enhance UMTS and
is extremely sensitive to inter-site interference,
CDMA radio frequency (RF) designs, especially
whereby even adjacent sites interfere with each
in downtown and other difficult areas.
other. In CBDs, this situation is hard to model.
Finally, strong multipath, which is the major
characteristic of downtown clutter, is impossible
PROBLEM STATEMENT to model accurately. So, for the case study it was
new 3G UMTS network was to be designed
A for a large, grid-like CBD with many
extremely tall buildings and a population of more
essential that the design be supported by
alternative, creative methods.

than 3 million people (Figure 1).
In the case study, planners had originally relied
on site visits to perform analyses. They had
diligently scouted the entire CBD, taking many
photos and marking important objects and
landmarks, as well as potential problem areas.
They also shot videos and developed a good
grasp of the techniques used to obtain 360-degree
panoramic views from important locations.
During the desktop analysis, they combined the
photos, videos, and propagation maps to produce
a radio design. Unfortunately, although this
approach is diligent and provides good insight
into the geographical characteristics of an area, it
lacks the technical insight obtainable only
through solid, reliable radio analysis.

An additional constraint placed on the case

study’s design was that existing 2G network sites
Figure 1. CBD Map

58 Bechtel Telecommunications Technical Journal

had to be used to the extent possible. It should be
noted that network-wide 2G use of these sites
was approximately 85 percent.

The original radio design for the CBD grid

consisted of 23 sites (Figure 2), of which
12 were existing and 11 were new. However, the
radio planning team’s efforts to provide credible
justification for each site were hampered by the
absence of solid radio analysis. Furthermore, this
number seemed high, especially because the
initial forecast was for 17 sites and an existing 3G
carrier had 17 sites in its CBD design. On the
other hand, the reported call failure rate in the
existing 3G carrier’s network was 18 percent,
which pushed that carrier to announce plans to
add 7 or 8 CBD sites. Because the number of sites
equally affects quality, cost, and time to market, it
Figure 2. CBD Radio Design
was decided for the case study to conduct a
thorough design review and site-by-site
proposed, then the new site was considered
justification for the 23-site count.
to be justified. On the other hand, it would
Analysis based on radio measurements of the have been hard to justify the existence of a new
existing 2G site coverage, extrapolated to 3G site where existing 2G sites already provided
radio conditions, was proposed. Measurements good coverage.
from 2G GSM 1800 MHz drive tests were used to
First, a GSM 1800 MHz drive test was
derive the equivalent CPICH power and Ec/Io
performed. Then, the results were post-processed
plots for a UMTS RF signal. The resulting benefits
to obtain estimates of the UMTS 2100 MHz
of this analysis were twofold: first, three
CPICH and Ec/Io coverage. Finally, an analysis
proposed new sites were removed from the
was performed to justify the existence of each
design without affecting the quality, generating
new site.
huge cost and time-to-market savings;
second, the radio planning team successfully
used the analysis in its report to justify the site GSM 1800 MHz Drive Test
count on a site-by-site basis. The GSM 1800 MHz BCCH drive test was
performed in idle mode to capture all recordable
The approach described in this paper focused on carriers at each location in the CBD. GSM BCCH
analyzing the 3G coverage achievable by using numbers were obtained from the performance
existing 2G sites. The GSM 1800 MHz broadcast engineers, and the drive test results were
common channel (BCCH) drive test measurements recorded (see Figure 3). For each measurement,
were used to predict the CPICH and Ec/Io the best server BCCH was retained as the
coverage for UMTS 2100 MHz, thereby exposing received signal strength, i.e., best BCCH equals
any coverage holes to be filled with new sites. received signal code power (RSCP).
Using this method, it was possible to see whether
coverage overlapped among existing 2G sites and To improve both the location accuracy and the
proposed new sites. If the coverage (either CPICH signal strength accuracy of the measured data,
or Ec/Io) provided by existing 2G sites had a hole the measurements were averaged over a distance
at the same location where a new site was of approximately 14 m.

Figure 3. 2G Drive Test Measurements

August 2005 • Volume 3, Number 1 59

 UMTS CPICH Coverage Plot Generation 2100 MHz signal had been transmitted from the
The first step in generating CPICH coverage existing 2G sites. So with a target CPICH power
plots was to convert the GSM RSCP measurements level of –81 dBm, the equivalent GSM
into the equivalent UMTS CPICH power levels. 1800 MHz signal strength is –81 dBm +
The BCCH transmit power was 43 dBm, 10 dB 9.4 dB = –71.6 dBm ≈ –72 dBm.
above the UMTS CPICH power level of 33 dBm.
Therefore, a measured GSM 1800 MHz signal
Also, free-space attenuation of an 1800 MHz RF
higher than –72 dBm yields a UMTS CPICH
signal was 1.2 dB below attenuation at
signal higher than the target –81 dBm, making
2100 MHz. Finally, TEMS™ DriveTester
the coverage provided by the existing 2G sites
indicated a net loss of 1.8 dB (6 dB feeder loss
adequate. By the same token, a measured GSM
and 4.2 dBi antenna gain). Table 1
1800 MHz RSCP lower than –72 dBm indicates a
summarizes the difference between the measured
coverage hole to be addressed by a new site(s).
Basic radio GSM RSCP and the UMTS CPICH.
resource Table 1. Difference Between Figure 4 shows the plot of the case study’s GSM
Measured GSM RSCP and UMTS CPICH RSCP drive test data for existing CBD 2G sites.
management
The green points represent locations where the
decisions, such as TEMS Antenna Gain 4.2 dBi estimated UMTS CPICH coverage from existing
soft handover, 2G sites would be acceptable, i.e., better than
TEMS Cable Loss –6 dB
soft handoff, and –81 dBm, which corresponds to a measured GSM
RSCP of –72 dBm or better. The yellow points
cell selection, TEMS Net Loss –1.8 dB
represent estimated coverage holes.
are based on Attenuation Difference Between
1.2 dB
the received 1.8 GHz and 2.1 MHz
UMTS 2100 MHz Ec/Io Plot Generation
Ec /Io level. GSM BCCH (43 dBm) –
10 dB A CPICH power plot provides basic information
UMTS CPICH (33 dBm) Transmit Power
about coverage, but in UMTS, Ec/Io level best
Total Difference Between represents the quality of the received signal [2].
10–1.8+1.2 = 9.4 dB
GSM RSCP and UMTS CPICH Basic radio resource management decisions, such
as soft handover, soft handoff, and cell selection,
Based on Table 1, the measured GSM RSCP was are based on the received Ec/Io level. Therefore,
9.4 dB above the level that would have been it is essential to obtain good insight regarding
measured by the mobile terminal if the UMTS Ec/Io coverage during the design stage.

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Figure 4. Measured 2G Signal Strength

60 Bechtel Telecommunications Technical Journal

Ec/Io represents the ratio of the best-received
CPICH power to the total received power in the
bandwidth, which includes the thermal noise. So:
Ec Best pilot power
I0 = Total received powers
To use GSM measurements in the case study, the
best BCCH was used as the best pilot. The powers
of all received BCCHs were summed to compute
the total received BCCH power. To simulate the
UMTS environment as closely as possible,
thermal noise power was also added to the total
received BCCH power, i.e.:
⎞⎟ Ec ⎞⎟ Best BCCH power
⎠ I0 ⎠measured = (Sum of all BCCH powers) ×
2 + noise power
Noise power in the 200 kHz band is:
N = kT · W = –121 dBm
where kT is the noise spectral density of
–174 dBm, with W = 200 kHz.
The multiplication by a factor of two in the
denominator of Eq. 2 represents the effect of the
interference power of the common control
channels, which are transmitted by the UMTS
base station along with the CPICH. The aggregate
power of these common control channels varies,
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Figure 5. Ec/Io Plot Based on the 2G Drive Test
August 2005 • Volume 3, Number 1
but is very similar to the CPICH power, hence the
reason for using a factor of two.
The Figure 3 spreadsheet was also used to derive
the estimate for the UMTS Ec/Io values. The best
(1) BCCH power in each row (i.e., location) is the
maximum of the values under the column
headings and appears in the third column from
the right. The total received power, which
appears in the second column from the right, is
the sum of all columns, multiplied by two, plus
the thermal noise power. The Ec/Io value for
each row is the ratio of the two values, which
appears in the last column.
The fact that the noise power is negligible
compared to the received BCCH powers
(2)
eliminates the need to scale the BCCH powers to
the equivalent CPICH power levels, as was done
in the previous section, since both the numerator
and the denominator would have to be scaled,
thereby cancelling each other.
(3)
Figure 5 shows the Ec/Io value as computed
from the measurements of the GSM signal from
the existing 2G sites. It is clear from the figure that
the values obtained are within the range of
typical UMTS Ec/Io values, which reaffirms the
correctness of the approach taken for this study.
The red points represent locations where the
estimated UMTS Ec/Io coverage from the
existing 2G sites is not adequate.
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61
 ANALYSIS
CPICH Plot
Figure 6 shows the study areas with CPICH
coverage problems based on the analysis
performed for the study. Based on this plot,
proposed new Nodes B283, B284, B286, B288,
and B360 are justified from the standpoint of
securing adequate CPICH coverage in these
problematic areas. No further argument was
necessary to justify the existence of these sites.
Ec/Io Plot
Creating CPICH
Figure 7 shows the study areas with
and Ec /Io unsatisfactory Ec/Io levels, based on the analysis
coverage plots performed for the study. The Ec/Io values shown
based on 2G drive are taken from the last column in the Figure 3
spreadsheet. From the plot, it is evident that
tests before
(a) the proposed new sites that were justified
commencing 3G
radio planning
from the CPICH coverage perspective are also
justified from the Ec/Io coverage perspective,
provides a crucial and (b) proposed new Nodes B289, B290,
starting point for and B300 are required to fill in the obvious Ec/Io
coverage holes in their proximity.
quality optimal
radio design. Neither coverage perspective—CPICH or
Ec/Io—justifies adding proposed new Nodes
B285, B287, and B343. Note that the Ec/Io
coverage hole east of Node B343 will be filled by
NodeB300
NodeB285
NodeB283
NodeB360
NodeB284
NodeB290
Figure 6. 3G CPICH Coverage Problem Areas Based on the 2G Drive Test
62
Node B288 once it is in place. Therefore, based on
the analysis, these three sites cannot be justified.
All other new sites are justified. A summary of
the analysis is provided in Table 2.
Cost Savings
The average cost of building a new rooftop
site in the case study CBD ranges between
US$227,000 and US$265,000. This makes the cost
savings generated by eliminating the three
unjustified sites nearly US$757,000 for only this
small portion of the network. A similar analysis
for the entire network should achieve
proportionally higher savings.
CONCLUSIONS
his paper presents a method for using data
T from existing 2G sites to estimate the
achievable UMTS CPICH and Ec/Io coverage
by measuring 2G GSM BCCH levels and
extrapolating the measurements to equivalent
estimated UMTS coverage. This method can and
should be used whenever the UMTS design relies
heavily on existing 2G sites, which is nearly
always the case. It is particularly useful and
necessary in dense urban areas, where accurate
radio propagation models are not available.
NodeB286
NodeB343
NodeB287
NodeB288
NodeB289
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NodeB283_N M0044 M0462

NodeB288_N

NodeB360_N M0545 NodeB289_N

NodeB284_N
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Figure 7. Ec/Io Problem Areas Based on the 2G Drive Test

In its use to design the 3G UMTS network for the
case study CBD, this method achieved two goals:
first, credible radio analysis of proposed new sites
was provided in the absence of a reliable radio
planning tool; second, 3 out of 11 proposed
new sites were eliminated without sacrificing
Table 2. Summary of Site-by-Site Analysis
coverage quality, thus saving approximately
US$757,000 in capital spending. The radio
planning team accepted the analysis as a credible
way to justify the necessity for new sites in the
case study CBD and also to show that some sites
were not necessary. The analysis was the single
most important element in the approval of the
radio design and the accompanying site list.

NOT Based on the results of this case study, it is

JUSTIFIED JUSTIFIED
JUSTIFIED highly recommended that this method be
SITE BY CPICH BY EC / IO
PER THE considered a standard general procedure for
PLOT PLOT
ANALYSIS UMTS and CDMA radio planning. Creating
CPICH and Ec/Io coverage plots based on 2G
Node B283


drive tests before commencing 3G radio planning
Node B284

provides a crucial starting point for quality
optimal radio design.

Node B285

Node B286

TRADEMARKS

Node B287
TEMS is a trademark of Telefonaktiebolaget LM
Ericsson, Sweden.
Node B288

Node B289

REFERENCES
Node B290
[1] J. Laiho, A. Wacker, and T. Novosad, Radio
Network Planning and Optimisation for UMTS,
Node B300
John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2002.
[2] H. Holma and A. Toskala, WCDMA for UMTS:
Node B343
Radio Access for Third Generation Mobile
Communications, Second Edition, John Wiley &
Sons Ltd., 2002.
Node B360

August 2005 • Volume 3, Number 1 63

 BIOGRAPHIES
Suvath Lee joined Bechtel
Telecommunications in 2004
and is currently working as a
senior UMTS RF engineer in
Bechtel’s Asia-Pacific Region.

Suvath has 11 years of

experience in the telecommuni-
cations industry, including
more than 7 years in RF
planning, design, and
optimization of cellular networks. His experience
includes working for mobile network operators,
vendors, consulting firms, and the telecommunications
regulatory authority. Before joining Bechtel, Suvath was
involved in RF planning and optimizing GSM
900/1800 MHz, broadband wireless access, and UMTS
networks. He also worked for Ericsson and Motorola in
the RF design and optimization of Hutchison’s UMTS
network in Sydney, Australia, and for Vodafone and
Lucent Technologies on GSM networks.

Suvath received his BSc in Engineering, with a major in

telecommunications, from the University of New South
Wales, Australia.

Amer Catovic joined Bechtel

Telecommunications in 2003.
He is currently a senior UMTS
RF engineer on assignment to
Bechtel’s Asia-Pacific Region.
Before this, as a wireless system
engineer with the New Jersey
Center for Wireless Tele-
communications, he worked on
several projects related to the
different aspects of technology and services for next-
generation wireless networks, funded by world leaders
in the field. Earlier, as a data network engineer with
Lucent Technologies’ NetCare division, he designed,
implemented, tested, and provisioned the infrastructure
and services in large-scale core broadband networks.
He began his career in 1997 as an RF engineer with
Motorola, Turkey.

A member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics

Engineers, Dr. Catovic has published numerous papers
in international journals and conferences. His areas of
research include capacity and coverage optimization
techniques for UMTS, location estimation techniques
for wireless networks, resource and mobility
management for wireless networks, and 4G networks.
Dr. Catovic is the co-winner of Bechtel Telecom-
munications’ Network Planning Alternative Design
Award for 2003. He is a Six Sigma Yellow Belt.

Dr. Catovic received his PhD in Wireless

Telecommunications, with emphasis on 3G and 4G
networks, from the New Jersey Institute of Technology
in Newark, New Jersey. He received his MS in Electrical
Engineering from Bosphorus University, Istanbul,
Turkey, and a joint BS in Electronics Engineering from
Université des Sciences et de la Technologie d’Oran,
Algeria, and University of Sarajevo, Bosnia.

64 Bechtel Telecommunications Technical Journal