1- Wasiu Otukoya MTN Nigeria

Presentation Confidential between MTN and audience

Deploying EDGE To Cost-Effectively Meet The Increasing Data Requirements Of Your Subscriber Base

Wasiu Otukoya

RF Optimization Manager

MTN Nigeria Communications Limited

March 2008



MTN NIGERIA-BACKGROUND

• The biggest mobile operator in West Africa

•Commercial launch in August 2001

• 17 million subscribers and still counting

• 3500+ Base Stations and over 55,000 TRXs

•Uses 2 vendors on the BSS (Ericsson & Huawei) and one vendor (Ericsson) on the core network

•76% of Nigeria’s population and 70% of the area covered by MTNN GSM/GPRS network


AGENDA

• The evolution and status of EDGE in Africa

• Benefits of deploying EDGE for mobile operators

•

Technical requirements and costs of upgrading to EDGE for mobile operators

•Assessing the impact of deploying EDGE on QoS

and QoE

for voice and data services

•Examining the advantages of deploying EDGE in addition to 3G for

mobile operators

•The Future of EDGE: EDGE Evolution

•Summary


EDGE DEPLOYMENT STATUS

290 networks in 136 countries worldwide deploying GSM/EDGE networks .

20 countries/31 networks deploy EDGE commercially in Africa. Other countries/networks have also made commitments to rollout.

Over 75% of GPRS operators upgrade to EDGE

148 WCDMA operators operating or deploying a combined EDGE-

WCDMA network

Over 700 GSM/EDGE user devices launched (mostly mid and high end

phones)


AFRICA EDGE DEPLOYMENT STATUS

Source:www.gsa.com

S/N Countries Networks1 Algeria Djezzy;Nedjma

2 Botswana Mascom

Wireless

3 Cameroun Orange

4 Chad Tigo

5 D.R Congo Celtel, Tigo, Vodacom

6 Egypt Mobinil, Etisalat

Misr

7 Ghana MTN Ghana, Tigo, OneTouch

8 Cote D Voire Moov

9 Kenya Celtel, Safaricom

10 Liberia Libercell

11 Madagascar Telma

12 Mozambique Vodacom

13 Namibia MTC

14 Sierra Leone Tigo

15 Somalia Somafone

16 South Africa Cell C, MTN, Vodacom

17 Tanzania Celtel, Tigo, Vodacom

18 Tunisia Tunisiana

19 Uganda Celtel

20 Zambia Celtel


NEED FOR EDGE DEPLOYMENT

EDGE is about enabling 3G Services to all data users

Web browsing Messaging E-mailPush-to-TalkGaming Mobile TVMusic download

This is in addition to supporting the services offered by existing GPRS network

Requires a software upgrade of the existing GSM/GPRS network

No new sites or new spectrum, and has no impact on existing cell or frequency plans.

Prolongs the lifetime of the multi-billion dollar legacy 2G infrastructure.


BENEFIT OF EDGE-OPERATORS

EDGE provides operators a cost-efficient way to reach the mass market to boost the uptake of mobile data services.

EDGE is a viable alternative for providing Internet access in markets where fixed network infrastructure is yet to be established.

EDGE is an important complement to mobile broadband services delivered today over WCDMA/HSPA and in the future LTE networks.

EDGE enables new applications and greater network efficiency resulting in increased ARPU

EDGE provides smooth evolution of GSM/GPRS systems towards 3rd generation capabilities

Upgrading the GPRS network to EDGE will maximize ROI and subscriber loyalty.


BENEFIT OF EDGE-END USER

Improved quality of serviceIncrease data capacity and higher throughput, and lower response

time

Personal Multimedia ServicesAttractive EDGE compatible terminals now available

Lower Price Per BitLower cost of data capacity gives operators flexibility in pricing which will translate to lower price for the end user.


EDGE DATA RATES

Figure 1. EDGE is four times as efficient as GPRS. GPRS use four

coding schemes (CS-1 to 4) while EDGE use nine Modulation and Coding Schemes (MCS-1 to 9).


BASIC PACKET SWITCH NETWORK REQUIREMENTS

PS network integrated with CS network

Hardware components integrated with GSM Structure– PCU– SGSN–

GGSNTransmission on both PS and CS Data (No additional transmission capacity for CS1

& CS2 )

Feature activation on both BTS and BSC (depending on the vendor)

Packet Data Channels (PDCH) enables transmission of packet data over the air

interface

Fixed

On-Demand


BASIC PACKET SWITCH ARCHITECTURE

GGSN ExternalIP

Network

SMS-G/IW MSC

HLR

BTS

SW + HW

SW

SWMS

BSC

New design BackboneNetw ork

Traffic & SignallingSignalling

SGSN - Serving GPRS Support NodeGGSN - Gateway GPRS Support NodeBTS - Base Transceiver StationBSC - Base Station ControllerMSC - Mobile Switching CentreHLR - Hom e Location Register

MSC/VLR

SW

SOG

BGw SW

SW

Gn

Gi

Gd

GrGb

Gs

Gn

SGSN

AUC


EDGE REQUIREMENTS

EDGE capable MS/Data Cards

TRX capability/Radio Network Configuration

A-bis transmission requirements

Additional PCU requirements

Gb Interface Capacity


TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR EDGE UPGRADE

G G S N E xtern a l IP

N etw o rk

S M S -G /IW M S C

H L R

B TS

S W + H W

S W +H W

M S B S C

N ew d es ig n B ackb o n e N etw o rk

T ra ffic & S igna llingS igna lling

S G S N - S e rv ing G P R S S upport N odeG G S N - G atew ay G P R S S upport N odeB T S - B ase T ransce ive r S ta tionB S C - B ase S tation C on tro lle rM S C - M ob ile S w itch ing C en treH LR - H om e Loca tion R eg is te r

M S C /V L R

S O G

B G w G n

G i

G d

G r G b

G s

G n

S G S N

A U C


TRX CAPABILITY & RADIO NETWORK CONFIGURATION

EDGE capable TRX (hardware)General recommendation for an EDGE

cell–

EDGE timeslots defined on cells– 4+4+4 ETCH/Site–

FPDCH in hotspots–

5 or more ETCH in hotspots–

CHGR 1 for CS (Hopping)–

CHGR 0 for BCCH and PS-Might require an extra TRX/cell depending on levels of CS traffic


DEPLOYING EDGE: TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

PCU CAPACITY

Increased data traffic expected when EDGE is introduced

Additional RPP capacity is required. Each EDGE or CS 3/4 enabled

PDCH requires almost 3 times more RPP capacity than GPRS CS1/CS2.1 RPP supports max 150 BPDCH or 100 EPDCH.

PCU capacity can be enhanced by utilizing semi dedicated PDCH (SPDCH) on thePCU.For each Semi-Dedicated PDCH:–

1 Dedicated PDCH on TRX–

1 Dedicated Abis

TS–

1 On Demand GPH (RPP/PCU)

In addition to dimensioning, software upgrade will be implemented on the PCUto support EDGE


Gb

INTERFACE CAPACITY

Gb

interface capacity has to redimensioned

to handle the additional requirements of EDGE

Gb

over IP

Why Gb

over IP and what does it offers us?

Saves PCU resources; no GPH required

Capacity on the Gb

interface not a limiting factor

CAPEX savings in transmission network and PCU

OPEX savings due to lower transmission and operational costs


A-Bis

Interface Capacity

EPDCH takes 64K on the A-Bis

interface (4 times capacity required by BPDCH). Every ETCH is linked to a 64K timeslot on the A-Bis

interface.


A-BIS CAPACITY –

OPTIONS AVAILABLE

Transmission Upgrades

Long Lead time

Capital intensive

A-Bis

transmission over IP

Utilises a low cost transmission medium (Ethernet/xDSL)

A-Bis

optimisation

Improves A-Bis utilization efficiency thereby removing the need for costly upgrades.


A-BIS CAPACITY –

ABIS OPTIMIZATION

A-Bis

optimisation removes the need to upgrade existing transmission

Achieves bandwidth savings by removal of redundant information and packing of frames in both uplink and downlink.

Traffic and signalling information sent as LAPD frames on the super channels instead of dedicated timeslots on the A-bis interface.

Requires only additional BSC hardware (PGW) installation.

Achieves gains in excess of 40% for a typical 4+4+4 site. Lower gains with higher TRX configurations (1 E1 will be enough to support a 222/444 site compared with 2 E1 without A-bis optimisation.)


A-BIS OPTIMIZATION


ASSOCIATED COSTS

Capex

BTS Cost (cost of installing EDGE compatible TRUs

where necessary) $3,200/TRX

Complete swapout

of Micro RBS (where necessary) $25,000/RBS

EDGE software $350/TRX

Additional RPP Installation $4,800/RPP

A-Bis

Optimisation $60,000/BSC

Transmission Links Upgrade $36,000/radio

Site Acquisition Nil

Power & Air-conditioning Nil

Opex

Annual site rental cost Nil

Electric Power Nil

Transmission Nil

Maintenance Nil

Vendor Support Nil

Expected payback period 15 -

18 Months


QoS

impact on Voice & Data Services

Reduced resource for CS Traffic

Grade of service (TCH congestion)

Additional TRUs

(TRU Upgrades)

Utilize HR codecs

(Increase capacity-negative impact on voice

quality)

Utilize AMR codecs

(Increase capacity without compromising

voice quality)


RF QoS-VOICE

CELL- 757DA

ERLANG ACTIVE_PDCH TCH P_HR PCONG

31-Jan29-Jan27-Jan25-Jan23-Jan21-Jan19-Jan17-Jan15-Jan13-Jan11-Jan09-Jan07-Jan05-Jan

ER

LAN

G, A

CTI

VE

_PD

CH

, TC

H, P

_HR

, PC

ON

G

75

70

65

60

55

50

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0


RF QoS

Measures-

DATA

PDCH Allocation Success:

Successful allocation of required PDCH resources

PDCH Load Factor (#TBF/PDCH):

Indicates the number of simultaneous TBF in the downlink sharing the same PDCH resource. A high load factor has a negative impact on subscriber experience.

TBF Allocation Success: Successful allocation of TBF for downlink data transfer

EDGE (DL/UL) IP Throughput: Measure of the speed with which the BSS ship packet data to and from the users, provides the best indication of the user experience. Drawback of this measure is that it is affected by the class of handset and application level.

PDCH Pre-emption

: # active PDCH preempted / # attempts to allocated PDCH resource

TBF Pre-emption:# UL & DL TBFs preempted / # attempts to allocated PDCH resource


RF QoS

Measures -DATA

CELL- 757DA

PREEMPTPDCH PREEMPTTBF EPDCHTHRPUT PCH_ALLOC_SUCC

12-Feb11-Feb10-Feb09-Feb08-Feb07-Feb06-Feb05-Feb04-Feb03-Feb02-Feb01-Feb31-Jan30-Jan29-Jan

PREE

MPT

PDC

H, P

REE

MPT

TBF,

EPD

CH

THR

PUT,

PC

H_A

LLO

C_S

UC

C

100

95

90

85

80

75

70

65

60

55

50

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0


RF QoS-

Measures –DATA (LGBSC2)


EDGE –A COMPLEMENT TO 3G

Fast rollout thus enabling operators to offer 3G services while still rolling out the 3G networks.

Prolongs the lifespan of existing 2G infrastructure while still allowing operators to forge ahead with new technologies.

Provide instant nationwide “3G”

coverage with EDGE.

Seamless network enables transparency towards end user



Allows operators to segment their market by using EDGE to provide services to low ARPU customers and 3G for high ARPU customers



It will not be cost effective for operators to deploy 3G to some

rural areas across Africa. EDGE allows the occasional visitors from urban centres to still have good service while in rural areas.


THE FUTURE -

EDGE EVOLUTION

EDGE Evolution

Standards defined in release 7 of the 3GPP standards.

EDGE Evolution will improve improve the user-experiencedperformance across all services by:

2 –

3 times increase in EDGE bit rates (peak bit rates of 1Mbps and

typical bit rates of 400Kbps)

2 –

3 times spectral efficiency gain (for voice & data capacity)

Reduce latency (Roundtrip time) to below 100ms.

All these will be achieved with low impact on the GSM/EDGE network

Requires extensive terminal modifications

EDGE Evolution functionality expected to be available in 2008


SUMMARY

EDGE enables 3G applications over current GSM networks, and provides seamless services with 3G.

Complement to WCDMA and retain high end users.

CAPEX/OPEX associated with EDGE deployments can be minimized by taking advantage of latest features from OEMs

-

Semi Dedicated PDCH (SPDCH) on the PCU-

Gb

over IP-

A-Bis

over IP-

A-Bis

Optimisation

EDGE Evolution, currently being standardized in 3GPP, will further improve performance and makes it imperative for GSM operators worldwide, to upgrade to EDGE.


Thank you

شكرت أنت

Mercimotashakkeram

Shukran

chokrane

obrigado

Documents

1- Wasiu Otukoya MTN Nigeria