Concerns To Validate the Nominal Plan (2G and 3G)
Currently we are engaged on TEP related activities as survey work for new and swap sites and planning tasks. However we have found the following difficulties to proceed with Addis Ababa nominal plan validation which has a serious impact on new site survey and validation for TSSR and LLD.
ethio telecom requested Huawei to use the latest forecasted subscribers from ethio telecom marketing department, which was done based on 10 sub cities instead of 28 woredas provided before. However the nominal plan was done considering the forecast of 28 woredas which has data discrepancy with the newly provided 10 sub cities.
To make it short, the planned sites could not meet the subscribers forecast for following sub-cities Ketema, Akaki, Arada , Kirkose, Lideta and Nefasilk, on the other hand there is excess resource planned for Bole, Gulele, Kolfe and yeka.
2G planned and Forecast Data
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3G planned and Forecast Data
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Hence, to alleviate this problem, Huawei has proposed the following solution.
1. 2G (GSM)
1. Solution step 1 for Capacity
Huawei has come-up as a solution for the above problem to configure all the sites in their Maximum Configuration (G666 & D888) in those low capacity areas in an attempt to meet the forecast subscribers.
However this solution again could not meet the forecast for the following sub cities Lideta, Arada and Addis Ketema
2G planned (with Max Conf.) and Forecast Data
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2. Solution step 2 for Capacity
Huawei has proposed for the above problem to configure all the sites in their Maximum Configuration (based on the HLD G666 & D888) and 29 sites reallocation from those areas with excess resources to those low capacity areas in an attempt to meet the forecast subscribers with a margin of additional 19200 subscribers (2 sites) in each sub-cities as shown below.
2G and 3G sites reallocation proposal
|No |Sites Moved from |Number of Sites Moved from the|Sites Moved to |Number of Sites Moved to the |
| | |sub-cities | |sub-cities |
|1 |Kolfe |9 |Addis Ketema |9 |
|2 |Gulele |3 |Arada |12 |
|3 |Bole |8 |Kirkos |2 |
|4 |Akaki |4 |Lideta |6 |
|5 |Yeka |3 | |
|6 |Nefas Silk |2 | |
|Total |29 |Total |29 |
Hence, after configuring the sites with Max configuration and 29 sites reallocation we could meet 2G capacity and coverage requirements
2. 3G (UMTS)
1. Solution step 1 for Capacity
For the same reason as 2G, Huawei has proposed Max configurations for UMTS sites (U444) in those low capacity sub cities.
However this solution again could not meet the forecast for the following sub cities Lideta, Arada , Addis Ketema and Kirkos.
3G planned (with Max Conf.) and Forecast Data
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2. Solution step 2 for Capacity (29 site reallocation)
After moving the above sites, the 2G (GSM) demand from coverage and capacity wise is met, but for 3G UMTS we have encountered capacity and coverage problem since as per our UMTS capacity planning we need 58 node b sites to be reallocated to fill the capacity deficiency in those areas mentioned above but it’s assumed that some of the capacity demand could be handled by LTE network (the assumption is made during the meeting between TEP and NETWORK Division on January 24, 2014)
3G coverage statistics after 29 sites reallocation
|Morphology |Percentage of coverage |
| |Before |After |
|Dense Urban |98.08% |98. 75% |
|Urban | 96.19% |93.88% |
|Sub Urban | 95.03% |93. 84% |
HUAWEI’s proposal to meet the coverage in those affected morphologies (Urban and Sub-urban)
3. Option 1: Whole network planning with 20% margin
With the recent subscribers forecast data provided by et marketing department and with 20% margin we need to plan the whole network for 2G GSM, 3G UMTS and 4G LTE to meet capacity, coverage and quality requirements.
Advantage: We can handle in the future (after network deployment) any optimization issues due to new demand with expansion or simple parameter adjustment.
Disadvantage: This needs additional of at least 5 weeks which prompts PIP revisions and PO will be affected.
4. Option 2: Maximum Configuration
Huawei has proposed Max configurations for Addis Ketema, Akaki, Arada, Kirkose and Lideta. And as shown above after 29 sites reallocation and LTE network assumption we have resolved capacity problem but UMTS coverage problem could be handled as the following options.
1. Adjustment of UMTS coverage requirements for Urban and Sub-Urban
As shown below the coverage requirement for urban and sub-urban is below 95% but with very small difference as 93.8% and 93.9% for urban and sub-urban morphologies respectively. Hence they propose to accept it.
3G coverage statistics after 29 sites reallocation
|Morphology |Percentage of coverage |
| |Before |After |
|Dense Urban |98.08% |98. 75% |
|Urban | 96.19% |93.84% |
|Sub Urban | 95.03% |93. 84% |
Advantage: PO will not be affected and will not affect PIP significantly.
Disadvantage: since we use maximum configuration for all the sites it would be quite hard for us to entertain any new demands from optimization aspect. i.e. we should add new site. And did not meet the original coverage requirement which is 95%
2. 12 New sites and 9 sites movement
Huawei has proposed to move 9 sites to move from urban to dense urban and 12 new sites to be added in dense urban area to meet both capacity and coverage requirement.
|Morphology |Percentage of coverage |
| |Before |After |
|Dense Urban |98.08% |98. 75% |
|Urban | 96.19% |95.4% |
|Sub Urban | 95.03% |95. 03% |
Advantage: Meet Coverage requirement
Disadvantage: Since we use maximum configuration for all the sites it would be quite hard for us to entertain any new demands from optimization aspect. And PIP revisions and PO will be affected.
3. To use Maximum power
Huawei has proposed to increase the power per carrier from 20W to 40 W for 64 UMTS only sites (38 sites in Urban and 26 sites in Sub-urban) and found the following coverage improvements.
|Morphology |Percentage of coverage |
| |Before |After |
|Dense Urban |98. 75% |98. 75% |
|Urban |93.8% |94.74% |
|Sub Urban |93. 9% |95. 42% |
Advantage: PO will not be affected significantly and some improvements for coverage .
Disadvantage: Since we use maximum configuration for all the sites it would be quite hard for us to entertain any new demands from optimization aspect. And we use the maximum power configuration for 64 UMTS only sites; hence it would demand new sites for new capacity and coverage requirements. And we will face pollution in most parts of the coverage areas. And Huawei says some KPIs will be highly affected and additional license cost for power.
Conclusion:
If the PIP should not be revised and the PO should not be affected we advice to accept option 2.4.1 Adjustment of UMTS coverage requirements for Urban and Sub-Urban which is under Option 2.4 Maximum Configuration 