5-day Instructor-led, 0900 - 1700

This course will address all aspects of RF Planning and Optimization. It seeks to enhance the proficiency level of engineers so that they would be confident to handle the problems in the network individually, as well as to make robust and efficient radio network planning.

This course commences with an exposition of basic GSM architecture, design, interfaces and entities and their functions. It explains the different channel structures for logical and physical channels. It then advances to cover topics on RF, including the fundamentals, antennas, designs, components, planning and optimizations as well as problems that may be encountered and how to over come them.

After attending this course, participants will be able to plan and optimized radio networks confidently.

They will gain tremendous insights into the entire process of RF planning & optimisation, as well as risk management.

RF engineers will be more process-oriented and be able to follow an established set of guidelines for tuning the radio network base on parameters as required, leading to a good track record on network performance.

All the course participants must have good basic knowledge of the GSM system, basic RF elements, drive testing and planning and optimization.

All engineers/technicians involved in RF planning and optimization. Commercial and financial personnels directly or indirectly involved are advised to participate too.

Day 1 (architecture, NSS, Air interface)

1. Overview of Mobile Networks
1.1. First Generation Networks
1.2. Second Generation Networks
1.3. Third Generation Networks

2. GSM System Architecture
2.1. GSM System Overview
2.1.1. BSS –BSC, BTS
2.1.2. NSS – MSC, VLR, HLR, AUC, EIR
2.1.2. MS
2.2. BTS Architecture
2.2.1. Type of Combining
2.2.2. BTS Specifications
2.3. Optimisation Aspects
2.3.1 A bis, A interface Presentation. E1 and PCM
2.3.2 Optimisation white communication, PCU overload, NSS optimisation , roaming, signalling links E1

3. Air Interface Channel Structure
3.1. TDMA Frame, Time Slots, Burst
3.2. Logical Channels
3.2.1. TCH
3.2.2. Common Control Channels
3.2.3. Dedication Control Channels
3.2.5. Channel Configurations
3.2.5. PCH Capacity
3.2.6. SDCCH Capacity
3.3 Timing Advance


Day 2 (planning principles)

4. Signal, MHA, Base Station Antenna
4.1. MHA
4.1.1 Purposes
4.1.2. Specifications
4.2. dBm, Watt
4.3. Antenna
4.3.1. Type of Base Station Antenna
4.3.2. Specifications
4.3.3. Antenna Radiation Patterns

5. Network Planning
5.1. Network Planning Process
5.2. Link Budget
5.3. CW Test
5.5. Path Loss Model
5.5. Digital Maps
5.6. Model Tuning
5.7. Predictions
5.8. Analysis
5.9. Search area and site survey

6. Frequency Planning
6.1. Method, AFP principles, industry tools
6.2. Swapped Sectors
6.3. Grouping
6.4. Frequency Hopping

Day 3 (GSM features)

7 GSM Features
7.1. Measurements report and Results
7.2. Power Control
7.3. DTX
7.4. Paging, DRX
7.5. Half Rate
7.6. BA Neighbours List
7.7. Cell Selection and Reselection
7.8. Handover
7.8.1. Measurement and Reporting Process
7.8.2. Type of Handover Trigger
7.8.3. Handover Process
7.9. Others Feature (Second assignment queuing, Bi Band Network)
7.10 Resource Allocation Strategies
7.10.1 TCH allocation: 5 interference bands
7.10.2 List of TCH, SDCCH resources allocation

Day 4 (Optimisation: Radio Aspect)

8. Cell Coverage Optimisation
8.1. Mechanical vs Electrical Tilt
8.2. High Gain Antenna
8.3. Determine the signal after a change of Azimuth and Tilt
8.4. List of recommendation for Coverage Optimisation
9 Drive Test & Network Optimisation
9.1. Drive Test Introduction and Purposes
9.1.1. Audit, Benchmarking, Network Performance
9.1.2. Continuous Call
9.1.3. Short Call
9.1.4. Tems vs BSC stats
9.1.5. Tems Vs Abis
9.2 Tems Post Processing
9.2.1. RxLev
9.2.2. RxQual
9.2.3. Serving Cell
9.2.4. MS Transmit Power
9.2.5. Layer 3 Messages (System Info type 2, 6 etc)
9.3. Case study
9.3.1. Neighbour, Missing
How to detect them with TEMS and others
9.3.2. Asymetric HO & resurgence
9.3.3. Neighbour Deletion
9.3.4. Neighbour list maintenance
9.3.5 Swapped Sector
How to detect them with TEMS and others
9.3.6. Co- BSIC and Co-BCCH adjacent cell
9.3.7. Co-channel vs Adjacent channel interference
9.3.8. Ways of detecting co-channel interference
How to detect them with TEMS and others
9.3.9. Cell Coverage Optimisation
How to improve it with TEMS and others

10 Optimisation Through A bis
10.1. Main Messages
10.2. Link Balance and Path Balance
10.3. RX lev, Rx Qual, TS
10.4. How to detect faulty TRX


Day 5 (optimisation, KPI , question, course completion)

11. Key Performance Indicators
11.1. ITU_T_E800 and ETR classification
11.2. Accessibility (SDCCH, TCH, HO etc ..)
11.2.1. Presentation
11.2.3. Cause of failure
11.2.4. How to improve

11.3. Availaibility (SDDCH, network failure etc..)
11.3.1. Presentation
11.3.2. Cause of failure
11.3.3. How to improve

11.4. Maintenability (dropped calls, early failure, etc ..)
11.4.1. Presentation
11.4.2. Cause of failure
11.4.3. How to improve

11.5. Quality
11.5.1. Presentation
11.5.2. Cause of failure
11.5.3. How to improve

Question, parameters, timers, list of frequencies plan checking, TS de synchronisation, ..

12 UMTS – Basics, Architecture and Design