ABSTRACT

The report will be consisting of mainly three parts

The first part will be about The Company, where the history of the company and the
company organization chart are described including different services which are provided by
the company.

The safety regulations, job descriptions of the workers, recruitment and training policies will
also be explained in this part.

The second part will be about the process, where 3G installation devices on BTS are
explained in details.

The third part will be Conclusion which comprises of the challenges I faced during my
Practical Training and recommendations

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following for their kindly support and advice during
my practical training:

The University of Dar-es-salaam for giving me the opportunity to put into practice what I
learnt in lectures.

Mr. Julius Mwinula for accepting my request to have a practical training at the company

My supervisors Mr Amali Juma and Mr Davis Minja for all the knowledge and assistance
during the practical training.

Mr. Godwin mruma who assessed me while I was in the Practical Training and assisted me on
how and what to write in my report.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT.............................................................................................................................................................1.
AKNOWLEDGEMENT..................................................................................................2
TABLE OF CONTENTS.3
1. THE COMPANY .....4
1.1 COMPANY HISTORY.4
1.2 .SERVICE OFFERED BY AIRTEL.................................................................................................................4
1.8 ORGANISATION STRUCTURE ...5
1.5 JOB DESCRIPTION .........................................................................................................................................6
1.6 SAFETY REGULATIONS OF COMPANY.....................................................................................................7
1.3. RECRUIMENT POLICIES.................................................................................................................................8
2 THE PROCESS..........................................................................................................................................................9
2.1.03G INSTALLATION AND ITS CHALLENGES 9
2.1.1. INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................................9
2.1.2. SAFETY INSTRUCTION AND PRECAUTION DURRING WORKNG AT SITE (BTS):..9-12
2.1.3. 3G SURVEY..................................................................................................................................................12
2.1.4. 3G INSTALLATION PROCESS................................................................................................................13
2.1.5 DEVICES ON THE GROUND...............................................................................................13-16
2.1.6DEVICES AT THE POLE ......................................................................................................................16-19
2.1.7 SCHEMATIC ILLUSTRATION OF THE PROCESS..............................................................................20
2.1.8 BASE STATION CONTROL(BSC).............................................................................................................21
2.1.9 ADVANTAGES OF 3G .................................................................................................................................21
2.2.0 CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED DURING PRACTICAL TRAINING..............................................22
2.2.1 RECOMMENDED SOLUTION.............................................................................................................22-23
2.2.2 CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................................23
2.2.3 REFERENCE................................................................................................................................................24

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1.0 THE COMPANY

1.1 COMPANY HISTORY

Airtel Tanzania was launched in October 2001 as Celtel Tanzania Company Limited and is part of
Airtel Group. It is Tanzanias most innovative mobile phone operator and has introduced many
firsts in the telecommunication sector. It is situated at Airtel Center, along Ali Hassan Mwinyi road,
Morocco, Dare es Salaam. Airtel began life in 1983 in Kuwait as the regions first mobile operator,
today it is the leading mobile data and voice service provider with licenses in seven Middle East and
fifteen African countries. Earlier in Africa it was called Celtel, then Zain and now Airtel.
In Middle East it operates in Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain, Sudan, and Iraq and in Lebanon it operates as
MTC touch. In Africa it operates in Burkina Faso, Chad, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger,
Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Democratic Republic of Congo. It is now
leading mobile operating company in coverage-wise. Currently Airtel has coverage in twenty three
regions namely, Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Kagera, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Lindi,
Manyara, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Pemba, Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvu, Shinyanga,
Singida, Tabora, Tanga and Zanzibar.
1.2 SERVICES OFFERED BY AIRTEL
GPRS Services Internet, Wap and MMS
Me2U
Mobile Top up
SMS information services
Prepaid plans
Postpaid plans
International roaming
Local and international text messages
24-hour customer care center
they also offer value added services that come as a standard package on the network

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1.3 ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE COMPANY

Fig. 1-1 organizational chart

Fig. 1-2 IT and Billing Organization Structure

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1.4 JOB DESCRIPTION

Airtel Tanzania Company holds various departments and each department are assigned to different
tasks accordingly.
By considering the function or job title of BSS/Power Engineer as it is under the department of IT
and Billing which I was working for during my program;

Work performed
The following works are performed by BSS/power Engineer
Provision of first line maintenance on the MSC/BSC/BTS and Transmission
Monitor, analyze and clear all faults
Ensure that all faults are documented
Escalation of major failures with reference to the Escalation procedures
Perform defined preventive maintenance schedules and creation of new schedules including
system and billing backups
Ensure all records for the Networks are updated at all times
Interface with external parties i.e. support Office/Vendors/Customers
Handling and follow up trouble reports and problems with both the vendors and the Support
Office
Analyze statistics and submit reports to senior management
analyze any problems and escalates to senior management
Generation of Network Status reports
Investigate complaints from the Customer Care Centre
Carry out all necessary Roaming Tests and assist with problem solving of the same

Skills and Knowledge required

The following skills are mainly required in the section to enable the worker to be competent.
Flexible and able to work under pressure
General knowledge on how to operate a computer for transmission and reception of waves
Knowledge on the GSM network structure and how it operates
Maintenance of any fault occurs which involves BTS ad BSC.

Educational background
The level of education required for any worker in the section in order to be able to perform his/her
duties well is University degree in the following fields: Computer & IT Engineering,
Telecommunication Engineering.

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1.5 SAFETY REGULATION AND GENERAL WELFARE

(a)

Airtel will provide reasonable medical care to employees and their families. An
employee has a responsibility to notify the controlling officer of the illness or injury.

(b)

The company will bear all relevant medical costs as follows:

(i)
Pre-placement and periodical medical examinations.

(c)

(d)

(ii)

Specialist consultation on referral by an approved medical officer.

(iii)

Emergency medical attention.

(iv)

Hospitalization cost.

(v)

When appearing before a Medical Board.

Treatment outside the country will be authorized by the company on being approved
by a Medical Board subject to availability of funds. The entitlement to a class of
hospitalization will be determined by the company approved Medical Officer referring
the patient.
An employee has a responsibility to inform the controlling officer when the employee
and or a member of family falls sick or is injured. The controlling officer/Manager will
issue a sick sheet to enable access to prompt and adequate medical care from the
company approved health care provider or the National Health Service.

(e)

If an employee or a member of family is recommended by an approved medical officer

to be admitted in hospital, the company will meet the medical care costs thereof.
Where grades of admission are available the applicable grade will be grade one and
two for regional Hospitals.

(f)

An employee will be reimbursed for Medicines purchased from registered pharmacies

and or pharmaceutical shops on prescriptions issued by Approved Medical Officers on
production of receipts and prescriptions thereof. The accepted reimbursements are
those only arising from emergency situations whereby the Company health facilities
are not accessible.
It is the company policy to provide social support and counseling services to
employees and their families

(g)
(h)

Airtel will support and promote sports for all as a tool for stress management and
promote both physical fitness and corporate image.

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(i)

An employee on Company sports activities shall be paid a special allowance to meet

food and incidental expenses at a prevailing rate as approved by the management and
review from time to time in addition to Bed and Breakfast

1.6 RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING POLICY

Human resources cover a minimum hiring and termination policy. This includes salary review
process, expenditure approvals, travel policy, staff phone policy, company vehicles and staff leave
process. This is done to maintain good working condition and cooperation among workers at the
company level.
On the other hand training is done either through seminars or coaching from more experienced work
members. In addition to that new employees receive an induction program before they are assigned
duties. Airtel Tanzania Company has a very sound supportive training at company level.

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2 THE PROCESS
2.1. 3G INSTALLATION
2.1.1. INTRODUCTION
It is customary among the cellular telephone manufactures and service provides to classify wireless
telecommunication system into a several generations. The first generation (1G), second generation
(2G), third generation (3G) etc.
The first generation (1G systems are voice oriented analog cellular and cordless telephone, the second
generation (2G) wireless networks are voice oriented digital cellular and includes following
features text, sms, fax 2dmensional. Third generation (3G) networks integrate cellular and PCs voice
services with a variety of packet- switched data services in unified network. 3G network it has a lot
of features compared with 1G and 2G these futures includes phone calls/fax, global roaming,
send/receive large email messages, High speed web. Navigation/maps, video conferencing TV
streaming etc., and each generation was evolved to clear the drawbacks of the previous generation,
2G was evolved to clear the drawbacks of 1G likewise 3G was inverted to clear the limitation of 2G
and 1G.
2G

2.5G

GSM
(TDMA
)

2.75G

GPRS

EDGE

3G

3.G

3.5G

WCDMA

4G
WMAX

HSP
A

HSP
A

Figure 2-1: Evolution of Network generations

2.1.2. SAFETY INSTRUCTION AND PRECAUTION DURRING WORKNG AT SITE (BTS):
High voltage
`

DANGER

High voltage is used in the operation of this equipment .both direct contact
with the mains power and indirect contact via damp item or moisture can
be fatal

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The AC installation must be carried out according to local Regulations. These regulations
may require the work to be carried out by a qualified and authorized electrician.
Remove wrist watches, rings, bracelets, etc.
Switch off the power if the cabinet is damp inside.
Prevent damp entering the equipment during work in bad weather conditions.

DANGER
Improper electrical installation may cause fire or electrical
shock. Approved circuit breakers for the AC mains and the
cables cross sectional areas must always be selected in
accordance with local laws and regulations. Only a qualified and
authorized electrician is permitted to install or modify the
electrical installation.

Cable markings
CAUTION
Verify that the cable markings correspond before connecting Cables.

Faulty electric tools

WARNING
Do not repair a faulty electric tool yourself. Hand it over to your Supervisor in
exchange for a functioning tool.

Drilling
WARNING
Do not drill holes in the Radio Base Station. The drill bit may come into contact with live
wires.

Always use insulated protective gloves, such as the LYB 1032,When drilling where live wires
might be hidden.

Always use eye protectors (goggles) when drilling. Flying chips and dust may get into your
eyes.

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 Thunderstorms

DANGER
Avoid working on electrical installations or towers/masts during thunderstorms.

Thunderstorms create strong electric fields. For that reason, and to avoid direct strokes of
lightning, it is essential that the equipment is properly earthed for thunderstorm conditions.
Electrostatic discharge ESD
CAUTION
Sensitive components such as Integrated Circuits (IC) can be damaged by
discharges of static electricity.

To avoid potentially fatal circuits through the body to earth, wrist strap connections must
include a resistor of at least 1 M .Test the wrist strap regularly.

Figure 2-2: ESD Wrist strap

Working at heights(poles)
WARNING
Some working areas involve the risk of accidents caused by falling objects.

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For example, when working on a mast, tower or a roof, the following precautions must be taken:
Personnel working at heights must have the appropriate training and medical
certificate.
Full body safety harness and safety helmet must be used.
Adequate protective clothing is essential in cold weather.
All lifting devices must be tested and approved.
During work on a mast, all personnel in the area must wear helmets.
Radio frequency radiation
CAUTION
Radio frequency (RF) radiation from antenna systems can endanger your
health.

Co-ordinate with all mast users to switch off the transmitters when working with, or near,
antennas.

2.1.3. 3G SURVEY
-

Before installation of devices for 3G on the BTS, the 3G survey must be conducted, the
exactly aim of this survey is to determine if there is space for installing the devices i.e. to
determine if there is enough ground space to install cannot soured of power for devices and
also if there is poles and at which height antennas are going to be installed; Also.
Is to determine if there is space for installing the devices.
If there is enough space to install cabinets etc.
To determine which location you can take source of power for devices
Which height antenna are going to be installed and also how antenna are going to be
titled electrically and mechanically and at which animus they are going to be placed.
The after the survey is completed surveyor has to present the data obtained in a special
sheet. Then submit it to an engineer who is received for installation.
Then now engineer can use all data from survey for installation

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Site layout diagram

tower layout diagram

Figure 2-3: Some of the Data from survey

2.1.4. 3G INSTALLATION PROCESS

Process of installing 3G devices in the BTS includes two kind of installation. Mechanical
installation and Electrical installation
In all of these installations there are those which involve installation on the ground and on
the pole
2.1.5. DEVICES ON GROUND

CABINET
Here we describe the procedure and precautions for installing the base for a cabinet on a concrete
floor.
The following are steps used in installing the base for the cabinet:
Step 1 Install the base on the correct position on the concrete.

Determine the position to install the cabinet according to the engineering drawing
requirements.
Mark points on the concrete floor.

After drawing the lines between the points, we use a long measuring tape to measure the distance
between the points to ensure that the dimensions are accurate or same.
Step 2 Drill holes at the points marked and install expansion bolt assemblies in the holes.
Step 3 Now place the base on the concrete pad.
Place the base in the determined position on the concrete pad, using the expansion tubes as reference.
Insert the bolts, spring washers, and flat washers.
Finally Lift the cabinet onto the base and align the bolt holes at the bottom of the cabinet with those
on the base

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Figure 2-4: Lifting of cabinet on base

figure 2-5: cabinet

on the top of the base

BASE BAND UNIT (BBU)

The BBU is a baseband processing unit.it provides physical ports for connection to the BSC
and the RRU; it performs centralized management of the entire DBS system in terms of
operation and maintenance (OM) and signaling processing and provide the system clock.

Functions of the BBU:

Provides ports between the BBU and the BSC for data communication.
Provide the CPRI ports for communication with the RRU.
Provide the system clock
Process uplink and downlink data
Manages the entire DBS in terms of OM and signaling processing

Figure 2-6: front view of base band unit (BBU)

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Figure
installed in a

2-7: baseband unit (BBU)

cabinet

BBU CABLE CONNECTION

This describe the BBU cables .the BBU cables are the BBU PGND cable ,BBU power
cable,E1cable,E1 surge protection transfer cable, CPRI optical cable ,inter-CPRI signal
cable ,BBU alarm cable, monitoring signal cable between the APMI and the BBU,FE
cable ,FE surge protection transfer cable for the EMUA and GPS clock signal cable.

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Figure 2-8: BBU cable connection

POWER SUPPLY
This is the source of power which used to power the Base Band Unit (BBU)
It is the -24v or -48v in magnitude.

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Figure 2-9: shows power supply used to power BBU

EARTH BAR
This is the bar which is grounded for the purpose of protection from electrical surge to
the devices .and on this bar all earth cables from the devices are connected there.
2.1.6. DEVICES AT THE POLE
During installation after finishing installation of the devices on the ground next is installation
of the devices at the top of the pole. During this installation devise to be installed has to be carried by
the special rope from the ground to the specified height on the pole

Figure 3-1: special rope used to lift antenna from ground to the pole

RADIO REMOTE UNIT (RRU)

The RRU 3908is an outdoor remote radio unit that processes the baseband signals and the RF
signals of the GSM, and processes the RF signals of the UMTS.
The function of the RRU3908:
The rru3908 provides the CPRI port for data communication with the BBU3900
The RRU3908 supports frequency synthesis
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The RRU3908 supports the generation and recovery of the clock circuitry and alarm
detection on the CPRI port
The RRU3908 supports power control and voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR)
detection.
When working in UMTS mode the RRU3908 directly sends the baseband signal to the
antenna for transmission through the duplexer in the RF front end unit
The RRU3908 consists of the following parts:
High speed interface unit
TRX
Power Amplifier(PA)
Duplexer
Low Noise Amplifier(LNA)

Figure 3-2: logical structure of RRU3908

ANTENNA
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric power into radio waves, and vice
versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver. In transmission, a radio
transmitter supplies an electric current oscillating at radio frequency i.e. a high frequency
alternating current (AC)) to the antenna's terminals, and the antenna radiates the energy from
the current as electromagnetic waves (radio waves). In reception, an antenna intercepts some
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of the power of an electromagnetic wave in order to produce a tiny voltage at its terminals,
that is applied to a receiver to be amplified.

Figure 3-3. Shows RF antenna mounted on top of the pole

MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL TILT OF AN ANTENNA

Mechanical tilt
The mechanical tilt is very easy to be understood: tilting the antenna, through
specific accessories on its bracket, without changing the phase of the input
signal, the diagram (and consequently the signal propagation directions) is
modified
Electrical tilt
And for the electrical tilt, the modification of the diagram is obtained by
changing the characteristics of signal phase of each element of the antenna
Electrical tilt does not involve any physical movement but changes the phases
of the radiation pattern of individual antennas used in sector array antenna.

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Figure 3-4: illustration of antenna tilting

INTERFACE BETWEEN RRU AND ANTENNA

After being installed on the top of the pole both ANTENNA and RRU have to be linked by
the special wire called antenna FEEDER

Figure 3-5: antenna and RRU linked by feeder

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2.1.7. SCHEMATIC ILLUSTRATION OF THE PROCESS.

SECTOR 1
SECTOR 3

SECTOR 2

KEY:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Radio remote unit (RRU)

Interface cable between RRU and antenna (feeder)
Antenna
Power cable (supplying power from BBU to RRU
Fiber optic transmitting signal from BBU
BBU (Base Band unit)
Cabinet
Power supply

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2.1.8. BASE STATION CONTROLLER (BSC)

The BSC controls the major part of the radio network its most important task is to insure
highest possible utilization of the radio resources .The BSC may be implemented on the AXE10
platform or the new AXE810 platform
The main functional areas of the BSC are:

Radio network management

RBS management
Mult band support
TRC handling
Transmission network management
Internal BSC Operation and maintenance
Position services
Handling of MS connections
GMS-UMTS cell reselection and handover

2.1.9. ADVANTAGES OF 3G
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

More bandwidth, security and reliability

Higher data rates
Rich multimedia services
Always online devices
3G technologies enable network operators to offer users a wider range of more advanced
service
6. Services include wide area wireless voice telephony video calls and broadband wireless data
all in a mobile environment.

2.2.0. CHALLENGES ENCOUTERED DURING PRACTICAL TRAINING

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In accomplishing my practical training I definitely came over some problems in my training.

The following are the problems or obstacles I went through in my every day to day work in my
practical training.

The lack of required safety gears in attempting my practical training.

One of the major problems I came through was the unreliability of required tools in my practical
training, during the visiting and working in different sites we were directed to have a special
engineering safety gears, examples was the need to have safety boots, reflector vests and head
helmets which in one way or another sometimes caused problems to some sites we got to visit during
my training.

Transportation issues.

Another problem I encountered was the lack of transport facilities, installations in different sites
requires movement form one place to another, through this movement reliable transportation is also
required in so doing whenever there is no transport this means its a huge problem mostly likely to
occur, I was sometimes forced to move from one area to another with my own means of transport
which led to consuming of time and unexpected increase in transport expenses.

A far allocation from the residence area to the practical training center.

The act of staying very far from my practical training center was somehow a big problem to me, with
the geographical environment of Arusha it took me much time on the road and sometimes also missed
some of my training sections

2.2.1. RECOMMENDED SOLUTIONS.

Students should be able to identify the necessary safety gears to be used during the PT training
and this can be done by the corresponded company to give out hand out to the students
themselves before beginning their training course, this will help the student himself to have
such gears before the training so as to prevent any unexpected problem occurrence.
The companies that we attempt our PT Training should somehow provide transportation
facilities to the student since some places are way too far from the training center were the
training are attempted, this will facilitate the power to work since no one will have to get
destructed by the transportation means before getting to the required place if work.
The college itself should try to allocate the students to training centers that are nearby the
residential areas of a particular student, this should be done to those who get to miss a chance

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to attempt there practical training of their choices, this will help a student to be much
committed to his or her training course at that particular time of his training.
Lastly I suggest that students should contribute in solving different problems at UDSM related
to IT. For instance student can be involved during troubleshooting in solving network
problems at the University. Also students can be involved in installation of computer networks
in labs and offices. We should also participate in designing web applications and other
programs for our University. This will help us to build up our skills and increase our
capability to compete worldwide.
2.2.2. CONCLUSION
Practical training gave me a better opportunity to understand widely about my industry
also to learn more things which I have being thought in lectures and I gained a lot of experience.

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2.2.3

REFERENCE
1. HUAWEI DBS3900 Dual-Mode Base Station Hardware Structure
2. www.Huawei.com (BTS3900A V100R009C00 Installation Guide)

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