5 days instructor-led

This course is an intensive training program designed for planning engineers working for network operators, cell planning consultants who wish to move into GSM optimization. This course is also useful for students who will be working in optimization-related areas or who need to understand GSM air interface parameters. This includes network management, government security professionals supporting network operators or local authorities, support staff and those managing optimization teams.

RAN optimization is making a significant impact on the mobile communications industry by providing an enhanced user experience. This course seeks to identify effective strategies and general procedures that enhance the optimization process, suggest appropriate changes to power control parameters in a range of optimization techniques, suggest appropriate changes to cell re-selection parameters, perform verification of typical GSM cell link budget and cell balancing calculations. Participant will have comprehensive understanding of optimization, spectrum utilization, spectrum planning and capacity and quality of service management for RF systems.

This course will also enable participants to:

• Develop an understanding of what RAN Optimization is and what it can do, including the motivation for its development and its present capabilities.
• Help the engineering team in planning and performance management for radio access network. Assist them to have a better understanding of the parameters involved and KPI metrics.
• Develop an appreciation of how RAN Optimization Principles and related technologies can be used to deliver value to customers, including an exploration of what is meant by "quality of service" and a discussion of the network technology, management systems and business processes required to deliver customer value.

GSM networks are being pushed to the limit in terms of capacity. High performance at high traffic levels comes from effective network optimization. An implementation of good optimization process needs a wide knowledge including a thorough understanding of radio and radio propagation, GSM air interface operation and failure scenarios. This course provides an interactive in-depth knowledge of RAN optimization strategies and principles.

The participants will gain a detailed end-to-end knowledge of the RAN Optimization principles, its benefits and potential pitfalls.

A basic understanding of GSM technology will be required.

Technicians, engineers, radio network planners and optimization engineers, managers, or other personnel responsible for Cellular / Mobile Systems.

1. Overview of Mobile Networks
1. First Generation Networks
2. Second Generation Networks
3. Third Generation Networks



[Gaining a good understanding of optimization techniques, operational improvements and generate cost savings or reduce project timelines by improving network design, planning, operations, use of advanced frequency planning techniques, use of optimal features that are appropriate to optimization and improving the equipment as per requirement, leading to superior operations and maintenance performance and providing greater confidence in technical requirements]

2. Introduction of Radio Access Network
1. Overview
1. Objective of Radio Network Planning
2. RAN Planning from Operator Perspective
3. Role of Technology
2. Focus on Technologies
3. Frequency Planning
4. Radio Propagation
1. Radio propagation principles
2. Multipath effects
3. Reflection
4. Refraction
5. Diffraction
6. Absorption


3. Radio Propagation Theory
1. Introduction of Radio Propagation
2. Radio Propagation Environment
3. Frequency Division Introduction
4. Fast Fading and Slow Fading
5. Propagation Loss
6. Introduction of Radio Propagation Model
7. Doppler Effect and its Impact on Handover
8. Fresnel Zone


4. GSM Air Interface
1. GSM System Introduction
2. Radio Channel Structure
3. Time Slot and Frame Structure
4. Physical Channel
5. Logic Channel
6. Allowed Channel Combination Type
7. Frame Structure of the Logic Channel
8. Use of the Common Control Channel



[RAN Optimization is often presented as a simplistic yet mysterious kind of wizardry operation that enables us to save bandwidth on the TDM inefficiencies of the GSM interface through packetization, statistical multiplexing, and removing unused channels, bandwidth reduction by eliminating redundant bit patterns, idle channels and silences in the voice communications]

5. Fundamental Multiple Access Schemes
1. FDMA
2. TDMA
3. CDMA
4. CSMA


6. UMTS Radio Access Network
1. UTRAN architecture
2. WCDMA characteristics
3. Handovers in UMTS: softer, soft and hard (inter-frequency and inter-system)
4. UTRAN channels structure: logical channels, transport channels and physical channels
5. Issues related to the radio coverage planning
6. UTRAN evolution


7. Migration Path from 2G to 2.5G to 3G
1. Review of 3G Evolution
2. CDMA2000 vs IS-95A/B
3. IS-95 Access and Core Network
4. Spreading and Modulation
5. Link Structures
6. High Data Rate Capabilities
7. Migration Scenarios
8. Packet-switched networks
9. Network Architecture
10. Call Processing



NOTE: day 2 and 3 are more or less combined

8. Basic of Radio Network Planning
1. Scope of Radio Network Planning
2. Cell Shape
3. Elements in a Radio Network
1. 8.3.1 Mobile Station (MS)
2. Base Transceiver Station (BTS)
3. Channel Configuration in GSM
4. Radio Network Planning Process
5. Radio Cell and Wave Propagation
6. Wave Propagation Effects and Parameters
1. Free-space Loss
2. Radio Wave Propagation Concepts
3. Reflections and Multipath
4. Diffraction or Shadowing
5. Building and Vehicle Penetration
6. Propagation of a Signal Over Water
7. Propagation of a Signal Over Vegetation (Foliage Loss)
8. Fading of the Signal
9. Interference


9. Radio Network Pre-Planning
1. Capacity and Quality
2. Site Survey and Site Selection
3. Result of the Site Survey Process
4. Frequency Hopping
5. Equipment Enhancements
1. Receiver Diversity
2. Capacity Planning
3. Planned Coverage Area
4. Traffic Estimates
5. Average Antenna Height
6. Power Control
7. Handover


10. Radio Network Parameter Planning
1. Signaling
2. Radio Resource and Mobility Management Neighbor Cells
3. Basic of Radio Network Optimization
4. Network Performance Monitoring
5. Network Performance Assessment
1. Coverage
2. Capacity
3. Quality
4. Parameter Tuning


11. Antenna & Feeder cable Designing
1. Basics of Antenna
2. Antenna gain
3. Directional Diagram
4. Polarization
5. Antenna diversity
6. Antenna new technology
7. Shaped beam technology
8. Intelligent Antenna
9. Antenna Down tilt Planning
10. Antenna Down tilt Design
11. Antenna Selection
12. Current Problems of Using Antenna
13. Application Principle for Base Station Antenna in Urban Areas
14. Application principle for base station antennas in rural areas
15. Application principle for antennas to cover highroads
16. Combining and distribution unit
17. Principle for combining and distribution unit
18. Outdoor antenna feeder system
19. Tower amplifier
20. Feeder cable



[Consistent and superior Quality of Service (QoS) in dense wireless networks. As the demand for services grows, optimizing current spectrum usage is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve network capacity or accelerate the introduction of new radio technologies.]

12. Radio Network Designing
1. Design of Base Station Address
2. Design Parameters for Base Station
1. Environment for Antenna Installation
2. Antenna Separation in GSM System
3. Antenna Separation from GSM and CDMA Base Station
4. Antenna Installation Interval.


13. Link Budgets
1. Understanding the link budget equation.
2. Line-of-sight (LOS) path loss models
3. The Fresnel zone
4. Path loss and free space path loss
5. Antenna gain
6. Frequency considerations
7. Atmospheric, weather and rain attenuation
8. Terrain factors
9. Multipath loss
10. Rician and Raleigh fading considerations
11. Co channel interference
12. Transmission line loss
13. A typical link budget calculation for a cellular network


14. Frequency Planning and Ant interference Technology
1. Frequency Planning
1. Frequency Division and C/I Requirements
2. Principles of the Frequency Planning.
3. Basic Frequency Reuse
4. Compact Frequency Reuse
2. Ant interference Technology
1. Frequency hopping Technology
2. Power Control
3. Discontinuous Transmission

NOTE: day 4 and 5 are more or less combined

15. Handover Scenarios
1. Soft & Softer Handoffs
2. Hard Handoffs
3. Inter-Frequency Handoff
4. Signaling flows for handover for/to UTRAN to/from GSM BSS.
5. Handover related timers in MSC, SGSN, RAN and MS/UE
6. Impact of handover on specific CS services.
7. Impact of handover on QoS for PS connections
8. Handover main challenges


16. Radio Network Problems Positioning and Solving
1. Obtaining Basic Information
2. Coverage
3. Capacity
4. Interference
5. Handover
6. Call Drop


17. UMTS System Design
1. Network design principle
2. RF Coverage Analysis
3. RF Capacity Analysis
4. Calculating Uplink Cell Load
5. Downlink Load Cell
6. Load Sharing
7. Radio Access Network
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Day 5 (3G System Design Consideration, ITU-R Propagation Models & Prediction Method, KPI)


18. 3G System Design Consideration
1. RF System Design Procedure
1. Wireless System Procedure
2. 3G RF Design Considerations
3. Methodology
4. Propagation Models
5. Free Space
6. Hata Model
2. Cell Site Design
3. Search Area
4. Site Qualification
5. Site Acceptance
6. Site Rejection
7. EMF Compliance


19. ITU-R Propagation Models and Prediction Methods
1. Terrain effects
2. Propagation over smooth earth
3. Propagation over irregular terrain
4. Diffraction and microwave interference
5. Diffraction over irregular terrain
6. Diffraction in microwave interference (site shielding)
7. Ground and obstacles, effects of buildings


20. Key Performance Indicators
1. ITU_T_E800 and ETSI -ETR003 classification of QoS.
2. 20.2. Accessibility
1. Cause of failure
2. How to improve
3. Availability
1. Cause of failure
2. How to improve
4. Maintainability (dropped calls, early failure)
1. Cause of failure
2. How to improve
5. Quality
1. Cause of failure
2. How to improve