LTE Planning with ATOL

Tomas Novosad

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Presentation / Author / Date

Atoll GUI

Map Window

Atoll GUI

Legend Window

Explorer
Window
Panoramic View

Point Analysis
Window

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Network Design Workflow

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LTE PLANNING WITH ATOLL

Open Network plan
Set computation zone
To have clear definition of analyzed area
To reduce calculations

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Set Computation Zone (Polygon) in red

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Network Entities
Networks Consist of Base Stations Comprising
Sites = Locations

Geographical
locations(1/2)
of base stations
Network
Design
Can support one or more transmitters
Sites database can be shared with Atoll Microwave

Transmitters = Radio Aerials

Comprises radio transmission/reception parameters and antennas

Can handle one or several antennas and MIMO systems
Can be linked to a TMA, feeder cables, and other equipment
Can have up to two path loss matrices: a high-resolution path loss
matrix for precise results near the transmitter and a low-resolution path
loss matrix for interference calculation far from the transmitter
Supports cells (carriers) with parameters defined at cell level

Other base station parameters

Cyclic prefix, PDCCH and PUCCH channel overheads, switching point
periodicity for TDD frames, uplink power control margin

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Path Loss Settings

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Network Entities
Networks Consist of Base Stations Comprising
Cells = Radio Channels
Hardware unit supporting an RF channel, i.e., 1 cell = 1 carrier
Has a certain traffic capacity limited by the channel bandwidth
Main properties of a Cell:

Channel (frequency band, channel number, and bandwidth)

Transmission power
Reception equipment
Scheduler
Maximum number of simultaneous active users
AMS threshold (Adaptive MIMO Switching)
Uplink and downlink traffic loads
Uplink noise rise
TDD frame configuration
Antenna diversity support (Transmit Diversity, Spatial Multiplexing, AMS)
Neighbours

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Definition of LTE Network Parameter Settings

Frequencies
LTE Bearers
Coding Schemes & Modulation
Coding Rate
Bit/symbol
Quality Indicators
BLER, BER, PER
Schedulers
MIMO Configurations
Global Parameter Settings (PC, Fixed Contr. Channel
Overhead) via Properties
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LTE Parameter settings

Services
Use/define/edit the service according their behavior
FTP Download
VoIP
Video Conferencing
Web Browsing
Any other profile if needed
User Profiles
Possible to define different kind of users which differ in
service usage pattern.

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Frequency Bands

Atoll can model multi-band networks within the same document

Pre-defined frequency bands
Possibility to easily create / modify frequency bands
Support for multiple channel bandwidths and different sampling
frequencies
TDD and FDD frequency bands supported

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LTE Bearers Settings

LTE Bearers

Bearer = Modulation and coding scheme

User-selectable modulations (e.g. BPSK, QPSK, 16QAM,

64QAM)
User-definable coding rates (e.g. 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, etc.)
User-definable bearer efficiencies (useful bits per symbol)

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NSN Setting of bearers (in line with dim tool)

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Bearer efficiency divided by

# bits per modulation
symbol (2 for QPSK, 4 for
16QAM and 6 for 64QAM

User bits per

modulation symbol as
per dimensioning tool

Reception (UL/DL) Settings

Reception Equipment
Bearer selection thresholds for automatic link adaptation
based on CINR values
Channel quality indicator graphs based on CINR values
Both used to model reception characteristics at the mobile
(DL) and at the cell (UL):
Peak Channel Throughput (without errors) / Effective Channel
Throughput (with errors)

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Setting of NSN MCS modulation thresholds to be

in line with dimensioning tool or other agreed data
ATOLL

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Multiple Input Multiple Output Systems

Base stations and user equipment support MIMO systems
Numbers of transmission and reception antenna ports at the base
station and user equipment
Modelling of three MIMO systems:
Transmit diversity
Spatial Multiplexing
Adaptive MIMO Switch (AMS)

Transmit Diversity improves the C/(I+N)

Usually used in coverage areas with bad radio conditions

Spatial Multiplexing improves throughput

Usually used in coverage areas with good radio conditions

AMS-capable equipment can switch from Spatial Multiplexing to

Transmit Diversity as the radio conditions worsen

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MIMO and LA Settings

Multiple Input Multiple Output Systems
Max MIMO gain graph for Spatial Multiplexing
Maximum possible gain in channel capacity

Transmit Diversity gains per antenna configuration

Transmit Diversity gain offsets and SM gain factor defined per

clutter class

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Services Settings
Services
Modelling of Voice and Data services
Support for service priorities
considered for scheduling and RRM
Modelling of traffic demand parameters:
Minimum throughput demand = GBR
Maximum throughput demand = MBR
Activity factor for voice type services

Modelling of application layer overheads

Mobility Types
Modelling of mobile speed
Used for bearer selection, and channel quality indicator
graphs
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Terminal Equipment Properties

Terminal Types (UE)
Reception equipment
Antenna
You can assign a directional antenna
which is considered in calculations

Minimum and maximum transmission powers

Gain, losses, and noise figure
Optional MIMO support
Number of transmission and reception
antennas (MIMO)
User Profiles
Define service usage characteristics for
different types of users

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Traffic Modeling

Traffic can be modelled using traffic maps and subscriber lists

You can work with different types of traffic maps:

Raster traffic maps

Vector traffic maps
Live traffic maps
Traffic density maps

Subscribers
Live Traffic Data
Vector Traffic Data
Raster Traffic Data

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Calculations on Subscriber Lists

Subscriber Lists
Contain lists of fixed subscribers with related parameters
Used for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) network design
Subscriber lists can be created using the mouse or imported from txt or csv
files
Can be displayed on the map according to different parameters
Main parameters:
Subscriber ID
Subscriber Name
Location: X and Y coordinates
Height of the antenna
User profile (services usage)
Terminal type (can use a directional antenna)
Serving transmitter and cell (user-defined or calc.)
Azimuth and downtilt (user-defined or calculated)

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Calculations on Subscriber Lists

Results include:

Serving transmitter and cell

Azimuth and downtilt towards the serving cell
Received power from other cells at the serving cell
DL and UL C/(I+N) values, bearers, channel throughputs, diversity
mode, etc.

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Coverage Prediction Plots

Signal level based coverage plots:

Best server plot

Coverage by signal level
Multiple server coverage
RSRP and CNR coverage plots

LTE-specific CINR-based coverage plots:

Based on user-defined cell loads or on Monte Carlo simulation results
A default UE is considered that may have a directional antenna
(oriented towards the serving cell)
DL and UL CINR and interference plots
DL and UL best bearer coverage plots
DL and UL throughput coverage plots
Peak and Effective RLC Channel Throughputs
Application Level Channel Throughputs

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Coverage Prediction Examples

Coverage by Signal Level

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Number of Servers

Coverage Prediction Examples

Coverage by DL CINR

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Coverage by UL CINR

HISTOGRAM BY PULL DOWN MENU

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C/ (I+N) Level (DL) (dB)
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Monte Carlo Simulations

Can be performed in order to study the network

response to a given amount of traffic

Can be based on traffic data from traffic maps
and subscriber lists
A snap-shot analysis of the networks behaviour
under traffic conditions
Monte Carlo distribution of mobile users and
services
Calculation of user parameters (CINR, power
control,
noise rise, resource allocation, etc.)
Scheduling and Radio Resource Management
based on service priorities and different schedulers:
Proportional Fair
Proportional Demand
Max Aggregate Throughput

Allocation of resources according to service

priorities

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Monte Carlo Simulation Results

For each cell
UL and DL traffic loads
UL noise rise
Calculation of aggregate cell throughputs for UL and DL
(Peak RLC, Effective RLC, and Application Level)
Other results and statistics

For each mobile

Serving transmitter and cell

Azimuth and downtilt (towards the serving cell)
Received power from and at the serving cell
DL and UL C/(I+N)
DL and UL best bearers
DL and UL channel and user throughputs
UL transmission power
Number of used resource blocks in UL
Other results

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Monte Carlo Simulation Results Display - mobiles

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Simulation Output Cell level

+Site
level
stat.

Detailed information regarding cell throughput and cell load

Mobile/u
ser level
stats

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MIMO in ATOLL

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Presentation / Author / Date

MIMO consideration in ATOLL (TX diversity, non

AMS case)
MIMO Gain application in non AMS case

The gain is applied as correction to the SINR (which is further corrected

by clutter specific factor - Transmit Diversity Gain Offset [dB] in Clutter

Menu). The formula is applied/valid for all SINR. The gain is applied as dB
correction to manipulate final SINR further used for bearer assignment.
Same construction is used in UL and DL. However, tool allows to enter
different values to specify UL and DL.

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MIMO consideration in ATOLL (AMS case)

MIMO Gain application in AMS (adaptive MIMO switch) case:

The gain is applied as correction to the SINR (which is further corrected by clutter

specific factor - Transmit Diversity Gain Offset [dB] in Clutter Menu). The formula is
applied/valid for all SINR. The gain is applied as dB correction to manipulate final
SINR further used for bearer assignment. HOWEVER, The formula is applied/valid
only for FIRSTLY CALCULATED SINR (SINR without any previous gain corrections)
being BELOW SM switch threshold. The gain is applied as dB correction to
manipulate final SINR further used for bearer assignment.

If not the case, there are not applied SINR corrections

,but there is applied

SM Gain defined by Max MIMO Gain Graph (in MIMO cfg menu, global parameter)
further weighted by clutter specific Spatial Multiplexing Gain Factor (between 0-1).
The gain is applied as muliplicative factor towards Bearer Efficiency (i.e. towards
bearer throughput).

Same construction is used in UL and DL. However, tool allows to enter different
values to specify UL and DL.
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Settings for MIMO 1) set/enter SISO bearers

MCS thresholds for DL
ATOLL

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Settings for MIMO 2) set/enter SISO bearers

MCS thresholds for UL
ATOLL

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Settings for MIMO 3) set the UL and DL gains

Total
MIMO
gain to be
applied,
including
3 dB Tx
power
increase

Default div. gains 2x2 MIMO 8.2 dB, diversity 1X2 4 dB, as per dimensioning tool

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Setting of MIMO 4) with SM (Adaptive MIMO

Switch)
Value of AMS switch have to be entered
Cell to be AMS enabled (Diversity Support)

Proposed default 15dB or higher (LTE Performance SFS speaking

about SM with connection of 64QAM modulation, which might appear

for SINR above 15dB, however value around 22-23dB is more
realistic).
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Setting of MIMO 5) with SM (Adaptive MIMO

Switch)
Effect of Spatial multiplexing Throughput increase are modeled by
Max MIMO Gain graph
(multiplicative factor to weight
bearer efficiency > throughput)

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Setting of MIMO 6) with SM (Adaptive MIMO

Switch)
Possible effect of Spatial multiplexing throughput increase are
modeled by the clutter specific Spatial Multiplexing Gain
Factor (multiplicative factor to weight bearer efficiency
throughput)

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Settings for MIMO 7) Condition MIMO to be used

User have to use MIMO feature

MIMO terminal to be defined 2 RX
and 1TX antenna to have DL
MIMO (2x2) and UL TX diversity SIMO (1x2)

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MIMO INPUT VALUES SUMMARY

KEEP THE VALUES IN LINE WITH DIMENSIONING TOOL, so.
UL noise figure (BTS) 2.2 dB
DL noise figure (UE) 7dB
Default div. gains
diversity (1X2): 4 dB
MIMO (2x2): 8.2 dB consists of 4 dB reception diversity, 3 dB TX power
increase and 1.2 dB MIMO receiving gain over reception diversity.

Clutter specific offsets 0dB (i.e. no impact)

MAX MIMO GAIN (Capacity gain due to SM) between 1(no capacity

gain) and 2(doubling capacity), so about 1.5.

Clutter specific offset 1 (i.e. no impact)
Adaptive MIMO Switch Threshold cca 15dB (LTE Performance SFS
speaking about SM with connection of 64QAM modulation, which might
appear for SINR above 15dB, however value around 22-23dB is more
realistic)
LTE Bearers as per NSN dimensioning tool
UL and DL MCS thresholds as per NSN dimensioning tool (EPS05
Channel, column for SISO (1x1))
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MIMO LIMITATION WITH CURRENT ATOLL FORSK COMMENTS

In the current version of Atoll, AMS (Adaptive MIMO Switch) Threshold
is applied on UL and DL in any configuration

In the commercial version of the LTE Module (Atoll 2.8.0 - end of

2008), it will be possible to set MIMO configurations (STTD, SM, AMS,

none) on DL or UL independently.

That's partially why the current version is just a "beta / pre-release"

LTE version.

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CREATING OF TRAFFIC MAPS IN ATOL

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Presentation / Author / Date

Creating of traffic map in ATOLL

create a new trafic map "Map based on environments"
-then select in the toolbox a type of environment, dense urban"
for example and draw a polygon. Hit "close"
- go to the data tab and edit the environment in the LTE
parameters folder. On the second tab, you have "clutter
weighting". Here you can set up a weighting based on clutter
classes
-at this moment traffic map have been created and the clutter
weighting set here will be taken into account during any
calculations.
-Map is there and is possible to use for simulations, but it is
invisible on GUI window as map. To see the map it is necessary
to export and import the map see next slide.
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Visualization of created traffic map

- go back to the geo tab, right click on traffic folder then "export
cumulated traffic".
- select a format (bil for example)
- then you can choose the export zone (entire area or
computation zone) and the traffic map you wish to export.
-if you want to really see the result, you have now to import the
traffic map.
-File / import and the select traffic density as map type.

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Export of Cumulated Traffic

Which area
traffic is coming
from
Traffic is
defined per
service (if
service mix,
than more than
1 traffic map
exists)

Which traffic
density map(s)
are used

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Traffic Map Creation traffic per transmitter input

Whole traffic table is
possible to import

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Import/Create Traffic Map based on per user

requested throughput per service

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TRAFFIC IMPORTING

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Imported Traffic distribution between terminal

type, mobility and indoor/outdoor percentage

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LTE SINR and Signal Measurements as per

3GPP and ATOLL

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Presentation / Author / Date

Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) 3GPP

36.214 - measured on Reference Signal
Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) is defined as the

ratio NRSRP/(E-UTRA carrier RSSI), where N is the number of

RBs of the E-UTRA carrier RSSI measurement bandwidth. The
measurements in the numerator and denominator shall be
made over the same set of resource blocks.
Reference signal received power (RSRP), is determined for a
considered cell as the linear average over the power
contributions (in [W]) of the resource elements that carry cellspecific reference signals within the considered measurement
frequency bandwidth. If receiver diversity is in use by the UE,
the reported value shall be equivalent to the linear average of
the power values of all diversity branches.
E-UTRA Carrier Received Signal Strength Indicator,
comprises the total received wideband power observed by the
UE from all sources, including co-channel serving and nonserving cells, adjacent channel interference, thermal noise
etc.
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Reference DL Signals 3GPP TS 36.211

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Interference Calculation in ATOLL based on

PDSCH

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Interference calculation DL based on PDSCH

Other Cell
interference Load

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Interference calculation UL based PUSCH

Other Cell
interference Load

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SINR Conclusions
Resulting SINR is calculated as own cell signal over sum of

interference coming from other cell. Interference calculations

takes all/most issues into account.
Same transmission power is used for all signals/channels in
the downlink (reference signals, SCH, PBCH, PDSCH, etc.)
Same noise and interference are considered for these different
channels.
Therefore, the description in the technical reference guide only
mentions SNR and SINR in general.
In reality, the SINR being compared to the AMS thresholds is
the reference signal SINR, and the SINR to which the TX Div.
gain is being applied is the PDSCH CINR.

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