Automatic Cell Planning for GSM

Automatic optimal cell-site selection and equipment configuration

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The task:

In 2G (GSM) networks cell sites are still placed and configured manually cell by cell in a `coverage first, capacity later´ manner. The results are not optimal but nevertheless acceptable since interference to adjacent cells can be decreased by appropriate channel assignments. However, planning a network by hand implies that only a limited number of designs can be evaluated.

The idea: Network Optimization with Automatic Cell Planning

Instead of manually tuning cell sites one by one we propose an automatic cell planning procedure that jointly analyzes all the cell sites in the supplying area and optimizes the overall service quality mathematically by using different sites (from a set of possible sites to be erected) and/or different configurations per site (like main antenna direction, antenna downtilt, antenna pattern, EIRP for a macro/micro cell layout). Afterwards, a coverage and interference analysis might be carried out to prove the quality of our optimal solution and to evaluate its improvements compared to own, manually-designed network plans. 

Our 2G automatic cell planning solution:

• BTS_Opt. A novel optimization module maximizing carrier-to-interference-ratios and thus minimizing interference.

Areas of application:

• To optimize an existing network. The user enters the current network plan and our solutions suggest how the sites should be reconfigured.

• To expand an existing network. The user enters the current network plan together with potential new sites and our solutions suggest which of the new sites should be added to the network together with the appropriate configurations. Optionally an advise is given how the existing sites should be reconfigured.

• To erect a network from scratch. The user enters a set of potential sites and our solutions suggest how many and which of these should be erected and how each of the chosen sites should be configured to ensure an optimal network design.

Your benefits:

• Get more revenue. Our solution maximizes the service quality of your existing network. More traffic can be served and last but not least billed.

• Save millions in operational costs. Our solution figures out sites that are not needed. The same amount of traffic might (even better) be served with less but cleverly arranged sites.