Mobile Communication Basics - Cell

Reselection Parameters
C1 = RX level – RX Level Access Min + Power Offset – Max [(MS_TX_PWR_MAX_CCH -
P), 0]

Following parameter settings for our network,

 Power Offset = 0
 MS_TX_PWR_MAX_CCH = 33 dBm
 RX Level Access Min = -102 dBm

For GSM900 mobile P = 33 dBm

Then,

C1GSM = RX level GSM – (-102) + 0 – Max [ (33 – 33),0]

C1GSM = RX level GSM + 102 + 0 – Max [0,0]

C1GSM = RX level GSM + 102

For GSM 1800 mobile P = 30 dBm

Then,

C1DCS = RX level DCS – (-102) + 0 – Max [33-30,0]

C1 DCS = RX level DCS + 102 – Max [3,0]

C1 DCS = RX level DCS + 102 – 3

C1 DCS = RX level DCS + 99

C2 = C1+ CRO – TO* H (PT-T)

According to Huawei default parameter settings,

· TO = 0

· PT = 0

Then,
C2 = C1 + CRO

C2 GSM = RX level GSM + 102 + CRO

C2 DCS = RX level DCS + 99 + CRO

According to our network settings,

CRODCS = 8 (16dB), CROGSM = 0 (0dB),

Then,

C2GSM = RX levelGSM + 102 + 0

C2DCS = RX levelDCS + 99 + 16

C2GSM = RX levelGSM + 102

C2DCS = RX levelDCS + 115

For reselection,

C2target > C2serving (for 5 seconds)

Some examples:

Example1:

If both cells are GSM cells (Cell A & Cell B)

Then,

C2A > C2B (for 5 seconds) to reselect to Cell A

RX levelA + 102 > RX levelB + 102

Which means,

RX levelA > RX levelB (for 5 seconds) is enough for a cell reselection

If both cells are DCS, then it is same as 2 GSM cells.

Example2:

If one cell is GSM & other is DCS, find the requirement to reselect to DCS cell.
Then,

C2DCS > C2GSM  (for 5 seconds) to reselect to Cell A

RX levelDCS + 115 >  RX levelGSM + 102

RX levelDCS >  RX levelGSM + 102 – 115

RX levelDCS >  RX levelGSM – 13

Which means RX levelDCS >  RX levelGSM – 13  (for 5 seconds) is enough for a cell reselection to
DCS Cell

If RX levelGSM = -80 dBm, then RX levelDCS >  RX levelGSM – 13

RX levelDCS > -80  – 13

RX levelDCS > -93 dBm

How to improve Hand Over Success Rate

t is very important to maintain correct neighbour plan and do the basics. If you do not follow the
basics of neighbour planning, it is very limited to possibilities to improve HOSR by using
parameters. Edge, Layer, PBGT, Quality or Load sharing handovers will not work properly if we
do not have correct neighbour plan. Therefore we must work on HO basics as the first step to
improve HOSR.

1). Define correct neighbours

Still it is found many neighbour relations are missing even co-located neighbours. Initially we
can find missing neighbours by using Nastar. After that we should work on tools available in
BSCs which give you real HO requirements in the field (Undefined Adjacent Cell Measurements
in BSC32 and Neighbour Cell Optimization tool in BSC6000, unfortunately still we are not able
to use these tools available with the BSC6000 & M2000).

2). Method of removing neighbours

Based on HO statistics, this is the best and only method that I suggest to remove neighbours. We
can remove HO relations which have fewer no of HOs and cells having poor HOSR, but it
depends on the importance of the neighbour to avoid call drops). Further Nastar is not a good
tool to remove neighbours.
3). Same BCCH & BSIC combinations

Avoid same BCCH+BSIC combination is very important to improve HOSR. In this case it is
better to keep maximum possible distance between same BCCH+BSIC combinations. I
recommend keeping 6km distance in urban area. Again this checking should be done periodically
since many new sites become on-air time to time.

4). External neighbour parameters

This is very important since there are many BSC borders in the City area. Many hand over
improvement can be achieved in the city area by improving inter BSC HOSR. This external
neighbour parameter checking has to be done periodically.

4). Frequency plan

Co-channel interference degrades HOSR. Proper neighbour relations will increase HOSR while
improving all other KPIs such as CDR, Congestion and CSSR. I expect your support to improve
HOSR by following above steps.

Mobile Communication Basics - Location

Update
Why location updates?

Network has to identify where is the mobile is located to page it when an incoming call is
received.

Why cannot page the entire network?

Millions of calls receive every moment, the capacity is not enough if network page all those
millions of calls in each and every base station in the network. Therefore it is required to divide
the network in to LAC.

What is the suitable LAC size?

It is depends on many factors. But smaller location area avoids paging channel congestions. But
having many LACs would increase SDCCH traffic in LAC border cells. Therefore city centers,
highways have to be avoided as much as possible to minimize number of location updates.

What is the largest LAC?

Single MSC

What is the smallest LAC?

Single cell

Location Update Types

Three types of location updates are defined in GSM standards.

 Normal location updating

 IMIS attach location updating procedure
 Periodic location updating

Normal location updating

MS has to do a location update in new location area when it crosses a LAC border.

IMIS attach location updating procedure

 When mobile switch ON it has to do a location update

 When moving from non coverage area to a coverage area MS has to do a location update if LAC
is different from stored LAC
 When mobile switch OFF it has to detached from the network

Periodic location updating (T3212 timer is used)

The network has to do a periodic location updates to update the subscribers in each location area.

How does the network distinguish between 'switched off' and 'not responding' when giving
messages to the caller?

 Mobile detached from VLR when it switched off.

 Mobile registered in VLR but not in coverage area.

Mobile Communication Basics -External Cell

Parameters
t is required to define correct data in external cells to have a proper inter-BSC handovers & inter-
MSC handovers, especially values of Layer, Layer Threshold and Minimum DL Power of the
candidate cell. This might be happened after the cutovers or wrong initial configuration by BSS
team. Anyhow this will cause poor HO performance while increasing call drops. Further it will
affect traffic balancing in border cells as well. Therefore we should give more priority to
maintain correct external cell data inside the city area since there are many BSC borders.
Therefore, it is better to give more priority to maintain correct external cell parameters.

Parameters mentioned in below tables are required to be checked such as layer, layer threshold,
cell priority and Min DL level on Candidate Cell parameters of external cells. Concept behind
this is external cell parameters must be equal to original cell parameters. In this case, your
BSC’s external cell parameters should be equal to neighbour BSCs original cell parameters

BSC6000

 2G External Cell Name

 BCCH No.
 MNC
 MCC
 LAC
 CI
 NCC
 BCC
 Whether to Share MSC
 Layer Where the Cell Is Located
 Priority Level of Cell
 Inter-layer Handover Threshold
 Speed Penalty Value
 Speed Penalty Time
 Minimum DL Power of Candidate Handover Cell

When to check

 After a BSC cutover

 After define new neighbour plan
 After change frequency plan (BCCH+BSIC)
 After implementing a new LAC plan
 After change other parameters which mentioned above (it is better to do external cell
parameter audit at least once every 2 week since it is difficult to monitor all these
parameter changes in daily basis)

How to check

 Using Excel vlookup function

  Nastar – import autocfg files of neighbour BSCs and your own BSC and run “Frequency
& Neighbour Config. Para. Check”

4.3  Serial Parameters of Cell Selection and Reselection

4.3.1  cell_bar_access

I. Definition

In the SI broadcasted in each cell, a bit indicates whether the MS is allowed to access the
network in the cell, namely, cell_bar_access.

II. Format

The value of cell_bar_access includes 1 and 0. The value 0 indicates that MS is allowed to
access the network from the cell. The value 1 indicates that the MS is barred to access the
network from the cell. Actually whether to allow MS to access the network from the cell is
determined by both cell_bar_access and cell_bar_qualify.

III. Configuration and Influence

The cell_bar_access is configured by equipment room operators. Usually the MS is allowed to access the
network from all the cells, so cell_bar_access is configured to 0. In special situations, the operators want
some cell for handover service only, so cell_bar_access is configured to 1

The MS usually works in microcells (you can configure the priority of cells and reselection parameters to
enable this). When the MS is calling while moving fast, the network force MS to hand over to the base
station G. The signals of base station G are stronger than microcell base station in most areas. When the
call terminates, the MS just camps near base station G and at edge of microcell cells, the MS will not
reselect a cell according to GSM regulations, therefore the MS cannot return to microcell.

The capacity of base station G is usually small, so the previous phenomenon leads to
congestion of base station G. To solve the problem, you can configure the cell_bar_access
to 1, namely, to forbid MS directly accessing base station G. In area A, handover is allowed
to base station G.

IV. Precautions

The cell_bar_access is used only in some special areas. For common cells, it is configured to
0.

4.3.2  cell_bar_qualify

I. Definition

The cell_bar_qualify determines the priority of cells, namely, it enables MS to select some
cell by preference.
II. Format

The value of cell_bar_qualify includes 1 and 0. The cell_bar_qualify and cell_bar_access

determine the priority state of cells, as listed in Table 1-4.

Table 7-1 Cell priorities

cell_bar_qualify cell_bar_access Cell selection priority Cell reselection state

0 0 Normal Normal

0 1 Barred Barred

1 0 Low Normal

1 1 Low Normal

An exception is that the cell selection priority and cell reselection state are normal when
the following conditions are met:
           The cell belongs to the PLMN which the MS belongs to.
           The MS is in cell test operation mode.
           The cell_bar_access is 1.

           The cell_bar_qualify is 0.

           The access control class 15 is disabled.

III. Configuration and Influence

The priority of all the cells are usually configured to normal, namely, cell_bar_qualify = 0. In
microcell and dualband networking, operators might want MS to camps on the cell of some
type by preference. In this situation, the equipment room operators can configure the
priority of these cells to normal and other cells to low.
During cell selection, when the proper cells with normal as the priority is not present
(proper cells means that all parameters meet the conditions for cell selection, namely, C1 >
0, and the cell is allowed to access), the MS will select cells with low priority.

IV. Precautions

Pay attention to the following aspects:

           When cell priority is used as a method to optimize network, the
cell_bar_qualify only affects cell selection, without any influence on cell
reselection. You must optimize the network by combining cell_bar_qualify and
C2.
           During cell selection, when the proper cells with normal as the priority is

not present, the MS will select cells with low priority. Therefore when the level
of the cell with normal priority is low, and cells with low priority and high level
are present, the MS will access the network slowly while powering on.
4.3.3  Minimum Received Level Allowing MS to Access (RXLEV_ACCESS_MIN)

I. Definition

To avoid bad communication quality, call drop, and a waste of network radio resources due
to MS accessing the network at low received signal level, GSM regulations prescribe that
when an MS accesses the network the received level must be greater than the threshold
level, namely, the minimum received level allowing MS to access.

II. Format

The value range of RXLEV_ACCESS_MIN is from –110 dBm to –47 dBm.

III. Configuration and Influence

The recommended RXLEV_ACCESS_MIN needs to be approximately equal to the receiving

sensitivity of MS. The RXLEV_ACCESS_MIN affects cell selection parameter C1, so it is
important to traffic adjustment and network optimization.
For cells with over high traffic and severe congestion, you can increase
RXLEV_ACCESS_MIN. In this way, the C1 and C2 of the cells decrease, and the effective
coverage range decreases. You must not configure RXLEV_ACCESS_MIN over great, because
this might cause non-seamless coverage and complaints for signal fluctuation. It is
recommended that the RXLEV_ACCESS_MIN is smaller than or equal to –90 dBm.

IV. Precautions

Except for areas of high density of base stations and of qualified coverage, adjusting cell
traffic by RXLEV_ACCESS_MIN is not recommended.

4.3.4  Additional Reselection Parameter Indicator

I. Definition

The cell selection and reselection by MS depends on the parameters C1 and C2. Whether C2
is the cell reselection parameter is determined by network operators. Additional reselection
parameter indicator (ADDITIONAL RESELECT) informs MS of whether to use C2 in cell
reselection.

II. Format

ADDITIONAL RESELECT consists of 1 bit. In SI3, it is meaningless, and equipment

manufacturers configure it to N. The MS uses ADDITIONAL RESELECT of SI4.
When ADDITIONAL RESELECT is configured to N, the meaning is: if the
          

rest bytes of SI4 (SI4RestOctets) are present, the MS must abstract and calculate
parameters related to C2 and related cell reselection parameter PI.
 When ADDITIONAL RESELECT is configured to Y, the meaning is that
          

the MS must abstract and calculate parameters related to C2 and related cell
reselection parameter PI.
III. Configuration and Influence

Cells seldom use SI7 and SI8, so you can configure ADDITIONAL RESELECT to N. When cells
use SI7 and SI8, and the parameter C2 is used in cell reselection, you can configure
ADDITIONAL RESELECT to Y.

4.3.5  Cell Reselection Parameter Indicator

I. Definition

The cell reselection parameter indicator (CELL_RESELECT_PARAM_IND) is used in informing

MS of whether C2 is a cell reselection parameter and whether C2 is present.

II. Format

The value of CELL_RESELECT_PARAM_IND includes Y and N, with the meanings as follows:

           Y: The MS must calculate C2 by abstracting parameters from SIs of cell
broadcast, and set C2 as the standard for cell reselection.
           N: The MS must set C1 as the standard, namely, C2 = C1.

III. Configuration and Influence

The equipment room operators determine the value of PI. Configure PI to Y if related cells
set C2 as the standard for cell reselection; otherwise, configure it to N.

4.3.6  Cell Reselection Offset, Temporary Offset, and Penalty Time

I. Definition

After the MS selects a cell, without great change of all the conditions, the MS will camp on
the selected cell. Meanwhile, it does as follow:
           Starts measuring signals level of BCCH carrier in neighbor cells.
           Records the 6 neighbor cells with greatest signal level.

           Abstract various SI and control information of each neighbor cell from the

6 cells.
When conditions are met, the MS hands over from the selected cell to another. This
process is called cell reselection. The conditions include:
           Cell priority
           Whether the cell is barred to access
           Radio channel level (important)

When the signal level of neighbor cells exceeds that of the serving cell, cell reselection
occurs. The channel level standard used in cell reselection is C2, with the calculation as
follows:
 1)         When PENELTY_TIME ≠ 11111:
C2 = C1 + CELL_RESELECT_OFFSET - TEMPORARY_OFFSET * H
(PENALTY_TIME - T)
Wherein, if PENALTY_TIME - T (x) < 0, the function H(x) = 0; if x ≥ 0, H(x) =
1.
2)         When PENELTY_TIME = 11111:
C2 = C1 - CELL_RESELECT_OFFSET
T is a timer, with 0 as the initial value. When a cell is listed by MS in the list of cells with
maximum signal level, start T with step of 4.62ms (a TDMA frame). When the cell is
removed from the list, the associated T is reset.
After cell reselection, the T of original cell works as PENALTY_TIME. Namely, temporary
offset is not performed on the original cell.
CELL_RESELECT_OFFSET (CRO) modifies cell reselecting time C2.
TEMPORARY_OFFSET (TO) is supplemented to C2 from starting working of T to the
prescribed time.
PENALTY_TIME is the time for TEMPORARY_OFFSET having effect on C2. When
PENALTY_TIME = 11111, the MS is informed of using C2 = C1 – CRO.
CELL_RESELECT_OFFSET, TEMPORARY_OFFSET, and PENALTY_TIME are cell reselection
parameters.
           When the cell reselection parameter PI is 1, the MS is informed of receiving
values of three parameters on BCCH.
           If PI is 0, the MS judges that the previous three parameters are 0, namely

C2 = C1.
If the C2 of a cell (in the same location area as the serving cell) calculated by MS is greater
than the C2 of the cell where MS camps, and this lasts for over 5s, the MS reselects to camp
on the cell.
If the C2 of a cell (in different location area as the serving cell) calculated by MS is greater
than the sum of C2 of the cell where MS camps and cell reselect hysteresis, and this lasts
for over 5s, the MS reselects to camp on the cell.
The interval between two reselections is at least 15s, and this avoids frequent cell
reselection by MS.
C2 is formed on the combination of C1 and artificial offset parameters. The artificial offset
parameters help MS camp on or prevent MS from camping on some cell. This balances the
traffic of the network.

II. Format

1)         The cell reselection offset (CRO) is in decimal, with unit of dB. It ranges
from 0 to 63, which means 0 to 126 dB (2 dB as the step). The recommended
value is 0.
 2)         The temporary offset (TO) is in decimal, with unit of dB. It ranges from 0
to 7, which means 0 to 70 dB (10 dB as the step). The recommended value is 0.
3)         The penalty time (PT) is in decimal, with unit of second. It ranges from 0 to
31. The value 0 to 30 means 20s to 620s (20s as the step). The value 31 is
reserved for changing the effect direction of C2 by CRO. The recommended
value is 0.
III. Configurationa and Influence

The previous parameters can be adjusted accordingly in the following three situations:
1)         When the communication quality is bad due to heavy traffic or other
causes, change the parameters to enable MS not camps on the cell (the cell is
exclusive from the MS). For this situation, configure PT to 31, so TO is
ineffective. C2 = C1 – CRO. The C2 is artificially lowered. So the probability
for MS to reselect the cell decreases. In addition, the equipment room operators
can configure CRO to a proper value according to the exclusive level of the cell
by MS. The greater the exclusion is, the greater the CRO is.
2)         For cells with low traffic and equipment of low utilization, change the
parameters to enable MS to camp on the cell (the cell is prior). In this situation,
configure CRO to 0–20 dB according to the priority. The higher the priority is,
the greater the CRO is. TO is configured the same as or a little greater than
CRO. PT helps avoid over frequent cell reselection, the recommended value of
PT is 20s or 40s.
3)         For cell with average traffic, configure CRO to 0, PT to 11111 so that C2 =
C1. No artificial influence is on the cell.
IV. Precautions

In whatever situations, the CRO must not be greater than 30 dB, because over great CRO
leads to unstable network, such as complaints about signal fluctuation.

4.3.7  Cell Reselection Hysteresis (CRH)

I. Definition

CRH affects cell reselection of cross location area. The MS starts cell reselection if the
following conditions are met:
           The signal level of neighbor cell (in different location area) is greater than
that of the serving cell.
           The difference between the signal levels of the neighbor cell and the

serving cell must be greater than the value prescribed by cell reselection
hysteresis.
The difference is based on the cell reselection methods used by MS. If the MS reselects a
cell with C2, then compare values of C2.
II. Format

CRH is in decimal, with unit of dB. The range is 0 to 14, with step of 2 dB. The recommended
value is 4.

III. Configuration and Influence

If the original cell and target cell belongs to different location areas, the MS must originate
a location updating process after cell reselection. Due to the attenuation feature of radio
channels, the C2 of two cells measured at the bordering area of neighbor cells fluctuates
much, so the MS reselect cells frequently. The interval between two reselections is over
15s, which is rather short for location updating. The signal flow of network increases
sharply, radio resources cannot be fully utilized.
During location updating, the MS cannot respond to paging, so the connection rate
decreases. Adjust CRH according to signal flow and coverage. When signal flow overloads or
location updating of cross location area is frequent, the cell reselection hysteresis is
increased as recommended. You must avoid abnormal coverage due to over large location
area.

IV. Precautions

Do not configure CRH to 0 dB.