How to improve Mobile Radio Network

Planning based on a new Big Data structure

analysis

Vianney Martinez Alcantara

December 3rd, 2015

Evolution

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Smartphones & Users

3

Competition between Operators

Soure: telecoms.com 4

The Radio Access Network Planning Effective network planning requires:

- Measurement of correct network traffic & the network performance itself.

- Prediction of the future network demand.

- Determination of the optimal allocation of capacity sources.

- Validation.

- Implementation.

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Go beyond traditional RAN Upgrade

Leverage customer data to know details such as:

- Subscriber distribution in the network

- Device mix penetration

- Impact that capacity limitations have on subscribers

- Affected revenue in each Base Station (BS)

RAN: Radio Access Network 6

Data Complexity and its benefitThis new approach requires

working with Big DataThe overall network upgrade

efficiency is improved by revealing new customer and device insights

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Example3G Base Stations that reported

high levels of blocking rate

3G BS

Blocking RRC&RAB

Upgrade

A 5% 4

B 8% 1

C 6% 3

D 7% 2

Perform Radio network planning

BS: Base Station RRC: Radio Resource Control

RAB: Radio Access Bearer8

Example (cont...)Adding more customer information will bring more value to the analysis.

- Customer’s revenue

- Market segment

- Contract type

- …

3GBS

Blocking RRC&RAB

Upgrade (a)

Nr. Customers

*Upgrade (b)

A 5% 4 600 4B 8% 1 800 3C 6% 3 1400 1D 7% 2 1100 2

* Considering customer dataBS: Base Station

RRC: Radio Resource Control RAB: Radio Access Bearer

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Adoption of LTE

Improved

UMTS

LTE: Long Term Evolution UMTS: Universal Mobile Telecommunications System

- High speed

- High capacity

- IP based services

- …

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Network operator dilemma

Which site should we upgrade?

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Network operator dilemma

Should we add a carrier frequency or implement a

4G site?

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Network operator dilemma

Which NodeBs have higher priority for

implementing an upgrade?

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Methodology to upgrade a 3G Network

We want to save costs and time

- Limited budget

- Internal regulations of the country

- It is not feasible to have a BS with 4G up and running in 18 months

Pop-coverage was analyzed

3G 3G,4G

2G,3G 2G,3G,4G

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Options towards network upgrade

1.Capacity upgrade* of a 3G BS, decision based on the smartphone penetration

2.Technology upgrade* from 3G to 4G, based on the availability of the 4G Smartphone penetration in the BS

3.Keep the BS without changes

* Upgrade taking into account the affected revenue 15

Options towards network upgrade (A)

3 global groups

- Service measurements

- System resource measurements

- Traffic measurement

- Defined thresholds

- Frequency thresholds

Perform our well defined and established processes for the Traditional Network Planning

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Options towards network upgrade (B)Analyze the device distribution to

understand your smartphone penetration

Example of a particular 3G BS, for one month of study

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Options towards network upgrade (B)Analyze the device distribution to

understand your smartphone penetration

Example of a particular 3G BS, for one month of study

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Options towards network upgrade (B)

Smartphone penetration in all 3G BSs

Perform analysis of your saturation point

Focus on the 3G BSs with lower smartphone penetration and high traffic.

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Options towards network upgrade (B)

Smartphone penetration in all 3G BSs

+300 BS with 81% smartphone penetration

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Options towards network upgrade (B)

Smartphone penetration in all 3G BSs

Low number of BS, between 58% - 60% smartphone penetration

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Options towards network upgrade (B)

Smartphone penetration in all 3G BSs

+ 3000 BS have 87% smartphone penetration

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Options towards network upgrade (B)

Smartphone penetration in all 3G BSs

Saturation point, 87% Smartphone penetrationLow Smartphone

penetration

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Options towards network upgrade (B)

Example 1: in 3 months 15% of Legacy users change to Smartphones

BS with 78% Smartphone penetration (60% + 18%)

Saturation point

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Options towards network upgrade (B)

Example 1: 3G BS identified with capacity limitations

Capacity upgrade

Current carrier frequencies = 2

Max Carrier frequencies = 3

Carrier frequencies after upgrade = 3

in 3 months 15% of Legacy users change to Smartphones

Now

BS with 78% Smartphone penetration

(60% - SP 3G 18%

- SP 4G) 25

Options towards network upgrade (B)Example: 3G BS identified with capacity

limitations and in 3 months 15% of Legacy users change to Smartphones

Technology upgrade

Current carrier frequencies = 2

Max Carrier frequencies = 3

Carrier frequencies after upgrade = 2

Technologies after upgrade = 3G & 4G

Now

BS with 78% Smartphone penetration

(60% - SP 3G 18%

- SP 4G)

Offload 3G by moving 18% of 4G Smartphones

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Options towards network upgrade (B)

BS with 85% Smartphone penetration

Saturation point

Example 2: 3G BS identified with capacity limitations. 85% Smartphone Penetration

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Simplified Flowchart 1. Capacity upgrade* of a 3G BS,

decision based on the smartphone penetration

Capacity upgrade is the fastest option to perform in order to overcome the bottlenecks that the BS presents.

Operator’s spectrum defines the maximum number of available carrier frequencies per BS.

* Upgrade taking into account the affected revenue

Radio Network Planning

Smartphone Penetration Analysis

For all 3G BSs

Identify BSs that require an upgrade

Analyze the number of current carrier frequencies

Add one carrier frequency. Verify if it is enough

end

1st phase

2nd phase

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Simplified Flowchart2. Technology upgrade* from 3G to 4G,

based on the availability of the 4G Smartphone penetration in the BS

Since the investment to deploy 4G in a site is high, it is important to check whether the need for 4G is justified. For that reason, the customers that are connected to the 3G BSs are evaluated.

* Upgrade taking into account the affected revenue

Radio Network Planning

Smartphone Penetration Analysis

For all 3G BSs

Identify BSs that require an upgrade

3GBS reached max carrier freq. Check if there is 4G on Site

Analyze customer data to identify if it is feasible to implement 4G

end

Technology upgrade

1st phase

3rd phase

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Analysis of the Affected Revenue

At this point it is necessary to analyze the affected revenue in order to create priorities among the 3G BSs that require either a 3G capacity upgrade or 4G technology upgrade

A

B

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Conclusions The inclusion of the customer data to the classical mobile radio network planning

marked a new start for the Radio Network Planning.

The customer data adds value to the mobile radio network planning providing depth views and new structures, in terms of subscriber’s information of the network operator.

If you want different results, you need to start doing things in a different way:

This new approach requires the use of data belonging to different departments (Radio Access data, Core Network data, Customer data). New data flows have to be in place.

Two of the objectives of this methodology are to reduce any capacity and performance problems, while avoiding unjustified investments in 4G BS. It is desirable to avoid having 4G BSs that are underutilized. 31

Thank you for your attention