(Initial) Cell Selection Process

There exist two cell selection procedures:

Initial Cell Selection

The UE has to find a suitable cell of the PLMN, which was selected by the NAS.
To do so, the mobile phone scans all radio frequency carriers of UTRA. Hereby,
the UE focuses its cell search to the strongest cell on each carriers. As soon as
the mobile phone has found a suitable cell, it selects it. In contrast to the cell
selection procedure stored information cell selection, this procedure does not
require knowledge in advance, which of the scanned radio frequency bands holds
UTRA carriers.
Stored Information Cell Selection
To speed up the cell selection process for instance, when the UE is switched on
again information about UTRA carriers, even cell parameters such as cell
scrambling codes can be stored in the UE. The UE uses this information to find a
suitable cell of the PLMN, which was selected by the NAS. If the cell selection
based on stored information in the UE fails e.g. the selected PLMN cannot be
found the UE continues the cell selection process based on the Initial Cell
Selection procedure.

Both for Initial Cell Selection and Stored Information Cell Selection, a cell is only
suitable for the UE to camp on, if it fulfils the cell selection criterion S:
Srxlev > 0 AND Squal > 0 in the FDD mode
 (Initial) Cell Selection Process
Which cells are suitable for (initial) cell selection and reselection, so that the UE can
camp on them?
This is determined by the UE based on the cell selection criterion S. It is fulfilled,
when
Srxlev > 0 AND Squal > 0 in the FDD mode, and
Squal delivers the cell Selection quality value (dB). The UE determines it according to
this formulary:
Squal = Qqualmeas Qqualmin
The UE measures the received signal quality Qqualmeas of the cell. It is based on
CPICH Ec/N0 (dB) for FDD cells. (CPICH Ec/N0 is averaged.) The operator
determines for each cell the minimum required received level Qqualmin (dB) at the
UE. This value is the broadcasted. Its integer value can range between 24 and 0
dB. A cell is not suitable for cell selection and re-selection, if the measured received
signal quality level is below Qqualmin.
Srxlev stands for the cell selection receive level value (dB). The UE determines it this
way:
Srxlev = Qrxlevmeas - Qrxlevmin Pcompensation
Qrxlevmeas is the cell RX level measured by the UE, based on the CPICH RSCP for
FDD cells (dBm), and the averaged received signal level for GSM cells (dBm). (All
values get averaged!) The operator sets the value Qrxlevmin as minimum required
RX level in the cell (dBm), which is made known to the UE by the BCCH. Its integer
value can range between 115 dBm and 25 dBm (2 dB step size).
 (Initial) Cell Selection Process

If the UE determines the cells RX level value Qrxlevmeas and Qrxlevmin calculated the
Srxlev accordingly, it may have good RX level which means, that a good DL
connection can be established. But the UEs own output power capability has to
be taken under consideration. This is done with

Pcompensation = max(UE_TXPWR_MAX_RACH P_MAX, 0) (dB)

In order to access a cell, the UE has to use the common channel PRACH. The
operator determines the maximum cell radius by limiting the maximum TX power
level, a UE can use on the PRACH. This is the UE_TXPWR_MAX_RACH (dBm).
UE_TXPWR_MAX_RACH can range according to the specifications - between
50 dBm and 33 dBm.
On the other hand, there is the UEs maximum RF output power, given by P_MAX
(dBm).

Maximum UE transmission power on PRACH = 21 dBm

 Cell Selection Criterion S (in the FDD mode)

Qqualmeas (dB)
(CPICH Ec/N0) S-Criterion
Squal > 0
fulfiled
Squal >0 AND
Srxlev > 0
Qqualmin
(24...0)

suitable
cell?
Qrxlevmin Qrxlevmeas (dBm)
(115...25) CPICH RSCP
Pcompensation

Qrxlevmin = 115 dBm Srxlev > 0

Qqualmin = - 18 dB
 Cell Selection When Leaving the RRC Connected Mode
The subscriber just has terminated a call, i.e. the UE was in the RRC connected
mode, dropping back into the RRC idle mode. Which cell is then a candidate cell
for the UE to camp on?
Candidate cells are the ones, the UE was connected immediately before call
termination. But these cells must be suitable cells. If non of these cells is suitable
or fulfils the criterion S - , the UE starts the Stored Information Cell Selection
procedure.
There is a difference, when the UE returns to the RRC idle mode after an
emergency call on any PLMN. Here, candidate cells to be selected to camp on are
cells, to which the UE was connected to immediately before it terminated the
emergency calls. These cells have to be only acceptable cells. But if non of these
cells is acceptable, the UE has to start look for acceptable cells, while it is in the
internal state Any cell selection.
Cell Reselection: Measurement Rules with no HCS
Squal + Squal + Squal +
Ssearch_RAT Sintersearch Sintrasearch

Intra- No need to
frequency
Intra-frequency Intra- measure
Inter-
Inter-frequency frequency neighbour
freqency
Inter-RAT cells

Sintrasearch = 10dB
Sintersearch = 8dB Where to perform
Ssearch_RAT = 4dB measurements

serving cell
 Cell Reselection procedure

There are 3 main parameters which control the Intra-frequency Cell

Reselection:
1. Cell reselection triggering time (WCEL): Treselection (default value = 2 sec)
2. Cell reselection hysteresis 2 (WCEL): Qhyst2 (default value = 2dB)
3. Cell Re-selection Quality Offset 2 (ADJS): AdjsQoffset2 (default value = 0dB)

The cell reselection applies when the measured Ec/No of the SC in active
set is greater or equal to Squal Sintrasearch = -18 + 10 = -8 dB
The UE starts measuring the neighbors cell and it will reselect to another
cell if:
(Ec/No+ AdjsQoffset2)other > (Ec/No + Qhyst2)own
for at least Treselection (2 sec)
as long as (Ec/No)other > AdjsQqualMin (-18 dB)