System Capacity and Engineering

Overview
Cellular Engineering Principles

Sectorised Cells

Cell Splitting

Capacity and Performance Tradeoffs

Appendices 1. D/R in Roadway Systems 2. Cellular Systems Engineering 3. Detailed GSM Link Budget Analysis

Objectives

Explain the relationship between frequency reuse patterns, system performance and capacity Explain how system capacity can be increased by using sectorisation, cell splitting and overlay cells Recognise how uplink and downlink power budgets determine cell coverage

Generic Cellular Engineering Principles

Basic Cellular Engineering Principles

Fixed spectral allocation limits the number of channels available Channels must be reused throughout service area to support service demand Signal attenuation with distance allows channel reuse by controlling interference levels

Signal Attenuation with Distance

Desired R D

Interferer

Relative Signal level 10 1 .1 .01 .001 .0001 q= D/R S/I Desired signal carrier level (S)

Interferer signal carrier level (S)

0.1

D 10 Relative Distance

100

Relationship between D/R and K

R D

D/R=

3K

K=I 2+ j 2 + ij
and

The number of cells in a cluster

I,J = INTEGERS

Radio Channel Reuse and Co-channel Cells K=7

2
4 1 6 3 2 4 1 3 5 7 4 1 3 6 1 2 6 1 3 5 7 4 6 1 3 5 2 7 4 6 1 3 5 2 7 4 6 5 2

5
7

7
4

Co-channel Interference
4 and 12 Cell Cluster Systems

K=4 K=12

Sectorized Cells

Co-channel Interference with Omni-Directional Cells

Interference from 6 interfering cells

Base-to-mobile interference Mobile-to-base interference

Co-channel Interference with 3-Sector Cells

Interference from 6 interfering cells into a sector a g

Base-to-mobile interference Mobile-to-base interference

Co-channel Interference with 6 Sector Cells

Interference from 1 interfering cell into a sector

z e

a
o

b g

Base-to-mobile interference

Mobile-to-base interference

Cell Splitting

Cellular Growth Through Cell Splitting

G E C B G A E G E E C B G A E F G A D G E A Add 3 new cells to high traffic area D G F C B (K = 7 reuse) A E Initial layout of 14 cells

C
B

Continued Growth

G E D
C C B G A E A D G F B E B G C E C B Adding 5 more cells to high traffic area A

Channel Segmentation

Call capacity for both co-channel omni-directional cells is 4644 calls/hour with 18 radio channels supporting 8 voice circuits in each

Capacity of large co-channel cell reduced to 3540 calls/hour with 14 usable radio channels due to use of 4 channels in new small co-channel cell that violates D/R

Overlaid Cells

Realised large co-channel cell capacity of 4400 calls/hour using 4 radio channels for small cell coverage and 14 radio channels for large cell coverage

4 radio channels (32 TCH) 14 radio channels (112 TCH)

Capacity/Performance Tradeoffs

Capacity/Performance Tradeoffs

3-Cell Cluster

4-Cell Cluster

K=3: Voice circuits/cell = 992 = 331 3

7-Cell Cluster

12-Cell Cluster

From Erlang B table at 2% blocking, the amount of traffic supported by a cell = 317E No. of calls per cell per hour = 11,412

K=4: Voice circuits/cell = 992 = 248 4

From Erlang B table at 2% blocking, the amount of traffic supported by a cell = 234E No. of calls per cell per hour = 234 x 3600 = 8,424 100 K=7: Voice circuits/cell = 992 = 142 7 Traffic at 2% blocking = 129E No. of calls per cell per hour = 129 x 3600 = 4,644 100 K=12: Voice circuits/cell = 992 = 83 12 Traffic at 2% blocking = 71.57E No. of calls per cell per hour = 7157 x 3600 = 2,576 100 Mean S/I: S/I = (1/6)(3K) . If g=4 then S/I = 1.5K which yields the following table:
2

K 3 4 7

S/I 13.5 24 73.5

10 log10(S/I) 11.3 dB 13.8 dB 18.7 dB 23.3 dB

12 216

Capacity/Performance Tradeoffs

K 3 4

D/R 3 3.5

Voice Circuits Per Cell 331 248 142 83

Calls per Cell Per Hour 11,412 8,424 4,644 2,576

Mean S/I At R 13.5 (11.3 db) 24 (13.8 db) 73.5 (18.7 db) 216 (23.3 db)

7
12

4.6
6.0

Assuming: 992 allocated voice circuits (124 channels with 8 circuits each) 2% blocking during system busy hour

100 second average call holding time

Capacity/Performance Tradeoffs with Sectorised Cells

Sectorisation allows lower values of K to be used, thus increasing the number of radio channels per cell. Uniform traffic is assumed in each sector. Omni-directional Cells S I = 1 6 g/2 3K = 1.5 K 2 For g =4

3-Sector Cells S = 1 g/2 3K = 4.5 K 2 For g =4

I 2 The S/I is 3 times the Omni value: +4.8 dB 6-Sector Cells S g/2 = 3K = 9K2

I The S/I is 6 times the Omni value: +7.8 dB

For g =4

Capacity/Performance Tradeoffs with Sectorised Cells

K D/R Omni-Directional Cells Voice Circuits Calls per Cell Per Cell Per Hour 331 248 142 83 3 Sector Cells Voice Circuits Per Cell 110 83 47 28 6 Sector Cells Voice Circuits Per Cell 55 41 24 14 11,412 8,424 4,644 2,576 Mean S/I At R 13.5 (11.3 db) 24 (13.8 db) 73.5 (18.7 db) 216 (23.3 db)

3 4 7 12

3 3.5 4.6 6.0

K 3 4 7 12

D/R 3 3.5 4.6 6.0

Calls per Cell Per Hour 3,517 2,576 1,350 727

Mean S/I At R 40.5 (16.1 db) 72 (18.6 db) 220.5 (23.5 db) 648.7 (28.1 db)

K 3 4 7 12

D/R 3 3.5 4.6 6.0

Calls per Cell Per Hour 1,616 1,148 398 295

Mean S/I At R 81 (19.1 db) 144 (21.6 db) 441 (26.5 db) 1296 (31.1 db)

~ S/I limit for analogue systems = 16 dB ~ S/I limit for digital systems = 9 dB

D/R in Roadway Systems

D/R in Roadway Systems

BS1 SERVING SIGNAL

BS2

BS3

CO-CHANNEL SIGNAL R D

K=2 D/R = 4 C/I = 21dB at R

K = 2 in a linear array of cells is considered the minimum reuse to provide acceptable voice quality over 90% of the coverage areas

D/R in Roadway Systems

The table shows the D/R values and the estimated C/I for roadway coverage with multipath (path loss 40 dB/decade). The table assumes two interfering cells
C/I 40 dB/decade

K 1 2 3 4 5

D/R 2 4 6 8 10

9.0 dB
21.0 dB 28.0 dB 33.0 dB 37.0 dB 40.0 dB 43.0 dB 45.0 dB 47.0 dB

6
7 8 9

12
14 16 18

* Note that this does not take into account the cross street interfering signals that must be considered in a real system e.g. using channel segmentation between interfering cells.

Cellular System Engineering

Real World Propagation Models (900 MHz)

Path Loss (dB) 190 180 170 160 150 140 130 120 110 100

1 1 mile = 1.609333 km

8 9 10

Separation Distance (miles)

Path Loss Increase with Frequency

Fixed Distance
40 Median Path Loss Freq. Dependence (dB) Urban Rural

30

20

10

-10

-20 1 10 Frequency (GHz) Median path loss normalised to 0 dB, middle of cellular band, at a fixed distance of 2 miles Path loss increases 7 dB for PCS in rural environment Path loss increases 9 dB for PCS in urban or suburban environment 0.1

Macroscopic(Large Scale) Radio Propagation

Shadow Loss
160 Mean Path Loss (MPL) MPL + Shadow Loss (dB) MPL +8 dB MPL -8 dB

+s

150

140 Path Loss (dB)

-s

130
s = 8 dB 120

110

100 1000 Separation Distance (Meters)(log scale) 10000

Microscopic (Small Scale) Radio Propagation

Rayleigh Fading

-60 Received Signal Strength (dBm)

-70 Mean received signal level

-80

-90

-100 0 10 20 30 40 50 Distance (Metres) 60 70

Microcellular Path Loss Models

Street Level Microcells @ 1900 MHz
120 6 Metre Antenna Height 10 Metre Antenna Height

110
r4 Mean Path Loss (dB) 100

90

80

r2

70

60 10 100 Separation Distance (Metres)(log scale) 1000

Path Loss Measurements

In-building @ 900 MHz
70

60

Path Loss Retrieval to 1 Metre (dB)

50

40

30

20 20 dB/Decade 40 dB/Decade Crawford Hill Bldg. 1st floor Crawford Hill Bldg. 2nd floor 1 10 100 Separation Distance (Metres) (log scale)

10

Determining Cell Coverage

Power (dB)

Transmitter Power
Signal level with distance Receiver noise, margin, and transmitted power level needed to determine allowable path loss Maximum path loss allowed

Power at Receiver Receiver Noise

Required margin

Distance Transmitter Coverage Range Receiver

Detailed GSM Link Budget Analysis

Factors Affecting Link Budget

Propagation factors Transmitter-radiated power

Receiver noise figure

Antenna gains System bandwidth Interference levels Other gains and losses

Determining Downlink Link

GSM (DCS) 1800 Example GA

LP

H Transceiver TRX LC AMP P = 36 dBm T (4 Watts) S =P L +G +HL

T C A

dBm

dBm

=N B +F
0 dB

dB

Where: Lp = Path loss between base station and mobile station (dB) PT = Base station transmitter power (36 dBm) Lc = Typical transmit cable, combiner, and filter loss (5dB) GA = Typical transmit antenna gain (18 dBi) H = Base station antenna height gain (dB) N0 = Thermal noise density (174 dBm/Hz) BdB = Mobile station noise bandwidth (53 dBHz) FdB = Typical mobile station noise figure (8 dB) SdBm = Signal power at mobile station receiver input (dBm) NdBm = Noise power at mobile station receiver input (dBm)

Determining Downlink Link Continued

GSM (DCS) 1800 Example GA LP

H Transceiver TRX LC AMP P = 36 dBm T (4 Watts) S =P L +G +HL

T C A

dBm

dBm

=N B +F
0 dB

dB

Where: Lp = Path loss between base station and mobile station (dB) PT = Base station transmitter power (36 dBm) Lc = Typical transmit cable, combiner, and filter loss (5dB) GA = Typical transmit antenna gain (18 dBi) H = Base station antenna height gain (dB) N0 = Thermal noise density (174 dBm/Hz) BdB = Mobile station noise bandwidth (53 dBHz) FdB = Typical mobile station noise figure (8 dB) SdBm = Signal power at mobile station receiver input (dBm) NdBm = Noise power at mobile station receiver input (dBm)

Required Signal to Noise Ratio

No Diversity Voice Quality

Fair to Good

10

20

30

40

50

Mean RF Signal to Impairment Ratio (dB)

Mean Downlink Signal Required

No Interference, On-street

Mobile Station Noise Floor

N = 174 + 10 x log(200,000) + FdB N = 174 + 53 + 8 N = 113 dBm

Minimum signal required for acceptable quality

Smin = N + (S/N)req Smin = 113 + 12 Smin = 101 dBm

Mean signal required at mobile station

Smean = Smin+ shadow fading loss margin + orientation/body loss Smean = 101 + 10.2 + 3 Smean = 87.8

Maximum Allowable Downlink Path Loss

Smean = PT LC + GA + H LP Solving for LP LP = PT LC + GA + H Smean LP = 36 5 + 18 + 0 87.8 LP = 136.8 dB

Uplink Link Budget

GSM (DCS) 1800 Example GA PM LP H RF Preamplifiers LC FdB Mobile Station LP GA Transceiver TRX H

Base Station

LC
FdB S =P L +G +HL +G dBm M P A C D

Receiver reference point for N = N0 B + F dBm dB dB signal to noise ratio

Where: Lp = Path loss between base station and mobile station (dB) PM = Base station transmitter power (24 dBm) Lc = Typical base station receiver antenna cable and filter loss (2 dB) GA = Typical base station receiver antenna gain (18 dBi) H = Base station antenna height gain (dB) GD = Diversity Gain (5 dB)

N0 = Thermal noise density (174 dBm/Hz) BdB = Base station noise bandwidth (53 dBHz) FdB = Typical base station noise figure (5 dB)

SdBm = Signal power at base station receiver input (dBm)

NdBm = Noise power at base station receiver input (dBm)

Uplink Link Budget - Continued

GSM (DCS) 1800 Example GA PM LP H RF Preamplifiers LC FdB Mobile Station LP GA Transceiver TRX H

Base Station

LC
FdB S =P L +G +HL +G dBm M P A C D

Receiver reference point for N = N0 B + F signal to noise ratio dBm dB dB

Where: Lp = Path loss between base station and mobile station (dB) PM = Base station transmitter power (24 dBm) Lc = Typical base station receiver antenna cable and filter loss (2 dB) GA = Typical base station receiver antenna gain (18 dBi) H = Base station antenna height gain (dB) GD = Diversity Gain (5 dB)

N0 = Thermal noise density (174 dBm/Hz) BdB = Base station noise bandwidth (53 dBHz) FdB = Typical base station noise figure (5 dB)

SdBm = Signal power at base station receiver input (dBm)

NdBm = Noise power at base station receiver input (dBm)

Mean Uplink Signal Required

No Interference, On-street

Base Station Noise Floor

N = 174 + 10 x log(20,000) + FdB N = 174 + 53 + 5 N = 116 dBm

Minimum signal required for acceptable quality with diversity

Smin = N + (S/N)req GD Smin = 116 + 12 5 Smin = 109 dBm

Mean signal required at mobile station

Smean = Smin+ shadow fading loss margin + orientation/body loss Smean = 109 + 10.2 + 3 Smean = 95.8

Maximum Allowable Uplink Path Loss

Smean = PM LP + GA + H LC = 102.0 dBm Solving for LP LP = PM Smean + GA + H Lc LP = 24 + 95.8 + 18 + 0 2 LP = 135.8 dB Choose link with the least acceptable loss Downlink LP = 136.8 dB Uplink LP = 135.8 dB

On-street GSM 1800 Cell Range

190 180 Mean Path Loss = 133.2 + 33.8 log (distance)

170
Mean Path Loss (dB) 160 150 140 135. dB, 1.2 km

130
120 110 10
0

Distance (km)

10

Link Budget Summary

Coverage is limited by uplink performance in noise-limited systems Maximum coverage 1.2 km for hand held units on-street in the example shown Other factors to consider: - Building penetration may add an additional 10 dB loss, or more - Increasing BTS antenna height will increase coverage - Increasing BTS antenna gain (transmit and receive) will increase coverage - Base station antenna diversity is a coverage factor See GSM 03.30 for more specific examples