LTE-Advanced and Next Generation Wireless Networks: Channel Modelling and Propagation

Chapter 12

Propagation Models for Wireless Network Planning

Thomas Kürner¹ and Yves Lostanlen²

¹ Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany

² University of Toronto, Canada

The initial set-up, the extension and the optimization of a cellular mobile radio network still has to rely to a large extent on simulations. Based on the results of these simulations, decisions on the number and locations of sites have been taken. These decisions are triggering investments partly in the order of hundreds of millions of Euros. In subsequent planning steps the network configurations have to be determined. The way these tasks are done has a strong influence on the network quality. Although with the introduction of self-organizing network features in Long Term Evolution (LTE) [1] these configurations can be determined partly by the network itself, the need for supporting off-line simulations will still exist for a couple of years. Radio wave propagation models are the indispensable components in radio network simulations and the quality of the simulation's output critically depends on the accuracy of radio wave propagation models. This chapter provides a brief introduction into propagation models used for Radio Network Planning (RNP) and optimization, discusses the required input data, the accuracy and limits of the models and shows how propagation models can be applied to determine cell ranges and coverage probabilities.

12.1 Geographic Data for RNP

Radio Planning Tool (RPT) makes use of digital ...