The Planning Of Handover In 3G

Technology Saravanan A/L Sukumaran (Author)

Department of Electronics & Computer Engineering Technology

Faculty of Engineering Technology

Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka

B071210044@student.utem.edu.my

ABSTRACT

The third generation mobile technology (3G) has been one

of the important innovation in communication field. The

advantages of third generation (3G) technology compared

to previous technologies are it brings digital multimedia

handsets with high data transmission rates, capable of

providing much more than basic voice calls. For W-

CDMA (access technology of 3G) the quality and capacity

should be planned with proper guidelines in order to avoid

loss or interruption of service. In order to avoid such

problems the handover conducted in telecommunication

industries. The handover can be classified into hard

handover and soft/softer handover. The implementation of

soft handover can increase the quality, and capacity

performance. The principle of handover considered during

the planning of 3G networks. This project involves the

basic study of W-CDMA architecture along with the

planning of handover in 3G technology. The handover

planning conducted by using software called Atoll RF

planning tool.

Keywords—handover ; 3G WCDMA; Signal Quality

I. INTRODUCTION

Soft handover is a very essential and important

aspect of W-CDMA system. The W-CDMA is best

choice for implementation of soft handover. The

universal frequency reuse enables the new function

of soft handover [1]. In the uplink, two or more Base

Stations (BS) can obtain the same signal due to reuse

factor. In the downlink the mobile station can

coherently combine with the signals from different

Base Stations (BS) since it consider as just

additional multipath components [2]. Soft handover

causes strict requirement to power control and

makes capacity enhancement by adding a new cell

very easy as no frequency planning in necessary.

The soft handover involves configuring the network

resources and parameters in a way that guarantee

performance for the end users according to the

quality of handover.

The main objective of the project is to study the

planning of the 3G network that provides optimum

Win Adiyansyah Indra

Department of Electronics & Computer Engineering Technology

Faculty of Engineering Technology

Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka

adiyansyah@utem.edu.my

topology. The handover is needed in two situations

when a handover in a noise-limited environment

and mobile unit is achieving the signal-strength

holes (gaps) within the cell site [3].

II. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

A. Pre-planning phase

In this phase requirement of services and

basic network configuration parameters

are investigated.

B. Location planning phase

In this phase, the research area, and

possible location to set up the base station

are investigated. The selected location for

this planning from area surrounding Bukit

Beruang to Bukit Baru in Melaka.

The data obtained related to the

geographical properties and the assumed

traffic volumes at various point of the

selected area.

C. Handover planning phase

In this phase the simulated results will be

analysed and compared with previous

analysis until the expected results is

achieved

III. RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Figure 1: Handover planning ( Traffic Density) at

the selected location

Figure 1 shows the atoll simulation of traffic density

which used to plan handover status. The handover

status is categorised into 6 types, such as softer

handover, soft handover, softer-softer handover,

softer-soft handover, soft-soft handover and blank

spot. The occurance of the softer-softer handover is

higher compared to other handover status.

Figure 2: Signal strength (dBm) at the selected

location

Based on simulation result figure 2, the signal

strength value ranging from -80dBm to -120dBm.

Most of signal strength exist at the selected location.

This implies that good signal strength exist at the

selected location. Thus, less chance for signal loss.

Figure 3: Bukit Beruang antenna placement on

map

Figure 3 illustrated the location where the antenna is

need to be placed in order to achieve the desired

output result. The satellite map above shows exactly

same location where decided for handover planning.

The satellite map consists of 58 antenna located in

between 174 sectorized hexagonal cells.

Furthermore, the figure above also illustrated the

accurate location of antennas which are free from

obstacles, like buildings. So that, it can avoid

shadowing (log normal fading). Most of antennas

are located at the forest sites and empty land. This

helps to prevent Radio Frequency (RF) radiation

which can affect the human health.

IV. CONCLUSIONS

As conclusion, implementation of handover

planning significantly can produce good quality of

signal with better signal strength. The value of signal

strength ranging from -80dBm to -100dBm, which

considered as good signal strength. The W-CDMA

is best choice for implementation of soft handover.

Soft handover refers to a feature used by the W-

CDMA standards, so that a cell phone is

simultaneously connected to two or more cells

during a call. The planning of handover had

followed all the criteria like number of antenna,

environment type, altitude and coverage zones.

Although there are some limitations had been

discovered in this project, the future research has

comes with many suggestion to overcome the

limitations.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I would like to thank my parents and friends for

giving me support from the beginning of this

research until the research is completed. Special

thanks to my supervisor, Mr. Win Adiyansyah Indra

for guiding me along the project's progression.

REFERENCES

[1] A. R. Mishra.,2007. Advanced cellular network

planning and optimisation: 2G/2.5G/3G evolution

to 4G. Chichester: John Wiley.

[2] St-Hilaire, M., Chamberland, S. & Pierre, S.,

2006. Uplink UMTS network design-an integrated

approach. Computer Networks 50(15): 2747-2761.

[3] PASANDIDEH, M. R. and ST-

HILAIRE.,2013. "Automatic Planning of 3G

UMTS All-IP Release 4 Networks with Realistic

Traffic", Computers & Operations Research,

vol.40, no. 8, pp. 1991-2003.