Rohde Schwarz 2

Challenges during LTE rollout
and how to tackle them
Christian Fischer
Product Manager Drive Test Tools
Rohde & Schwarz, Munich, Germany
Rohde & Schwarz

The company group at a glance
l History
Established 1933 in Munich, Germany
l Type of enterprise
Independent family-owned company
l Global presence
In over 70 countries, approx. 60 subsidiaries
Sales office in Nieuwegein, Service in Belgium
l Net revenue
Approx. EUR 1.9 billion (FY 12/13, July through June)
l Export share
Approx. 90 percent
l Employees
9300 worldwide, with approx. 5500 in Germany
l Success
A leading international supplier in all of its fields of business
Oct 2013 | LTE challenges | 2
LTE roll out Challenges over challenges

Why do we do all of this?
800MHz is not 900MHz

and what about 2600MHz?
There are already plenty of

antennas and cabinets on
the rooftop.
LTE roll out why do we do all of this?

l Main reasons for LTE roll out
l Provide high throughput for data services for customers
l Achieve more efficient use of spectrum for operators
l Broadband coverage of rural areas for regulators
l Availability and throughput of data services are the main customer
satisfaction parameters
l End user behavior is best represented when
measurements are performed with smartphone based

measurement systems
QualiPoc LTE measurements
Serving
cell
Neighbor
cells
Data download
Also available for GSM, WCDMA, WiFi
Navigation
QualiPoc Test Cases

2-2.5G
Air Interface logging
Forcing Functions (Technology/Band, preferred UARFCN)
Voice Call testing (Call To Any)
Speech Testing (P.862, SQUAD or P.863 NB and WB)
3G
4G
**
**
**
**
M->L and M->M, MOC and MTC, DL and UL

Data
Ping, FTP DL/UL, HTTP DL/UL,
Capacity DL (multi thread HTTP), Iperf UDP/TCP
HTTP Browsing
Messaging (SMS, MMS, Email)
YouTube Video Streaming
Multi-Mix job (Sequence of Voice and Data)
Multi-RAB job (Simultaneous Voice and Data)
Parallel jobs (Up to 3 jobs independently)
**CSFB or
SVLTE
Finding reasons for low data rates

l To find the reasons for low data rates, a radio network
scanner is used
Good coverage, low SINR why?
Low coverage, low SINR
RSRP
SINR
Areas of low data rates

Good coverage, but low SINR: missing

dominance
RSRP
Best server SINR
RSRP
SINR
Pilot Pollution:
Coverage measurements
l
Using a mobile radio network scanner provides easy

and fast information about coverage and interference
No band limitations
Several technologies
in parallel
High measurement
speed
Easy one click
evaluation showing
coverage and pilot
pollution problem
spots
l
l
l
800MHz is not 900MHz

l 800 MHz missing experience in this frequency band
l For some operators 900MHz experience is available since years
l Operators are potentially re-using their existing propagation models
l Expectation that 800 MHz is quite similar to 900 MHz
l BUT - reality is different:
l High danger of interference due to long ranging signals
l Coverage measurements required to calibrate propagation models and to
learn about real coverage and finally capacity
The larger picture
LTE800 frequency assignment plan

l Example from Germany
782,0
Frequency [MHz]
8
MHz
Channel 60
Potential interference danger in low cost DVB-T receivers having bad or no RF input filters
The real world
TV Transmitter
sideband emissions
RF Power Scan
l
RF Power Scan is a Spectrum Analyzer light

functionality inside the mobile radio network scanner
Applications:
l Finding mobile radio networks
l Finding external interferers
l Measuring uplink frequencies
l Spectrum clearance
measurements
Advantages:
l Included in scanner no
separate box needed
l Spectrum may be recorded in
the background
l Geographical location available
l No band limitations
(80MHz6GHz)
RF Power Scan
RF Power Scan Spectrum view shows
l All defined sweeps

(all bands, downlink, uplink)
l Selected sweep
(incl. Markers)
l Waterfall diagram
Complete Spectrum
and what about 2600MHz?

l LTE 2600MHz unknown frequency behavior
l Mainly used as capacity extension on hot spots and
indoors
Trade fairs, airports, downtown, shopping malls
l Small cells, Het Net, micro cells, WiFi offloading

l In a nutshell: everything new
l Tele2 live network
l Testing of data rates and handovers with smartphone
based measurement systems

l Coverage and interference tests with scanner
in Stockholm,
Sweden
l FDD2600MHz,
20MHz
l HTTP 140MB DL
transfer
LTE 1800MHz the compromise?

l LTE 1800MHz has turned out to be more than a compromise
l Frequencies are well known for many operators
l 1800MHz Propagation is beneficial
Source: gsacom.com
Number of commercially launched LTE FDD
networks in Sept 2013
however, in many cases refarming is necessary

Single RAN integration and refarming

l Single RAN: Integration of several technologies
into one cabinet

l Refarming: Re-use of frequencies for new
technology
l Long term advantages
l reduction of space, equipment, site rental costs, power
l Spectrum used more efficiently
l Fewer suppliers
l Short term disadvantages
l Equipment swap - Service interruption
l Measurements for Quality assurance
l Installation and commissioning with potential errors
Handheld Cable & Antenna Analyzer R&S ZVH

Handheld Spectrum Analyzer R&S FSH
Connected to BTS
Basic: BTS maintenance and trouble shooting

Antenna matching
Antenna isolation
Cable faults
Cable loss
BTS output spectrum

BTS Parameter
measurements
DL Signal quality
measurements
Extended: interference hunting and cable and

antenna test
BTS output power
BTS output spectrum
Interference hunting
Interference analysis
Geotagging
Cable loss, Cable faults,
BTS Output power
Over-The-Air (OTA)
R&S ZVH and FSH Highlights

Measurement Wizard & Report Generator
l The wizard guides the user through the measurement sequence.
Written instructions and pictures can be added to each

measurement step
l Back in the office report is ready after a couple of mouse clicks
Conclusion
High data rates should be achieved
New frequencies need to be managed
New interference scenarios come up
Still classical installation problems remain
These challenges can be overcome and solved by using

Rohde&Schwarz measurement equipment
R&S LTE Portfolio
for chipset, component, device and base station testing

Signal Generator / Fading Simulator
R&SSMW200A
R&SSMBV100
Testing of
- Protocol Layers
- Operator Scenarios
- E2E Application
- Max. Throughput
- IP4/6
- MIMO
- Handover
R&SCMW500
including 3GPP
conformance tests
Radio Network
Analyzers
incl. ROMES Drive
Test Tools
LTE functionality
since May 2008
Signal Analyzer /
Power Meter
R&SFSW
R&SFSV
Signaling Conformance
TD-LTE,
LTE FDD, GSM,
WCDMA/HSPA(+)
and CDMA2k
in one box!
Installation
and
Maintenance
RF Conformance
1st TD-LTE RF test
cases validated
by GCF
R&SNRP
R&STS8980
RF Test
System
&
RRM Test
System
One box Mobile Radio Tester for

Calibration, Verification and Functional Test
R&SCMW500
RF Development
and Production
R&SCMW500
Protocol Stack
and IOT
R&SFSH/ZVH
Field
Testing
TS8980FTA
+ out-of-band and
TV interferer tests
Conformance
Testing
R&S LTE information, App. Notes, Videos, etc.

www.rohde-schwarz.com/
Rohde & Schwarz Netherlands

Contact details
ROHDE & SCHWARZ Netherlands

Test and Measurement
Perkinsbaan 1 3439 ND Nieuwegein
P.O. Box 1315 3430 BH Nieuwegein
Tel +31 (0)30 6001722 Mob +31 (0) 6 46324415
Marcel Tersteeg
email: marcel.tersteeg@rohde-schwarz.com
Internet: www.rohde-schwarz.com
Webshop: www.testenmeetwinkel.nl
Account Manager
Broadcast & Telecom operators
Thank you
for your attention!
Any questions?

Rohde Schwarz 2

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Challenges during LTE rollout

and how to tackle them

Rohde & Schwarz

LTE roll out Challenges over challenges

800MHz is not 900MHz

There are already plenty of

Oct 2013 | LTE challenges | 3

LTE roll out why do we do all of this?

l Availability and throughput of data services are the main customer

l End user behavior is best represented when

measurements are performed with smartphone based

Oct 2013 | LTE challenges | 4

QualiPoc LTE measurements

QualiPoc Test Cases

M->L and M->M, MOC and MTC, DL and UL

Oct 2013 | LTE challenges | 6

Finding reasons for low data rates

Good coverage, low SINR why?

Low coverage, low SINR

Areas of low data rates

Good coverage, but low SINR: missing

Best server SINR

Oct 2013 | LTE challenges | 8

Using a mobile radio network scanner provides easy

Oct 2013 | LTE challenges | 9

800MHz is not 900MHz

Oct 2013 | LTE challenges | 10

The larger picture

Oct 2013 | LTE challenges | 11

LTE800 frequency assignment plan

Oct 2013 | LTE challenges | 12

The real world

Oct 2013 | LTE challenges | 13

RF Power Scan is a Spectrum Analyzer light

Oct 2013 | LTE challenges | 14

l All defined sweeps

Oct 2013 | LTE challenges | 15

and what about 2600MHz?

l Small cells, Het Net, micro cells, WiFi offloading

l Testing of data rates and handovers with smartphone

based measurement systems

Oct 2013 | LTE challenges | 16

LTE 1800MHz the compromise?

however, in many cases refarming is necessary

Single RAN integration and refarming

into one cabinet

Oct 2013 | LTE challenges | 18

Handheld Cable & Antenna Analyzer R&S ZVH

Basic: BTS maintenance and trouble shooting

BTS output spectrum

Extended: interference hunting and cable and

Oct 2013 | LTE challenges | 19

R&S ZVH and FSH Highlights

Written instructions and pictures can be added to each

Oct 2013 | LTE challenges | 20

Still classical installation problems remain

These challenges can be overcome and solved by using

Oct 2013 | LTE challenges | 21

R&S LTE Portfolio

for chipset, component, device and base station testing

One box Mobile Radio Tester for

Oct 2013 | LTE challenges | 22

R&S LTE information, App. Notes, Videos, etc.

Oct 2013 | LTE challenges | 23