53G Radio Network Planning and Optimisation
Unlike in the GSM networks where speech traffic was dominant, the 3G universal terrestrial mobile system or UMTS networks have a predominance of data traffic. The rate at which this data traffic can move would be significantly higher than that offered by the GSM/GPRS/EDGE network. For this reason, the 3G UMTS networks are fundamentally different from the existing GSM systems.
5.1 Basics of Radio Network Planning
We have seen some basics of 3G network based on WCDMA technology in Chapter 1. As in the GSM network, radio network planning takes an important role in the network planning process owing to the proximity to the subscribers.
5.1.1 Scope of Radio Network Planning
As mentioned in Chapter 1, the radio and transmission networks have been combined to form the RAN or radio access network. For ease of study, we look here at the scope of the radio network planning engineer's work. The focus area is quite similar to that of the GSM/GPRS network, as shown in Figure 5.1, i.e. planning capacity and coverage for an upcoming 3G network having a desired quality. Before we go into the details of radio network planning and optimisation in 3G networks, let us try to understand a few concepts that will help in the planning process.
Figure 5.1 Scope of radio networking planning in a 3G system (WCDMA).
5.1.2 3G System Requirements
As the 3G ...