Technical Description - 3dbconsult.com3dbconsult.com/resources/multimedia/3dB NQA tool Technical... · 4 3dB NQA tool | Technical Description 2. General Description 3dB Neighbor Quality

3dB consult NQA tool Technical Description

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3dB NQA tool | Technical Description

Index

1. 3dB tools .................................................................................................................... 3

2. General Description ................................................................................................... 4

3. Need for 3dB NQA tool.............................................................................................. 5

4. General Description ................................................................................................... 7

4.1. Inputs and Outputs ............................................................................................ 8

4.2. Functionalities .................................................................................................10

4.2.1. Deleting .................................................................................................. 10

4.2.2. Co-sites ................................................................................................... 11

4.2.3. Sectorizations ......................................................................................... 11

4.2.4. Number of Neighbors Limits .................................................................. 11

4.2.5. Wrong Definitions Correction ................................................................ 12

4.2.6. Parameterization .................................................................................... 13

4.2.7. Neighbors definition Checking ............................................................... 13

4.2.8. Exports Simulation ................................................................................. 14

5. Output Files formats ...............................................................................................14

6. Success stories .........................................................................................................16

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1. 3dB tools

3dB consult offers its Customers a wide range of Applications for Processes

Automation in Mobile Networks Projects, increasing efficiency, flexibility and quality of

services, and dramatically reducing delivery times. These Applications (3dB tools) are

offered both in custom developments suited to Customer needs and seamlessly with

the services offered by our Company.

Applications are tailored to each project and allow for changes in near real time,

allowing services in networks of any provider and any technology available in the

market.

These applications are used across the whole portfolio of NDO Services 3dB consult

offers.

3dB Optimization tool automates network counters analysis facilitating the identification of network problems and their correction

3dB Neighbor Quality Assurance tool automates the generation of neighbors integration files according to the network parameterization and the specified input and output formats

3dB Neighbor Consistency Check tool automates checking and correcting the network definition and parameterization of a cell or group of cells, according to the specified parameters

3dB Cell Definition tool automates the generation of cell integration data according to the network parameterization and the specified input and output formats

3dB MAP tool provides a set of Mapinfo® tools that automate processing drive test measurements and facilitate the optimization of neighbor relations, frequencies or codes

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2. General Description

3dB Neighbor Quality Assurance tool (3dB NQA tool) consists of a set of functional

modules ad-hoc developed that allows the automation of those processes involving

neighborhood relations creation or modification, thereby reducing errors, response

time and, consequently, costs.

The Application generates the necessary neighbor relations (deletions and creations)

to perform the Swap of a list of cells/nodes according to the parameters specified by

the operator. This Swap may involve 2G, 3G or both technologies nodes.

3dB NQA tool is a priceless tool to use in Radio Network Technology Renewal Projects,

where Node Swaps are gradually performed, and cells with different technologies,

vendors, etc. may co-exist at a given time.

3dB NQA tool maps the existing neighborhood relations of the cells/nodes before

Swap (pre-Swap situation) in post Swap nodes. For those new technologies integrated

at the time of the Swap 3dB NQA tool replicates existing cell relations in pre-Swap co-

sites as directed by the Operator.

The use of 3dB NQA tool secures a smooth flow of Swaps, with the right set of

neighbors being added to every node in the Network at every time, and, thus, avoiding

major problems derived from setting up nodes lacking neighbors, incorrect ones,

integration files with more neighbors than those system allows, etc.

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3. Need for 3dB NQA tool

Nowadays Mobile Operators are performing many actions in their Radio Access

Networks (RAN) to adapt the networks to Broadband Technologies.

By the end of 2011, total mobile subscriptions reached around 6 billion and are

expected to reach around 9 billion by the end of 2017. M2M will add to this figure. The

number of mobile broadband subscriptions reached close to 1 billion, and is predicted

to reach 5 billion in 20171.

Projects including RAN Renewals, Rehomings, RAN Sharing, etc. require Neighbor

Relations redefinition.

As network technologies increases and different suppliers coexist within Networks,

Neighbor Relations definitions become more and more complex.

An average three sector site with GSM900/DCS1800/UMTS (2 carriers) systems may

have 600 neighbor relations definitions. All these cells should be defined in every

Operation System Support that coexists in the Network.

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Neighbor Relations redefinition has turned out an important key that leads to a

success in RAN Projects. KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) maintenance and

improvement, and reduction of downtime in sites are closely linked to efficient

Neighbor Relations redefinition.

Plans under demanding time constraints, slow OSS (high OSS load), human mistakes

in OSS scripts or loading, continuous changes in Network parameterization, last

minute changes in sites configuration… are nowadays a common scenario in Mobile

Network Projects.

3dB NQA tool provides a proved successful solution to all this problems.

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4. General Description

The tool's operation is based on mapping the neighbors before Swap (pre-Swap data)

and generating the files and scripts containing the relationships after swap to load in

the Network. The nomenclature and parameterization is defined by the Operator.

A key point in NQA process is to use network exports updated with the current image

of the network before the Swap.

3dB NQA tool allows the generation of neighborhoods of these technologies:

2G: 900MHz and 1800MHz bands

3G: F1, F2, F3 and U900 (F4)r

Different neighbors’ policies are applied to every technology cells, and it is here where

the Application shows its complete potential in helping the Operator to have a

consistent network at every stage of the network Swap.

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3dB NQA tool

NRG CC

Exports

Swap Lists

Daily Inputs

Basic Inputs

Network

Parameterization

Neighboring

Policy

OSS Scripts

OSS1 OSS2 OSS3

…

…

Exports

95%

NR

Loaded

NRG: Neighbor Relations Generator

CC: Consistency Check module

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4.1. Inputs and Outputs

3dB NQA tool feeds from two types of Inputs: Network Exports and Operator’s

engineering rules, which are built into the Application.

Exports from right before the Swap, in the following formats for every

vendor/technology:

Cell naming rules

Rules for new technologies neighbors creation

Parameterization of the neighbor relations

o Default

o Conversion of pre-Swap parameterization to post-Swap

parameterization

The Output from the tool consists of the files with all correct neighbor relations ready

to be loaded in the system

Vendor Technology Format/nº Minimum necessary

Nokia 3G xls/1 WCEL,ADJS,ADJI,ADJG

Siemens 2G xls/1 ADJC,ADJ3G

Ericsson 2G txt/4 Cell, GsmRel_Vertical, UCELL, UtranRel,Foreign

Ericsson 3G xls/1 GsmRelation, UtranRelation, UtranCell, ExternalGsmCell, ExternalUtranCell

Huawei 3G On course

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Vendor Technology Format Example of possible files

Nokia 3G xml Deleted/Created:

ADJI, ADJS, ADJG

Siemens 2G cli

Ericsson 2G txt UNIX Deleted/Created:

foreign,

nrel,

ucell,

utranrel; Corrections

foreign,

ucell

Ericsson 3G xml Deleted/Created:

externalgsmcell,

gsmrelation,

externalutrancell,

utranrelation Corrections

externalgsmcell

externalutrancell

Huawei 3G On course

4.2. Functionalities

4.2.1. Deleting

3dB NQA tool generates files for the deleting of:

All existing neighbor relations (incomings and outgoings) in the pre-Swap

nodes/cells

All Ucells and Foreigns definitions from the pre-Swap nodes/cells in

Ericsson 2G OSS

All ExternalGsmCell and ExternalUtranCell definitions from the pre-Swap

nodes/cells in Ericsson 3G OSS

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4.2.2. Co-sites

3dB NQA tool generates neighbor relations with co-site cells whether they exist or not

in the pre-Swap network, and also for new cells/technologies (when implementing a

new technology in the Swap process).

4.2.3. Sectorizations

3dB NQA tool supports sectorizations. When the number and orientation of sectors is

altered, i.e., when the number of sectors in the site increases or decreases, the tool

maps pre and post-Swap Neighbor relations.

4.2.4. Number of Neighbors Limits

The OSS cannot load neighbor relations above certain limits for both 2G and 3G, so

3dB NQA tool automatically checks these limits to avoid loading problems.

Should any node exceed these limits for any reason, the load on 3G Ericsson would

cause a failure, since neighbor relations would not be imported.

Checking that the number of neighbors is below the limits should be done prior to the

Swap so as to remove the relationships which produce less impact on KPIs. For those

cases in which this check has not been previously done or it fails, 3dB NQA tool

implements the following decision algorithm for removing excess neighbor relations in

Ericsson 3G:

UtranRelation: Removes relations to respect the limits in this order

1. The necessary ExternalUtranCell s to respect the limit

2. If not enough, it removes neighbor relations to nodes not swapped

3. If not enough, it randomly removes any relation to no co-site cells

GsmRelation: Removes relations to respect the limits in this order

1. It checks if there are sites with 900 and 1800 bands neighbor relations

which is not co-site to the original one and eliminates relations with

1800 cells

2. If not enough, it randomly removes any relation to no co-site cells

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These procedures are suited to any Project’s engineering guidelines or any Operator’s

policy or requirements on this subject.

All neighbor relations that are not created are listed in a file for later reference.

Vendor Technology

Relations Limit Comments

Ericsson 2G 2G2G 64 BAList limit (31 freqs). 3dB NQA tool does not take that limit into account

2G3G 64

Siemens 2G 2G2G 32 2G3G 32

Nokia 3G ADJG 32 ADJS 31 ADJI 32

Theorethical Ericsson 3G

3G3G INTRA 31 Total limit: 83 (sum of all neighbor relations, dependant on SIB11 parameterization)

3G3G INTER 32

3G2G 32

Note: In 3G Ericsson, if the SIB11 dependant limit is exceeded the node is able to go up

Regarding Ericsson 3G it should be convenient to reduce these limits to avoid system

loading errors due to excessive neighbor relations produced by any new definition

external or internal to the Swap Project.

At the same time, it should be also studied to reduce this limit according to the SIB11

limitation based on cell’s parameterization (qRxLevMin, qOffset2sn).

4.2.5. Wrong Definitions Correction

3dB NQA tool generates cell definition files when any cell’s parameters definition in

any other technology is not correct.

Next parameterization checking is performed for both technologies:

2G: LAC, CI, BCCH, BSIC, qRxLevMin, accmin (foreign)

3G: LAC, CI, primaryScramblingCode, primaryCpichPower, uarfcnDl, uarfcnUl,

sRatSearch, qRxLevMin, qQualMin

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Following definitions are also checked:

Ucell (3G cells in 2G Ericsson) ≠ Utrancell (3G Ericsson cells) or WCEL (3G cells

in Nokia)

ExternalGsmCell (2G cells in 3G Ericsson) ≠ Cell (2G cells in Ericsson) or BTS (2G

cells in Siemens)

Foreign (external 2G cells in 2G Ericsson) ≠ BTS (2G cells in Siemens) or ≠ cell

(2G cells in Ericsson or other OSS)

ExternalUtranCell (3G external cells in 3G Ericsson) ≠ WCEL (3G Nokia cells) or

≠ Utrancell (3G cells in Ericsson or other OSS)

4.2.6. Parameterization

Neighbor relations parameterization is obtained from the pre-Swap relations. Default

new parameterization is only applied to new neighbor relations.

This parameterization is adjusted with every revision agreed between Ericsson

(vendor) and the Operator (customer).

4.2.7. Neighbors definition Checking

Once the load in the system is performed, the percentage of outgoing neighbors

loaded is checked.

The application compares the definitions loaded and what has been commanded to

load. This comparison creates a file which indicates the neighbors charged and reddens

those missing. Furthermore, the scripts to load neighbor relations that have not been

loaded are created again.

It also generates a file that highlights the cells with few neighbors for further review.

This checking is suited to any Project’s engineering guidelines or any Operator’s

policy or requirements on this subject

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4.2.8. Exports Simulation

3dB NQA tool simulates exports with fictitious cells (not defied in the network) to

generate load files with neighbor relations not yet defined in the Network.

These files can be loaded only upon confirmation that network already loaded these

cells. This requires filling out a template with the necessary data to achieve the Swap.

If at the time of loading these files cells are not defined in the network, fictitious cells

will be generated in external 2G BSCs with NULL parameterization and subsequent

problems will result.

This functionality reduces Swap time (impact in the Network) when cell definition in

the Network has not been performed before Swap starts for any reason.

5. Output Files formats

The current release of the Tool supports these output file formats. The tool can

accommodate new formats as required by Network Operator and Swap

characteristics.

Ericsson 2G files (.txt) Comments

00_ZX_2GEricsson_Delete_NRel_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm Deleting 2G2G neighbors

01_ZX_2GEricsson_Delete_UtranRel_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm Deleting 2G3G neighbors

02_ZX_2GEricsson_Delete_Ucells_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm Deleting Ucell definition

04_ZX_2GEricsson_Delete_Foreigns_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm Foreing cells deleting

11_ZX_2GEricsson_Create_Foreigns_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm Foreing cells creation

12_ZX_2GEricsson_Create_NRel_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm Creating 2G2G neighbors

13_ZX_2GEricsson_Create_Ucells_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm Creating Ucell cells

14_ZX_2GEricsson_Create_UtranRel_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm Creating 2G3G neighbors

15_ZX_2GEricsson_Update_Foreigns_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm Foreign cells correction

16_ZX_2GEricsson_Update_Ucells_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm

Ucell cells correction

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Siemens 2G fliles (.cli) Comments

01_ZX_2GSiemens_Delete_Adjc_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm Deleting 2G2G neighbors

02_ZX_2GSiemens_Delete_Adjc3G_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm Deleting 2G3G neighbors

11_ZX_2GSiemens_Create_Adjc_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm Creating 2G2G neighbors

12_ZX_2GSiemens_Create_Adjc3G_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm Creating 2G3G neighbors

Nokia 3G files (.xml) Comments

01_ZX_3GNokia_Delete_ADJS_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm Deleting ADJS neighbors

02_ZX_3GNokia_Delete_ADJG_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm Deleting ADJG neighbors

03_ZX_3GNokia_Delete_ADJI_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm Deleting ADJI neighbors

10_ZX_3GNokia_Create_EWCE_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm

Creating external cells with name setting

11_ZX_3GNokia_Create_Adjs_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm Creating ADJS neighbors

12_ZX_3GNokia_Create_Adji_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm Creating ADJI neighbors

13_ZX_3GNokia_Create_Adjg_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm

Creating ADJG neighbors

Formato ficheros Ericsson 3G (.xml) Comments

01_ZX_3GEricsson_Delete_UtranRelation_ ddmmaaaa_hh_mm

Deleting 3G3G neighbors

02_ZX_3GEricsson_Delete_GsmRelation_ ddmmaaaa_hh_mm

Deleting 3G2G neighbors

03_ZX_3GEricsson_Delete_snDirectedRetryTarget_ ddmmaaaa_hh_mm

Deleting DirectedRetryTarget

04_ZX_3GEricsson_Delete_ExternalGsmCell_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm

Deleting 2G cells

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05_ZX_3GEricsson_Delete_ExternalUtranCell_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm

Deleting 3G external cells

11_ZX_3GEricsson_Create_ExternalGsmCell_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm

Creating 2G cells

12_ZX_3GEricsson_Create_GsmRelation_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm

Creating 3G2G neighbors

13_ZX_3GEricsson_Create_ExternalUtranCell_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm

Creating external cells 3G

14_ZX_3GEricsson_Create_UtranRelation_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm

Creating 3G3G neighbors

15_ZX_3GEricsson_Update_ExternalGsmCell_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm

Correcting external 2G cells

16_ZX_3GEricsson_Update_ExternalUtranCell_ddmmaaaa_hh_mm

Correcting external 3G cells

6. Success stories

During the last 10 years, and due to the increasing complexity of Cell Networks Design

and Optimization Projects, managing bigger and bigger amounts of data in a shorter

and shorter time has become one of the biggest issues NDO Engineering Companies

are dealing with.

The entrance of new technologies (2G, 2.5G, 3G, 3.5G, 4G, IP, …) and new vendors

(Huawei, ZTE, etc.) in Operators Cell Networks, and the co-existence of some (or all) of

them in the same network at the same time, have become an increasingly hard issue

to deal with when performing any engineering task on any given network.

In addition, pressure on response time and on CAPEX has increased during last years.

3dB consult has been playing a significant role in many of the NDO projects carried on

in Spain for the latest 8 years. Realizing that managing these big amounts of data is a

key factor to success in RAN engineering, we have put our focus in developing and

using the right tools to perform these data and time consuming tasks, leaving valuable

Engineers’ time for value added tasks.

3dB consult has being producing Applications to support everyday’s work in network

engineering. Some of these Applications have grown over the different projects,

reaching to be powerful tools, key to perform NDO Services with excellence.

Along with the continuous grow of network complexity 3db NQA tool has evolved

from a simple yet efficient tool to check and plan neighbor relations in RAN Design up

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to an Application on its own, able to deal with the most complex day-to-day neighbor

relations variations that may appear in an Operator’s Network.

Some of the NDO Projects where 3dB NQA tool has performed are:

France Telecom /Orange RAN Design & Optimization Project in Spain, with 2G

& 3G technologies and several vendor’s technologies: Siemens, Nokia and

Ericsson. Deployment of +500 new nodes over 2007, 2088. 3dB NQA tool was

used to produce Neighbor Relations files to load in the OSS

France Telecom/Orange RAN Renewal Project in Spain, with 2G & 3G and

several vendor’s technologies: Siemens, Nokia, Ericsson and Huawei. Also,

introduction of new technologies where non existing (GSM900, UMTS900) and

new 3G carriers where needed (F2, F3…). Design of +6000 nodes in a very

complex environment. The use of 3dB NQA tool permitted a much smoother

load of neighbor relations, dramatically decreasing human failures and the

integration of nodes with the wrong neighbor relations info, which lead to a

higher Customer satisfaction

3dB NQA Tool Advantages 3dB NQA

tool NO

3dB NQA tool

Neighbour Generation Time

15 min (10 sites Swap)

> 4 hours

Loading OSS scripts format errors ≈ 0% 10%

Loading OSS scripts data errors ≈ 0% 30% KPI acceptance accomplishment due to neighbor definition

> 95% < 80%

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Technical Description - 3dbconsult.com3dbconsult.com/resources/multimedia/3dB NQA tool Technical... · 4 3dB NQA tool | Technical Description 2. General Description 3dB Neighbor Quality