Coverage Planning Cell Range

LTE RPESS
Coverage Planning - Cell Range

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Coverage Planning Cell Range

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Coverage Planning Cell Range

Module Objectives
After completing this module, the participant should be able to:

Understand the main propagation models

Calculate the cell range
Compare the cell range of LTE with other technologies

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Coverage Planning Cell Range

Coverage Dimensioning
Propagation Models/ Cell Range Calculation
Coverage Calculation
Comparison: LTE vs. other technologies

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Coverage Planning Cell Range

Propagation Models
Empirical
An equation based on extensive empirical measurements is created. Those
models can be used only in the environments similar to the examined one.
The small changes in the environment characteristic can cause enormous
errors in the prediction of wave propagation.

Semi-empirical
Combination of empirical and
deterministic models (e.g. empirical
COST Hata can be combined with the
theoretical knife edge model).

Deterministic
Wave propagation is described by means of rays travelling between transmitted and
receiving antenna and coming in to reflections, scattering, diffractions, etc . Those
methods, generally based on ray optical techniques, give a very accurate description
of the wave propagation but require a large computation time.

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Coverage Planning Cell Range

Propagation Models used in NSN tools

The most commonly used statistical model

Walfish-Ikegami
Statistical model especially for urban environments

Juul-Nyholm
Same kind of a prediction tool as Hata, but with
different equation for predictions beyond radio
horizon (~20km)

Deterministic prediction tool for

microcellular environments

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Deterministic

Ray-tracing

Statistical to be tuned!

Okumura-Hata

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Coverage Planning Cell Range

Propagation Models Okumura-Hata & COST Hata model

In order to fit the Okumura-Hata model into the operation frequencies of 3G, some
additional measurements and adjustments were done in the framework of European
Cooperation in the Field of Scientific & Technical Research (COST)
The validity range for the extended model:

Frequency f: 150 MHz 2000 MHz

Distance R:

1-20 km

BS height hBS: 10-200m

MS height hMS: 1-10m

The correction factor c present in the model depends on area type

area type

2
+ 5 . 4 for suburban areas
Correction
2 log 10
=
28
Factor
4 . 78 log 2 ( f ) 18 . 33 log ( f ) + 44 . 94 for rural areas
10
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dense urban areas

correction
factor [dB]
-3

city center areas

suburban areas
rural areas

12,27
32,52

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Propagation Models Okumura-Hata & COST Hata model

L = A + B log10 (f) - 13.82 log10 (h BS ) - a(h MS ) + [44.9 - 6.55 log10 (h BS )] log(R)

+ CorrectionFactor + MorphoCorrection

R = .............
69.99 150 MHz < f < 1500 MHz
A =

46.30 1500 MHz < f < 2000 MHz

26.16 150 MHz < f 1500 MHz

B =

33.90 1500 MHz < f < 2000 MHz

a(h

MS

) = [1,1 log

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10

(f) - 0,7] h MS - [1.56 log

10

( f ) 0 .8 ]

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Propagation Models Walfish-Ikegami

Model for urban macrocellular propagation
Antenna close to roof-top level
Assumes regular city layout (Manhattan grid)
Total path loss consists of two parts:
LOS

NLOS

line-of-sight loss

roof-to-street diffraction and scatter loss

mobile environment losses

h
w
b
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Propagation Models COST Walfish-Ikegami model

This semi empirical model is the special adaptation of Walfish-Bertoni model,
prepared especially for the typical antennas placement in 3G (below the roof top).
The validity range:
Frequency: 800 MHz- 2000 MHz
BS height: 4 50 m (above roof-top)
MS height: 1 3 m
Distance: 0.02 5 km

Path loss with LOS between MS & BS

LLOS = 42.6 + 20log10 ( f ) + 26log10 (R)

R = .......... ...
LOS: Line-off-sight
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Coverage Planning Cell Range

Propagation Models Walfish-Ikegami

Line-of-sight path (LOS)
Use free space propagation
Applicable for microwave & satellite links
Non-line-of-sight path (NLOS)
Heavy diffraction, refraction situations
Great uncertainties in modeling
COST Walfish-Ikegami model includes model for NLOS prediction
Use ray-tracing models
Needs detailed building databases (vectorial information)

Manhattan grid
model

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Coverage Planning Cell Range

Propagation Models COST Walfish-Ikegami model

Path loss without LOS between MS & BS

L0 + L1 + L2 ,

LNLOS =
L ,
0

L1 + L2 > 0

L0: free space propagation

L1: multi screen diffraction loss
L2: roof top to street diffraction &
scatter loss

L1 + L2 0

L0 = 32.44 + 20log10 ( f ) + 20log10 (d )

10 + 0.354 ,

L2 = 16.9 10 log10 ( w) + 10 log10 ( f ) + 20 log10 (h hMS ) + 2.5 + 0.075 ,

w: Mean street width: [m]

b: Mean building spacing [m]
4.0 0.114 ,
h: Mean building height [m]
: Mean angle between propagation path & street []

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Coverage Planning Cell Range

Propagation Models COST Walfish-Ikegami model

Path loss without LOS between MS & BS (continue)

L1 = L11 + ka + kd lg(d ) + k f lg( f ) 9 lg(b)

18lg(1 + hBS h),
L11 =
0,

hBS > h

54,

ka = 54 0.8 (hBS h),

54 0.8 (hBS h) d
,
0.5

18,

kd =
hBS h
18 15 h ,

hBS > h

( )

4 + 0.7 f
9251,

kf =

4 + 0.7 f
1,
925

hBS h

hBS h
hBS h

and
and

d > 0.5

d 0.5

hBS > h

hBS h

Medium sized cities and suburban centres

Metropolitan centres

Mean building spacing: b [m]

Mean building height: h [m]

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Coverage Planning Cell Range

Propagation Models Microcell

Ray tracing

Ray
launching

Rx
Tx

Tx

Very accurate methods, but due to the complexity of the algorithms computer
power consuming.
Digital maps with a high accuracy are required.
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Coverage Planning Cell Range

Link Budget
Propagation Model: Modified Cost231-Hata (1/2)

h
h
f
d
L = A + B log
13 .82 log BS a MS + s log
+ Lclutter
MHz
km
m
m
Frequency

150-1500 MHz

69.55

26.16

1500-2000MHz

46.3

33.9

Clutter correction
Term Lclutter

L clutter

3
0

= 2 lg 28 + 5 . 4

4 . 78 [lg ( f )]2 18 . 33 log ( f

2
4 . 78 [lg ( f )] 18 . 33 log ( f

(
(

DU
U
SU

)+
)+

)
35 . 94 )
40 . 94

RURAL
ROAD

UE Height Correction Factors a(hMS)

3.2[lg(11. 75h MS )] 2 4.97

DU, U
a ( h MS ) =
[
1
.
1
lg(
f
)

0
.
7
]
h

[
1
.
56
lg(
f
)

0
.
8
]
SU
MS

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Cost 231 model is an extension of the Okumura-Hata model to frequencies up to

2000 MHz while the Hata model is specified for ranges up to 1500 MHz (150 1500
MHz
Comments regarding the equation and the corrections:
The slope of the radio wave attenuation as a function of distance is called radio
propagation slope and this parameter has a strong impact on the maximum distance
between the BTS and the MS.
The propagation slope depends heavily on the propagation environment and also on
the antenna height
The slope may be changed using the s factor. Please also note that there are 2
slopes for d< 1km
The first 2 terms are independent on the distance and they add some frequency
corrections (A and B)
The city type environment affects the correction which is based on the mobile height
(e.g. 1.5 m could not be accurate if the UE is placed in one building)
a(hMS) factor is used for this correction
a(hBS) factor is used for the BS antenna height correction. It is known that the OH
model is suitable in cells that have the antennae well above the roof-top. If the
antenna is close to the roof-tops then the correction factor is needed

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Coverage Planning Cell Range

Link Budget
Propagation Model: Modified Cost231-Hata (2/2)
Slopes: 1 or 2 slopes model

1 slope for d 1km & 2 slopes for d < 1km

2 slope is an extension of 1 slope model for d < 1km
If cell range > 1 km results are the same for 1 slope & 2 slope
models ( same formula used)

If cell range < 1 km then 2-slope model provides better results

Recommended: 2 slopes model for all clutter types

44 . 9 6 . 55 log

s =
47 . 88 + 13 . 9

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h BS

,
m
f

log
MHz

d 1km
1

13 . 82 log BS

m log50

d < 1km

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Cost 231 model is an extension of the Okumura-Hata model to frequencies up to

2000 MHz while the Hata model is specified for ranges up to 1500 MHz (150 1500
MHz
Comments regarding the equation and the corrections:
The slope of the radio wave attenuation as a function of distance is called radio
propagation slope and this parameter has a strong impact on the maximum distance
between the BTS and the MS.
The propagation slope depends heavily on the propagation environment and also on
the antenna height
The slope may be changed using the s factor. Please also note that there are 2
slopes for d< 1km
The first 2 terms are independent on the distance and they add some frequency
corrections (A and B)
The city type environment affects the correction which is based on the mobile height
(e.g. 1.5 m could not be accurate if the UE is placed in one building)
a(hMS) factor is used for this correction
a(hBS) factor is used for the BS antenna height correction. It is known that the OH
model is suitable in cells that have the antennae well above the roof-top. If the
antenna is close to the roof-tops then the correction factor is needed

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Coverage Planning Cell Range

Coverage Dimensioning
Propagation Models/ Cell Range Calculation
Coverage Calculation
Comparison: LTE vs. other technologies

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Coverage Planning Cell Range

Coverage Area Coverage Area in Dimensioning

After cell radius has been determined, cell area can be calculated
When calculating cell area, traditional hexagonal model is taken into account

Omni- or
6-sectored Site

A = 2,6 R21

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Tri-sector

Bi-sector

A = 1,73

2
R2

A = 1,95 R23

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Please note that for one hexagon the radius R is equal to the site length !!

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Coverage Planning Cell Range

Coverage Area Hexagons vs. Cells

Three hexagons

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Three cells

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Coverage Planning Cell Range

Coverage Dimensioning
Propagation Models/ Cell Range Calculation
Coverage Calculation
Comparison: LTE vs. other technologies

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Coverage Planning Cell Range

Comparison: LTE vs. other technologies --- Assumptions

WCDMA2100

LTE2600

Bandwidth 10 MHz
Frame Type 1 (FDD), Normal CP
Enhanced Pedestrian A 5Hz
Equipment parameters:

Tx Power:
Antenna Gain:
Feeder Loss:
Noise Figure:
PC card:

eNB 2x20W / UE 23 dBm

eNB 18 dBi / UE 0 dBi
DL 2 dB
/ UL 0 dB (TMA)
eNB 2 dB / UE 7 dB
0 dB body loss

Other features

DL channel aware scheduling

eNB:
2TX / 4RX (MRC)
UE:
1TX / 2RX (MRC)

Throughput requirement

DL 1024 kbps / UL 64 kbps

Given Propagation
Cost 231 Hata
Antenna height: 30m
MS height:
1.5m

Tx Power:
Antenna Gain:
Feeder Loss:
Noise Figure:
PC card:

NB 2x10W / UE 23 dBm
BTS 18 dBi / UE 0 dBi
DL 2 dB
/ UL 0 dB (TMA)
eNB 2 dB / UE 7 dB
0 dB body loss

GSM1800

TRX type Flexi DTRX

Combiner type 1DDU
TU3
Equipment parameters:
Tx Power:
BTS 60W / MS 28 dBm
Antenna Gain:
BTS 18 dBi / MS 0 dBi
Feeder Loss:
DL 2 dB
/ UL 0 dB (TMA)
Noise Figure:
eNB 2 dB / UE 7 dB
Handset
3 dB body loss

Urban clutter type

Penetration loss: 15dB
Std. dev.:
8dB
Cell coverage prob.:

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Parameters according to RAS06

CS64 service
VehA
Equipment parameters:

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Coverage Planning Cell Range

Comparison: LTE vs. other technologies

DL coverage (MAPL)

LTE2600 WCDMA2100 GSM1800

UL coverage (MAPL)

GSM1800 WCDMA2100 LTE2600

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MAPLs are better for LTE than for other technologies. However, cell ranges are
smaller due to the offset between technologies carriers. Still this is true ONLY in the
case lower bit rates are used. If requested cell edge throughput gets higher (e.g.
512kbps) the tendency is not longer kept and LTE provides better cell ranges than
3G. LTE is designed to support high data bitrates and therefore its coverage
capabilities for such kind of services outstands other technologies.
GSM - 1800
TRX type Flexi DTRX
Combiner type 1DDU
TU3
Equipment parameters:

Tx Power:
Antenna Gain:
Feeder Loss:
Noise Figure:
Handset

BTS 60W / MS 28 dBm

BTS 18 dBi / MS 0 dBi
DL 2 dB
/ UL 0 dB (TMA)
eNB 2 dB / UE 7 dB
3 dB body loss

Antenna height:
MS height:

30m
1.5m

Propagation:
Cost 231 Hata

Urban clutter type

Penetration loss:
15dB
Std. dev.:
8dB
Cell coverage prob.: 94%

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Comparison: LTE vs. other technologies

LTE 2.6 GHz can be successfully deployed on:
RAS06 2.1 GHz grid (designed for CS64 service at the cell-edge)
GSM 1.8 GHz grid (designed for voice service at the cell-edge)
LTE deployment on existing grid should allow to achieve:
1024 kbps in DL & 64 kbps in UL at the cell-edge
LTE has an additional potential for improvement:
UL limitation can be reduced by features such as:
TTI bundling
enhanced frequency-selective scheduling
interference rejection/cancellation
enhanced/optimized power control

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