GSM Capacity Planning-45

GSM Capacity Planning
Objective
Learn about the basic concepts and prediction methods of capacity
planning.
Master the network planning flow.
Master how to increase network capacity and plan locations
Contents
1 Basic Concepts of GSM Capacity Planning...............................................................................................1
1.1 Traffic and BHCA................................................................................................................................1
1.2 Call Congestion Ratio and Erlang-B Table.........................................................................................3
2 Capacity Prediction......................................................................................................................................7
2.1 Overview..............................................................................................................................................7
2.2 Capacity Prediction Method................................................................................................................7
2.2.1 Growth Trend............................................................................................................................7
2.2.2 Population Penetration Rate...................................................................................................10
2.2.3 Growth Curve.........................................................................................................................12
2.2.4 Conic.......................................................................................................................................15
2.3 Traffic Distribution Prediction...........................................................................................................16
3 Capacity Planning Flow.............................................................................................................................19
3.1 Capacity Planning Ideas....................................................................................................................19
3.2 Prerequisites for Capacity Planning..................................................................................................20
3.3 Capacity Planning Calculation Method.............................................................................................20
3.4 Channel Capacity Planning...............................................................................................................21
3.4.1 SDCCH Capacity Planning....................................................................................................21
3.4.2 CCCH Channel Configuration Principle................................................................................24
3.4.3 Recommended Assignment Principles for CCCH Channels and TCH Channels.................25
4 Capacity Planning Optimization...............................................................................................................27
5 Network Capacity Improvement...............................................................................................................29
5.1 Method of Improving the Network Capacity....................................................................................29
5.2 Analysis of Improving the Network Capacity...................................................................................29
i
5.2.1 Principle of Cell Splitting.......................................................................................................29

5.2.2 More Aggressive Frequency Multiplexing Pattern................................................................30
5.2.3 Adding Microcellular Equipment...........................................................................................30
5.2.4 Expanding Frequency Band...................................................................................................31
5.2.5 Adopting Half Rate.................................................................................................................31
6 Location Area Planning..............................................................................................................................33
6.1 Demarcating Boundary of LA...........................................................................................................33
6.2 Paging Capacity of LA......................................................................................................................34
6.2.1 Analysis of Paging Principle..................................................................................................34
6.2.2 Paging Policy..........................................................................................................................35
6.2.3 Setting Paging Parameters......................................................................................................35
6.2.4 Calculating LA Capacity........................................................................................................38
6.2.5 Effect of SMS on Paging Capacity of LA..............................................................................40
ii
1 Basic Concepts of GSM Capacity

Planning
This document describes capacity planning of base stations on the BSS side of the
GSM network, which serves as the basis for capacity planning of others.
1.1 Traffic and BHCA

When a user makes a call and how long the call lasts are random events, but there are
certain statistical rules for such random events. To indicate how often a user makes a
call and how long the call lasts, a concept of traffic is introduced to telephony
exchange. Traffic refers to the conversation volume generated by a user within a period
of time. It is a dimensionless value and is generally expressed by Erlang (an Erlang
refers to traffic load generated when a conversation circuit is 100% continuously
occupied for an hour). Busy traffic refers to traffic load when the system or line is
busiest within a day.
The average traffic of every user, that is,
, can be expressed as:
1
3600
(1-1)
Here,
, also called by call arrival rate, is the average number of calls made by every user
within a unit of time.
1
is the average conversation duration of every user, in the unit of second.
is the
call completion rate.

Traffic of every cell, that is,
A , can be expressed as:

A dS
Here,
is the average traffic of every user (Erlang/user).

1
(1-2)
d is the user density (user amount/ km2).

S is the acreage of the cell (km2).
In actual environments, traffic varies with time. Even though the possible traffic
changes in the long-term development process are not considered, yet traffic still
changes periodically in the short term (on a daily or weekly basis).
In general, one hour when traffic is heaviest is called busy hour. Accordingly, the
number of calls with the one hour is the busy hour call amount or busy hour call
attempt, that is, BHCA for short. Busy traffic (that is, traffic within the busy hour) can
be expressed as:
BH BHCA
1
3600
(1-3)
In network planning, busy traffic is generally a design index and it is believed that a
GSM network, if supporting busy traffic, is certainly able to deal with common traffic.
In network planning and design, busy traffic of every user is generally used as an
index. Busy traffic of every user can be expressed as:
1
3600
Here,
0 is busy traffic of every user.
is the number of calls made by every user within a day.
is the busy hour factor (ratio of busy traffic to total traffic within a day).
Busy traffic of the system can also be expressed as:
BH 0 N
N is the total number of users in the system.
BH 0 N is a very important formula for capacity planning. It is obvious that

during system planning, the expected capacity of the system must exceed the estimated
BH .
In the current system, the average busy traffic of every user can be obtained generally
from the statistical data of the existing network. It can be known from the preceding
2
Chapter 1 Basic Concepts of GSM Capacity Planning
formula that the average busy traffic of every user in the current system is the total
busy traffic divided by the number of registered users on the VLR during the busy
hour. During network planning, however, some margins are generally reserved for the
average busy traffic of every user in the current system.
In China, the experience in operating the common mobile telephone network in recent
years shows that the acceptable average busy traffic of every user is 0.025 to 0.03
Erl/user. This equals 6 calls (including incoming and outgoing calls) made by every
user every day and 2 minutes per call.
1.2 Call Congestion Ratio and Erlang-B Table

Call loss or congestion: When a call is made on condition that all the channels of a
wireless communications system have already been occupied, the call is unsuccessful
and then is lost or congested. The call congestion ratio refers to the probability that
such a call is congested.
Grade of service (GOS) indicates the congestion level and is defined as the probability
of congestion. During planning of a GSM system, GOS of a traffic channel (TCH) is
generally 2% or 5%.
As specified in the Technical Mechanism for the Common Mobile Telephone Network,
the call congestion ratio of a wireless channel is smaller than or equal to 5%. In a highdensity traffic area, 2% is used. In general, all common mobile telephone networks are
the call congestion systems. During system designs, although a user within a cell (or
sector) is designed to continue his or her call attempt if his or her first call cannot
occupy the idle channel, yet the sector sharing or directed retry function diverts the
congested call of the user to another sector for searching for an idle channel, that is, the
user leaves the sector that he or she originally accesses. Therefore, for users of every
sector, every call of users is lost if there is no idle channel, and the result is that the
overall congestion feature is comparatively close to the Erlang-B call rules.
According to the Erlang call congestion formula and the call congestion calculation
table, a call must have the following characteristics:
Every call is random, which is independent of or irrelevant to other calls.
Every call has the same probability in terms of time.
When a call cannot occupy the idle channel, the call is lost, instead of waiting a
period of time for the channel to become idle.
3
The Erlang-B formula is:
This formula provides the relationship between the call congestion ratio B, traffic A,
and channel amount n. According to this formula, you can calculate traffic at different
call congestion ratios and on different channels. The calculated traffic values form an
Erlang-B table. If knowing any two of the preceding B, A, and n, you can calculate the
value of the third one.
The following table is an Erlang-B table formed according to calculation via the Erlang
formula and is used for convenient query.
N
1.0%
1.2%
1.5%
2%
3%
5%
0.0101
0.0121
0.0152
0.0204
0.0309
0.0526
0.153
0.168
0.19
0.223
0.282
0.381
0.455
0.489
0.535
0.602
0.715
0.899
0.869
0.922
0.992
1.09
1.26
1.52
1.36
1.43
1.52
1.66
1.88
2.22
1.91
2.11
2.28
2.54
2.96
2.5
2.6
2.74
2.94
3.25
3.74
3.13
3.25
3.4
3.63
3.99
4.54
3.78
3.92
4.09
4.34
4.75
5.37
10
4.46
4.61
4.81
5.08
5.53
6.22
11
5.16
5.32
5.54
5.84
6.33
7.08
12
5.88
6.05
6.29
6.61
7.14
7.95
13
6.61
6.8
7.05
7.4
7.97
8.83
14
7.35
7.56
7.82
8.2
8.8
9.73
15
8.11
8.33
8.61
9.01
9.65
10.6
16
8.88
9.11
9.41
9.83
10.5
11.5
17
9.65
9.89
10.2
10.7
11.4
12.5
18
10.4
10.7
11
11.5
12.2
13.4
19
11.2
11.5
11.8
12.3
13.1
14.3
20
12
12.3
12.7
13.2
14
15.2
21
12.8
13.1
13.5
14
14.9
16.2
22
13.7
14
14.3
14.9
15.8
17.1
23
14.5
14.8
15.2
15.8
16.7
18.1
24
15.3
15.6
16
16.6
17.6
19
1.0%
1.2%
1.5%
2%
3%
5%
25
16.1
16.5
16.9
17.5
18.5
20
26
17
17.3
17.8
18.4
19.4
20.9
27
17.8
18.2
18.6
19.3
20.3
21.9
28
18.6
19
19.5
20.2
21.2
22.9
29
19.5
19.9
20.4
21
22.1
23.8
30
20.3
20.7
21.2
21.9
23.1
24.8
31
21.2
21.6
22.1
22.8
24
25.8
32
22
22.5
23
23.7
24.9
26.7
33
22.9
23.3
23.9
24.6
25.8
27.7
34
23.8
24.2
24.8
25.5
26.8
28.7
35
24.6
25.1
25.6
26.4
27.7
29.7
36
25.5
26
26.5
27.3
28.6
30.7
37
26.4
26.8
27.4
28.3
29.6
31.6
38
27.3
27.7
28.3
29.2
30.5
32.6
39
28.1
28.6
29.2
30.1
31.5
33.6
40
29
29.5
30.1
31
32.4
34.6
41
29.9
30.4
31
31.9
33.4
35.6
42
30.8
31.3
31.9
32.8
34.3
36.6
43
31.7
32.2
32.8
33.8
35.3
37.6
44
32.5
33.1
33.7
34.7
36.2
38.6
45
33.4
34
34.6
35.6
37.2
39.6
46
34.3
34.9
35.6
36.5
38.1
40.5
47
35.2
35.8
36.5
37.5
39.1
41.5
48
36.1
36.7
37.4
38.4
40
42.5
49
37
37.6
38.3
39.3
41
43.5
50
37.9
38.5
39.2
40.3
41.9
44.5
51
38.8
39.4
40.1
41.2
42.9
45.5
52
39.7
40.3
41
42.1
43.9
46.5
53
40.6
41.2
42
43.1
44.8
47.5
54
41.5
42.1
42.9
44
45.8
48.5
55
42.4
43
43.8
44.9
46.7
49.5
56
43.3
43.9
44.7
45.9
47.7
50.5
57
44.2
44.8
45.7
46.8
48.7
51.5
58
45.1
45.8
46.6
47.8
49.6
52.6
59
46
46.7
47.5
48.7
50.6
53.6
60
46.9
47.6
48.4
49.6
51.6
54.6
61
47.9
48.5
49.4
50.6
52.5
55.6
62
48.8
49.4
50.3
51.5
53.5
56.6
63
49.7
50.4
51.2
52.5
54.5
57.6
N
64
1.0%
50.6
1.2%
1.5%
51.3
52.2
2%
53.4
3%
55.4
5%
58.6
2 Capacity Prediction
2.1 Overview
In terms of cellular network planning, the system capacity requirements must be
determined first, that is, how many users will be in the system and how much traffic the
users will generate. This serves as the basis of designs on the whole cellular network.
The prediction analysis of system capacity aims to reflect the actual and future capacity
requirements in the system so as to estimate the number of channels required in the
system. Network planning is implemented based on the distribution of initial and future
traffic requirements obtained through various statistics and calculations.
Capacity prediction needs to take into consideration the following factors:
1.
Incoming status
2.
Distribution of population at different age groups and incoming groups
3.
As-is economic status of the region
4.
Introduction of service competition
5.
Reduced or preferential mobile service expanses
6.
Publicity and development goals of mobile operators
2.2 Capacity Prediction Method

1.
Short-term prediction (1 to 2 years) or long-term prediction (3 to 5 years)
2.
Population penetration rate
3.
Growth trend
4.
Growth curve
5.
Conic
2.2.1 Growth Trend

1)
As-is mobile communications outside of China

In June 2003, the number of mobile users worldwide has hit 1.3 billion, with a
7
penetration rate of over 18%. Replacement of fixed with mobile has become
an increasingly obvious trend. Currently, over 100 countries worldwide have
seen more mobile users than fixed-line users.
In Europe, the average penetration rate of mobile phones is about 75% and the
market penetration rate is almost saturated. European operators are raising
service ARPU to compensate for loss incurred by slow growth of the user base.
What is delightful is that the data services are on the continuous increase. In
2002, revenues from the data services accounted for 13.6% of the total revenues
in Europe, of which the short message service took up the major part and such
services as GPRS and WAP held less than 5%.
Prior to July 2001, America was the worlds largest mobile communications
market and its penetration rate of mobile phones was about 50%. However, due
to fierce market competition, revenues from mobile services are constrained and
the overall growth of the mobile user base is not promising. At the same time,
along with the slowdown of American economy, operators in America were
confronted with many difficulties. Under such circumstances, it was a possible
way out of the economy shadow for the mobile communications industry to seek
out cooperation and collaboration and develop new service models.
Unlike Europe and America, Japan and South Korea witnessed good results.
Although the proportion of mobile uses in Japan and South Korea had already
exceeded 60% early, the enriched data services, however, brought in continuous
service revenues. Particularly, in Japan, the mobile data users accounted for 70%
to 80% of the total mobile users and the proportion of revenues from the data
services exceeded 20%, with the short message service taking up only 3%.
In the developing countries and certain under-developing countries, the mobile
communications services are still growing astonishingly. Specifically, in over
half of African countries, the number of mobile users has exceeded that of fixedline users. In addition, 85% of the total mobile users are prepaid users. In 2002,
the average proportion of prepaid users was about 50% worldwide and this
figure is still on the increase.
2)
As-is mobile communications in China

In China, the mobile communications services have been maintaining a
momentum of rapid growth. By July 2001, the number of mobile users in China
8
surpassed that in America and China became the worlds largest mobile
communications market. Two years later, Chinas mobile user base has exceeded
257 million by October 2003 and this was the first time that the mobile user base
exceeded the fixed line user base (255 million). Currently, the penetration rate of
mobile communications in China is about 20%. In the next five years, this figure
will be increased greatly. China still lags far behind her European and American
counterparts in terms of the overall country power and especially, the
development in China is imbalanced. All these trigger the shift of mobile
communications from high-end users to common users. The short message
service is widely accepted and is explosively growing. In 2003, the total number
of short messages hit 180 billion. In addition, the multimedia message service
(MMS) is gradually burgeoning. It is believed in the telecommunications
industry that the MMS service is a rising star and also a runner for fostering the
3G service markets.
3)
Overall development trend of mobile communications

Within a period of time in the future, the mobile user base continues to be
expanded and its dominance role will be future fortified. However, the
continuous efforts are still required for the compliance of mobile services with
application standards. The ARPU will continue to fall until the data services are
widely accepted and booming. The voice and its value-added services will also
continue to grow and in addition, the data services will develop continuously.
All these require a cost-effective 3G network. The 3G network, however, will
grow in a step-by-step manner because considerable 2G networks exist and the
data services do not growth astonishingly. For a long period of time, 2G/2.5G
and 3G technologies will coexist.
The following describes an example of the growth trend prediction method:
In a region, the number of mobile users grows as shown in the following table.
1992
Region User
HX
1993
Growth
1994
User
Growth
User
1995
Growth
User
Growth Rate
Amount Rate (%) Amount
Rate (%) Amount
Rate (%)
Amount
(%)
1085
3033
180
143
14539
97
1996
1997
31180
114
7367
1998
49761
60
93922
1999
89
177659
89
As shown in this table, the growth rate from 1992 to 1999 is not on a year-on-year
9
decrease. Instead, the growth rate fluctuates irregularly. Therefore, in 2000, the average
growth rate from 1992 to 1999, that is, 70%, is used as the growth rate. In 2001, the
growth rate uses 40%, slightly higher the average national level 38.85%. This also
complies with the actual conditions of the region (the region is a medium-sized city). In
2002, the growth rate uses 30%.
Based on the growth trend prediction method, the prediction of mobile users in this
region from 2000 to 2002 is shown in the following table.
2000
Region User
HX
2001
2002
Amount
Growth Rate
Growth
User Amount
(%)
(%)
302021
70
422829
Rate
40
User Amount
Growth Rate (%)
549678
30
2.2.2 Population Penetration Rate

When determining the penetration rate, take into consideration the following factors:
1.
Penetration rate of mobile phones in moderately developed countries in the

world
2.
Expected attainable index in the next several years across the country
3.
Market penetration rates of operators in the current region
4.
Economic development status in the current region
The following table lists national penetration rate of mobile phones from 1995 to 2002.
Year
User amount
(10, 000)
Penetration
rate (%)
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
362.9
684.8
1364
2496
3432
5053
7016
9219
0.302
0.57
1.14
2.08
2.64
3.89
5.40
7.69
As estimated by relevant experts, in the next 2 to 3 years, the penetration rate of mobile
phones will hit 10%. For example, in Lanzhou, an important city in Northwest China
and also a moderately developed city across the country in terms of economic
development status, the penetration rate has reached 6%. It is expected that the 10%
goal will come 2 to 3 years in advance, that is, in 2000, Lanzhou will see the
penetration rate 10%. The following tables show the penetration rates in Lanzhou and
across the country in recent several years.
The following table shows the as-is penetration rate of mobile phones in a certain
10
region.
1996
SN Region
User
Amount (10,
000)
GL
31180
1997
Penetration
Rate (%)
1.13
User
Amount (10,
000)
49761
1998
User
Penetration
Penetration
Amount
Rate (%)
(10, 000)
1.77
93922
1999
Rate (%)
3.25
User
Amount
(10, 000)
177659
Penetration
Rate (%)
6.12
As shown in the table above, in 1998, the penetration rate in this region is already
higher than the national average. This also reflects the regions role as a provincial
capital city. In 1999, the penetration rate is three-fold higher than the national average.
Based on such a proportion, from 2000 to 2002, the penetration rate in this region will
be about 10%, 15%, and 20% respectively.
In Shanghai and Beijing, the penetration rate of mobile users has exceeded 15%. This
region is a moderately developed city and it is possible that its penetration rate is two
years behind Bejing, that is, 15% in 2001. Therefore, it is acceptable that this regions
penetration rate in the next three years is 10%, 15%, and 20% respectively.
Currently, China Unicom holds a market share of 10% throughout the country and its
goal is to hit 20% to 30% market share. After the restructuring of China Telecom,
China Mobile will turn out a new picture to compete with China Unicom. And it is
estimated that China Unicoms growth of market share will slow down. Based on such
an analysis, the market share of China Unicom in this region in the next three years is
estimated to be 10%, 15%, and 20% respectively. Along with market development, the
supportive measures taken by the nation for China Unicom will be phased out and the
market goes in a more standardized manner. As a result, in the future, what is more
appealing to users is service quality and new service offerings.
The following table shows the estimated population of this region from 2000 to 2002.
1996
SN Region
1997
1998
Population Population Population

(10,000)
1 Lanzhou276.09
(10,000)
280.46
(10,000)
288.56
Natural
Growth
Rate ()
5.90
2000
2001
2002
Population
Population
Population
(10,000)
(10,000)
(10,000)
291.98
293.70
295.43
According to the estimated population and China Mobiles estimated market share in
the next several years, the estimated user base of China Mobile in three city of this
11
region from 2000 to 2002 is shown in the following table (the population penetration
method is used).
2000
2001
2002
Market User
Market User
Market
Penetration
Population Penetration
Population Penetration
User
Share Amount
Share Amount
Share
Rate (%)
(10,000)
Rate (%)
(10,000)
Rate (%)
Amount
(%)
(%)
(%)
Region
Population
(10,000)
GL
291.98
10.0
GW
192.42
DX
293.63
90
262778
293.70
15.0
85
374465
295.43
20.0
80
472689
0.8
98
14448
194.50
1.1
92
20564
196.59
1.5
88
26510
0.5
100
13236
296.40
1.0
98
29459
299.19
1.8
90
47336
2.2.3 Growth Curve

During the research on prediction methods, a lot of facts show that there are certain
similarities in the development of the technical equipments functions and features and
the market requirements. For example, within a city, when the penetration rate of
phones reaches a certain value and then the market in the city begins to be gradually
saturated, rather than to simply increase exponentially or linearly. The commonly used
equation to indicate such a saturation curve is Gompertz and Logistic. The following
considers the Gompertz curve equation as an example.
The Gompertz curve equation is expressed as:
Yt Le be
kt
The following shows the Gompertz curve diagram.
12
The Gompertz curve parameters can be determined as follows: Determine the peak
saturation value L and then perform the logarithm on both sides of the equation. Then,
lnln (L/Yt) = lnb-kt is obtained. Assume that A = lnb, and Yt = lnln (L/Yt). Then,
lnln (L/Yt) = lnb-kt is changed to Yt = A + Bt. Then, obtain the values of A and B by
using the least square method.
The following shows an example of such a method of determining Gompertz curve
parameters.
Step 1: Determine the peak saturation value L.
Mobile phones feature convenient mobility. The population mobility is relevant to
ages. Specifically, population of 15 to 64 years old has a great mobility and is the most
probable to use mobile phones. Population of 0-14 years old or 65 years old or above
has a relatively fixed activity range and fixed-line phones can basically meet their
communications requirements. Therefore, when conducting a user prediction, mainly
take into consideration population of 15 to 64 years old. Seen from Chinas changes to
the population structure with different age groups, population of 15 to 64 years old in
2000 is 67.7% of the total population. This proportion can be considered as the peak
saturation value L for the penetration rate of mobile phones.
The following table shows Chinas population structure from 1995 to 2010.
13
Total Population
Year
0-14 Years Old
15-64 Years Old
65 Years Old or Above
Population
Population
Population
Population
Population
Population
Population
Amount (10,
Amount
Amount (10,
Proportion
Proportion
Proportion
Proportion
000)
(10, 000)
000)
Population
Amount
(10, 000)
1995
100
121121
26.7
32303
66.6
80727
6.7
8091
1996
100
122248
26.4
32273
66.8
81662
6.8
8313
1997
100
123385
26.1
32203
67
82668
6.9
8514
1998
100
124532
25.8
32129
67.2
83686
8717
2000
100
126859
25.3
32105
67.7
85841
8913
2005
100
131438
22.9
30099
69.5
91350
7.6
9989
2010
100
136183
20.7
28248
71.1
96799
8.2
11136
Step 2: Calculate the values of A and B. The following table considers a city GL as an
example.
Year
SN (t)
User Amount (Yt)
Yt'=lnln(L/Yt)
Ytt'=t*Yt'
t2
1996
31180
1.422966
1.422966042
1997
49761
1.303444
2.60688764
1998
93922
1.114066
3.342198523
1999
177659
0.879344
3.517377014
16
Sum
10
352522
4.719820
10.88942922
30
Obtain the values of A and B by using the least square method and set up a mathematic
model as shown below:
n 4, t
10
2 .5
4
14
yt 1976705e 5.129540 e
0.182024 t
K B 0.182024, b e A 5.12954
A yt' B * t 1.63502
t * y
t
'
t
2
n * t * yt'
n *t 2
y 't
0.182024
4.71982
4
Predict the user amount of the city GL in 2000 and apply t=5 to the preceding formula.
Then, obtain y2000=250804. Likewise, apply t=6 and t=7, then obtain y2001=353629
and y2002=470899 respectively.
The following table shows the predicted mobile user amount of the city GL from 2000
to 2002 by using the growth curve method.
SN
Region
GL
User Amount
2000
2001
2002
250804
353629
470899
Any type of telecommunications service needs to go through four phases, debut,

growth, saturation, and degradation. For any service having such four phases, you can
use the growth curve method to perform prediction and this method is very suitable to
medium-term prediction.
2.2.4 Conic
For many engineering problems, it is a common practice to search out an approximate
expression for the function relationship of two variables according to several groups of
lab data for these two variables. The approximate expression is generally called
empirical formula. After an empirical formula is set up, certain experience accumulated
during production and experiments can be raised to the theory for analysis. During a
mobile user prediction, an empirical formula can be set up based on the user
development over the last several years and through the empirical formula, the next
several years user development can be predicted.
In a city, the growth of mobile users can be expressed by the following empirical
15
formula:
y ax 2 bx c
Here, x represents the year and y the amount of mobile users.

Apply the user amount of the last several years and select constants a, b, and c by using
the least square method.
N
2 [ y ( ax 2 bx c)]2
i 1
The values of a, b, and c are calculated as follows:

N
2 a [ yi (axi bxi c)]xi 0

2
i 1
N
2 b [ y i (axi bxi c)]xi 0

2
i 1
N
2 c [ yi (axi bxi c)] 0

2
i 1
Apply the mobile user data of the city GL from 1996 to 1999 and then calculate the
values of a, b, and c. Then, based on the values, you can predict the mobile user
amount of the city GL in the next three years.
The following table shows the predicated mobile user amount of the city GL from 2000
to 2002 by using the conic method.
SN
Region
GL
User Amount
2000
2001
2002
287371
430790
606184
2.3 Traffic Distribution Prediction

Traffic is mainly centralized in medium and large-sized cities. Especially, in the center
of an urban area, there is a comparatively high-density traffic region. Within the region,
an area with extremely heavy traffic generally exists. In the suburban areas, traffic is
low. When constructing a network, take into consideration all the preceding factors and
deploy nodes properly; otherwise, the equipment resources for the low traffic areas will
be wasted and the capacity in the heavy traffic areas will be insufficient, thus adversely
affecting the return on investments (ROI) and service quality of the network. To avoid
16
the preceding adverse impact, conduct a prediction and survey of traffic distribution
beforehand and then based on the prediction and survey result, deploy base stations and
determine the frequency multiplexing mode.
At early stages, you can use such statistical data as population distribution, incoming
status, vehicle use distribution, and phone use to predict the geographic distribution of
traffic requirements. After a network is built out and runs in the normal state, you can
use the traffic statistical report of OMC to obtain a comparatively comprehensive
traffic distribution of the mobile service area for future optimization and capacity
expansion.
Three methods are currently available to the traffic density prediction: percentagebased method, linear prediction method, and linear prediction+manual adjustment.
Percentage-based method: The service area is divided into several sub-areas, such as,
high-density user sub-area, medium-density user sub-area, and low-density user area
(for example, densely populated urban area, common urban area, and suburban area)
and then different percentages are allocated to these areas during the mobile user
prediction. Then, multiply the predicated user amount by the percentage of an area to
obtain the total user amount of the area, and then divide this total user amount by the
acreage of the area to obtain the user density of the region.
Linear prediction method: Based on the cell planning software and the digital map,
allocate the actual statistical busy traffic of the existing base stations to every cell, and
then import the total traffic in the target year to the PC. Then, the cell planning
software can generate the traffic distribution diagram in the target year according to the
existing traffic distribution.
17
3 Capacity Planning Flow

Based on the preceding traffic prediction and traffic distribution prediction, you can
obtain the total traffic requirements within the service area and the traffic distribution
and acreage within every specific area.
After a correct predication of user development within the planned area, select a proper
frequency multiplexing mode according to the available frequency band resources. In
addition, after considering the configured capabilities of wireless system products as
well as the wireless environment/user distribution characteristics within the planned
area, determine site-type configuration for different types of area and ultimately obtain
the site quantity that meets capacity requirements. Capacity planning needs to yield the
following results:
Number of base stations that meet traffic requirements within the planned area
Site-type configuration of every base station
Number of traffic channels and users and traffic provided by every sector
Number of traffic channels and users and traffic provided by every base station
Number of traffic channels and users and traffic provided by the whole network
The preceding planning is an initial planning. That is, after wireless coverage planning
and analysis, certain base stations may be added or deleted. Then, the number of base
stations and their locations are finally determined after repeated planning and analysis.
3.1 Capacity Planning Ideas

A common capacity planning flow is: conducting capacity prediction -> analyzing
traffic distribution -> determining site-type configuration -> determining the number of
base stations -> determining the layout of base stations.
At different stages of network planning, the work focuses are also different:
At the elementary stage of network development, there are a few capacity

requirements, the site is generally small, and the network is relatively simple.
In this case, mainly consider the basic coverage.
19
At the intermediate stage of network development, there are a large number

of capacity requirements, the coverage requirements are high, and the network
is relatively complex. In this case, take such measures as capacity expansion of
base stations and cell splitting.
At the advanced stage of network development, there are enormous capacity

requirements, the hole-free coverage is required, and the network is complex.
In this case, take such measures as adding micro cells and setting up dualfrequency networks.
3.2 Prerequisites for Capacity Planning

Before a prediction of total traffic and traffic distribution, the following prerequisites
are met:
GOS provided by the system (call congestion ratio)
Available frequency band resources and frequency multiplexing mode
3.3 Capacity Planning Calculation Method
Estimate the number of base stations and their types and capacity in the
capacity-constrained area.
Estimate the maximum site type for different types of area according to the
available frequency band resources and frequency multiplexing mode.
Obtain the capacity of every base station according to the traffic model and
Erlang-B table.
Obtain the number of required base stations by dividing the total traffic by the
maximum capacity (sum of capacity of all cells) of a base station.
Estimate the number of base stations and their types and capacity in the
coverage-constrained area.
Obtain the total number of base stations required by a type of area by dividing
the area acreage by the coverage acreage (estimated) of every base station.
Obtain the required traffic within a cell by multiplying the coverage acreage
(estimated) of the cell by the corresponding traffic density.
Estimate the number of required voice channels and control channels according
20
to the Erlang-B table.
Obtain the number of required carrier frequencies of a cell by dividing the sum
of the voice channels and control channels by 8.
The output results are total number of base stations and their types.
The following is an example of calculating capacity of a base station.

In an S4/4/4 base station, every cell has 32 channels, of which 29 are traffic channels.
Assume that the call congestion ratio is 2%. According to the Erlang-B table, it is
found that traffic carried in this base station is 21.03 Erl. Assume that the average busy
traffic of every user is 0.025 Erl, then, it is calculated that 841 users can be
accommodated. Then, the whole base station can accommodate 2523 users (841 x 3 =
2523).
3.4 Channel Capacity Planning

3.4.1 SDCCH Capacity Planning
1. SDCCH channel structure and service type
An SDCCH channel has two types of structure: SDCCH/4 and SDCCH/8. These two
types of structure are applied to the hybrid control channel and independent control
channel respectively. In a GSM system, the cell broadcast service can be provisioned.
That is, within an area, the short messages of the short message service center are
broadcast to all registered users within the area. When the cell broadcast service is
provisioned, the broadcast traffic channel CBCH of every cell must occupy an SDCCH
channel.
Combined channel:
BCCH+CCCH+SDCCH/4
(TS0)
Non-combined (independent) channel:

BCCH+CCCH (TS0)+X x SDCCH/8 (timeslots for BCCH carriers frequencies 1-7 or
any timeslot for other carrier frequencies)
During network designs, X can be configured according to the number of carrier
frequencies (that is, number of TCH channels) and the proportion of TCH traffic to
SDCCH traffic.
21
An SDCCH channel mainly carries the following types of services:
Location update or periodic location update
IMSI attachment/separation
Call set-up
Short message
Fax and supplementary services
For networks with different structures and user habits and for different traffic models,
time when the preceding various events are occupying the SDCCH channel is also
different.
2. SDCCH GOS and SDCCH/TCH capacity proportion
When the number of SDCCH channels is defined, the call congestion ratios of SDCCH
channels and TCH channels must be comprehensively considered. This is because in a
conversation, SDCCH channels are used to transmit the call connection signaling and
TCH channels are used to transmit voice or data information. SDCCH channels and
TCH channels are equally important for set-up of a conversation. SDCCH, however,
can utilize the physical channels of carrier frequencies in a more effective manner.
Therefore, the call congestion ratio of SDCCH channels must be lower than that of
TCH channels.
The basic principles for determining the call congestion ratio of SDCCH channels are
as follows: The call congestion ratio of SDCCH channels must be 25% of that of TCH
channels. If the call congestion ratio of SDCCH channels is higher than 25% of that of
TCH channels, more SDCCH channels must be defined. For the SDCCH/4 structure,
the call congestion ratio of SDCCH channels must be 50% of that of TCH channels.
In general, the GOS of the SDCCH/8 structure is calculated as 1/4 of the GOS of TCH.
The GOS of the SDCCH/4 structure is calculated as 1/2 of the GOS of TCH.
For example, when the GOS of TCH is 2%:
SDCCH/4 GOS = 1%
SDCCH/8 GOS = 0.5%
Based on the channel assignment algorithm of BSC, signaling can be transmitted on

the TCH channels. No matter which channel assignment method (pre-assignment or
dynamic assignment) is used, signaling both can be transmitted on the TCH channels.
22
During set-up of a call, TCH channels are immediately assigned for transmitting call
connecting signaling. This can reduce call congestion ratio and improve GOS.
3. SDCCH Capacity Prediction
SDCCH traffic prediction is calculated according to common service models. Different
networks and traffic models have different SDCCH traffic models. During actual
SDCCH planning, make calculations according to the service models provided by
operators.
If the service models have already been provided, you can calculate per-user traffic of
every type of phone action.
The corresponding calculation formula is as follows:
The following shows the calculation process (only considering location update, short
message, and call set-up):
Conventions:
Location update factor: L
Proportion of short message amount to call amount: S
Average call duration: T
Cell traffic: Acell
Location update duration: TLU
Call set-up duration: TC
Short message duration: TSMS
SDCCH clear protection duration: TG
Then,
Busy call amount of a cell: CALL = Acell x 3600/T
Busy location update amount: LU = L x Acell x 3600/T

23
Busy short message amount: SMS = S x Acell x 3600/T = 6Acell
Then, traffic carried by SDCCH is:

ASDCCH = [CALL x TC + LU x (TLU + TG) + SMS x (TSMS + TG)]/3600
After traffic is obtained, you can obtain the number of required SDCCH channels from
the Erlang-B table according to the corresponding GOS.
The following table shows the recommended SDCCH configuration.
TRX
Amount
Channel
Amount
SDCCH Structure
SDCCH
Amount
TCH
Amount
TCH Traffic
(GOS = 2%)
SDCCH/8
2.28
16
SDCCH/8
14
8.2
24
2*SDCCH/8
16
21
14.9
32
2*SDCCH/8
16
29
21
40
2*SDCCH/8
16
37
28.3
48
2*SDCCH/8
16
45
35.6
56
3*SDCCH/8
24
52
43.1
64
3*SDCCH/8
24
60
49.6
72
3*SDCCH/8
24
68
57.2
10
80
4*SDCCH/8
32
75
64.9
3.4.2 CCCH Channel Configuration Principle

1. CCCH channel structure
Common control channels (CCCHs) mainly include the access granted channel
(AGCH), paging channel (PCH), and random access channel (RACH).
The uplink channel transmits the channel request message and the downlink channel
transmits the granted access (that is, immediate assignment) and paging messages. All
traffic channels of every cell share the CCCH channels.
2. CCCH channel configuration
CCCH-CONF
Number of CCCH Messages in a
Meaning
BCCH Multiframe
One basic physical channel used by

0
CCCH
Not used with SDCCH

1
One basic physical channel used by

24
CCCH-CONF
Number of CCCH Messages in a
Meaning
BCCH Multiframe
CCCH
Used with SDCCH
Two basic physical channels used by
CCCH
18
Not used with SDCCH

Three basic physical channels used by
CCCH
27
Not used with SDCCH

Four basic physical channels used by
CCCH
36
Not used with SDCCH
3.4.3 Recommended Assignment Principles for CCCH Channels and TCH

Channels
Assume that the average busy traffic of mobile users is 0.025 Erl/user and the GOS of
wireless channels is 2%. According to the recommended SDCCH configuration and
CCCH channel structure, you can obtain the maximum traffic in different amount of
carrier frequencies of every cell from the Erlang-B table. Based on the maximum
traffic, you can calculate the maximum number of users supported by every cell and
then finally the maximum number of users supported by the entire system.
Carrier
Frequency
Amount
Channel
Amount
CCCH
Channel Structure
Control
Channel
Amount
(SDCCH)
Capacity
TCH
(Erlang)
Channel
Amount
GOS=2%
(1BCCH+9CCCH)+SDCCH/8
2.28
16
(1BCCH+9CCCH)+SDCCH/8
14
8.2
24
(1BCCH+9CCCH)+2*SDCCH/8
21
14.9
32
29
22
40
37
28
48
45
35.5
56
52
42.12
64
60
49.64
72
68
57.2
10
80
75
64.9
For different traffic models and GOSs, you can obtain the channel configuration and
traffic according to the recommended configurations listed in the table above.
25
26
4 Capacity Planning Optimization

The initial capacity planning is mainly based on various predications and assumptions.
As network planning and network construction are implemented, traffic models may
change and these changes to traffic models (such as change to the size of a traffic
model) have a direct and important impact on capacity planning. In actual conditions,
the initial capacity planning will be adjusted and optimized, thereby laying a good
foundation for future network optimization and reducing investments under certain
conditions.
The recommended traffic model calculation method on the exiting network is as
follows:
When any of the following factors occurs, you need to consider adjusting and
optimizing capacity planning:
Changes to user behavior: Mainly consider the user capacity offset caused by
mobility of users in the local network. Use behavior includes user traffic
behavior and user mobility behavior. These two types of behavior lead to user
traffic offset from the macro and micro perspectives respectively. As for the
extent to which the traffic offset affects the network, we can use the fluctuation
coefficient (1.05-1.1 in general) for measurement. The network margins caused
by such offset cannot be saved during network construction.
Non-linear channel configuration: Channel configuration is calculated according

to the number of carrier frequencies rather than linearly based on requirements.
This certainly leads to wastes. For example, a cell only needs 9 TCH channels,
but we need to configure 2 TRXs (that is, 14 TCH channels). This means that 5
TCH channels are wasted. According to domestic network research and
experience and statistics of several local networks, non-linear channel
configuration decreases network utilization by 20% to 25%. For provincial
27
capital cities, the figure is 20% and for common cities, the figure is 25%.
Especially, for the backward areas, the figure is 30% because there are many
single-carrier-frequency cells.
At early stages of network construction, if heavy traffic congestion occurs, you

need to consider the suppressed traffic requirements due to traffic congestion
when performing a traffic model prediction. Specifically, add the traffic required
for solving traffic congestion as the actual traffic to the traffic model. Then, the
traffic model is a true traffic model that meets actual conditions.
At different stages of network construction, it is proper to carry out an analysis

and prediction of traffic models periodically.
If the predicted proportion of activated mobile users is relatively proper, take

into consideration this proportion. This can reduce the traffic model value of
every user, and reduce costs of base stations or compensate for impact caused by
other uncontrollable factors.
Other impacts.
28
5 Network Capacity Improvement

In the initial stage of a GSM network, the number of users is limited, and in this case,
fewer BTSs with small model are suitable for the network capacity. In this situation,
the main problem is network coverage. With the rapid user development and new
service promotion, cell congestion is more and more severe and the network quality is
attacked. Therefore, it is urgent to improve the network capacity. The process of the
capacity design is:
BTS with small model->BTS expansion and cell splitting->Microcellular increase in
hot stop->Two frequency construction->Half rate provisioning
5.1 Method of Improving the Network Capacity
Adopting cell splitting
Adopting the more aggressive frequency multiplexing pattern
Adding microcellular equipment
Expanding frequency band
Adopting half rate
5.2 Analysis of Improving the Network Capacity

5.2.1 Principle of Cell Splitting
In the initial stage of a GSM network, the network coverage is the main
problem. This is because the antenna height is high, distance between BTSs is
large, and the coverage radius is large.
With the user increment, the original cell can be split into cells with smaller
coverage area.
Shorten the distance between BTSs, lower the antenna height, or increase the
antenna downtilt angle appropriately, so as to narrow the coverage radius.
Through cell splitting, increase the number of BTSs in the network, and then the
29
carrier frequencies and channels of the entire network increase, accordingly, the
traffic and users are accommodated.
Method of implementing cellular splitting
Add a new BTS at the center point of the connection line between two existing
BTSs.
Use half of the radius of the existing cell as the radius of the split cell and the
antenna direction of sectors after splitting remains unchanged.
Cell splitting is limited and the distance of macro-cellular BTSs is at least 400m.
The antenna height of a BTS cannot be very high. That is, in a medium size city, the
antenna height is about 25m.
For a BTS with high antenna height, lower the height in cell splitting.
5.2.2 More Aggressive Frequency Multiplexing Pattern

If the network capacity cannot be increased through cell splitting, the more aggressive
frequency multiplexing pattern can be used. That is, improve the frequency band usage
and enlarge the BTS model supported by the network, so as to improve the network
capacity.
The common aggressive frequency multiplexing patterns are:
Multiple multiplexing pattern (MRP)
1 x 3 (or 1 x 1) multiplexing
Concentric circle
5.2.3 Adding Microcellular Equipment
Two cases for microcellular: One is to improve the coverage blind zone and the
other is to solve the problem of traffic overflow of the hot spot with high traffic.
The macro-cellular with large coverage is in the lower layer and absorbs the
main traffic. The micro-cellular is with a higher layer and is the supplement of
the macro-cellular coverage, which improves the indoor coverage, absorbs the
traffic of the hot spot, and improves the network quality.
5.2.4 Expanding Frequency Band
Through expanding the frequency band, increase the carrier frequency of each
30
Chapter 6 Location Area Planning
cell so as to increase the system capacity.
When the 900M frequency resources are used for the GSM system, to improve
the network capacity, the 1800M frequency band is needed to set up a two
frequency to absorb the traffic.
The two frequency network of the same vendor uses the co-bcch technology to
economize a common control channel (CCCH).
5.2.5 Adopting Half Rate
The frequency resources are limited, so expansion in increasing carrier

frequencies is hard to be achieved. In addition, frequency point increase means
diseconomy.
When half rate traffic channel TCH/HS (half rate speech) is adopted, the channel
that carries one TCH/FS or one TCH/EFS carries two TCH/HS. That is, the
channel capacity doubles.
The half rate voice uses the VSELP coding. To adapt to the half rate bandwidth,
the coding rate decreases to 5.6 kbps. Compared with the full rate voice coding
13 kbps, the voice quality degrades.
31
6 Location Area Planning

Location area (LA) is an important concept in GSM. According to the GSM protocol,
the entire mobile communication network is divided into different service areas based
on location area code (LAC). LA is the unit for paging scope in a GSM system. That is,
the paging message pages in the unit of LA. The paging message of a mobile
subscriber is sent in all the cells of an LA. One LA may contain one or more base
station controllers (BSC) but it belongs to only one mobile switch center (MSC). In
addition, one BSC or MSC may contain multiple LAs.
The size of an LA, the coverage of an LAC, is a key factor in the system. In the aspect
of decreasing the location update frequency and economizing the channel resources of
a system, the bigger the LA is the better. This is because the more the location update,
the bigger the SDCCH load, which wastes the channel resources and increases the
MSC and HLR load. In addition, the mobile station requires about 10s to update cells.
In this period of time, a call cannot be made. However, if an LA is over size and is
beyond the paging capability of the system, the paging signaling load in the system is
very high, which leads to paging message loss and decrement of the paging success
ratio. The low paging success ratio generates the second call for a subscriber. In this
case, the paging load in the system increases and the paging success ratio deteriorates.
Therefore, the LA cannot be set to a large value. In network planning, consider and
balance the LA capacity, channel resources and paging capability in the system. In the
case that the paging load is not very high, decrease the update frequency of the LA to a
minimized value.
6.1 Demarcating Boundary of LA

In the initial stage of a GSM network, BTSs in multiple BSCs can be divided into an
LA. With the increase of traffic and carrier frequency capacity, the traffic carried by
each BSC increases greatly and LA demarcation approaches to BSC demarcation. That
is, one BSC is demarcated to one LA. In a fewer cases, one BSC can be demarcated to
multiple LAs. However, problems may arise because of the very small LA. For
example, inter-LA update occurs more frequently and thus the switch load increases.
When location update occurs in different LAs, a mobile phone cannot communicate
33
normally. In density urban areas with high traffic, a mobile phone is active in the
overlap areas of different LAs. In this case, a high requirement for boundary setting of
two LAs or multiple LAs is required. With the network development, user density
increases and the effect of inter-LA update on the system load increases. Therefore, the
boundary setting of LAs is more important. According to features of the normal
location update, boundary demarcation of the LA needs to comply with the following
principles:
Try not to set the boundary away from the areas with high traffic such as urban
areas, instead, set it in areas with low traffic or for low-end users such as rural
areas and factories. These areas are with low density, location update scope of
the mobile phone narrows, and inter-LA update has relatively lower load for the
network. When the LA boundary should cover the urban areas, try to set the
boundary in the areas with low mobility such as residential areas.
Set the LA boundary and the road with an angle and try to prevent the overlap
areas of the LA from being in the areas with high mobility. This avoids a large
amount of toggle location update in inter-LA. If the setting is improper, the
system will be severely affected.
The boundary of multiple LAs is avoided in the same small area, and this
prevents the mobile phone from frequently updating among location areas in the
small area.
When demarcating the boundary, the traffic increase trend needs to be taken into
consideration. In addition, in designing paging capacity and traffic capacity of
an LA, the expansion margin needs to be considered, so as to prevent the LA
from demarcating and splitting frequently.
6.2 Paging Capacity of LA

6.2.1 Analysis of Paging Principle
When a mobile station of an LAC is paged, the MSC initiates the paging request for all
the cells corresponding to the LAC through BSC. Currently, the GSM network
provides two paging modes: TMSI and IMSI.
In the GSM system, each user is allocated with a unique IMSI. The IMSI is written in
the SIM card of a mobile phone, and it is with eight bytes and is used for identity
34
identification. The TMSI is allocated temporarily by the VLR for the visited mobile
subscriber after successful authentication. The TMSI is temporarily used for the air
interface instead of the IMSI only in the VLR jurisdictional areas. In addition, TMSI
corresponds to IMSI and is with four bytes. In this case, when the paging channel of
the air interface adopts IMSI, the paging request contains only two IMSI numbers; but
if TMSI is adopted, four TMSI numbers are contained. Therefore, paging load of IMSI
is twice more than that of TMSI.
When obtaining current LAI of the mobile station from VLR, MSC initiates the paging
message to all the BSCs in the LA. After receiving the paging message, BSCs send the
paging message to all the cells belonging to the LA of the BSCs. When receiving the
paging message, BTS sends the paging request to paging sub-channels where the
paging group is located. The paging request carries IMSI or TMSI of the paged user.
After receiving the paging request, the mobile station uses the random access channel
(RACH) to allocate SDCCH. In addition, after confirming that the BTS activates the
required SDCCH, BSC assigns the SDCCH to the mobile station by assigning the
message in the access grant channel (AGCH). Then, the mobile station uses the
SDCCH to send the paging response to BSC and BSC forwards the paging response to
MSC. In this case, a successful radio paging is complete.
6.2.2 Paging Policy

If the MS LA is known in VLR, the first paging message is broadcasted in the LAs that
are registered in MS, that is, local paging. If MS does not respond to the first paging,
MSC initiates the second paging. Usually, the second paging is broadcasted in the
original LA. However, the second paging can be performed in all the cells in the entire
MSC, that is, global paging. The global paging is with a higher success ratio. In paging,
TMSI or IMSI can be used to differentiate MS.
6.2.3 Setting Paging Parameters

According to the GMS specifications, CCCH has two configurations:
Shared CCCH and SDCCH, also called combined BCCH. In this configuration,
each multiframe transfers three paging groups.
Un-shared CCCH and SDCCH, also called un-combined BCCH. In this

configuration, each multiframe transfers nine paging groups.
The paging group can be used as the paging channel (PCH) to broadcast the paging
35
request, and can be used as the AGCH to respond the access request of a mobile phone.
In operation, multiple multiframes can be combined together so as to form a paging
cycle to increase the number of paging groups in a cell. In this case, the mobile phone
senses its belonged paging group periodically. Therefore, when the mobile phone is
called, it monitors the paging request sent from the BTS and responds.
If there are many paging groups, a long time will be cost before the mobile phone
monitors the correct paging group. This increases the paging time. If there are fewer
paging groups, the paging setup time will be shortened because the mobile phone
answers the paging group frequently. This wastes electricity of the mobile phone. The
number of paging groups of a cell can be adjusted through the following two
parameters:
Access grant reserved blocks (BS-AG-BLK-RES)
This parameter defines the number of paging groups that are configured with the
dedicated AGCH of each multiframe. For the cell with combined BCCH, BS-AGBLK-RES ranges from 0 to 2. For the cell with un-combined BCCH, BS-AG-BLKRES ranges from 0 to 7. If the cell broadcast channel (CBCH) is used, BS-AG-BLKRES ranges from 1 to 7. The value of BS-AG-BLK-RES can be 0, it indicates that no
dedicated AGCH is used, and all the paging groups are shared by PCH and AGCH. If
BS-AG-BLK-RES is equal to or larger than 1, it indicates that a paging group is
reserved as the dedicated AGCH. This is determined by the traffic of the cell.
The following figure lists the number of CCCHs contained in each BCCH multiframe
(including 51 frames) when different CCCHs are configured.
Number of CCCHs in
CCCH_C
BS_AG_BLK_RES
ONF
Each BCCH Multiframe

That Are Reserved for
Number of CCCHs in Each

BCCH Multiframe That Are
Reserved for PCH
AGCH
Others
Others (invalid)
36
Number of CCCHs in
CCCH_C
Each BCCH Multiframe
BS_AG_BLK_RES
ONF
That Are Reserved for
Number of CCCHs in Each

BCCH Multiframe That Are
Reserved for PCH
AGCH
6
Paging channel multiframes (BS-PA-MFRAMS)
This parameter defines multiframes in 51 TDMA frames of MS of the same paging

group that are sent by the transmission paging message. According to the GSM
specifications, each mobile subscriber (corresponding to each IMSI) belongs to a
paging group. In every cell, each paging group corresponds to a paging sub-channel.
The mobile station calculates to which paging group it belongs based on its IMSI.
Then, it calculates the location of the paging sub-channel that belongs to the paging
group. In an actual network, the mobile station just listens the paging sub-channel to
which it belongs but not listen the contents of other paging sub-channels. In addition,
disable the power of certain hardware components of the mobile station to save the
power cost (source of DRX). BsPaMframes refers to a cycle with how many
multiframes that are used as the paging sub-channels. Actually, this parameter
determines the number of paging sub-channels of the paging channels in a cell.
Calculation of this parameter is mainly used to calculate the paging group of MS, so as
to sense the corresponding paging sub-channels.
The following tables lists the relation between AGCH and MFRMS, and number of
paging group and paging group interval.
BS_PA_
MFRAM
S
Paging Group
Number of Paging Groups in
Number of Paging Groups in Un-
Combined BCCH
combined BCCH
Interval (s)
AGCH=0
AGCH=1
AGCH=0
AGCH=1
0.47
18
16
0.71
27
24
0.94
12
36
32
1.18
15
10
45
40
1.41
18
12
54
48
1.65
21
14
63
56
1.89
24
16
72
64
2.12
27
18
81
72
37
6.2.4 Calculating LA Capacity

The method of calculating the LA capacity is as follows:
Paging blocks/s x Paging messages/paging block = Maximum pagings/s->Supported
pagings/h->Permitted traffic/LA->Supported carrier frequencies/LA
Paging blocks/s:
One frame = 4.615 ms and one multiframe = 0.2354s. Assume that AGB access grant
reserved blocks are permitted, paging blocks each second are:
For the un-combined BCCH: Paging blocks/s = (9-AGB) / 0.2354 (paging

blocks/s)
For the combined BCCH: Paging blocks/s = (3-AGB) / 0.2354 (paging blocks/s)
For the un-combined BCCH, ZTE configures AGB = 2, that is, paging blocks/s =
29.7/s. For the combined BCCH, ZTE configures AGB = 1, that is, paging blocks/s =
8.5/s.
Note that in an LA, it is not suitable to configure the combined BCCH cell and uncombined BCCH cell concurrently, and the access grant reserved blocks must be the
same in the same LA. Otherwise, the paging capacity degrades to be the lowest paging
capacity of an LA. However, if the capacity of a cell is small, and the LAC resources
are in short supply, the combine BCCH cell and un-combined BCCH cell can be
configured in a same LA. This increases the number of traffic channels of BTSs in 01
and S111 models.
Pagings/paging blocks (X)
When a BTS broadcasts a paging request through a paging group, there are following
configurations: two IMSIs, two TMSIs and one IMSI, and four TMSIs.
In this case, the average pagings X sent by each paging block is:
X = 2 pagings/paging block IMSI is used.
X = 4 pagings/paging block TMSI is used.
The maximum pagings P sent each second

can be calculated:
For the un-combined BCCH: P = (9-AGB) / 0.2354 (paging blocks/s) x X

(pagings/paging block)
38
For the combined BCCH: P = (3-AGB) / 0.2354 (paging blocks/s) x X

(pagings/paging block)
For IMSI, when the un-combined BCCH is used, if AGB = 2, P = 59.47 pagings/s;
when the combined BCCH is used, if AGB = 1, P = 16.99 pagings/s.
For TMSI, when the un-combined BCCH is used, if AGB = 2, P = 118.95 pagings/s;
when the combined BCCH is used, if AGB = 1, P = 33.98 pagings/s.
Permitted traffic/LA (T)
When designing the LA capacity, note that the LA size cannot exceed the maximum
paging capacity it can be bore. In the case of a running network, paging messages
issued by BSC in the basic measurement can be collected from the server, and then
converts the result to paging messages/s. The paging messages/s cannot exceed the
preceding calculated result.
When there is no traffic data to be used as reference, if a new network is created,
calculate the traffic according to an assumed traffic model.
Average communication time: 60s, that is, 1/60 Erl.
Proportion of successful called MSs + pagings generated by SMS and total

pagings + SMS pagings is 30%. If the USSD service is provisioned in the
network, the SMS pagings generated by the USSD service should be contained
in the preceding SMS pagings.
Assume that 75% MSs respond in the first paging, 25% MSs respond in the
second paging, and MSs that respond in the third paging are not taken into
account. In this case, successful called MS each time needs 1.25 pagings.
Caution:
The above-mentioned traffic model data is for reference. If a new network is preplanned, and no existing network data or data from other carriers for reference, confirm
with the office's engineers. If an existing network is planned, calculation must be
performed based on the statistics of the server, including the average communication
time, proportion of pagings, and proportion of the first and second pagings. Where,
proportion of pagings = successful called MSs (leading to paging and generating TCH
traffic) + pagings generated by SMS / total pagings + SMS pagings.
39
Assume that the paging channel is congested after pagings exceed 50% of the
theoretical maximum paging capacity. That is, under the condition that pagings do not
exceed 50% of the maximum paging capacity, the original paging messages are not lost
because of full paging queues in a BTS. In this case, the paging capacity in a second is
P x 50%.
When IMSI is used, if AGB = 2 and the un-combined BCCH is used, the traffic
permitted in an LA is:
T x 30% / (1 / 60) x 1.25 = P x 50% = 59.47 x 3600 x 50%
T = 4757.6 Erl
(AGB = 2 and un-combined BCCH is used)
In the same way:

T= 1359.39 Erl
(AGB = 1 and the combined BCCH is used)
When TMSI is used, the traffic permitted in an LA is:

T= 9515.72 Erl
(AGB = 2 and un-combined BCCH is used)
T= 2718.78 Erl
(AGB = 1 and the combined BCCH is used)
6.2.5 Effect of SMS on Paging Capacity of LA

The SMS can be sent through SDCCH or SACCH. The sending process can be divided
into the SMS calling process and SMS called process according to differences between
the sent SMS and the received SMS. The effect of SMS on the paging capacity of an
LA represents in the effect on receiving SMS by a mobile phone. That is, when a
mobile phone receives SMS, the systems pages the mobile phone just like that the
mobile phone serves as the called party. Therefore, it can be determined that the effect
on receiving a short message by a mobile phone is the same as the effect that the
mobile phone serves as the called party. The following calculates SMS and analyzes
the effect of the SMS on the system according to an SMS traffic model.
Assume that the SMS service is three SMS/subscriber/day, the resend proportion is
30% and the centralized index in busy hour is 0.12. Take 100,000 subscribers in an LA
as an example, SMS pagings in busy hour of an LA is:
100000 x 3 x 0.12 x (1 + 30%) = 46800 (pagings/h)
From the result, we can see that paging caused by SMS is large and has effect on the
system.
40
In addition, SMS features in burst. In peak hours such as holidays, the burst factor
reaches 3-8. That is, in peak hours, SMS in holidays are 3-8 multiples more than
normal. At this time, pagings caused by SMS is:
100000 x 3 x 0.12 x 8 x (1 + 30%) = 374400 (pagings/h)
This value is very tremendous and peak hours of SMS accompany peak hours of
traffic. These two peaks lead to very big paging and attack the system greatly. In this
case, flow control protection is required. For example, do not resend the SMS, delay
sending SMS in peak hours, and decrease the maximum pagings. This meets the
requirements of SMS and traffic in peak hours.
41

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GSM Capacity Planning

5.2.1 Principle of Cell Splitting.......................................................................................................29

1 Basic Concepts of GSM Capacity

1.1 Traffic and BHCA

, can be expressed as:

is the average conversation duration of every user, in the unit of second.

call completion rate.

A , can be expressed as:

is the average traffic of every user (Erlang/user).

d is the user density (user amount/ km2).

0 is busy traffic of every user.

is the number of calls made by every user within a day.

BH 0 N is a very important formula for capacity planning. It is obvious that

Chapter 1 Basic Concepts of GSM Capacity Planning

1.2 Call Congestion Ratio and Erlang-B Table

Every call is random, which is independent of or irrelevant to other calls.

Every call has the same probability in terms of time.