10/5/2016 LTE Capacity Dimensioning for Venues – A simplified Approach 1

LTE CAPACITY ANALYSIS & VENUE DIMENSIONING

Discussion about Venue Capacity and the importance of considering the RF channel quality during dimensioning. Typically the common practice (Likely from UMTSdesign) is to add more zones into a venue to increase capacity. This presentation will show that this approach is archaic and actually reduces Per Sector Capacity.Furthermore it significantly increases DAS initial cost and operational cost through superfluous complexity. In this PPT, studies will be shown to determine the maximumcell output volume per 15mins under very good RF conditions. These are real venues so naturally consider all utilization factors in an LTE cell. Finally, a Venue Capacity

Maximizing tool is presented. This tool predicts what the SINR and resulting venue capacity will be based on existing non-intrusive walk test data.

Shane Spiteri – RF Engineer

High Capacity Venue Analysis of Cell Output Volume for E/// LTE eNodeBA Traffic volume based approach for determining venue capacity and basis for re-evaluation of revisiting existing venues and going forward, dimensioning for new designs.

Got an Indoor Coverage problem, TWS is your solution!

This document will show that by moving from 8 Zones -> 1 Zone inside a typical Hi-Capacity Basketball Stadium, not

only can VENUE capacity increase >20% but user DL T’put experience can see up to x10 increase.

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BACKGROUND – CELL LOAD CAPACITY VS SINR

THEORETICAL(CALCULATED) OUTPUT CAPACITY VS RF QUALITY –GBYTE per CELL for 10Mhz (per 15mins)

*Note: Backed off by 30% allowing for Worst Case(Maximum) Control Channel Usage

Expected Cell Output(Gbytes) VS measured cell output for both a SISO and

MIMO system with excellent RF conditions.

SISO CELL OUTOUT (Extremely good SINR)

MIMO CELL OUTPUT (Very good SINR)

ACTUAL MEASURED User Tput vs CAPACITY WITH EXCELLENT RF QUALITY – GBYTE per CELL for 10Mhz (per 15mins)

Note: CA showing up as improved T’put on 2R and 7R

Projected output UE Tput VS Gbyte output (per Hr).Note: Beyond 8Gbytes considered unknown.

Left Figure: Typical venue RF conditions are poor (SINR of <0dB) under load. Based on the theoretical curves, a 2x2 MIMO system could improve capacity by x10 times if SINR was increased from 0dB -> 23dB. Uplink also benefits significantly from Inter-Zone UL interference reduction.

Right Figures: Cell Output (Gbyte) VS User DL Tput (Mbps) from live network data for cells in very good RF (SINR >20dB). Not only can very efficient cell usage be observed through the high cell output volume but users experience very good DL Tput rates.

Potential to Improve CAPACITY x10 c/w adding Zones or Carrier ADDS

LTE AWS_10MHz

LTE 700 10Mhz

LTE AWS_10MHz

LTE 700 10Mhz

LTE 1900 10MHz

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Typical Venue

EXISTING VENUE EXAMPLE–DL VOLUME (GBYTE per HOUR)

Example of a Typical Existing Basketball Stadium -> Live data shows Output of 30Gbytes per HOUR during peak times (FINALS),30Gbytes = 7.5Gbytes per 15mins (Venue Consists of 8 ZONES. Each Zone has x2 10Mhz Carriers. Total of 16 cells)

• A Measured good cell (MIMO) can output 4Gbytes per 15mins = 16Gbytes per hr & maintain >10Mbps, (Bottom right)

• A Measured good cell (SISO) can output 2Gbytes per 15mins = 8Gbytes per hr & Maintain > 10Mbps, (Not shown)

EXAMPLE OF MEASURED CAPACITY ON CELLS WITH EXCELLENT RF. OUTPUT IN GBYTE per CELL for 10Mhz (per 15mins)

By improving the SINR inside at Venue, It is expected that users will maintain >10Mbps with system capacity improved to:SECTOR COUNT MIMO CONFIG SISO CONFIG

1 Sector/1cell – 10Mhz Cell = 16Gbytes per Hour, Cell = 8Gbytes per Hour,1 Sector/2 cells – 10Mhz+10MHz Cells = 32 Bytes per Hour, Cell = 16Gbytes per Hour,1 Sector/3cells – 10MHz+10MHz+10Mhz Cells = 48Gbytes per Hour Cell = 24Gbytes per Hour,

Note: If one carrier is 15Mhz or 20Mhz, the expected output will be proportionally increased, E.g. A 10+10+15Mhz config would exceed >50Gbytes Capacity. This is almost

100% capacity increase from current.

Current VENUE Capacity = 30Gbytes per hour or 7.5Gbytes per 15minsNote: DL Tput performance is poor in this venue

Based on Measured Data for 10Mhz cells, with improved RF we can expect up to 4Gbytes per 15mins per 10Mhz. This equates to 16Gbytes per hour per 10Mhz cell

MIMO CELL OUTPUT (Extremely good SINR)

VENUE DIMENSIONING EXAMPLE

LTE AWS_10MHz

LTE 700 10Mhz

Extremely inefficient Cell UsageExisting cell output is 0.4Gb per 15mins

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Potential with Efficient Cell UsagePotential cell output is 4Gb per 15mins

CONCLUSIONS

• Data suggests that by reducing Venue from 8 Zones -> 1 Zone, RF conditions could improve such that:• USER DL TPUT EXPERIENCE improved from 1Mbps -> 10Mbps,• VENUE CAPACITY INCREASES >20% • Reduced Operational Costs:

• Improved Reliability,• Less HeadEnd Space/Equipment/Cabling/Cooling Requirements, etc

• Many existing Venues are underperforming due to archaic practice of Zone ADDs. Result is under-utilization of Cells Traffic carrying Potential,

• Potential to Revisit existing Venues to improve Capacity and Performance without CARRIER ADD,• Stage 1: Functionality Check – Ensure Venue is functionally 100%,

Many DAS systems suffer from poor tuning/commissioning and undetected issues considered as ‘normal’ behaviour.

• Stage 2: RF Optimization – Balance RF Quality vs #ZonesExpert analysis from System Engineers of existing venue to determine best course of optimization.

This would include taking into account RF conditions to ensure maximal capacity and performance.Note: Being IBW certified does not warrant ‘expert’ status.

• TWS has developed a Tool which aids in Stage 2 optimization by predicting RF Conditions and potential for Venue Capacity Improvements (See APPENDIX). • Simulations based on existing Walk Data - Avoid complex & intrusive CW testing,• Possible Configurations require combination of Expertise in DAS design and Optimization

to determine most feasible solution,

MANY EXISTING VENUES CAN UNDERGO A MAJOR CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT WITHOUT NEED FOR CARRIER ADD

Document revisions:Draft – January 2015,V1 – January 2016,V2 – July 2016

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APPENDIX – REVISTING EXISTING VENUES PROPOSAL

• Flow Chart of ‘BEST PRACTICES’ when revisiting existing venues to ensure Maximum Capacity is obtained from Venue,

This simple flowchart suggests a high-level approach to re-visiting existing venues to ensure maximum performance is obtained. -Initially the Venue should be shown to be issue free. Proper system level functionality checks should be performed to ensure DAS system is operating properly and has been tuned correctly in both UL and DL.

-System Level Optimization: Many vendors are involved from the design through to ONAIR of a DAS system within a Venue. From the authors experience, few in the industry have end-to-end System Level knowledge to ensure the all the components that make up a DAS system (Both Hardware, Software and Design) are working harmoniously with one another. -Perform feasibility study to ensure DAS is correctly dimensioned and whether existing configuration is optimal. This should consider RF Quality, Bandwidth and zone dimensioning. This requires genuine expertise.

• VCM Resectorization Tool Concept-VCM tool is a C-based algorithm that allows use of real data to more accurately determine best zone configuration,

• TWS Optimization Expertise Example-Very large airport venue showing progress of E2E optimization. It is shown that by RF Optimization alone, capacity improved approximately

33% or equivalent to a Carrier Addition.

APPENDIX WITH INFORMATION ON TWS OPTIMIZATION SERVICES & GENUINE EXPERTISE

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FLOWCHART - REVISITING EXISTING VENUES TO ENSURE OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE

TWS offers System Level Engineering Services for High Capacity Venues. The Flowchart above provides a high level overview of steps taken to

maximum Venue Capacity

1). Perform Stage 1: System Level Functionality Check-ReCommissioning of DAS system & eNB Parameter Audting,-Expert Knowledge of LTE(eNB HW,Parameters,Counters)-Expert Knowledge of DAS systems (Proper DL&UL Tuning, PIM Identification/Remediation)-System Level Functionality Checks,

2.3) Creative Thinking: Feasibility of Reduced ZONESOpt A - Physically Change DAS to trial different Zone Configurations (Intrusive)

Note: Some eNB allow cell-combining at eNB level (Less intrusive)

Opt B - Use IBW to simulate different Zone Configurations (Simulation Only)

Opt C - Use TWS VCM Tool to Investigate different Zone Configurations using

Existing Venue Walk Data (Limited to Existing Zones) Happy Medium!

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2). Perform Stage 2: System Level Optimization2.1 - Data Collection/Analysis - Understand Initial Venue Configuration and Existing Limitations,2.2 - Initial Optimization (RF Shaping & Parameter Tuning),2.3 – Zone Configuration & Feasibility Analysis (VCM Tool, IBW or Physical Changes)

EXAMPLE ONLY:

Initial VENUE has 6 zones

Documents:-Existing Plumbing,-IBW etc Files

Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

Zone 4

Zone 5 Zone 6

Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

Zone 4

Zone 5 Zone 6

Zone 1

Zone 2

VCM Tool Output ExampleOriginal – 6 Zones Trial Simulation– 2 Zones

Original – SINR Predicted SINR

VCM RESECTORIZATION TOOL - CONCEPT

• Data suggests that for this venue, reducing zones from 8 -> 1 Zone, RF conditions could improve such that:• USER DL TPUT EXPERIENCE improved from 1Mbps -> 10Mbps,• VENUE CAPACITY INCREASES >20% • Reduced Operational Costs:

• Improved Reliability,• Less HeadEnd Space/Equipment/Cabling/Cooling Requirements, etc

• Venue Optimization Process Proposal:• Stage 1: Health & Functionality Check – Ensure Venue is functionally 100%,• Stage 2: RF, DAS & Parameter Optimization – Optimize System based on Existing Design

DAS RF Shaping, Macro RF Shaping, Parameter Optimization (e.g. LayerMgt), Re-Zoning, Zone

Reduction,

• Venue Capacity Maximizer (VCM) Tool is a C-based algorithm developed to assist with Zone Reduction Optimization – Maximizing Capacity at existing Venues. • VCM Tool – Using Existing Walk data and DAS knowledge, determine best combination of

Zone Configuration that results in improved Venue Capacity through SINR improvement,• Trade-Off between Higher Traffic Volume per Zone VS reduced # Zones,• Requires Competent and genuine System Level Expertise to truly optimize Venue, e.g. TWS

• Opportunity exists to obtain significant Capacity/Performance improvements at existing venues BEFORE conventional CARRIER ADD,

TOOL TO OPTIMIZE VENUE CAPACITY BY ALLOWING INVESTIGATION OF TRADE-OFF BETWEEN HIGHER TRAFFIC PER ZONE VS LESS ZONES

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TWS OPTIMIZATION SERVICES – GENUINE EXPERTISE

• TWS has been optimizing high profile Venues and DAS systems for many years and provided many significant contributions to industry Best Practice.

• TWS Optimization expertise,• Example below shows TWS was able to take an existing venue and not only improve both UL & DL Tput but do this

by carrying 33% more traffic.• Simply put – the Optimization performed by TWS was the EQUIVALENT of a carrier ADD.

TWS – the best in the business!

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Old Venue Baseline Performance:50TB @ 4Mbps

NEW VENUE BASELINEStage 1 Optimization:90TB @ 10Mbps

Stage 2 Optimization:130TB @ 13Mbps

PERFORMANCE DURING UPGRADE70TB @ 9MbpsNote: Venue cut-over to new DAS with NO degradation