This document discusses optimizing radio network coverage through antenna azimuth tuning. It explains that coverage can be improved by better serving "high usage areas" (HUA), where there are many users. HUAs may be in a cell's good or bad coverage areas. The document proposes using an intelligent antenna steering device to automatically scan azimuth orientations and identify the best heading to improve coverage of HUAs. This approach aims to minimize dropped calls and access failures while increasing throughput, leading to better customer experience, revenue growth, and returns on investment.

1. antenna azimuth tuning
explained
FASMETRICS SA
Copyright © 2016 FASMETRICS SA

2. Your Radio Coverage in the GEO Area

3. BS4 BS5
BS1 BS2
BS3
BS6
Your Base Stations Covering the GEO Area
BS7

4. BS4 BS5
BS1 BS2
BS3
BS6 BS7
Your Customers Served in the GEO Area
Weekday BH Snapshot
Users
Users

5. BS4 BS5
BS1 BS2
BS3
BS6 BS7
Users are served @ different service level
Weekday BH Snapshot
RED & GREEN dots: Users with “BAD” & “GOOD” network experience respectively

6. After
4 seconds
10 % of RED DOT users
ABANDON
online videos
After
10 seconds
40% of RED DOT users
have
given up
Web browsing…
25% of RED DOT users
abandon after 4
seconds
50% of RED DOT users
give up after 10
seconds
RED DOT: Users with “BAD” network experience

7. OR, some Users are not Served @ all
Access Failures
Drop Calls

8. Optimizing the radio network means that:
• Drop Calls are minimized (DCR%)
• Access Failures are minimized (AFR%)
• Throughput is increased (Mbps)
The optimization of the above KPI’s always leads to:
• Revenue growth (higher consumption of network time)
• User loyalty (satisfactory user experience)
• Improved returns on investments made (RoI)

9. So… the target is to make RED dots GREEN
OR, make GREEN as many as possible…

10. There are 2 ways to make RED dots GREEN:
• Way 1… Increase the Network Resources
o More Base Stations
o More Frequencies
o More Technologies
• Way 2… Utilize better the existing ones
o Increase spectrum efficiency
o Reduce network interference
o Boost radio signal coverage

11. Yes… Way 1 may sound better than Way 2
BUT, Way 1 costs to much and is not always possible…
• Frequencies are scarce and regulated
• New base station installation is really an “issue”
• New technologies… like 4G+ or even 5G?
AFTER ALL, way 2 is not only cost effective
and feasible, but it is also an obligation to
the shareholders for investments made…

12. That is what we do @ FASMETRICS…
We are making the RED dots GREEN
…and we are making them, by boosting
the intelligence of your existing
network, flexibly and smart…

13. What you know about the network?
1. GEO Coverage from simulation tools
2. GEO Coverage from Drive Tests
3. Complaints from Customer Care
4. Hourly & Daily KPI’s from OSS
5. Feedback from other sources
6. What about the RED dots?

14. Yes… you are missing USAGE information
1. “High Usage Areas” (HUA) in a Cell
2. When such areas appear (time/day)
3. Cell’s HUA coverage KPI’s
4. Overall cell stress under HUA pressure
5. Cluster performance under cell stress
6. What is HUA after all?

15. “High Usage Areas” are defined as GEO areas that
present traffic peak for a specific time frame
(permanently, sporadically or repeatedly), these
areas are usually served by a network CELL that is
best server (dominant) in these areas.

16. “High Usage Areas” may appear at any or
at all times in a cell’s GEO area.
There are 2 kind of “High Usage Areas”:
• “Good” & “Bad” HUA’s
 “Good” HUA’s are located in the cell’s good coverage area
 “Bad” HUA’s are located in the cell’s bad coverage area

17. “GOOD” coverage HUA…
Such HUA are usually located in the cell’s good
coverage area and present good performance…
• High Cell Avg. RSCP
• High Cell Avg. Ec/Io,
• Low Cell Avg. DCR%,
• Low Cell Avg. AFR%,
• …..
GOOD HUA
HUA is located inside
the antenna’s main
radiation beam

18. “BAD” coverage HUA…
Such HUA are usually located offset the cell’s best
coverage area and present bad performance…
BAD HUA
HUA is located offset
the antenna’s main
radiation beam
• Low Cell Avg. RSCP
• Low Cell Avg. Ec/Io,
• High Cell Avg. DCR%,
• High Cell Avg. AFR%,
• …..

19. The half coverage geo area, of any Radio Base Station
equipped with 65° HBW antennas, has from 50% (3dB) up
to 90% (10dB) less signal strength from the other half.
30°
30°
60°
120°
120°
120°
120°
120°
120°
120°
120°
Is this happening in your network?

20. Optimizing coverage is our mission…
We do it by taking into account the RED & GREEN
dots in the GEO area, without jeopardizing the
performance of the existing coverage footprint.
Our method is based on a SON feature set that:
• Targets to improve the HUA – Radio Base Station RF
link budget (i.e. the effective radiated power (ERP)
on the Cell-Edge), clockwise or counterclockwise the
initial coverage plan.

21. What we do…
• We use an intelligent antenna azimuth steering device
that automatically scans the h-plane within ±15° the
cell’s initial coverage footprint, evaluating clockwise
and counterclockwise the “cell-edge” performance in
order to identify the best antenna azimuth heading for
which the High Usage Areas (HUAs) in a pre-defined
time frame are better served from the network.
In this way we improve the cell’s full 120° coverage footprint simply by
exchanging antenna gain with RF power capacity. Saving resource to
the power amplifier, through the system’s embedded power control
mechanism, will enhance the overall cell-cluster performance.

22. • Permanent, sporadic or repeated
• Cell is serving 10 users
• 5 with “GOOD” performance
• 5 with “BAD” performance
• 1 user is Out-of-Coverage
Out-of-Coverage User
(due to lack of resources)
“BAD” performance Users
“GOOD” performance Users
Before HUA optimization (example)…

23. • Permanent, sporadic or repeated
• Cell is serving 11 users
• 8 with “GOOD” performance
• 3 with “BAD” performance
• 0 user is Out-of-Coverage
“BAD” performance Users
“GOOD” performance Users
How this translates?
 >10% usage increase
 >30% performance increase
 100% user coverage
After HUA Optimization (example)…
+15° Clockwise Azimuth Offset

24. “Trial-and Error”
…is a fundamental method of solving problems…
Since we cannot possibly know the future, we trust
user’s behavior that repeats in time.
• Users will travel from home to work
• Users will stay at work
• Users will return from work to home
• Users will stay at home
• Users will spend time at “hotspots”

25. A Step by Step approach…
1. Defining the problematic cells
2. Engaging azimuth steering
3. Scanning for optimum heading
4. Evaluate best offset(s) in time
5. Adjusting best offset(s) in time
6. Improve performance

26. 1. Defining the problematic cells:
KPI’s filtered are DCR%, AFR%, MB, CM, TA
> 0,5% DCR% or AFR%
≥ Avg. Network Traffic (CM)
≥ Avg. Network Traffic (MB)
> 750m Cell Radii

27. Not any more…FIXED Azimuths?
2. Engaging azimuth steering:
Installing it is like installing an antenna
 It applies on any antenna… legacy or new

28. 3. Scanning for optimum heading:
Self-operated for 1 week, collecting data per 15’
SCAN
Azimuth
 BS3, Cell3
 BS4, Cell1
 BS7, Cell2
-15°, 0°, +15° Azimuth Offset Scan

29. 4. Evaluate best offset(s) in time:
Cell/Cluster KPI analysis per Azimuth Offset
Cluster GEO Area
Cell GEO Area

30. Cluster KPI’s Optimized
5. Adjusting best offset(s) in time:
Automatic azimuth re-adjustment when needed
Cell Azimuth Offset Adjusted
when (during time) the cell needs it

31. 8 Weeks
BEFORE
8 Weeks
AFTER…
6.1 Improve performance:
Cell/Cluster level DCR%, AFR% optimized
DCR%
-18,45%
AFR%
-26,04%

32. 8 Weeks
BEFORE
8 Weeks
AFTER…
6.2 Improve performance:
Cell/Cluster level Voice Call Minutes optimized
Voice Performance
+13,48%

33. 6.3 Improve performance:
Cell/Cluster level Data Performance optimized
Data Performance
+35,01%
8 Weeks
BEFORE
8 Weeks
AFTER…

34. Call us to discuss:
• how we pin point your problematic cells
• how we scan azimuth
• how we locate best azimuth offset
• how we adjust azimuth planning
• how we can optimize your service level KPI’s
• how we can improve your network revenues

35. L. Anthousis 8, Pallini, 15351, Athens – Greece
Switch: +302102926935, FAX: +302102926978
info@fasmetrics.com
www.fasmetrics.com
FASMETRICS SA
Copyright © 2016 FASMETRICS SA