3G mobile service provider traffic analysis using KPIs of CSSR and

CDR in Circuit Switched and Packet Switched network

Prepared by: Almontaser bellah faisal Mohamed hussien
[email protected]
Abstract
The Next Generation Wireless Networks (NGWN) will be
heterogeneous in nature where the different Radio Access Technologies
(RATs) operate together. The most important feature of 3G mobile
cellular network is introduction of voice data integrated service under
multilayered cell environment to support overflow traffic of lower layered
cells by upper ones.
This paper first introduces the architecture of general 3G
communication system in both parts; packet switched (PS) and circuit
switched (CS) networks and then applies statistical analysis to Key
Performance Indicators (KPI) monitored from network entities in PS and
CS network to guide the long term capacity planning and better coverage
for the network by introducing a 3G network optimization cycle phases to
analysis the problems from the KPIs and propose the suitable solution for
these problems, our methodology is applied to a case study of a cellular
communications service provider company report for UTRAN
performance in a month. This UTRAN consist of two RNCs and 622
NodeBs. This report is proposed as an example of this case study and it's
generated according to the proper UTRAN deployment company
formulas; which is Huawei in this case.

Introduction
At present, dissimilar wireless access networks including 2.5G,3G,
Bluetooth, WLAN and Wi-MAX coexist in the mobile computing
environment, where each of these Radio access technologies offer
complementary characteristics and features in terms of its coverage area,
data rate, resource utilization and power consumption. With all these
there are constant improvements in the existing technologies offering
better performance at lesser cost [1]. This is beneficial in both the end
users and service provider's perspective.
In the service provider part these user's calls is the most important
thing in which represent the traffic of the network, traffic in a
telecommunications network is traditionally classified as voice and data
but the present technology advances promise and video services in the
near future over broadband channels[2]. Moreover land wire
communications networks will integrate new mobile services. Recently

great attention has been paid to these mobile services, especially in

cellular systems which will soon cover urban areas.
This traffic is moving from simple voice and SMS to multimedia.
UMTS can bring more attractive applications and better experience to
subscribers, and provide a higher efficient network and faster roll-out
capability of new services to operators.
The instantaneous traffic intensity in a pool of resources is the
number of busy resources at a given instant of time. The pool of resources
may be a group of servers, e.g. trunk lines. The statistical moments of the
traffic intensity may be calculated for a given period of time.
Erlang is the basic unit of telecom traffic intensity. Strictly
speaking, an erlang is what mathematicians call a "dimensionless unit,"
representing continuous use of one circuit. However, since a single circuit
used continuously carries 60 minutes of calling in one hour, one erlang is
usually dened as 60 minutes of traffic. If you receive 300 two-minute
calls in an hour, then you received 600 minutes, or 10 erlangs of traffic in
that hour.
1. General 3G communication system architecture
Packet Switched (PS) domain and Circuit Switched Domain
compose the Core Network (CN) of a 2G Global Systems for Mobile
Communications (GSM) or a 3G UMTS network. Whether in 2G or 3G
phase, the CN plays an essential role in the mobile network system to
provide such important capabilities as mobility management, call and
session control, switching and routing, charging and billing, and security
protection.
In R99 version, the first version of 3G UMTS network, the CN
domain still consists of the same network entities (NE) and the same
network architecture as that in GSM phase. However, there is a change in
the circuit switched domain of R4, the second version of UMTS, which
supports a networking mode where bearer is separated from control.
Meanwhile multiple bearer modes such as ATM/IP/TDM are supported
by CN. Consequently the Mobile Switching Center (MSC) in
GSM/UMTS R99 is split into two NEs: MSC Server (MSS) and Media
Gateway (MGW). We should note that no changes happen in packet
switched domain from R99 to R4 except for a new Iu-PS interface which
is used to connect PS domain with 3G radio access network (RAN).

Fig.1 UMTS topology CN of PS and CS domain

The CN in UMTS is logically classified into the circuit switched
domain (CS) and packet switched domain (PS). The CS domain includes
such logical NEs as MSC Server, MGW, Visitor Location Register
(VLR) integrated in MSC Server physically, Home Location Register
(HLR), Authentication Center (AUC), and Equipment Identity Register
(EIR). The packet switched domain (PS) includes Serving GPRS Support
Node (SGSN) and Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN). More
specifically, PS domain consists of data service NEs: SGSN and GGSN
as well as auxiliary NEs like Charging Gateway (CG), Border Gateway
(BG) and Domain Name System Server (DNS), and different service
platforms attached to PS domain. Figure 1 displays the topology of
UMTS CN with the logical NEs mentioned above.
SGSN is responsible for the delivery of data packets from and to
MSs within its serving area. Its tasks include packet routing and transfer,
mobility management (attach/detach and location management), logical
link management, and authentication and charging functions. Its
interfaces include Iu-Ps interface connecting to RNC, Gn/Gp interface to
GGSN, Gr interface to HLR, Gs interface to MSC Server or MSC, Gd
interface to Short Message Center (SMC), and Ga interface to Charging
Gateway.
GGSN is a gateway between UMTS PS/GPRS network and
external data networks (e.g. Internet). It performs such functions as
routing and data encapsulation between a MS and external data network,
security control, network access control and network management. From
UMTS PS/GPRS aspect, a MS selects a GGSN as its routing device
between itself and external network in the activation process of PDP

context in which Access Point Name (APN) defines the access point to
destination data network. From external data network aspect, GGSN is a
router that can address all MS IPs in UMTS PS/GPRS network. GGSN
provides Gc interface to connect with HLR, Gn/Gp interface with SGSN,
Gi interface with external data networks, and Ga interface with CG.
Charging Gateway is the billing unit for PS domain. Sometimes
coupled together with SGSN, it collects, merges, filters and stores the
original Call Detail Record (CDR) from SGSN and communicates with
billing center, and then transfers sorted CDR to billing center.
HLR is responsible for storing, updating, revising or deleting
subscriber related information, covering the basic service subscription
information, supplementary service subscription information and location
information of subscribers. In addition, it also implements the function of
subscriber security management. From physical connection aspect, HLR
provides D interface to connect with VLR in MSC Server, C interface to
connect with MSC Server or MSC in GSM CN, Gr interface with SGSN,
and Gc interface with GGSN. The type of signaling message delivered
from and to HLR is Mobile Application Part (MAP) [5].
In UMTS circuit switched domain, MSC Server is a functional
entity that implements mobile call service, mobility management,
handover, and other supplementary services. Due to the philosophy of
separation of control function from bearer function in UMTS CN, it is
actually a controller of MGW to establish call routes between Mobile
Stations (MS) via Mc interface. MSC Server also physically integrates
with a VLR to hold subscriber's data. MSC Server provides the optional
Gs interface with SGSN.
In addition, a MGW in a UMTS implements bearer processing
functions between different networks. It implements UMTS voice
communication, multimedia service, CS domain data service, and
interworking between PSTN and UMTS CN and between GSM CN and
UMTS CN. MGW provides Iu-CS interface to connect with the Radio
Network Controller (RNC) in the Radio Access Network (RAN), Nb
interfaces with its peer MGW, E interfaces with 2G MSC, Mc interfaces
with MSC Server, A interface with BSC, and Ai interface with Public
Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)[5].
2. Huawei solutions for 3G networks:
Huawei SingleRAN is a radio access network (RAN) technology
offered by Huawei that allows mobile telecommunications operators to
support multiple mobile communications standards and wireless

telephone services on a single network[1]. The technology incorporates a

software-defined radio device, and is designed with a consolidated set of
hardware components, allowing operators to purchase, operate and
maintain a single telecommunications network and set of equipment,
while supporting multiple mobile communications standards.[2]
High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) is an amalgamation of two
mobile telephony protocols, High Speed Downlink Packet Access
(HSDPA) and High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), that extends
and improves the performance of existing 3rd generation mobile
telecommunication networks utilizing the WCDMA protocols[3]. A
further improved 3GPP standard, Evolved HSPA (also known as
HSPA+), was released late in 2008 with subsequent worldwide adoption
beginning in 2010. The newer standard allows bit-rates to reach as high
as 337 Mbit/s in the downlink and 34 Mbit/s in the uplink. However,
these speeds are rarely achieved in practice. [4]
With the deployment of HSDPA, much more transmission
bandwidth is required. In order to meet the customer's requirements to
reduce the cost of transmission with the same quality, Huawei provides a
Hybrid IP transmission solution with the principle that voice and other
services demanding conversational QoS are carried on high QoS network
(eg. E1) and Best Effort packet data services are carried on low QoS
network (eg. ADSL). It is also a stepping stone to All IP RAN solution.

Fig.2 Huawei hybrid IP transmission solution

The Radio Network Controller (or RNC) is a governing element in
the UMTS radio access network (UTRAN) and is responsible for
controlling the Node Bs that are connected to it. The RNC carries out
radio resource management, some of the mobility management functions
and is the point where encryption is done before user data is sent to and
from the mobile. The RNC connects to the Circuit Switched Core
Network through Media Gateway (MGW) and to the SGSN (Serving
GPRS Support Node) in the Packet Switched Core Network.
Call admission control is one of the radio resource management
technique plays instrumental role in ensure the desired QoS to the users

working on different applications which have diversified QoS

requirements from the wireless networks.
3. Key Performance Indicators KPIs
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are a valuable tool for
improving overall business operations. The problem is that somewhere
along the line the burden imparted by gathering and compiling month-end
KPIs has become greater than the value these sometimes "outdated"
numbers represent. How much effort, custom coding, and cost must go
into compiling and calculating these measures?
Successful KPI implementation depends on the organization's
ability to quickly gather and distribute this key business information
without becoming beholden to large, complex, relational databases and
applications. Traditional systems can't provide real-time information and
require far too much effort and money. KPIs should work for the business
without requiring that half the entire organization work for groups that
make, maintain, and feed these KPI systems.
Key performance indicators (KPIs) in GSM, UMTS, HSPA and
LTE are defined through the definition and measurement of key
parameters of input and output of internal network system and/or
maintenance & operation progress of mobile network operations.
Key Performance Indicators are a set of quantifiable measures used
in GSM, UMTS, HSPA, and LTE networks to gauge or compare
performance in terms of meeting mobile network's strategic and
operational goals. KPIs vary between management, marketing, operations
and network engineering people depending on their priorities,
perspectives or performance criteria sometimes referred to as "key
success indicators (KSI)".

Fig.3 Huawei 3G KPIs Architecture

3.1.

Huawei RAN KPIs

As purposed in this document is to describe the RAN KPI

performance monitoring and analysis of problems that bad KPI values
indicate. The following analysis contains a list of the most common KPIs
used in Huawei networks. These KPIs are monitored constantly. When
the value of a KPI goes below the defined threshold, then detailed
analysis should be performed in order to identify the reasons of this
deterioration. Once the reasons are found, proper solutions will be
proposed and implemented.
This document focuses more in the analysis of failure causes rather
than the KPI monitoring itself. The most common use cases for
monitoring and analysis of bad KPI values are presented for 3G RAN.
3.1.1. "3G" Performance Analysis Use Cases
We had choose some of cases that are available to study from the
report, these cases are:
o Low Call Setup Success Rate for Voice
o Low Call Setup Success Rate for PS
o High Call Drop Rate for AMR
o High Call Drop Rate for PS
o Low HSUPA Throughput
3.1.2. General Methodology:
1. Define RAN KPI class required (Accessibility, Retainability,
Mobility, Resource Usage).
2. Define KPI per service (AMR, Video Call, R99 PS, HSDPA,HSUPA).
3. Define KPI formulas.
4. Define target or guaranteed KPI values.
5. Assess weekly average PLMN/RNC KPI performance in order to
identify KPIs below target.
6. Assess RNC/Area level performance in order to check if bad
performance occurs across network or only in specific areas.
7. Analyze bad performing KPIs in cell level in order to identify failure
causes.
8. Use TopN cell approach to identify the worst performers. Identify top
20 worst cells.
9. Look at failure distribution in network topology (urban, rural,
motorway, RNC border, etc.).

10.Propose solution to improve KPI value.

UTRAN KPI analysis is a major method for RAN maintenance
engineers and network optimization engineers to evaluate network
performance. Comparing with drive tests, call detail logs, and alarms,
KPI analysis can be used to monitor network operation directly and
conveniently. To better locate network problems and optimize network
KPI, abnormal indices, call detail logs, tracked messages, and drive tests
can be used together.
4. RAB & RRC requests:
In evaluation or diagnosing network KPI performance, RAB and
RRC are two of the most important concepts because they are responsible
for all the negotiation involved in those calls.

Fig.4 RRC request establishment.

- RRC setup procedure is the process that establishes the L3
connection between UE and RNC that is used for signaling traffic
only.
- After RNC receives the RRC CONNECTION REQUEST,
processes it and allocates relevant resources on L1, L2 and L3 of
the air interface for this signaling connection.
- The RNC notifies the UE for the prepared configuration with the
RRC CONNECTION SETUP message.
- The UE reports its capabilities to the RNC with the RRC
CONNECTION SETUP COMPLETE.

Fig.5 RAB request establishment.

- RAB setup procedure is the process that establishes the higher-layer
connection between UE and CN that is used to transfer the user data
only (not signaling).
- When the RNC receives the RAB ASSIGNMENT REQUEST
allocates the necessary resources for the requested service, after
successful call admission. Resources include Codes, CE, Power, IUB
bandwidth.
- Then the RB is setup which is the UTRAN part of the RAB.
- Upon successful completion of the RB setup, the RNC responds to
the CN with the RAB ASSIGNMET RESPOND message.
Call Drop Rate:
The Call Drop Rate (CDR) is the fraction of the telephone calls
which, due to technical reasons, were cut off before the speaking parties
had finished their conversation and before one of them had hung up
(dropped calls), this fraction is usually measured as a percentage of all
calls.
This KPI describes the ratio of RAB release requests related to the
number of successful RAB establishment (per CS/PS domain). Drops are
derived from "IU Release Request" and "RAB Release Request"
messages sent from UTRAN to the CN as calculated by the formula:

Type = {Conv, Strm, Intact, Bgrd}.

RAB.SuccEstabPSNoQueuing: No. of successfully established RABs for PS domain
in which a queuing process has not been involved.
RAB.SuccEstabCSNoQueuing: No. of successfully established RABs for CS domain
in which a queuing process has not been involved.
RAB.SuccEstabPSQueuing: No. of successfully established RABs for PS domain in
which a queuing process has been involved.
RAB.SuccEstabCSQueuing: No. of successfully established RABs for CS domain in
which a queuing process has been involved.
RAB.RelReqPS: No. of RABs release requests to release UTRAN for PS domain.
RAB.RelReqCS: No. of RABs release requests to release UTRAN for CS domain.
RAB.NbrIuRelReqCS: Number of RAB related to the Iu release request for CS domain.
RAB.NbrIuRelReqPS: Number of RAB related to the Iu release request for PS domain.

This KPI reflects the user (UE) point of view, since the user may
complain about a connection which is released unexpectedly.
Call Setup Success Rate:
The Call Set up Success Rate (CSSR) is one of the most important
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used by all mobile operators. The
CSSR in general is a term in telecommunications denoting the fraction of
the attempts to make a call which result in a connection to the dialed
number. However there is no standard measurement possible for this
parameter. Therefore the different operators can measure it differently.

This KPI describes the ratio of successful call establishments. It is

based on the Successful RRC Connection Establishment Rate for call
setup purposes and the RAB Establishment Success Rate for all RAB
types. Both KPIs are multiplied. Since RRC counters are measured per
cell object, the sum over all cells within one RNC needs to be built, in
order to get this rate on RNC level.

Cause:
- Originating Conversational Call.
- Originating Streaming Call.
- Originating Interactive Call.
- Originating Background Call.
- Terminating Conversational Call.
- Terminating Streaming Call.
- Terminating Interactive Call.
- Terminating Background Call.
RRC.AttConnEstab: No. of RRC connection establishment attempts for each
establishment cause.
RRC.SuccConnEstab: No. of successful RRC establishments for each establishment
cause.
RabEstabSR: RAB establishment success rate, This KPI describes the ratio of all
successful RAB establishments related to the total number of RAB establishment
attempts.

RAB.AttEstabCS = No. of requested RAB in establishment attempts for CS domain.

RAB.AttEstabPS = No. of requested RAB in establishment attempts for PS domain.

Network KPI parameters Optimization methodology:

Parameter optimization is an important step after RF Optimization.
It improves service quality and utilization of network resources; also it's a

complicated procedure and needs parameter and algorithm knowledge,

but when combined with other optimization activities makes network
better.

Fig.6 KPI analysis optimization cycle flowchart

Related work:

The WCDMA based 3G cellular standards have a great flexibility

and a variety of logical and transport channels defined for different types
of traffic classes, An access control protocol was proposed for an
integrated voice, video and non real-time data traffic on the forward link
(cell-site to mobile). The QoS of voice for mobile users in the mixed
traffic environment was estimated in [6].
The data services in a third generation mobile telecommunication
networks characterize the mix of several traffic types for capacity and
quality of service (QoS) planning. The analysis of QoS parameters of a
mobile network, such as channel occupation time, handoff, new call
blocking probabilities and traffic in Erlangs were described in [7].
In [8] the performance of three video traffic models in predicting
the number of data packets that were scheduled at the next time slot was
discussed.
In [9] the performance of the dedicated channel for WWW traffic
was investigated. Performance of the UMTS MAC on dedicated channel

for web traffic had been studied through simulation models in terms of
throughput, transfer delay, collision probability.
The results were compared with the performance obtained by
deploying a scheduling scheme based on weight. The scheme was
simulated with different number of users. The results showed that the
scheme improved the system capacity while maintaining the acceptable
end-to-end delay.

Results:

Fig.7 CS traffic in Erlang

Fig.8 CS CSSR rate vs CDR rate

Fig.9 PS CSSR rate vs DCR rate

Fig.10 HSPA throughput (MB)

Conclusion:
From these results analysis of pad KPI is done and the following
procedure summary for causes probabilities and KPI optimizations are
suggested for better network performance:
Call drop is a Radio Network KPI in Retainability KPIs category
Causes: Poor coverage, High interference, Poor UL coverage, Poor
dominance, Pilot pollution, Missing neighbors and Fast change of RF
conditions usually causes drop calls, e.g. turning a corner.
Optimizations:
- Scrambling code planning adjustment
- System/handover parameter tuning (Intra-freq, Inter-RAT)
- Neighbors list optimization
- RF optimization

Pilot pollution optimizations:

- Antenna adjustment (e.g. azimuth or down tilt).
- Pilot power optimization
Call Setup Success Rate is a Radio Network KPI in Accessibility
KPIs category .
Increasing the call setup success rate as much as practical and
affordable In mobile networks this is achieved by improving radio
coverage, expanding the capacity of the network and optimizing the
performance of its elements, all of which may require considerable effort
and significant investments on the part of the network operator.

Causes and optimizations:

- Transmission problem: following counters indicate
transmission issue on Iub interface; check relative alarms
to identify faults on the transmission path or the
transmission boards of RNC/NodeB.
- Radio resource congestion: following counters indicate
lack of radio resources or Iub bandwidth. Check the
Admission Control thresholds. Take appropriate measures
to relieve congestion, e.g. activate LDR (Load
Reshuffling), OLC (Overload Control) algorithms, and to
increase capacity.
- RF problem: following counter indicate failure due to RF
issue. Check coverage in the failure points. Check if most
failures occur in cell border (most probably they are).
Check FACH power. Check DL interference in the cell: is
there a pilot pollution issue? Check UL interference in the
cell.
- RNL related problem: following counters indicate that the
failure is due to a RNL (Radio Network Layer) procedure
problem; includes congestion counters.
- Congestion problem: following counters indicate lack of
radio recourses or Iub bandwidth. Check the Admission
Control thresholds. Take appropriate measures to relieve
congestion, e.g. activate LDR, OLC algorithms, and to
increase capacity.
References

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(2014)
Huawei
SingleRAN,
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at:
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2014).
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Appendix: