LTE Radio Planning

LTE Radio Planning

The course provides a solid set of guidelines necessary for planning and design of the LTE radio networks. Theory is combined with the hands-on demonstrations and exercises realized by using the RNP tool and the state-of-the-art LTE radio interface and network simulators. We start by outlining the RNP process and EPC architecture. This is followed by highlighting most important parameters and elements of the LTE radio interface and characterizing the applicable propagation environment.

Multiple antenna techniques are described together with their influence on the LTE network performance. Subsequently a fundamental problem of link budget estimation is considered, together with the issue of coverage planning. Special attention is given to the problem of interference management and frequency planning, as this is one of the major areas differentiating LTE from previous 3GPP systems (GSM and UMTS). Then, the problem of capacity planning is addressed, together with traffic and QoS considerations.

Finally, we describe the key radio interface procedures and formulate recommendations for their configuration. The course is ended by the presentation of the features' roadmaps, which may be of special use for the long-term network planners. Throughout the course, as much as possible, we utilize the RNP tool, as well as the radio interface and network simulators in order to better present the knowledge and provide practical exercises to the students.

Note: The course content is subject to changes.

Introduction into the LTE Radio Planning

• Steps in the radio network planning process, input data and design goals / requirements
• Initial planning, detailed planning, parameter planning, verification and acceptance
• Tools supporting the planning process
• Architecture of E-UTRAN and EPC
• Comparing LTE planning to GSM and UMTS

LTE Air Interface and Cell Parameters

• E-UTRA FDD radio frame
• Physical channels, control channel elements, resource blocks, reference signals and preambles
• PHY channels and signals for downlink: PDSCH, PBCH, PDCCH, PCFICH, PHICH, RS, P-SS, S-SS, and uplink: PUSCH, PUCCH, PRACH, DRS, SRS
• Simulation tool exercise

Radio Propagation for LTE

• LTE spectrum allocations and regulatory requirements
• eNB and UE transmitter and receiver requirements
• Review of key propagation phenomena
• Applicable propagation models (COST, SUI, etc) and their parameters
• RNP tool simulation case studies

Antennas in LTE

• Basic antenna parameters: beamwidth, gain, polarization, HBW, front-to-back ratio, EIRP
• LTE spatial diversity techniques
• SU-MIMO and MU-MIMO
• MIMO mode switching and feedback
• Practical antenna considerations
• MIMO influence on link reliability and network capacity
• E-UTRAN Rel 10 MIMO extensions

LTE Link Budget and Coverage Planning

• Gains and losses for downlink and uplink
• LTE SNIR and sensitivity requirements
• Calculating noise power and estimating interference power
• Antenna influence on the LTE link budget including MIMO
• Influence of cyclic prefix (normal and extended)
• RSSI, RSRP and RSRQ
• Calculating range, inter-site distance and cell area
• LTE link budget exercises for downlink and uplink
• Morphology definition
• RNP tool configuration
• Site placement and co-siting considerations
• Plots for distribution of: SNIR, signal level, best servers, max achievable data rates
• Repeaters in LTE (working in Layer 1, Layer 2 or Layer 3)
• Comparing LTE coverage to GSM and UMTS
• Consideration of the LTE indoor planning
• RNP tool practical examples

Frequency Planning and Interference Control

• Review of mechanisms for interference control
• Single Frequency Network (SFN) concept
• OFDMA and SC-FDMA interference scenarios
• Integer and fractional frequency reuse
• Soft frequency reuse and partial frequency reuse
• Dynamic frequency assignments
• Load balancing
• Influence of FDD vs TDD and inter-cell synchronization
• Use of X2 interface
• Simulation case studies

LTE Capacity Planning

• Use of marketing data in capacity planning
• Modeling of packet radio traffic
• QoS concept and QoS requirements
• Influence of Modulation and Coding Scheme distribution on sector capacity
• Influence of MIMO
• Building and using traffic maps
• Backhaul and backbone network considerations
• Capacity budget exercise

Configuration of the LTE Radio Procedures

• Synchronization procedure and sync signal planning
• Random access procedure and preamble assignment
• Cell reselection and handover
• Power control
• Measurement reporting
• Call setup
• Self-Organized Network (SON) concept

LTE Features Roadmap

• Summary of the functional content of the 3GPP E-UTRAN Rel 8
• What features we can expect in the 3GPP E-UTRAN Rel 9 and Rel 10

The LTE Radio Planning training course is developed for all telecom professionals facing a problem of LTE radio network planning, design and testing. Is is also suitable for those engineers or product managers that are involved in the design of tools and services supporting the network planning process.