How to improve Mobile Radio Network Planning based on a new Big Data structure analysis Vianney Martinez Alcantara December 3 rd, 2015

Evolution 2

Smartphones & Users 3

Competition between Operators Soure: telecoms.com 4

The Radio Access Network Planning  Effective network planning requires: -Measurement of correct network traffic & the network performance itself. -Prediction of the future network demand. -Determination of the optimal allocation of capacity sources. -Validation. -Implementation. 5

Go beyond traditional RAN Upgrade  Leverage customer data to know details such as: -Subscriber distribution in the network -Device mix penetration -Impact that capacity limitations have on subscribers -Affected revenue in each Base Station (BS) RAN: Radio Access Network 6

Data Complexity and its benefit This new approach requires working with Big Data The overall network upgrade efficiency is improved by revealing new customer and device insights 7

Example 3G Base Stations that reported high levels of blocking rate 3G BS Blocking RRC&RAB Upgrade A5%4 B8%1 C6%3 D7%2 Perform Radio network planning BS: Base Station RRC: Radio Resource Control RAB: Radio Access Bearer 8

Example (cont...) Adding more customer information will bring more value to the analysis. - Customer’s revenue - Market segment - Contract type - … 3G BS Blocking RRC&RAB Upgrade (a) Nr. Customers *Upgrade (b) A5%46004 B8%18003 C6% D7% * Considering customer data BS: Base Station RRC: Radio Resource Control RAB: Radio Access Bearer 9

Adoption of LTE Improved UMTS LTE: Long Term Evolution UMTS: Universal Mobile Telecommunications System -High speed -High capacity -IP based services -… 10

Network operator dilemma Which site should we upgrade? 11

Network operator dilemma Should we add a carrier frequency or implement a 4G site? 12

Network operator dilemma Which NodeBs have higher priority for implementing an upgrade? 13

Methodology to upgrade a 3G Network  We want to save costs and time -Limited budget -Internal regulations of the country -It is not feasible to have a BS with 4G up and running in 18 months Pop-coverage was analyzed 3G 3G,4G 2G,3G 2G,3G,4G 14

Options towards network upgrade 1.Capacity upgrade* of a 3G BS, decision based on the smartphone penetration 2.Technology upgrade* from 3G to 4G, based on the availability of the 4G Smartphone penetration in the BS 3.Keep the BS without changes * Upgrade taking into account the affected revenue 15

Options towards network upgrade (A)  3 global groups -Service measurements -System resource measurements -Traffic measurement -Defined thresholds -Frequency thresholds Perform our well defined and established processes for the Traditional Network Planning 16

Options towards network upgrade (B) Analyze the device distribution to understand your smartphone penetration Example of a particular 3G BS, for one month of study 17

Options towards network upgrade (B) Analyze the device distribution to understand your smartphone penetration Example of a particular 3G BS, for one month of study 18

Options towards network upgrade (B) Smartphone penetration in all 3G BSs  Perform analysis of your saturation point  Focus on the 3G BSs with lower smartphone penetration and high traffic. 19

Options towards network upgrade (B) Smartphone penetration in all 3G BSs +300 BS with 81% smartphone penetration 20

Options towards network upgrade (B) Smartphone penetration in all 3G BSs Low number of BS, between 58% - 60% smartphone penetration 21

Options towards network upgrade (B) Smartphone penetration in all 3G BSs BS have 87% smartphone penetration 22

Options towards network upgrade (B) Smartphone penetration in all 3G BSs Saturation point, 87% Smartphone penetration Low Smartphone penetration 23

Options towards network upgrade (B) Example 1: in 3 months 15% of Legacy users change to Smartphones BS with 78% Smartphone penetration (60% + 18%) Saturation point 24

Options towards network upgrade (B) Example 1: 3G BS identified with capacity limitations Capacity upgrade  Current carrier frequencies = 2  Max Carrier frequencies = 3  Carrier frequencies after upgrade = 3 in 3 months 15% of Legacy users change to Smartphones Now BS with 78% Smartphone penetration (60% - SP 3G 18% - SP 4G) 25

Options towards network upgrade (B) Example: 3G BS identified with capacity limitations and in 3 months 15% of Legacy users change to Smartphones Technology upgrade  Current carrier frequencies = 2  Max Carrier frequencies = 3  Carrier frequencies after upgrade = 2  Technologies after upgrade = 3G & 4G Now BS with 78% Smartphone penetration (60% - SP 3G 18% - SP 4G) Offload 3G by moving 18% of 4G Smartphones 26

Options towards network upgrade (B) BS with 85% Smartphone penetration Saturation point Example 2: 3G BS identified with capacity limitations. 85% Smartphone Penetration 27

Simplified Flowchart 1.Capacity upgrade* of a 3G BS, decision based on the smartphone penetration Capacity upgrade is the fastest option to perform in order to overcome the bottlenecks that the BS presents. Operator’s spectrum defines the maximum number of available carrier frequencies per BS. * Upgrade taking into account the affected revenue Radio Network Planning Smartphone Penetration Analysis For all 3G BSs Identify BSs that require an upgrade Analyze the number of current carrier frequencies Add one carrier frequency. Verify if it is enough end 1 st phase 2 nd phase 28

Simplified Flowchart 2.Technology upgrade* from 3G to 4G, based on the availability of the 4G Smartphone penetration in the BS Since the investment to deploy 4G in a site is high, it is important to check whether the need for 4G is justified. For that reason, the customers that are connected to the 3G BSs are evaluated. * Upgrade taking into account the affected revenue Radio Network Planning Smartphone Penetration Analysis For all 3G BSs Identify BSs that require an upgrade 3GBS reached max carrier freq. Check if there is 4G on Site Analyze customer data to identify if it is feasible to implement 4G end Technology upgrade 1 st phase 3 rd phase 29

Analysis of the Affected Revenue  At this point it is necessary to analyze the affected revenue in order to create priorities among the 3G BSs that require either a 3G capacity upgrade or 4G technology upgrade A B 30

Conclusions  The inclusion of the customer data to the classical mobile radio network planning marked a new start for the Radio Network Planning.  The customer data adds value to the mobile radio network planning providing depth views and new structures, in terms of subscriber’s information of the network operator.  If you want different results, you need to start doing things in a different way: This new approach requires the use of data belonging to different departments (Radio Access data, Core Network data, Customer data). New data flows have to be in place.  Two of the objectives of this methodology are to reduce any capacity and performance problems, while avoiding unjustified investments in 4G BS. It is desirable to avoid having 4G BSs that are underutilized. 31

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