--------------------------------------RF Planning-planet

From the requirements given from the operators' marketing department (coverage to be
achieved, the number of subscribers that can be serviced and the signal and interference
performance tolerable during a call) a model is built to map traffic and subscribers. planet
is a network planning tool capable of modelling any size of radio system, from intensive
local area to extensive country wide.
Having determined the objectives and the methods to be used, the planning team would
move swiftly to develop a region-wide plan to show the scope of the network and to
investigate any problems at an early stage. The rest of the planning lifecycle can then
proceed to replace the sites suggested in this plan with candidates initially and then later
with planned sites and eventually with built sites in traffic
Once the outline plan has been developed, a check can be made using planet to confirm
that the business plan targets are on track, and that at this early stage there should be no
reason why the business plan will not be met. This would be done by comparing the cost
of site build with the revenue generated by the subscriber profile.
Optimum Site Location
Optimum locations for sites are identified that are theoretical locations on the terrain and
on buildings where sites might be placed to meet the objectives, and they suggest
locations where site finders might look for candidates.
Each site is considered in the context of other sites being acquired or planned for both
coverage and microwave backhaul and the need to predict the power flux density from
the site and check that this falls within regulator limits both close to the site and in
adjacent territories and networks.
From a site finders report, and other viability evidence suggesting up to six candidates,
the planning technician will then select one and issue this as his or her choice. Once sites
have been chosen drawings can be prepared.
The performance of the network needs to be captured on the planning tool and passed
electronically to the marketing department to target selling activities. Given that the
network is then deployed there needs to be verification that the network designed is as
designed and generally this is done by field survey noting perceived quality of sustained
calls across the service area.
Deliverables at various stages of a cellular planning project would include the following:
Coverage plots showing where on the ground the objective coverage had been achieved.
Statements of traffic carrying capacity, the blocking of calls, data throughput and latency.
Frequency plans and statements of interference limited coverage.

Statements of compliance against regulators exported interference limits.

Specifications for site build including site location, support structure height, antenna
design and how the site will connect and backhaul into the rest of the bearer network.
Network Optimisation
Here the objectives are re-visited and the results of the perceived quality field survey are
used to determine where in reality failings occur. From this gap analysis, using planet, the
planners determine the real reason for the shortfall. Given several standard and some nonstandard corrective actions, changes are made to the network design to achieve the
required performance. Optimisation also has a place in responding to growth that was not
foreseen and here the pattern of work would be similar but the objectives would be
updated to show the real subscriber demand.
--------------------------------------------RF Planning involves Cell Planning, Frequency Planning, Coverage interference
prediction, Co-Channel Interference
Prediction and Optimization. It requires knowledge of the network database parameters,
timers, study and analysis
of performance statistics before finally deciding the course of action. We have the
expertise to solve the network
quality problems. Optimization means analyzing a host of issues like sub-optimal
database parameters, undesirable handover
sequences, unbalanced paging, location update signaling loads and island effects. RF
Planning involves:
Propagation Modeling
Nominal Cell Plan based on agreed technical specifications
Frequency Planning
Support on technical issues relating to spectrum allocation
Network Optimization
Coverage Optimization
Database Parameters/Timers Tuning
Frequency Planning
Neighbor List/BSIC Plan
GoS Improvement (Call Success Rate)
Call Drop Rate Reduction
Handover Success Rate Improvement (Handover tuning)
System Growth / expansion planning
------------------------------------------Designing a network isn't easy. You have to consider terrain, clutter and anything else that
may block RF signals and inhibit coverage. Maximizing coverage, increasing capacity
and minimizing capital expenditure throughout the life of a network is an RF engineer's

purpose in life. However, most engineers use RF-planning tools only during initial buildout.
improved solutions are available for traditional RF-planning needs as well as additional
functionality to help you continue engineering enhancements.
MORE THAN DESIGN Typically, carriers use RF-planning tools to design site
placement and coverage, run the basic propagation coverage and propagation analysis,
and analyze interference to establish phase-1 networks. Then, engineers go out in the
field and collect measurements to see if the model is accurate. Software plots that data
and reveals the expected performance of your network.
But engineers need more from their RF-planning tools.
carriers need radio-planning tools that will integrate with existing databases and
infrastructure.
"They want a system that can be distributed across lots of workstations and PCs.
Operators also are looking for the ability to re-tailor the radio-propagation modeling the
way they want it."
Because most radio-planning tools are geared toward the network build-out phase and not
the life cycle of a network, radio engineers use them a lot less as they become more
familiar with the system. Usually, they get more information from what they personally
know about the network as opposed to what the planning tools can tell them. it would
help if planning tools could integrate some of the real field knowledge back into the tool
to make it more reflective of the real network as opposed to just what the model predicts,
especially for frequency planning and controlling interference.
You can integrate today's RF-planning tools to help the customer-service department. As
soon as the CSR receives a call, the caller's location is identified on a map, and the
coverage areas also are displayed, enabling CSRs to respond.
Layering data saves time for engineers and expenses for organizations. Engineers need to
be able to design or build out networks based on information from other departments.
New RF-planning tools also can save you money through networking. Historically
planning tools didn't allow a team of engineers to work on one area simultaneously.
Instead, each engineer checked out a certain square of geography and worked on that
square. When the other engineers finished their squares, they were stitched together, but
more than one person wasn't able to work data simultaneously. This common problem
slows down the process for RF engineers.
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Aerial does quality assurance on the satellite imagery with aerial photography if it's
available.
Real terrain and clutter data also can help you plan for rural and urban environments.
"Some operators will want to go for a more microcellular approach in the urban areas,
and therefore they'd be interested in much-higher-resolution data of the buildings,"
Frasco explained. "For other operators that have a more macrocellular approach, that's
not going to be as helpful. They are going to need different methods of propagating the
signal loss with the two types of data."