2G/3G/LTE Network Integrated Planning and Optimization to ensure Optimal Migration, Network Utilization and Subscriber Quality of Experience

The evolution of wireless technology and support for ultra broadband mobile applications has a tremendous impact on wireless networks. Specifically, the commercial deployment of 4G LTE will drive the transmission capacity of cell sites more than 100 times that typically used for 2G. In order to fully benefit from the high capacity of LTE, backhaul transmission needs to change. Ethernet over fiber or microwave seems to be the choice, but it may not be available or suitable in all environments. In addition, 2G and 3G will coexist with LTE, which requires an all IP based transport. With increased market competition, deregulation, and the services brought on by mobile broadband using evolving technology, the key to business success is guaranteeing high Quality of Experience (QoE) for subscribers with minimal investment. This begs the question of how backhaul and core networks can be optimally planned, designed and used in coexistence 2G/3G/LTE environment. Some key capabilities and use cases supported by OnePlan Mobile are: LTE Introduction and Migration: In starting from a limited market introduction of LTE, there are numerous trajectories that can be taken to migrate to a fully converged network as depicted below:

Some key areas addressed by OnePlan Mobile for LTE include: o Selective market introduction of LTE in Greenfield and 2G/3G coexistence network environments. This covers the dimensioning of EUTRAN and EPC nodes and interfaces as well as impact analysis of 3G Packet Core with LTE adoption. Selective upgrade to 3GPP Release 8 to achieve operational simplicity and network efficiencies includes node upgrade strategy analysis, additional interface dimensioning and recommendations of when and how to upgrade and the resulting impact. 3GPP Release 8 control and bearer separation for 3G traffic. For example, direct tunnel capacity planning and S12 interface sizing. OnePlan Mobile also enables sensitivity analysis of node consolidation (e.g., SGW and PGW, MME and SGSN). Identification and impact of 2G/3G Packet Core node decommissioning opportunities.

Key Challenges in Planning Coexistent 2G/3G/LTE RAN and Core Network

In an ever increasingly competitive landscape for wireless carriers, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and planners are asking the following critical questions today: What are my migration options for LTE? Without affecting my existing service, what is my lowest cost migration route to a converged LTE network? How can I effectively deploy LTE and use common backhaul and Evolved Packet Core (EPC) nodes optimally in coexistence with 2G/3G/LTE environments? How do I proactively analyze, plan and manage my evolving network based on subscriber/device/service uptake where are my capacity bottlenecks and how sensitive are they to which parameters? What is the state of my network, specifically when and where will network resource shortages cause congestion and impact subscriber QoE? How can I optimally use my existing network resources before new buildout and so defer Capital Expenditure (CapEx)?

Integrated Planning of RAN/EUTRAN and EPC in a Coexistent 2G/3G/LTE Network: OnePlan Mobile supports integrated backhaul and core network capacity planning supporting 2G/3G/LTE from both a strategic and tactical point of view. It includes: o Demand driven capacity planning using intelligent service demand modeling, based on device type (EPS terminal), customer forecast and service demand. Integrated multidomain (RAN, Voice Core, Packet Core in 2G/3G), EUTRAN and EPC and multilayer infrastructure (Mobile, IP Core, Transport Core) planning including congestion prediction for network resources used across network elements

OnePlan Mobile Enabling 2G/3G/LTE Capacity Planning, Migration and Optimization

OnePlan Mobile is an OSS level software product focused on capacity analytics, planning and optimization of the fixed mobile network including Backhaul and Core infrastructures supporting 2G, 3G and LTE technologies.

VPIsystems 2012

(nodeB/eNodeB, BSC/RNC, SGSN, GGSN, MME, SGW/PGW). In addition, the capacity analysis of underlying layers, Backhaul and IP core can be done based on the resulting traffic/resource demand from the RAN/EUTRAN and EPC domains. Similarly, the capacity planning at the Transport layer can be achieved based on traffic load demand in the immediate upper backhaul and core IP layer. Whatif scenarios (e.g. variation of subscriber or service uptake, migrating 3G demand to LTE, and impact of 2G/3G RAN rehoming activities) and network resource optimization can be easily achieved using OnePlan Mobile. For example, the impact on the 3G and LTE networks of the growing use of LTE devices in a 3G only access market can be analyzed in all domains and layers e.g. the load contribution in Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and interfaces of LTE devices on the SGSN serving this market

Network Optimization: Network congestion can occur in the network due to network resource exhaustion or unbalanced network load. In the case of unbalanced network load, rehoming mechanism, i.e. moving a set of network resources from current homed parent node to a new potential parent node shall enable load balance and optimization in the network. The movement from source parent node to a destination parent depends on many factors (e.g. minimum distance, handover ratio). Some of the 3G rehoming analysis scenarios include: o o Moving a set of Node Bs from a current homed RNC to a new destination RNC Moving a set of RNCs to a new destination SGSN from the current SGSN

Endtoend Visualization of the Network: OnePlan provides GIS based endtoend visualization; network wide or by specific market, domains (RAN/Access and EPC) and layers (Backhaul, IP Core and Transmission Network at layer 1). The GIS visualization includes physical locations of NodeB/eNodeB as well as Central Office locations with installed equipment like RNC/BSC, MGW, SGSN and GGSN, MME, SGW/PGW and underlying IP and transport network elements.

The true value of this methodology is the proactive analysis prior to performing new rehome configuration physically, enabling network planner/managers to analyze and visualize network changes before theyre made.

Faster and Optimal Integrated Mobile RAN and Core Network Planning with Significant Savings in CAPEX and OPEX
With a single, collaborative environment, OnePlan Mobile simplifies and enables network capacity planning, migration analysis and optimization in an evolving mobile network. The potential issues and bottlenecks are identified in advance for proactive network management. Proactive network planning significantly reduces service activation delays and failures and enables effective service migration. In summary, VPIsystems OnePlan Mobile solution enables MNOs to significantly reduce spending without compromising a rich Quality of Experience for their customers.

The user can visualize the various KPIs of different network elements including their current utilization values and also future congestion in the network in different planning intervals based on forecasted service demand. The estimation of predicted KPI values is determined based on the simulation of entire network using intelligent service demand model. Congestion Analysis and Prediction: Based on existing network topology and traffic demand, various KPIs for the network elements and interfaces in the RAN/EUTRAN and EPC are computed in order to assess where and when resource shortages will happen. For each interface, the key KPI is the link utilization, which is computed by taking into consideration the aggregate forecasted traffic demand over the link and its capacity.

VPIsystems 2012