Introduction:

WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) is the radio access scheme used for third generation cellular systems that are being rolled out in various parts of the globe. The 3G systems to support wideband services like high-speed Internet access, video and high quality image transmission with the same quality as the fixed networks. In WCDMA systems the CDMA air interface is combined with GSM based networks. The WCDMA standard was evolved through the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) which aims to ensure interoperability between different 3G networks. This course presents, in a practical way, the parameter necessary to plan a WCDMA RF network or assess the quality of a RF network plan for WCDMA. A reminder of the WCDMA reference network is given, with emphasis on the parameters that affect the RF plan. Fundamentals to understand coverage and capacity are discussed. Network planning tool are then introduce to discuss the type of performance evaluation that can be done at time of planning. Parameters that can be optimized to improve the planned performance are finally introduced. Last practical considerations, such as site selection, are presented.

Audience:

RF network engineers involved in UMTS/WCDMA network planning. System engineers/project managers involved in a UMTS/WCDMA deployment who need to understand the planning aspect.

Prerequisites:

Basic Knowledge of RF network planning

Customize it:

This 2-3-day WCDMA Network Planning course will be customized to your needs and specifications. Enowireless will assist you in identifying those needs and specifications. A word to the wise, there are many vendors of wireless training. They will typically have a broad and general course, one size fits all, already developed and just put your organization’s name on the title slide. This minimizes their effort and time investment. At Enowireless, every course is made to your exact and exacting specifications. We help you ensure what you are getting is what you really need even if at the beginning you weren’t too sure of what that was. We fit the class to your needs. We never fit you into our “standard”, one size fits all, class.

Objectives:

Course Outline

The following topics are covered: Optimization life cycle Pre-deployment optimization Initial optimization In-service optimization Continuous optimization Naming conventions Reference network Interfaces UMTS releases and features UMTS functions WCDMA coverage estimation & definition Coverage types Ec, Eb, Io, No, Nt, and the like Physical channels Coverage comparison Uplink link budget Propagation component Handoff gain Fade margin Uplink coverage plot examples Downlink link budget Downlink coverage plot examples COST 231 propagation models Hata model Walfisch-Ikegami model Model comparisons Other models Propagation model tuning General traffic engineering Uplink WCDMA capacity Downlink capacity Resource estimation Traffic engineering Network planning tools Bins Network coverage simulations Tool consideration Performance estimation plots Soft handover Optimizing SHO Impact of SHO Hard handover considerations Cell reselection and HO Compressed mode Estimating boundaries Power setting Scrambling Code (SC) planning Channel assignment Neighbor cell list planning LAC/RAC/RNC planning Antenna and antenna near parts Site selection Multi-carrier systems Hierarchical Cell Structure (HCS)