Training Solutions

GSM Performance Workshop

As wireless service providers continue their deployment of GSM networks, one of the key concerns is how to manage and monitor the performance of these networks. This unique workshop prepares students to use the tools at their disposal to manage the performance of their GSM network. Modern GSM network equipment offers a wide array of performance features such as RF Frequency Hopping and the Adaptive Multi-Rate (AMR) speech codec. When properly tuned, these features provide very high quality voice services and high spectral efficiency in GSM networks. To achieve optimal performance, network operators must know how to collect the right set of performance measurements, interpret those measurements, and adjust network parameters when improvements are needed. Concepts are reinforced through hands-on exercises that show the impact of these parameter changes.

Learning Objectives

After completing this course, the student will be able to:
• Describe the basic GSM operations and the configurable parameters that control them
• Discuss the effects of the major GSM performance enhancing features and understand when each feature should be used
• Select the key GSM network performance counters to monitor and understand how to interpret them
• Show how GSM control channels and traffic channels should be dimensioned to ensure service availability
• Describe how frequency hopping can be used with fractional loading to provide very high spectral efficiency
• Examine the AMR speech codec and see how it can be applied to dramatically increase network quality and capacity
• Explain the impact of supporting GSM at 850 MHz and 1900 MHz in the same cell
• Analyze the performance features, counters and parameters of your network equipment

Intended Audience

This course is intended for a technical audience, primarily those in RF engineering, RF performance, system performance, RF design or planning organizations.

Suggested Prerequisites

• Exploring GSM (Instructor Led)

Suggested Follow-up Training/Complementary Courses

• GPRS and EDGE Performance Workshop (Instructor Led)

Course Length

3 Days Instructor Led

Course Outlines / Knowledge Knuggets

1. Optimizing GSM Networks
1.1. Rationale for performance analysis
1.2. Optimization process

2. Review of GSM Principles
2.1. Introduction to GSM
2.2. GSM network architecture
2.3. GSM channel structure

3. Cell Selection and Idle Mode
3.1. BCCH parameters
3.2. Initial cell selection and finding the right network
3.3. Cell re-selection
3.4. Camping on a cell
3.5. Paging parameters

4. Mobility Management and Call Setup
4.1. Network access and the RACH
4.2. Signaling and the SDCCH
4.3. Control channel and traffic channel assignment
4.4. Location updates procedure
4.5. Call origination procedures
4.6. SMS

5. GSM Frequency Planning
5.1. BCCH frequency planning
5.2. Frequency hopping parameters
5.3. Frequency hopping and fractional loading
5.4. Overlay/Underlay considerations
5.5. Dual Band considerations

6. Dimensioning GSM Channels
6.1. Erlang-B and blocking
6.2. CCCH provisioning
6.3. SDCCH provisioning
6.4. Traffic channel provisioning
6.5. Beacon and hopping layer provisioning

7. Dedicated Mode Performance
7.1. Role of the SACCH
7.2. Measurement reporting
7.3. Handover scenarios and criteria
7.4. Power control
7.5. Discontinuous transmission parameters and procedures

8. AMR
8.1. Mean opinion scores and AMR
8.2. Speech codecs and AMR
8.3. Key parameters and statistics of AMR

CATALOG

Download our course catalog!

2010 Catalog,
pdf format (7.8 MB)