FAJ 121 489, Software Power Boost

Feature identity: FAJ 121 489, R1, Rev. A This feature has replaced: FAJ 122 594 Software Power Boost for RBS2000 macro; FAJ 122 524 Downlink diversity for Micro RBS Commercial attention: Software Power Boost is supported on all RBS 2000. For RBS 2102/2202 and RBS 2101 CDU-A is required. For RBS 2106/2206 CDU-G in uncombined mode is required. Software Power Boost can not be combined with FAJ 122 078 Transmitter Coherent Combining (TCC). It is not recommended to use Software Power Boost together with LMU based positioning methods, for example E-OTD, since positioning accuracy is affected.

Summary
Software Power Boost enhances the coverage area of base stations, making it possible to achieve larger coverage compared to normal base stations. This is valuable for new operators who strive for fast and easily built coverage. An increased coverage area can also be useful in regions where the capacity load is limited for the foreseeable future.

Benefits
The main benefit with Software Power Boost is increased coverage on RBS sites where it is deployed. Increased coverage has a number of advantageous effects: Cost savings as fewer RBS sites are needed to cover a certain areas. Shorter time to launch a network because fewer sites are needed. Better indoor coverage. Improved network quality since coverage gaps can be handled from existing sites.

The feature also allows easy reconfiguration between the coverage enhancing software power boost mode and normal operation, which enables quick adaptation to changing coverage/capacity requirements in a network.

Description
With Software Power Boost (or Tx Delay Diversity as it is also known) the transceivers are used in "pairs", that is two normal transceivers transmit the same data on the same frequency. A small time delay is inserted between the transceivers, which causes a diversity effect in the terminal, since it receives two independently faded radio signals thus improving the received signal quality. This is possible since the equalizer in the handset receiver is specified to handle a wide time delay spread. The feature gives a downlink diversity gain of around 3 dB depending upon the surrounding environment. In a flat environment this can correspond to a 20-30 % decrease in number of sites required to achieve ubiquitous coverage. This is directly translated into reduced cost since a large part of the radio network cost is tied to the number of sites. Increased coverage of RBS sites is also beneficial when rolling out a new network or covering new areas since services can be launched with fewer sites, leading to earlier network launch. Software Power Boost is also of interest for live networks. For example, coverage gaps can be bridged using only existing sites. Thus a cause for high drop-call rates and/or poor indoor coverage can be avoided without additional sites. By combining Software Power Boost with FAJ 122 430 Dynamic Overlaid/Underlaid Subcells it is possible to increase capacity without sacrificing the coverage enhancements provided by Software Power Boost. This is possible since with Dynamic OL/UL Subcells the cell is split into two subcells, where the underlaid subcell operates in Software Power Boost mode while the overlaid subcell uses normal mode. Extra capacity is thereby efficiently added by transceivers allocated to the overlaid subcell. In normal operation two transceivers corresponds to two carriers but in Software Power Boost mode capacity is reduced to one carrier. Reconfiguration of the RBS 2000 mode of operation between normal operation and Software Power Boost mode can be done from the BSC and does not require additional site visits. It is therefore possible to quickly adapt the radio network to changing coverage and capacity requirements. Software Power Boost is supported on all RBS 2000. For RBS 2102/2202 and RBS 2101 CDU-A is required, and for RBS 2106/2206 CDU-G in uncombined mode is required. Software Power Boost can not be used together with the feature FAJ 122 078 Transmitter Coherent Combining (TCC) simultaneously in the same cell/sector or subcell. It is not recommended to use Software Power Boost together with LMU based positioning methods, for example E-OTD. When Software Power Boost is used, the same signal is sent twice with a slight delay and the LMU will not know which signal is the correct one, which leads to decreased positioning accuracy.