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UMTS Network Planning Basics!
If you have suggestions or comments email: info@umtsworld.com
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Transmission Planning
Most of the 3G network license holders have an existing 2G license and will face great transmission planning challenges when upgrading a network from 2G to 3G:
Massive capacity growth
Controlling of the expansion process
Limited microwave spectrum availability and related cost issues
Limited space for new equipment and EMR sources
Cost and budget constrains
Requirements of design scalability and flexibility
Implementation of new technologies
Increased complexity and multivendor environment
Time table, availablility of skilled manpower
Reliability requirements (climate, redundancy, etc)
2G network transmission capacity planning depends on the amount of transceivers, but 3G transmission planning depends on the customer phone usage profiles and other carried traffic. Where 2G backbones are aggregated small pipes, 3G traffic will be in combined large pipes carrying mixed traffic. 3G project transmission planning include a lot of issues:
 Before the 3G Roll-out
Traffic type and amount estimation
Upgrade and future network layout plan (layers, topology, media)
Availability, Operation & Maintenance, spare unit plan
Fault, Configuration, Performance, Security management plans
Network synchronisation plan
QoS and system performance specification
Deploying flexible upgradeable equipments
Current network inventory, evaluation and status
 During the 3G Roll-out
Normal roll-out plans; manpower, logistics, HW, time table etc.
Deploying; ATM network, upgraded radios, nodes etc.
Links: 15GHz, 23GHz, 18GHz, 7GHz, 26GHz, 38GHz, 28GHz, 13GHz, 8GHz, 6GHz, 11GHz, 32GHz, 50+ GHz
Initial and continuous system testing
Continuous training of staff for equipment and technology
Redundancy (link, network, equipment) plan and testing
Traffic prioritising plan
Usage of other carriers capacity and reselling own capacity
Work what vendors call "future proofing"; you better ask them ;-)
 After the initial 3G Roll-out
Traffic analysis and management
Understanding the traffic
Equipment performance and suitability analysis
Upgrades and updates
Preparing for the next roll-out cycle, long term development plan
Comparing the transmission system to competition and other vendor solutions
Future 3G transmission networks will be largely IP based systems. Topology of the network will be a mess mesh; hybrid of point-to-point, star and ring configurations. Transmission options are still microwave, optical fibre, leased line and even copper line. Addition to current high capacity PDH / SDH networks, higher capacity ATM networks will be implemented to carry the main load. Internet will be integrated to mobile network (or visa versa).
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IP = Internet Protocol
PDH = Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy; point-to-point, time division multiplexing, n * 2 Mbits/s (Europe)
SDH = Synchronous Digital Hierarchy; typically 2/34/140 Mbits/s, n * 155Mbits/s, SONET in the USA
ATM = Asynchronous Transfer Mode; 155Mbits/s, 622.Mbits/s
Next: The Summary.
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3G Network Planning Basics
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