HSPA Performance and Evolution: A practical perspective »

Written from an operator’s viewpoint,  HSPA Performance and Evolution  explores the lessons learned and techniques developed for optimally deploying HSPA (High Speed Packet Access). The essential distinctions between rolling out HSPA compared to earlier UMTS and GSM technologies are explained covering the many issues that must be specifically handled. Areas in standards which have been left open for interpretation, causing significant differences between vendor implementations, are identified and solutions explored.

This book is invaluable in enabling wireless operators to extract maximum performance offered by 3GPP’s HSPA radio technology, consisting of both downlink (HSDPA) and uplink (HSUPA) elements. It focuses on real-world performance, sharing practical implementation methods and tradeoffs for deploying, optimizing and maintaining networks using the HSPA air interface.

 • Examines algorithms, equipment and performance perspectives to identify and explain HSPA

• Measures performance and sets network parameters for optimal tradeoffs

• Presents results from practical and real-world network performances

• Explores the evolution of HSPA technology into HSPA+ and eventually next generation LTE technologies

Figures and Tables xi

About the Authors xix

Preface xxi

Foreword xxiii

Acknowledgements xxv

1 Introduction 1

1.1 Services and Applications for HSPA 3

1.2 Organization of the Book 6

References 7

2 Overview of UMTS/HSPA Systems 9

2.1 UMTS: GSM Evolution to 3G Networks 9

2.1.1 Overview of UMTS Standardization 10

2.1.2 UMTS Network Architecture 11

2.1.3 Air Interface Technology 12

2.2 UMTS System Elements 14

2.2.1 User Equipment (UE) 14

2.2.2 Node-B 14

2.2.3 Radio Network Controller (RNC) 14

2.3 UMTS Radio Bearers and Services 15

2.3.1 Information Transfer Attributes 15

2.3.2 Quality of Service (QoS) Attributes 15

2.4 HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) 16

2.4.1 Motivation for the Introduction of HSDPA 16

2.4.2 Main HSDPA Features 17

2.5 HSUPA (High Speed Uplink Packet Access) 22

2.5.1 Main HSUPA Features 22

2.6 Summary 25

References 26

3 Applications and Quality of Service in HSPA Networks 27

3.1 Application Performance Requirements 28

3.1.1 The Role of Latency in End-user Performance 29

3.1.2 Considerations of TCP/IP 30

3.1.3 Typical Application Profiles 33

3.2 Support of QoS in HSPA Networks 38

3.2.1 3GPP QoS Attributes 39

3.2.2 Negotiation of QoS Attributes 41

3.2.3 QoS Modification for HSPA 44

3.3 Summary 46

References 46

4 Radio Resource Management in UMTS/HSPA Networks 47

4.1 Admission and Congestion Control 48

4.1.1 Management of Transmit Power Resources 50

4.1.2 Management of Channelization Codes 52

4.2 Packet Scheduler 52

4.2.1 HSDPA Scheduling 52

4.2.2 HSUPA Scheduling 56

4.3 HSDPA Power Allocation 57

4.4 Power Control and Link Adaptation 59

4.4.1 Power Control 59

4.4.2 LinkAdaptation 61

4.5 Mobility Management 66

4.5.1 HSDPA Mobility Management 66

4.5.2 HSUPA Mobility Management 68

4.6 Summary 69

References 70

5 HSPA Radio Network Planning and Optimization 71

5.1 Key Differences Between HSPA and Legacy Rel.'99 Channels 72

5.1.1 HSPA Data User Behavior Compared to Rel.'99 Voice Users 72

5.1.2 HSPA Radio Performance Considerations Compared to Rel.'99 72

5.1.3 HSPA Mobility Considerations Compared to Rel.'99 74

5.1.4 HSPA Baseband and Backhaul Resource Considerations Compared to Rel.'99 75

5.2 Link Budget Analysis 75

5.2.1 Link Budget Methodology 75

5.2.2 Downlink Analysis 77

5.2.3 Uplink Link Budget Analysis 79

5.3 Overview of System Level Simulations 84

5.4 Cell Planning Process 86

5.4.1 Practical Rules for UMTS/HSPA Cell Planning 87

5.4.2 Automate Cell Planning (ACP) Tool Usage 88

5.4.3 Deployment of ACP Network Configuration 91

5.5 Optimization with Drive Test Tools 93

5.6 Main Radio Parameters Affecting HSPA Performance 97

5.6.1 Basic Activation Features 97

5.6.2 Control of Resources 100

5.6.3 Mobility Management Parameters 104

5.6.4 Performance Parameters 105

5.7 Dynamic Network Optimization (DNO) Tools 109

5.7.1 Collection of Relevant Network Information 111

5.7.2 Identification of Parameters for DNO 112

5.7.3 Definition of the DNO Strategy 112

5.8 Summary 114

References 114

6 HSPA Radio Performance 117

6.1 HSDPA Lab Performance Evaluation 118

6.1.1 Lab Setup 118

6.1.2 Basic Functionality Testing 119

6.1.3 HSDPA Latency Improvement 120

6.1.4 HSDPA Throughput and Link Performance 121

6.1.5 HSDPA Link Adaptation Performance 123

6.1.6 Dynamic Power Allocation 125

6.1.7 HSDPA Scheduler Performance 128

6.2 HSUPA Lab Performance Evaluation 129

6.2.1 Throughput Performance 129

6.2.2 Scheduler Performance 130

6.2.3 Latency Performance 132

6.2.4 Mixed Voice and HSUPA Performance 132

6.3 Field Evaluation 134

6.3.1 Field Network Configurations 134

6.3.2 HSDPA Performance 136

6.3.3 HSUPA Performance 148

6.4 Other Performance Considerations 152

6.4.1 Terminal Device Performance 152

6.4.2 Infrastructure Performance 153

6.4.3 Application Performance 154

6.5 Summary 156

References 157

7 Capacity Growth Management 159

7.1 UMTS/HSPA Carrier Deployment Strategy 160

7.1.1 Factors Affecting the Carrier Planning Strategy 161

7.1.2 Voice and HSPA on One Carrier 163

7.1.3 Data Centric Carrier 166

7.1.4 Factors Affecting the Shared vs. Data Centric Carrier Decision 168

7.2 Data Traffic Profiling and Network Dimensioning 171

7.2.1 Traffic Profiling 171

7.2.2 Data Traffic Models 174

7.2.3 Data Traffic Modeling Case Study 178

7.3 Summary 179

References 179

8 HSPA Evolution (HSPA+) 181

8.1 Standards Evolution 182

8.1.1 Radio Evolution 183

8.1.2 Architecture Evolution 183

8.1.3 Vendor Ecosystem 184

8.2 HSPA+ Radio Enhancements 184

8.2.1 MIMO 184

8.2.2 Higher Order Modulation (HOM) 187

8.2.3 Advanced Receivers 189

8.2.4 Continuous Packet Connectivity (CPC) 191

8.2.5 Circuit-switched Voice Over HSPA 199

8.2.6 Dual Carrier Operation in HSDPA 200

8.3 Architecture Evolution 201

8.3.1 GPRS Flat Architecture 201

8.3.2 End-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) Architecture 207

8.4 Converged Voice and Data Networks: VoIP 211

8.4.1 Benefits of an All-IP Network 212

8.4.2 Fundamentals of Voice Over IP (VoIP) 214

8.4.3 Requirements for VoIP as a Complete Voice Service 218

8.4.4 HSPA Enablers for Voice Over IP 220

8.4.5 Performance of VoIP in HSPA Networks 223

8.5 Summary 228

References 228

9 Technology Strategy Beyond HSPA 231

9.1 Introduction to Evolved UTRAN 232

9.1.1 Technology Choice and Key Features 234

9.1.2 Architecture and Interfaces 236

9.1.3 Early LTE Trials 237

9.2 Analysis of HSPA vs. LTE 238

9.2.1 Performance Comparison of LTE vs. HSPA Rel.'6 240

9.2.2 Performance Comparison of LTE vs. HSPA + 241

9.3 LTE Deployment and Migration Scenarios 245

9.3.1 Technology Timelines 245

9.3.2 Key Factors for New Technology Overlay 247

9.3.3 HSPA and LTE Overlay Scenarios 249

9.4 Summary 251

References 252

Index 253