256-QAM Downlink

Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Basic Characteristics
1.2 Benefits
1.3 <"Additional Information" optional section>

2 Feature Operation
2.1 Network Requirements
2.2 <"Feature Operation Sequence Diagram" optional section>
2.3 <"Process Steps" optional section>

3 Parameters
3.1 Feature Configuration Parameters
3.2 Affected Parameters
3.3 <"Parameters Affecting the Feature" optional section>

4 Network Impact
4.1 <"Capacity" optional section>
4.2 <"Coverage" optional section>
4.3 <"Mobility" optional section>
4.4 <<other area> optional section>

5 Associated Features and Affected Functions

5.1 Prerequisite Features
5.2 Affected Features
5.3 Affected System Functions

6 Performance
6.1 KPIs
6.2 Counters
6.3 Events

7 O&M Information
7.1 Activate and Deactivate Feature

1 Introduction
This document describes the 256-QAM Downlink feature and its main benefits and impacts
in the LTE RAN.

1.1 Basic Characteristics

This section describes the basic characteristics of the feature.

Feature name: 256-QAM Downlink

Product DU-based node, see Feature Overview.

identity:

Baseband-based node, see Licensed Feature Overview.

Replaces: N/A

Dependencies

This feature requires the following RAN features to be active:

 <feature name 1>

 <feature name 2>

This feature can affect the following RAN features:

 <feature name 1>

 <feature name 2>

1.2 Benefits
The feature provides higher users peak rate. The user peak rate (MAC layer) is increased
from 150 Mbps to approximately 195 Mbps for a 20 MHz carrier. With carrier aggregation of
three 20 MHz carriers, the user peak rate is increased from 450 Mbps to 587 Mbps. For UEs
that are not capable of 256-QAM, or UEs that are capable of 256-QAM with low link quality,
the user date rate is not impacted. The main benefits of 256-QAM Downlink are:

 The user peak rate is increased by about 30% when the 256-QAM capable UE
uses a high quality DL link.
 The 256 QAM HARQ BLER can be calculated from new pm counters.
 The CQI and rank distributions for 256-QAM capable UEs can be obtained from
pm counters.

1.3 <"Additional Information" optional section>

More information about this feature and related topics can be found in the following 3GPP
documentation:


 TS36.211
 TS36.213
 TS36.331
 TS36.306
2 Feature Operation
The 256-QAM Downlink feature supports dynamic switch between two modes:

 legacy mode in which 256 QAM is not allowed

 higher order modulation (HOM) mode in which 256 QAM is supported

Radio can be configured on a mode to provide good throughput performance for 256-QAM.
This feature is supported in:

 FDD and TDD

 TM mode 1, 2, 3 and 4
 FDD carrier aggregation (CA), TDD CA, and mixed FDD-TDD CA

2.1 Network Requirements

This is a licensed feature. This means that for the feature to be operational, a valid license
key must be installed and the feature must be explicitly activated by setting a MOM
attribute. See Section 7.1 for more details.

The feature can be enabled or disabled through MOM attribute dl256QamEnabled on cell
level. The following must be fulfilled at feature activation:

 The license is enabled and activated, AND

 The attribute dl256QamEnabled is set to TRUE

2.2 <"Feature Operation Sequence Diagram" optional section>

2.3 <"Process Steps" optional section>

This section describes the main process steps for the feature flow.

2.3.1 <Process Step 1>

2.3.2 <Process Step 2>

3 Parameters
This section describes configuration parameters for the <feature name> feature and
parameters affected by activating the feature.

3.1 Feature Configuration Parameters

Table 1 describes the feature parameters.
Table 1 Feature Parameters
Parameter MO Class Description
dl256QamEnabled EUtranCellFDD/ Enable or disable 256 QAM support in DL.
EUtranCellTDD
radioTransmitPerformanceMode SectorCarrier A radio transmit operating mode, which is tailored to achieve
good throughput.
dl256QamStatus EUtranCellFDD/ Indication if 256 QAM in DL is supported in the cell.
EUtranCellTDD

3.2 Affected Parameters

Table 2 describes the parameters affected by the feature.

Table 2 Affected Parameters

Parameter Description
<exampleParameterC> <Brief description>
<exampleParameterD> <Brief description>

3.3 <"Parameters Affecting the Feature" optional section>

Table 3 describes parameters that affect the feature.

Table 3 Parameters Affecting the Feature

Parameter Description
<exampleParameterC> <Brief description>
<exampleParameterD> <Brief description>

4 Network Impact
This section describes how the <feature name> feature impacts the network functions and
capabilities.

4.1 <"Capacity" optional section>

This section provides information on the impact of the feature on network capacity.

4.2 <"Coverage" optional section>

This section provides information on the impact of the feature on network coverage.

4.3 <"Mobility" optional section>

This section provides information on the impact of the feature on mobility.
4.4 <<other area> optional section>
This section provides information about <...>.

5 Associated Features and Affected Functions

This section describes how the <feature name> feature affects other features and functions.

5.1 Prerequisite Features

Table 4 lists prerequisite features to the <feature name> feature, that is, they must be
active prior to introducing the <feature name> feature.

Table 4 Prerequisite Features

Feature Description
<feature name 1> <optional description or comment if needed>

<feature name 2> <optional description or comment if needed>

5.2 Affected Features

Table 5 lists features that are affected by the <feature name> feature.

Table 5 Affected Features

Feature Description
<feature name 1> <description of how this feature is affected>

<feature name 2> <description of how this feature is affected>

5.3 Affected System Functions

Table 6 lists functions affected by the <feature name> feature.

Table 6 Affected System Functions

Function Description
<function name 1> <description of how this function is affected>
<function name 2> <description of how this function is affected>

6 Performance
This section describes performance indicators, counters, and events associated with the
<feature name> feature.
6.1 KPIs
Table 7 lists the main Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) associated with the <feature
name> feature.

Table 7 KPIs
KPI Description
<KPI 1> <brief description>
<KPI 2> <brief description>

6.2 Counters
Table 8 lists the counters associated with the 256-QAM Downlink feature.

Table 8 Counters
Counter
pmMacHarqDlAck256qam
pmMacHarqDlNAck256qam
pmMacHarqDlDtx256qam
pmRadioHomUeRepCqiDistr
pmRadioHomUeRepCqi2Distr
pmRadioHomUeRepRankDistr
pmUeCategoryDistr
Description
The total number of successful HARQ transmissions in the DL direction
using a 256QAM modulation.
The total number of unsuccessful HARQ transmissions in the DL
direction using a 256QAM modulation.
The total number of occasions when DL HARQ feedback for a transport
block using 256QAM modulation was not received from a UE, and DTX
is considered the reason.
The reported CQI value from UEs in higher order modulation (HOM)
mode (which supports 256 QAM) in a distribution.PDF ranges:[0]: CQI
= 0[1]: CQI = 1[2]: CQI = 2[3]: CQI = 3[4]: CQI = 4[5]: CQI = 5[6]:
CQI = 6[7]: CQI = 7[8]: CQI = 8[9]: CQI = 9[10]: CQI = 10[11]: CQI
= 11[12]: CQI = 12[13]: CQI = 13[14]: CQI = 14[15]: CQI = 15
The reported CQI values related to rank 2 transmissions from UEs in
higher order modulation (HOM) mode (which supports 256 QAM) in a
distribution.PDF ranges:[0]: CQI = 0[1]: CQI = 1[2]: CQI = 2[3]: CQI
= 3[4]: CQI = 4[5]: CQI = 5[6]: CQI = 6[7]: CQI = 7[8]: CQI = 8[9]:
CQI = 9[10]: CQI = 10[11]: CQI = 11[12]: CQI = 12[13]: CQI =
13[14]: CQI = 14[15]: CQI = 15
The reported rank distribution indicates the rank of UEs that are in a
Open and Closed Loop Spatial Multiplexing mode (where rank is
reported), and are also in higher order modulation (HOM) mode which
supports 256 QAM.PDF ranges:[0]: Rank = 1[1]: Rank = 2[2]: Rank =
3[3]: Rank = 4
A distribution of the UE capability parameter UeCategory for established
UE contexts.PDF ranges:[0]: ueCategory = 1[1]: ueCategory = 2[2]:
ueCategory = 3[3]: ueCategory = 4[4]: ueCategory = 5[5]:
ueCategory = 6[6]: ueCategory = 7[7]: ueCategory = 8[8]:
ueCategory = 9[9]: ueCategory = 10[10]: ueCategory = 11[11]:
ueCategory = 12

More information about counters can be found in Managed Object Model (MOM).

6.3 Events
Table 9 lists the events associated with the 256-QAM Downlink feature.
Table 9 Events
Event Event Parameter Description
<event 1> <event parameter 1> <Brief description>
<event 2> <event parameter 2> <Brief description>

More information about events can be found in PM Event List (DU-based node) or Lists
(Baseband-based node).

7 O&M Information
This section provides Operation and Maintenance (O&M) information for the <feature
name> feature.

7.1 Activate and Deactivate Feature

Activating the feature requires that the corresponding license is installed. When the license
is installed, an MO instance Dl256Qam is automatically created.

Table 10 Feature MO Instance

Node type MO instance
DU-based node MO instance is OptionalFeatureLicense=
Dl256Qam
Baseband-based node MO instance is FeatureState= Dl256Qam

Feature activation and deactivation are described in Manage Licenses.