The document discusses how a mobile network operator implemented a unified network strategy using Self-Organizing Network (SON) technology to improve network performance across legacy, current, and future technologies. Key steps included expanding UMTS coverage to move more subscribers to UMTS, refarming GSM spectrum for UMTS and LTE, and boosting LTE capacity. This enabled the network envelope to be expanded, providing better voice services on the optimized GSM network and higher data throughput on UMTS and LTE. The results were lower costs, improved operational efficiency, enhanced subscriber experience through higher speeds and reduced dropped calls, and decreased network-related subscriber churn.

1. Expanding SON limits for traffic
steering across legacy, current and
future technologies
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2. A day in the life of a wireless operator
“our network coverage
during weekends is very
problematic..”
“how come our data speed is lower than
competition in all city centers”
“people cannot make calls in some of the
metro stations...Fix it”
“we invested in three technologies, why is
the average speed on the unlimited plans
just 700KBps?..”
“too many complaints on disconnected calls,
can we fix it once and for all?..”
“mmm, let’s fix it one by one, where should
we start?...”
Cellwize helps Engineering departments to improve
all network aspects trough unified Cross-Technology
SON products
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3. Incorporating SON with unified network strategy
Checkpoints
Set Goals
Form
Strategy
Apply
SON
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 Understand subscriber network perception
 Validate network driven churn rates
 Cross-check operational efficiency
 Improve network perception
 Control churn rates by improving network quality in the right
place and time
 Improve efficiency by introducing automation
 Network availability and retainability
 Attractive marketing offers for data and voice without incurring
additional network costs
 Automate operational tasks
 Increase network utilization
 Improve network performance in all dimensions
 Automate network optimization cycles

4. Real Case Study:
How SON can dynamically stretch your
network boundaries
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5. A state of the art MNO
The network:
• EMEA Operator
• Multi-technologies: GSM (900/1800), UMTS (2100) and LTE
(2600/1800)
• Multi-vendor: Ericsson and NSN
• Multi-frequency: F1, F2, F3 and F4
• Network size: 30,000 cell sectors (all technologies)
• Network environment: Dense-urban
• Smartphone penetration: over 60% of the subscribers
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6. …with state of the art problems
700 Kbps
4 TRXs
In average per
Cell in GSM
2% DCR
In UMTS Network
50%
LTE-capable device
served by UMTS
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Average throughput in
UMTS network
20%
UMTS-capable device
served by GSM
10 Kbps
Average throughput in
GSM network

7. Technologies vs. Services
GSM
UMTS
LTE
Subscribers
20-30%
40-60%
10%
Service
Voice Centric
Voice/Data
Data Centric
Pros
Coverage
Coverage/
Capacity
Capacity
Cons
Overloaded
Interference
sensitive
Hot-spot
The key to strategic cross-technology optimization is understanding the
services and technology matrix and working with it and not against it
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8. Network Envelope before Cellwize
“.. Our main strategy is to provide most consistent voice service with the highest data
throughput to our customers anywhere, anytime across all layers and network
technologies..” (MNO CTO)
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9. GSM
UMTS
LTE
Moving to Unified Network Strategy: Step 1
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10. GSM
UMTS
LTE
Moving to Unified Network Strategy: Step 2
UMTS coverage expansion allowed to ‘soak-in’ UMTS-capable device onto UMTS
resulting in 10% of subscriber’s traffic steered to UMTS
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11. GSM
UMTS
LTE
Moving to Unified Network Strategy: Step 3
The Re-farming of GSM900 to UMTS900 resulted in additional 6% of subscriber’s
traffic were steered to UMTS from GSM
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12. GSM
UMTS
LTE
Moving to Unified Network Strategy: Step 4
LTE coverage and capacity boost enables higher data services for LTE-capable device.
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13. GSM
UMTS
LTE
Moving to Unified Network Strategy: Step 5
The Re-farming of GSM1800 to LTE1800 resulted in 25% of subscriber’s traffic were
steered to UMTS from LTE
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14. GSM
GSM
UMTS
UMTS
LTE
LTE
Moving to Unified Network Strategy: The end
Before
After
Implementing unified network strategy resulted in network envelope expansion
providing sustainable voice services and higher data throughput data services
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15. Achieved results
Operational& business:
• Legacy GSM trunks were minimized to an optimal point serving feature
phones
• Legacy GSM network was simplified for maintenance of voice services
• UMTS network handles moderate data demand with support for voice
calls at peak time
• LTE network was thickened (added 5+Mhz @ 1800) handling most of
high data throughput demand
• UMTS network was thickened (added 4.4Mhz @ 900) efficiently serving
more subscribers with more voice calls and data sessions
0.6% DCR
4%
In UMTS Network
UMTS-capable device
served by GSM
25%
LTE-capable device
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3 TRXs
In average per
Cell in GSM
1.2 Mbps
Average throughput in
UMTS network

16. And the reduction in network related churn
was the real prize for marketing…
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