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Dimensioning of LTE Network

Description of Models and Tool, Coverage andCapacity Estimation of 3GPP Long Term Evolution

radio interface

Abdul Basit, Syed

Masters Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the

Degree of Masters of Science in Technology

Espoo, February, 2009

Supervisor: Professor Riku Jntti

Instructor: Paolo Zanier

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DEDICATION

To

Prophet of Islam

MUHAMMAD

(Peace and blessings of God be upon him)

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HELSINKI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY Abstract of the Masters Thesis

Author: Abdul Basit, Syed

Name of Thesis: Dimensioning of LTE Network. Description of Models and Tools,

Coverage and Capacity Estimation of 3GPP Long Term Evolution

Date: 20.02.2009 Number of Pages: 71

Department: Department of Electrical and Communications Engineering

Professorship: S-72 Communications Laboratory

Supervisor: Professor Riku Jntti

Instructor: Paolo Zanier

Long Term Evolution (LTE) is 3GPP enhancement to the current cellular system in use.

The purpose of developing this system is to keep 3GPP systems competent enough for

decades to come. LTE is designed to have wider channels up to 20MHz, with low latency

and packet optimized radio access technology. The peak data rate envisaged for LTE is

100 Mbps in downlink and 50 Mbps in the uplink. With OFDM as the radio access

technology, LTE has very promising features, like bandwidth scalability and both FDD

and TDD duplexing methods. This thesis is related to the dimensioning of LTE radio

access networks and the development of tool for dimensioning purpose.

Different steps of the dimensioning process are listed and explained. Methods and models

for coverage and capacity planning are developed for dimensioning of LTE radio access

networks. Special emphasis is laid on radio link budget along with detailed coverage and

capacity. The results are fabricated in an easy-to-use tool for dimensioning. The tool is

made in Excel to serve the ease of working.

Particular importance is given to clarity in the design of dimensioning tool, achieved by

dividing the tool into clearly defined sections. Inputs and outputs are placed on separate

sheets. The dimensioning tool calculates the number of cells needed to cover a given area

with the user-provided parameters. Excel based tool covers all the basic aspects of the

dimensioning process for LTE Access Networks.

Keywords: 3GPP, LTE, Dimensioning, Network Planning, Capacity, Traffic Models.

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents.......................................................................................................... iii

Acknowledgments........................................................................................................... v

List of Abbreviations......................................................................................................vi

List of Figures................................................................................................................ix

List of Tables.................................................................................................................ix

1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Objectives and Approach ................................................................................................. 2

1.1.1 Methodology........................................................................................................................2

1.1.2 Dimensioning Tool.............................................................................................................4

1.2 Thesis Layout ................. ................ ..................... .................. ..................... ................. ....... 4

2 Long Term Evolution of 3GPP (LTE) and Dimensioning......................................5

2.1 LTE Overview..................... ..................... ................. .................. ..................... .................. 6

2.2 Requirements for LTE................. ................... ................... ................ ..................... .......... 6

2.3 Multiple Access Techniques................ ..................... ................. .................. ..................... 72.3.1 OFDMA for DL.................................................................................................................8

2.3.2 SC-FDMA for UL ............................................................................................................11

2.4 Bandwidth Scalability ................ .................... ................ .................... ................... ........... 12

2.5 Network Architecture ..................................................................................................... 13

2.6 E-UTRAN Interfaces..... ................. ................... .................. ................... ................... ..... 15

3 Dimensioning of LTE Network............................................................................ 17

3.1 Wireless Cellular Network Dimensioning ................. .................. .................. ............... 17

3.2 LTE Access Network Dimensioning.................. .................... ................ ..................... . 213.2.1 Inputs of LTE Dimensioning.........................................................................................22

3.2.2 Outputs of LTE Dimensioning......................................................................................23

3.2.3 LTE Dimensioning Process............................................................................................23

4 Coverage Planning and Radio Link Budget.......................................................... 27

4.1 Radio Link Budget .................. .................... .................. ................. ..................... ............. 28

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4.1.1 Other-to-own cell interference (i) ..................................................................................32

4.2 Required SINR............... ................ ..................... .................. ................. ..................... ..... 33

4.2.1 Spectral Efficiency ............................................................................................................33

4.3 Interference........ .................. ..................... ................. .................. ..................... ................ 36

4.4 Coverage-based Site Count ............................................................................................38

5 Capacity Planning ................................................................................................ 40

5.1 LTE Capacity Planning ................ ..................... ................. ................ ..................... ........ 40

5.2 Average Cell Throughput Calculations................... .................. ................. ................... 41

5.3 Traffic demand estimation and Overbooking factor................. .................. ............... 43

5.4 Capacity based site count.................... .................. .................. .................. ..................... . 44

6 Tool for LTE Dimensioning................................................................................. 45

6.1 Methodology and Structure................ .................... ................ .................. ..................... . 45

6.2 Dimensioning inputs ....................................................................................................... 46

6.3 Tables and background data............ .................. .................. ................... .................... .... 48

6.4 Radio link budget ................ ..................... ................. .................. ..................... ................ 50

6.5 Capacity Evaluator.................. .................... .................. ................. ..................... ............. 52

6.6 Dimensioning Output.....................................................................................................53

7 Conclusion and Future Work................................................................................ 56

7.1 Conclusion ................ ................. ..................... ................ ................... ..................... .......... 56

7.2 Future Work ..................................................................................................................... 57

8 References ............................................................................................................ 58

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Acknowledgments

This Masters thesis was completed at Nokia Oyj during the period of June 2006 January 2007.

I am deeply indebted to Dr. David Soldani and Paolo Zanier, who has been my instructors for

this work. I am grateful for their cooperation, encouragement and invaluable guidance

throughout the thesis. I must extend my gratitude to my supervisor, Professor Riku Jntti for

being always so supportive and cooperative.

I am deeply and forever obliged to my family for their love, support and encouragement

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