COVERAGE/CAPACITY ANALYSIS FOR 4th GENERATION

LONG TERM EVOLUTION (LTE)

Diana Lopes1, Duarte Sousa1
1
Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa (ISEL),
rea Departamental de Engenharia Electrnica e Telecomunicaes e de Computadores (ADEETC), Lisboa, Portugal
[33008; 31452]@alunos.isel.pt

Pedro Vieira1,2
2

Instituto de Telecomunicaes (IT),

Lisboa, Portugal
pvieira@deetc.isel.pt

Keywords:

LTE, Radio Planning, Coverage, Capacity.

Abstract:

The Long Term Evolution (LTE) is the 4th generation of mobile communications. This paper consists in
analyzing the coverage and capacity of an LTE network in three different types of synthetic environments.
After the technology preliminary study, planning is performed for each type of scenario (urban, suburban
and rural), according to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) for LTE. Using a simulator developed
in Matlab and available in open source, simulations were performed. They allowed to analyse the
influence of certain parameters, such as antenna tilt at capacity and coverage levels. After data analysis, it
was possible to conclude which parameters are the most important for network optimization.

INTRODUCTION

The Long Term Evolution (LTE) is an evolution of

the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
(UMTS). It was introduced in 3GPP Release 8 and is
based on a flat network architecture "all IP". With
regard to previous technologies, it offers a variety of
advantages, allowing faster transmission rates (100
Mbps downlink and 50 Mbps uplink), an increase on
spectral efficiency, low latency and support for users
with high mobility (up to 350 km/h). In this paper
we
intend
to
study
the
impact
of
mechanical/electrical tilt angles, bandwidth, among
others, drawing conclusions on capacity and
coverage obtained. Finally, the goal is to analyze the
data in order to optimize the network, taking into
account the main factors that influence the planning.
The paper is organized in five sections. Section 1
presents a brief introduction to this new technology
(LTE), addressing the paper objectives as well as its
organization. Section 2 is the State of Art section
where a LTE features and operation are presented.
Section 3 presents a description of the scenarios
under study, based on the Link Budget calculations.

Section 4, Performance Analysis is described,

concerning the simulator. Finally, Section 5 presents
the main conclusions.

STATE OF ART

LTE comes with an architecture completely

revamped compared to the architectures of existing
networks, presenting itself more transversal and able
to operate simultaneously with previous generations,
at the network layer.
LTE was developed to meet the following
requirements [3]:
100 Mbps for downlink and 50 Mbps uplink;
Flexibility bandwidth, supporting 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15,
20 MHz;
Use of adaptive modulation (QPSK, 16-QAM and
64-QAM);
High level of mobility and safety;
Substantial reduction in latency to 10 ms;
Increased spectral efficiency compared to prior
technologies;
Operability in both TDD mode and FDD mode.

2.1 LTE Architecture and Radio

Interface

carriers corresponding to seven OFDM symbols at

each time slot. LTE uses a variable bandwidth
according to Table 1. This bandwidth is scalable and
can be selected according to the volume of
transmission or considering a level of Quality of
Service (QoS) to meet.
Table 1: Channel Bandwidth configuration.
Bandwidth
[MHz]
Number of RBs

1.4

10

15

20

15

25

50

75

100

2.2.1 Downlink

Figure 1: LTE Architecture [1].

In Figure 1 is represented the LTE architecture, in

which the more complex processing of the radio
interface is centred on the eNodeBs.
Based on the 3GPP specifications of LTE can be
deployed in different frequency bands. This new
technology allows great flexibility in spectrum
allocation. LTE can operate in Frequency Division
Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD),
having at its disposal some spectral allocation
schemes. In order to allow a greater number of users
per cell, it is possible to use the two modes
simultaneously.
The FDD method requires the use of paired bands,
since the transmitter and receiver operate at different
sub-carriers frequencies, by providing a band for the
downlink and one for uplink.
The TDD mode uses only one frequency band for
transmitting downlink and uplink, it allows for a
higher rate of transmission, because if there is a free
time slot, may be used by another channel.
In LTE the basic unit for resource allocation is
called Resource Block (RB) being flexible enough to
different UEs in both time domain and frequency
domain. Each RB has a bandwidth of 180 kHz, with
12 sub-carriers per block, with spacing of 15 kHz
and 0.5 ms in frequency and in time respectively,

In Downlink is used the Orthogonal Frequency

Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), a multiple
access technique based on Orthogonal Frequency
Division Multiplexing (OFDM). The OFDM is a
technique based on the concept of a digital multicarrier modulation that achieves higher transmission
rates. The basic principle seeks to divide a frequency
band into multiple sub-carriers with lower
bandwidths. In Figure 2 we can observe the main
characteristics of an OFDM signal in frequency and
time. In the frequency domain, multiple sub-carriers
are modulated independently with data. Next, using
the time domain, guard intervals are inserted
between each of the symbols. These gaps serve to
prevent inter-symbolic interference in the receiver,
caused by the different propagation delays in the
radio channel.

Figure 2: Representation in time and frequency domain of a

OFDMA signal [4].

The access technology considers different

modulation levels of Quadrature Amplitude
Modulation (QAM), which may be of Quadrature

Phase Shift Key (QPSK), 16-QAM or 64-QAM,

depending on the presented conditions by the
channel and the required transmission rate.

2.2.2 Uplink
In Uplink OFDMA is not used, as it associated to a
high Peak to Average Ratio (PAR), compromising
the efficient use of terminals energy resources, and
drastically reducing the battery capacity of the
equipment. In this case, it uses the multiple access
technique Single Carrier Frequency Division
Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) identical to OFDMA,
but transmission is made on a single carrier with
cyclic extension.
The transmission uses Discrete Fourier Transform
(DFT) of the modulated symbols before mapping
into the sub-carriers.

2.3 Modulation
In order to optimize the capacity and coverage of
LTE for a given transmission power, the transmitter
takes into account the variations in signal quality
(Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR) of
the receiver by adapting the distribution of resources
according with this quality.
This type of modulation is dependent on the
characteristics of the channel, and is based on
measurements made by the UE, that provides the
Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) to the eNodeB.
Thus, based on the CQI, the eNodeB selects the
modulation scheme (QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM)
which best suits the conditions of the channel.

2.4 Multiple Input Multiple Output

(MIMO)
The technology Multiple Input Multiple Output
(MIMO) corresponds to the set of transmission
techniques for wireless communication systems with
multiple transmitting and receiving antennas.
Spatial Multiplexing allows data to be sent in a
separate antenna, and later, using the signal
processing in the receiver, it is possible to separate
these data streams. This separation increases the
peak bit rate depending on the antenna
configuration. In pre-coding, the signals transmitted
by different antennas are mapped to maximize the
SINR at reception, taking into account the channel

conditions. The transmission diversity depends on

the encoded transmission signal from several
antennas, exploiting the fading gains between them.
For Downlink LTE MIMO 2x2, 4x2 and 4x4 are
supported. For Uplink this technique is not yet
implemented, so its used the Single Input Multiple
Output (SIMO) that can go up to 1x4.

2.5 Antenna Tilt Angle

The tilt angle of the antenna is defined as the angle
of the main beam of an antenna below the horizontal
plane. This technique aims to reduce interference
between cells in order to increase the cell capacity
and improve the performance of the entire network.
There are two methods, which have different effects
on signal propagation: mechanical tilt and electrical
tilt.
In mechanical tilt the antenna is tilted with specific
accessories, changing the radiation pattern and
without changing the phase of the signal. In the case
of electrical tilt, the modification of the radiation
pattern is obtained using the change in the phase
characteristics of the signal. Both methods are
intended to alter the coverage radius. As in the case
of mechanical tilt there is a sideways spreading in
coverage the larger the value of the angle. By
contrast, in electrical tilt, the decrease of the
coverage area is more uniform, because is the
radiation pattern of the antenna that is changed.

PLANNING

In order to analyze LTE three types of synthetic

scenarios were defined, see Table 2, which, in terms
of radio propagation environment are named as:
Urban, Suburban and Rural.
Using the implemented models and considering a
minimum SINR of -10 dB [5], the Link Budget was
calculated for each scenario. The used propagation
models were the COST231 [6] to the Urban and
Suburban environment and TS36942 model
proposed in [5] for the rural environment. In order to
analyze the behaviour of antennas in the different
environments, and using only the available bands in
Europe, the scenarios were set to a frequency of 1.9
GHz and 2.6 GHz. In all scenarios synthetic BTS
antennas are equipped with the manufacturer's
KATHREIN, and for the frequencies of 1.9 and

2.6 GHz the 742 215 [7], and 80010543 [8] models
are used, respectively.

equation (2), L is the pathloss of the cell which is

given by,

Table 2: Scenarios description.

Urban
Suburban
Rural

Freq.
[GHz]
1.9
2.6
1.9
2.6
1.9

Propagation
Model
COST 231
(Urban Macro)

COST 231
(Suburban Macro)

TS 36942

Vell
Radius
[m]
625
545
762
663
3464

3.1 Urban and Suburban Scenarios

For the definition of these scenarios the COST231
model [6] was used, which allows to explore the
Suburban and Urban environments, considering
macro cells. For the definition of these scenarios 19
eNodeBs
were
used,
with
tri-sectorized
configurations, set to the same type of antenna. The
bandwidth is 10 MHz, with minimal loss between
eNodeB and UE of 70 dB, and 570 users with a
Closed Loop Spatial Multiplexing (CLSM)
transmission mode 2x2.This calculation is
performed based on equation (1), where PL is the
media pathloss [6].
(1)

where,

, is the eNodeB height;

, the UE height;

, the carrier frequency;

, is the distance between the eNodeB and UE;

C is a constant factor (0 dB for suburban macro
and 3 dB for urban macro).

3.2 Rural Scenario

The parameters initially set for the rural environment
have been 7 eNodeBs, with tri-sectorized
configuration, set to the same antenna type. The
bandwidth is 5 MHz, as minimal losses between
eNodeB and UE of 80 dB, 210 users, and using
transmission mode of CLSM 2x2. For this type of
scenario, the TS36942 [5] model is used. Using

where

is eNodeB UE distance in km.

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS

The used simulator during this research work is the

System Level simulator [2] developed by Institute of
Telecommunications, within the Vienna University
of Technology. This simulator was developed in
Matlab, it is available in open source and was
implemented according to 3GPP [5].

4.1 Bandwidth Variation

As already set, there are 6 available bandwidths,
and each of them is associated with a number of
RBs. According to 3GPP TS36.101 version [9] for
the frequencies in the network only the bandwidths
5, 10, 15 and 20 MHz are supported. Thus, based on
this standard the following Figure 3 allows to
analyse how the bandwidth influences the scenarios
under study.
60

Capacity [Mbit/s]

Environment

(2)

40
20
0
5 MHz

10 MHz
15 MHz
20 MHz
Bandwidth[MHz]
Urban 1.9 GHz
Suburban 1.9 GHz
Urban 2.6 GHz

Suburban 2.6GHz

Rural
Figure 3: Bandwidth variation for different scenarios
depending on the capacity of the network.

It can be seen that for the various types of scenarios,

the network capacity is larger as the bandwidth
increases.

4.2.1 Urban and Suburban Scenarios

Capacity [Mbit/s]

Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 illustrate the tilt angle impact

into networks coverage and capacity.
30
20
10
0
0

10

12

Tilt Angle []
Suburban 1.9 GHz
Urban 1.9 GHz
Suburban 2.6 GHz

Urban 2.6 GHz

Figure 4: Electrical tilt variation for different scenarios on

network capacity.

Figure 5: Urban Environment coverage at 2.6 GHz with 4

electrical and mechanical tilt angle, respectively.

Figure 6: Urban Environment coverage at 2.6 GHz with 8

electrical and mechanical tilt angle, respectively.

Regarding capacity, it is noticeable in Figure 4 that

the capacity average value is higher in scenarios
with a 8 electric tilt.
In Figure 5, in both electrical and mechanical tilt it is
possible to observe a uniform coverage but with
lower transmission rates in a large part of the cell
area, the throughput will decrease as the user moves
away from the center of the cell. By increasing the
angle to double, see Figure 6, the area where there
are higher transmission rates is increased. For this
type of scenario it is preferable to use the electrical
tilt, since it is important to ensure a greater capacity
to users in the largest possible area of the cell. In the
case of a 12 tilt angle, as seen in Figure 7, the
coverage area of each cell is too low. When
comparing the different simulations it is then
possible to conclude that in terms of coverage, as the
tilt angle increases, the radius of coverage of the cell
decreases. This reduction occurs because as the
angle is increased, the vertical radiation pattern of
the antenna changes towards the ground, which in
turn reduces the coverage distance of the same
antenna, minimizing interference.
In short, for the different scenarios, the best case in
terms of both coverage and capacity is the electrical
tilt with an angle of 8.

4.2.2 Rural Scenario

In order to analyse which electrical/mechanical tilt
angle is the most suitable for this type of
environment, see Figures 8 and 9.
Capacity [Mbit/s]

4.2 Tilt Variation

15
10
5
0
2

Tilt Angle[]
Electrical

Mechanical

Figure 8: Electrical and mechanical tilt impact on

downlink capacity for rural scenario.

Figure 7: Urban Environment 2.6 GHz with electrical and

mechanical tilt angle 12.

Throughput [Mbit\s]

REFERENCES

3
2
1
0
Elt. Mec. Elt. Mec. Elt. Mec.
8
8
4
4
2
2
Tilt Angle []

Peak UE Throughput 95%

Average UE Throughput
Edge UE Throughput 5%
Figure 9: Electrical and mechanical tilt impact on uplink
capacity for Rural scenario.

In Figure 8 we conclude that the angle that allows

the network to have better downlink capacity is the
4 electric tilt.
With Figure 9 it can be seen that for the scenario
under consideration, the electric tilt with 8 is the
one that presents a better performance in the UE in
the intermediate zone of the cell.
However, this is not the ideal case in terms of
performance because at the edge of the cell the
throughput is null, so the UE does not have coverage
in the entire cell. Thus, the mechanical tilt angle is
2 is the one which gives better coverage for this
scenario.

CONCLUSIONS

After the study of LTE technology, different

implementation scenarios were set. A study to
evaluate the influence that some parameters offer in
the implemented scenarios was performed,
considering
a
simulation
platform.
It was concluded that the higher the bandwidth the
greater is the number of RBs assigned to each user,
i.e, increasing network, thereby increasing the
average
bit
rate
for
each
user.
With regard to tilt angles, it is possible to consider
that as one increases the tilt of the antenna, the
coverage radius of a cell decreases. Thus, the
variation of the tilt technique is effective in reducing
interference between adjacent cells, and when welldefined within a network, it can optimize the level of
coverage and capacity.

[1] Harri Holma, Antti Toskala, LTE for UMTS

OFDMA and SC-FDMA Based Radio Access, (2009)
[2] Institute of Telecommunications Vienna University of
Technology, Vienna LTE Simulators, System Level
Simulator Documentation.
[3] 3GPP TR 25.913 V9.0.0, Universal Mobile
Telecommunications System (UMTS); LTE;
Requirements for Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA) and
Evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN), (2010-02).
[4] 3GPP TR 36.942 V11, Evolved Universal Terrestrial
Radio Acess (E-UTRA); Radio Frequency (RF)
system scenarios, (2012-10).
[5] 3GPP TR 36.942 V11, Evolved Universal Terrestrial
Radio Acess (E-UTRA); Radio Frequency (RF)
system scenarios, (2012-10).
[6] 3 GPP TR 25.996 V9.0.0, Spatial channel model for
Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) simulations,
(2009-12).
[7] (Online) http://www.kathreinscala.com/catalog/742215.pdf (17-07-2013)
[8](Online)http://antennasystems.com/Merchant2/pdf/800
_10543.pdf (18-07-2013).
[9] 3GPP TS36.101 V10.3.0 Evolved Universal Terrestrial
Radio Access (E-UTRA); User Equipment (UE) radio
transmission and reception, (2011-06).