8
Radio Network Planning
8.1 Introduction
This chapter presents Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) radio network planning, including dimensioning, detailed capacity and coverage planning, and network optimization. The WCDMA radio network planning process is shown in Figure 8.1. In the dimensioning phase an approximate number of base station sites, base stations and their configurations and other network elements is estimated, based on the operator's requirements and the radio propagation in the area. The dimensioning must fulfil the operator's requirements for coverage, capacity and quality of service. Capacity and coverage are closely related in WCDMA networks, and therefore both must be considered simultaneously in the dimensioning of such networks. The dimensioning of WCDMA networks is introduced in Section 8.2.
Figure 8.1 WCDMA radio network planning process
In Section 8.3, detailed capacity and coverage planning are presented, together with a WCDMA planning tool. In detailed planning, real propagation maps and operator's traffic estimates in each area are needed. The base station locations and network parameters are selected by the planning tool and/or the planner. Capacity and coverage can be analysed for each cell after the detailed planning. One case study of the detailed ...
