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Low Paging Success Rate & Solutions

in GSM Network Planning & Optimization
Special Subject Manual

VersionV2.0

Released by:

GSM Network Planning & Optimization Dept.

Engineering Service Division
ZTE Corporation

This document contains proprietary information of ZTE Corporation and is not to be disclosed or used
except in accordance with applicable agreements.
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GSM Network Planning & Optimization Dept.

Special Subject Manual

Version Introduction
Version Date Writer Assessor Translator Amendment Records
V1.0 2006-06-01 Ma Junhua Zheng Hao
V2.0 2009-3-12 Hu Yixiao Fei Aiping Wang Hangyan In this version, V3 counter is
added; and normalized format
is adopted.

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except in accordance with applicable agreements.
 Internal Use Only

Keywords
Paging, Paging Capacity, Paging Method

Abstract
This manual analyzes paging principles and paging flow, and describes in detail the
causes for low paging success rate and some corresponding optimization methods.

Abbreviation
No

Reference
No

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except in accordance with applicable agreements.
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Contents
1 Overview...............................................................................................................................................1

2 Formula to Calculate Paging Success Rate.......................................................................................2

3 Relevant Paging Counters in ZTE BSS.............................................................................................3

3.1 V2 Counter....................................................................................................................................3
3.2 V3 Counter....................................................................................................................................5

4 An Analysis of Paging Principle and Flow........................................................................................8

4.1 Paging Principle................................................................................................................................8
4.2 Basic Signaling Flow of Radio Paging.............................................................................................9

5 Causes for Low Paging Success Rate...............................................................................................11

6 Optimization Procedure and Method..............................................................................................13

7 Relevant Paging Knowledge.............................................................................................................17

7.1 Calculation of the Paging Group a Mobile Phone is in..................................................................17
7.2 Calculation of BTS Paging Capacity..............................................................................................18
7.3 Paging Method................................................................................................................................18
7.4 The Number of Messages BTS Could Bear....................................................................................19
7.5 Relations between Paging Group, BS-PA-MFRMS, and BS-AG-BLKS-RESAGB.............21
7.6 The Relation between Location Area and Paging...........................................................................21
7.7 Paging Capacity of ZXG10-BSC....................................................................................................22

8 Typical Cases......................................................................................................................................23
8.1 No Paging Reponses Caused by SDCCH Congestion....................................................................23
8.2 Call Connection Failure Caused by MSC Flow Control................................................................23
8.2.1 No Paging Reponses Caused by Improper Setting of T3212...............................................24
8.2.2 Lower Paging Success Rate Caused by Location Area Division..........................................24
8.3 Indicator Optimization of GSM Paging Success Rate Required by the Operator in an Area........25

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Figures
Fig. 3-1 Wireless Access Flow..................................................................................................................4

Fig. 3-2 Wireless Access Flow..................................................................................................................6

Fig. 3-3 Samples of Abis Messages Sent from BSC to BTS....................................................................7

Fig. 4-1 Schematic Diagram of Sending Paging Message........................................................................9

Fig. 4-2 Basic Signaling Flow of Radio Paging........................................................................................9

Fig. 8-1 Signaling Analysis.....................................................................................................................24

Fig. 8-2 Comparison between Paging Traffics before and after LAC Division.....................................25

Fig. 8-3 Trend Chart of Paging Success Rate..........................................................................................28

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Tables
Table 7-1 Relations between Paging Group, BS-PA-MFRMS, and BS-AG-BLKS-RESAGB.....21

Table 7-2 LAC Traffic Corresponding to Paging Blocks........................................................................22

Table 8-1 Traffic Statistics.......................................................................................................................23

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1 Overview
Paging success rate is an important network indicator in GSM network, which affects
directly other network indicators such as incoming call completion rate, radio system
call completion rate, and etc. A good paging performance is crucial to all mobile phone
users as it determines whether they can be paged successfully. Therefore, it is necessary
to strengthen the optimization analysis to increase paging success rate.

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2 Formula to Calculate Paging Success Rate

Paging success rate = number of paging responses/ number of paging requests*100%,
in which, the number of paging requests is defined as the sum of PAGING messages
sent out by all MSCs in local area, not including the second paging messages. The
measurement point is MSC.

The number of paging responses refers to the sum of PAGING RES messages received
by all MSCs in local area, including the second response messages. The measurement
point is MSC.

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3 Relevant Paging Counters in ZTE BSS

3.1 V2 Counter
C11621 (Number of Sending Paging Messages)

C11637 (Number of MTC Access Success)=C10007=Point A4

C11685 (Number of MTC Access Attempts= C10005=Point A1

C11692 (Number of Access due to Paging Response (statistics establishment

indication)) = C10022=Point A4

Though C11637 and C11692 share the same measurement point, they measure different
values.

The access in paging response may be due to the following: counter C11637 does not
make statistics about 0001XXXX, which is made by counter C11692.

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MS BTS BSC

CHL_REQ
CHL_RQD

A1

A2
CHL_ACT

CHL_ACT_ACK

A3

IMM_ASS_CMD
IMM_ASS
SABM
EST_IND

A4

Fig. Relevant Paging Counters in ZTE BSS -1 Wireless Access Flow

C11621 Number of sending paging messages

Meaning: the number of sending paging messages in a cell.

C10005 Number of MTC random access attempts

Meaning: the number of wireless channel accesses due to channel requests by MTC
(Mobile Termination Call). When a mobile phone requests for, through BTS, radio
channel from BSC by CHL_REQ message, if TA does not exceed the cell range and the
access is due to MTC, this counter will increase by 1.

Measurement point: the mobile phone sends channel request to BSC, and TA does not
exceed the range (A1 in Fig. 3-1)

C10006 Number of successful random access processes due to MTC attempts

Meaning: BSC allows mobile phones with access due to MTC to access network. BSC
accepts the channel request and allocates channel, after channel activation success, this
counter will increase by 1. Meanwhile, BSC will send IMM_ASS message to the
mobile phone.
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Measurement point: channel activation success (A3 in Fig. 3-1)

C10007 Number of successful random accesses due to MTC

Meaning: the number of successful accesses to the allocated channels by MTC phone
during immediate assignment. When the mobile phone gets successful access to the
corresponding channel after received IMM_ASS message from BSC, and after BSC
receives EST_IND message, this counter will increase by 1.

Measurement point: BSC receives EST_IND message (A4 in Fig. 3-1).

C10022 Number of wireless channel accesses due to paging responses

Meaning: the number of wireless channel accesses due to paging responses. After BSC
receives EST_IND message, in which, if the access in the layer 3 message carried is
due to paging responses, this counter will increase by 1.

Measurement point: BSC receives EST_IND message (A4 in Fig. 3-1)

C20064 Number of Paging messages

Meaning: count the number of paging messages received by BSC, which were sent out
by MSC. After reception, this counter will increase by 1.

Measurement point: BSC received Paging message.

In this measurement, A interface signaling measurement task needs to be established in

BSC, thus, the number of paging messages could be obtained.

3.2 V3 Counter
C900060001 Number of MTC random access attempts

Meaning: the number wireless channel accesses due to channel requests by MTC
(Mobile Termination Call). When a mobile phone requests for, through BTS, radio
channel from BSC by CHL_REQ message, if TA does not exceed the cell range and the
access is due to MTC, this counter will increase by 1.

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Measurement point: the mobile phone sends channel request to BSC, and TA does not
exceed the range (A1 in Fig. Relevant Paging Counters in ZTE BSS -2)

Fig. Relevant Paging Counters in ZTE BSS -2 Wireless Access Flow

C901110006 Number of successful random access processes due to MTC attempts

Meaning: BSC allows mobile phones with access due to MTC to access network. It
accepts the channel request and allocates channel, after channel activation success, this
counter will increase by 1. Meanwhile, BSC will send IMM_ASS message to the
mobile phone.

Measurement point: make statistics when channel activation succeeds (A3 in Fig.
Relevant Paging Counters in ZTE BSS -2)

C900060002 Number of successful random accesses due to MTC

Meaning: the number of successful accesses to the allocated channels by MTC phone
during immediate assignment. When the mobile phone gets successful access to the
corresponding channel after received IMM_ASS message from BSC, and after BSC
receives EST_IND message, this counter will increase by 1.

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Measurement point: BSC receives EST_IND message (A4 in Fig. Relevant Paging
Counters in ZTE BSS -2).

C900060137 Number of wireless channel accesses due to paging responses

Meaning: the number of wireless channel accesses due to paging responses. After BSC
receives EST_IND message, in which, if the access in the layer 3 message carried is
due to paging responses, this counter will increase by 1.

Measurement point: BSC receives EST_IND message (A4 in Fig. Relevant Paging
Counters in ZTE BSS -2)

C900060152 Number of ABIS_INTER_PAGING_CMD messages

Meaning: the number of A interface paging command messages in Abis interface

messages sent by BSC.

Measurement point: when BSC sends ABIS_INTER_PAGING_CMD message to BTS,

this counter will increases by 1 as shown at point A in Fig. Relevant Paging Counters in
ZTE BSS -3.

Fig. Relevant Paging Counters in ZTE BSS -3 Samples of Abis Messages Sent from BSC to BTS

Formula to calculate paging success rate at BSS side

V2:Paging success rateBSC=C10022/C20064

V3: Paging success rateBSC= C900060002 / C900060152

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4 An Analysis of Paging Principle and Flow

4.1 Paging Principle
Radio paging is a communication process in which MSC finds out MS through paging.
Only when the mobile subscriber has been found out can MSC carry out next call
connection.

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Fig. An Analysis of Paging Principle and Flow -4 Schematic Diagram of Sending Paging Message

4.2 Basic Signaling Flow of Radio Paging

Fig. An Analysis of Paging Principle and Flow -5 Basic Signaling Flow of Radio Paging

From Fig. 4-2, it is known that MSC will send, after getting the current LAC
information of MS from VLR, paging messages to all BSCs in the LAC. After
receiving the Paging message, BSC will send out Paging Command to all cells within it
under this LAC. After BTS received the Paging Command, it will send out, on the
paging sub-channel of the paging group the IMSI is in, Paging Request, which carries
IMSI or TMSI number of the paged subscriber. After receiving Paging Request, MS
will request through RACH for SDCCH allocation. And BSC will assign this SDCCH
to MS through Immediate Assignment in AGCH after it confirmed the activation of the
needed SDCCH by BTS. And MS will use this SDCCH to send Paging Response. BSC
will then forward this Paging Response to MSC, finishing a radio paging successfully.

Now, the switch in GSM network usually adopts second paging with a paging interval
of 5 seconds. After MSC obtains the current LAC information of the MS from VLR, it
will send out paging message for the first time to all BSCs under the LAC the MS is in,
if no paging response is received within 5 seconds, MSC will send out paging message
again to all BSCs under the LAC the MS is in. If there is still no paging response
within 5 seconds, this radio paging fails, and MSC will send a voice notification the

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subscriber you dialed cannot be connected for the moment to the MOC subscriber.
ZTE switch usually adopts second paging (could be set as third paging).

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5 Causes for Low Paging Success Rate

I. PAGING message fails to be sent out in radio channel

1 Heavy LINK load leads to the loss of bottom layer SCCP message.

2 MSC/VLR and BSC flow control lead to message discarding.

3 Heavy load results in longer queuing time of messages and delay in receiving
messages by MS.

4 Poor transmission link quality leads to the loss of bottom LAPD message.

5 Unreasonable setting of parameter T3212.

6 Too many paging messages results in the loss of message at radio interface
(group sending of short messages).

7 Abnormal number of sending paging messages in BSC caused by redundant cell

data in MSC

II. MS fails to receive PAGING message

1 Coverage: coverage holes, low overall network coverage rate, subscribers being
out of coverage range.

2 Frequent MS reselections.

3 Frequent location update.

4 MS cannot monitor messages on BCCH when it is in GPRS service.

5 Unreasonable setting of paging group will lead to too long the paging time or
paging lost, especially when paging groups are different in two adjacent cells.

6 The time of the second paging is unreasonable in setting, making the second
paging fails to function, which on the contrary make the system paging load
heavier.

7 When wide difference between adjacent cells causes frequent reselections, the
monitoring time will be different, tending to cause paging lost.

III. Relevant messages fail to reach MSC when MS is responding to PAGING

1 SDCCH congestion
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2 SDCCH assignment failure

3 Unbalanced uplink and downlink, with weak uplink.

4 Poor transmission link causes message loss.

5 Special cases: when two MSs call the same mobile phone simultaneously, MSC
will connect through only one caller, and reply no paging response to another.

6 Unsuitable time in sending MSC paging message: before MS ends call release,
MSC finishes the release and sends out new paging, and is replied with no
paging response.

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6 Optimization Procedure and Method

STEP 1: remove abnormal phenomena caused by system

Check flow control alarm and see whether flow control alarms exist in
MSC/VLR/BSC. Keep trunk link at A/Abis interface in good maintenance, pay close
attention to signaling load at A/Abis interface, and add signaling link timely to reduce
paging failure caused by too high a signaling load.

Check whether there is transient transmission interruption alarm in BTS.

Unstable link between systems (e.g. LAPD link at Abis interface, and interface link
between different entities at network side) and within a system (e.g. MEM link
between MSC and VLR, links between BSC/MSC modules, and etc.) will cause
message loss, leading to low paging success rate. This kind of problems could be
discovered by checking alarms.

Check whether there are redundant data in MSC database. As a result of continuous
network expansion and cutover, cell data in MSC may differ from that in BSC, and
therefore, it needs to check cell data and delete redundant data timely. In some areas,
network expansion adopts dot-distributed network (e.g. insert some ZTE BTSs in the
area under MOTO BTS coverage), leading to the possibility that there are many LACs
under one BSC. In this case, this BSC will receive paging messages from many
different LACs, resulting in heavier paging load to BTS under this BSC.

STEP 2: check the latest activity status of MS

At present, VLR probe is the only method to check the latest activity status of MS.

In test, the activity of the MS could be judged through recording signaling at SGSN,
MSC, and Abis interfaces.

STEP 3: eliminate influences from GPRS

Check whether GPRS routing area is set correctly. Set the same routing area for the
same site, or for cells with more frequent reselections.

Check whether routing area update cycle is set reasonably.

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Use a mobile phone without GPRS function to test.

STEP 4: indicator analysis

Check SDCCH congestion status. Check indicators in traffic statistics such as SDCCH
congestion rate, etc., which should normally be 0 or about 0. Eliminate No paging
response caused by SDCCH congestion.

Analyze whether MTC success rate is abnormal.

Analyze whether the number of cell location update is abnormal.

Analyze the average TA and the maximum TA to judge whether there is overshooting.

STEP 5: radio parameter checking and optimization

Check parameter setting related with paging, access and immediate assignment. Check
traffic statistics, alarms, and etc. to see whether there are messages about RACH, PCH
and SDCCH overload.

Improper configuration of BS-AG-BLKS-RES and BS-PA-MFRMS tends to cause

PCH congestion or low paging speed. High BS_PA_MFRMS is at the expense of
average time delay on radio channel, i.e. the higher the BS_PA_MFRMS, the longer
time delay paging messages will spend on air. Thus, the average service performance
of system would also decrease, and it will cost a longer time for MS to wait for being
paged. On the one hand, to reduce BS-PA-MFRMS helps to shorten the user response
time, increasing overall service capability; on the other hand, when the BS-PA-
MFRMS of ZTE BTS <=3, paging messages could be sent twice, increasing the
number of resending paging messages to increase the paging response rate of MS,
which increases the paging success rate.

If parameters such as MAX retrans, TX-integer, and etc. are set improperly, channel
requests may collide or cannot be detected.

Check whether T3212 (periodic location updating timer) and IDETTIM (Implicate
Detach Time) are set properly. One of the paging failures may be caused by MS
entering into coverage hole or MS power-down. If the IDETTIM of the switch is not
time out (MSC will check ATTACH users regularly, and set the MS that has no contact
with system as implicate detach status), MSC will still send paging message to this

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user, but the MS cannot respond. At BSC side, each BTS is set a timer T3212 to make
MSs contact system regularly; only in this way will there be the latest user information
in VLR. T3212 in BSC and IDETTIM in MSC should meet the condition that
T3212<IDETTIM.

Check whether LAC is divided properly and whether the overlapped area between
LACs is configured properly. Please pay attention to the following points in LAC
configuration: a LAC should be within the same MSC, crossing MSC is not permitted.
Paging capacity and the number of location update must be balanced. The most
important principle to configure LAC is that the maximum paging capacity of BTS
shall not be exceeded. Once it is exceeded, LAC splitting should be taken into account.

STEP 6: analysis of MSC paging strategy

Check whether system capacity allows multi-paging, if it does, analyze the influence
upon system from multi-paging. MSC forms paging messages and could resend the
paging message that receives no response. The interval between two paging is a vital
parameter. At radio side, the longer the interval between two paging, the less MS is
correlated with the radio environment when it is responding paging message, and the
easier MS will respond to paging messages successfully. But too long the interval will
make MOC subscriber wait for a long time that he tends to hang up. In optimization,
paging interval needs to be adjusted gradually according to paging success rate and
subscriber hang-up ratio. Lengthening properly the paging interval may increase
paging success rate, but if the subscriber called is not in service area, the caller will
wait for a long time before he/she heard the recorded notice. Some manufacturers may
adopt global paging in the second paging, i.e. paging MS within the whole MSC.
However, devices from some manufacturers do not support this function. It is
recommended this function be enabled in the switch that has the function. This function
helps a lot to enhance the paging success rate of MSC that has two or more LACs.

STEP 7: field test

Field test is the most important step, through which the real phenomenon could be
captured.

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When the problem is easily to be reproduced by common mobile phones rather than
testing handset, it needs to use two SIM cards belonging to the same paging group to
conduct the test, thus, it would be possible to judge whether common mobile phones
respond correctly to paging messages that have been sent normally.

Check whether frequent reselections occur, if any, please modify reselection

parameters (e.g. CRO, TMO and PT, etc.).

Check whether there are any coverage holes.

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7 Relevant Paging Knowledge

7.1 Calculation of the Paging Group a Mobile Phone is in
In GSM system, paging messages are sent in groups. Each mobile subscriber monitors
only the paging message sent from the group it is in, ignoring that from other groups.
Even some hardware in MS may be powered off to save power when other groups are
sending paging messages (i.e. the cause of DRX).

The paging group of a user could be ascertained according to his/her IMSI, the number
of CCCHs in system, the number of multi-frames the paging group occupies, the
number of AGCH reserved blocks, and the combination of BCCH with SDCCH. The
concrete calculation is as follows (the result is determined by two parameters:
CCCH_GROUP and PAGING_GROUP):

CCCH_GROUP = ((IMSI mod 1000) mod (BS_CC_CHANS*N)) div N

PAGING_GROUP = ((IMSI mod 1000) mod (BS_CC_CHANS*N)) mod N

CCCH_GROUP indicates to which CCCH the users paging message will be sent; its
value range is [0,BS_CC_CHANS-1], in which BS_CC_CHANS is the number of
CCCHs configured by system.

PAGING_GROUP indicates the paging group of the CCCH the users message is in;
the value range is [0, N-1].

N is the number of paging blocks on CCCH (i.e. the number of paging groups). Its
calculation method is:

N = (3- number of AGCH reserved blocks) X number of multi-frames the paging group
occupies (Combined BCCH/SDCCH)

or,

N= (9- number of AGCH reserved blocks) X number of multi-frames the paging group
occupies (Non-combined BCCH/SDCCH).

In which:

IMSI is the users IMSI number

Mod means mod calculation

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Div means dividing exactly

From the above, it could be learned that BTS will not send in real time the paging
messages sent by switch to MS randomly. Instead, the messages are sent to MS
according to the paging blocks allocated to IMSI. MS only monitors the corresponding
block to obtain paging messages. MSs with same remainders obtained after the
numbers based on the last three figures in IMSI, 999 in total, being divided by the
number of paging blocks N, belong to the same PAGING_GROUP.

For example:

If system configures 2 CCCH channels, BCCH is not combined with SDCCH, there are
2 AGCH reserved blocks and 5 multi-frames occupied by the paging group, and the
users IMSI is 460007248009188, then,

N=9-2535

CCCH_GROUP460007248009188 mod 1000mod 235div 35

PAGING_GROUP460007248009188 mod 1000mod 235mod 35

13

The result shows the paging message in the GSM network as configured above will be
sent in the 13th paging group (counting from 0) of the first CCCH (counting from 0).

7.2 Calculation of BTS Paging Capacity

7.3 Paging Method

According to GSM0408 9.1.22, each paging block contains 23 octets, and could page 2
IMSIs, or 2 TMSIs and 1 IMSI, or 4 TMSIs.

2 IMSIs

1 IMSI and 2 TMSIs

4 TMSIs

lIMSI means International Mobile Station Identity. In GSM system, each user is
allocated a unique IMSI to identify users. It consists of MCC (Mobile Country Code),

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MNC (Mobile Network Code) and MSIN (Mobile Station Identification Number), with
a length of 8 octets.

TMSI means Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity. In GSM system, TMSI is

allocated to visiting mobile subscriber by VLR after authentication success, and
substitutes IMSI temporarily at Um interface within the VLR range. It should
correspond with IMSI and consist of 4 octets.

As IMSI consists of 8 octets and TMSI 4 octets, a paging request message could only
contain two IMSI numbers when IMSI paging is adopted on paging channels at Um
interface, and could contain four TMSI numbers when TMSI paging is adopted.
Therefore, IMSI paging will increase the load on paging channel twice.

7.4 The Number of Messages BTS Could Bear

(1) The Number of Paging Blocks per Second

1 frame =4.615ms, 1 multi-frame = 0.2354s, if the number of BS_AG_BLK_RES is

AGB, the formula to calculate the number of paging blocks per second is as follows,

Non-combined BCCH: the number of paging blocks/s = 9-AGB /0.2354 (paging

blocks/s)

Combined BCCH: the number of paging blocks/s = 3-AGB /0.2354 (paging

blocks/s)

Non-combined BCCH: when AGB=2, the number of paging blocks/s = 27.9 paging
blocks/s. When AGB = 0, the number of paging blocks /s= 38.2 paging blocks/s.

Combined BCCH: if AGB = 1, the number of paging blocks/s = 8.5 paging blocks/s. If
AGB = 0, the number of paging blocks/s = 12.7 paging blocks/s.

It shows that, the more the BS_AG_BLK_RES, the less the paging blocks could be
sent by system per second, and the less the paging capacity. The paging capacity of
combined BCCH is much less than that of non-combined BCCH.

It needs to note that, within the same LA, combined BCCH and non-combined BCCH
should not be configured simultaneously, and that BS_AG_BLK_RES should remain
unchanged. Otherwise, paging capacity may decrease (the cell with the lowest paging
capacity in the LA). But if the capacity in the location area is not large and the location
area code is not enough, cells with combined BCCH and cells with non-combined

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BCCH could be configured within the same LA, in order to increase the number of
TCHs in site type O1 and S111.

(2) Number of Sending Paging Messages per Paging Block

According to paging method, if IMSI paging mechanism is adopted, each paging block could
send paging messages for X times in average,

X = 2 Number of Sending Paging Messages/paging blocks

If TMSI paging mechanism is adopted, then,

X=4 Number of Sending Paging Messages/paging blocks

(3) P (Maximum Number of Sending Paging Messages per Second)

This could be calculated through the following formula,

Non-combined BCCH: P = 9-AGB /0.2354 (paging blocks/s) X (number of

sending paging messages/paging blocks)

Combined BCCH: P =3-AGB/0.2354 (paging blocks/s) X (number of sending

paging messages/paging blocks)

IMSI paging mechanism: to non-combined BCCH, when AGB=2, P=59.47 number of

sending paging messages/s; when AGB=0, P=76.47 number of sending paging
messages/s. To combined BCCH, if ABG=1, P=16.99 number of sending paging
messages/s; when AGB=0, P=25.49 number of paging messages/s.

TMSI paging mechanism: to non-combined BCCH, if AGB=2, P=118.95 number of

sending paging messages/s; if AGB=0, P=152.93 number of paging messages/s. To
combined BCCH, when AGB=1, P=33.98 number of paging messages/s; when
AGB=0, P=50.98 number of paging messages/s.

Each CCCH could carry a message with a data rate of 4.25 messages/s. AGCH is used
to transmit Immediate Assignment CMD message and Immediate Assignment Reject
message. An Immediate Assignment CMD message could allocate channels (e.g.
SDCCH, etc.) to no more than 2 MSs, and an Immediate Assignment Reject message
could reject channel requests from no more than 4 MSs. PCH is used to transmit
paging message. Under TMSI paging method, a paging message could be sent to no
more than 4 MSs; under IMSI paging method, a paging message could be sent to no

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except in accordance with applicable agreements. 20
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more than 2 MSs. If there is no paging message sent on CCCH, an Immediate

Assignment CMD/Immediate Assignment Reject message could be sent.

7.5 Relations between Paging Group, BS-PA-MFRMS, and BS-AG-BLKS-

RESAGB

Table Relevant Paging Knowledge -1 Relations between Paging Group, BS-PA-MFRMS, and BS-AG-BLKS-RESAGB

Number of paging groups Combined Number of paging groups Non-Combined

Time between BCCH/SDCCH BCCH/SDCCH
BS-PA-MF RMS transmission of 3 paging blocks 2 paging bloks per 9 paging blocks 8 paging blocks
each paging group per multiframe multiframe per multiframe per multiframe
AGB=0 AGB=1 AGB=0 AGB=1
2 0.47 6 4 18 16
3 0.71 9 6 27 24
4 0.94 12 8 36 32
5 1.18 15 10 45 40
6 1.41 18 12 54 48
7 1.65 21 14 63 56
8 1.89 24 16 72 64
9 2.12 27 18 81 72

7.6 The Relation between Location Area and Paging

Suppose the traffic in a location area is E, the call completion rate is 60% then,
BHCA is: 3600/45/60%*E = 133.33E. The called party takes X%/hour. A paging
message could page no more than 2 mobile phones, so BS_PA_MFRMS is:
Cell_paging_total_min_multiFrame_count = 133.33E * X% /2 (per hour).

A paging message could be sent no more than 3 times, twice in average, so:
Cell_paging_total_multiFrame_count = 133.33E * X% * 2 / 2 = 133.33E * X%.

According the structure of 51 multi-frame, if Y frames could be used in CCCH, the

maximum number of multi-frames that could be sent within an hour is :
Max_multiFrame_count = Y * (3600/0.240) = 15000Y.

If PCH is not overloaded, the following conditions should be met:

Cell_paging_total_min_multiFrame_count<= Max_multiFrame_count.

If: X=40(called part account for 40%),

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So: E<=281.25Y

Thus, the following table :

Table Relevant Paging Knowledge -2 LAC Traffic Corresponding to Paging Blocks

Max traffic of LACErl the PCH block in CCCH

281.25 1
562.5 2
843.75 3
1125 4
1406.25 5
1687.5 6
1968.75 7
2250 8
2531.25 9

7.7 Paging Capacity of ZXG10-BSC

In theory, processing 24 pieces/s = processing 21600 pieces/ 15 minutes

To the maximum, processing 30 pieces/s=27000 pieces/ 15 minutes

Actually, the number of messages is between 30000 pieces/ 15 minutes~ 40000/15

minutes (the specific number corresponds to traffic), no perceptual problem would
occur to users.

Methods to increase paging capacity in BSC:

Reduce multi-paging of MSC.

Divide LAC according module.

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8 Typical Cases
8.1 No Paging Reponses Caused by SDCCH Congestion
Description:

No paging response occurs continuously in an office in XX country on XX date.

Table Typical Cases -3 Traffic Statistics

11603(SDCCH attempt total 11604(SDCCH overflow total

BSC SITE CELL Time Alias
number) number)
80 11 1 2006-3-14 16:30 POF1 271 0
80 11 2 2006-3-14 16:30 POF2 293 0
80 11 3 2006-3-14 16:30 POF3 345 0
80 611 1 2006-3-14 16:30 POF7 100 61
Notes: the site 611 is commissioning , the signal of the site is very strong

Fault analysis:

After checking, it is found that a micro cell debugging was being conducted and the
signal at this site was too strong, causing many mobile phones stayed within the site.
Heavy SDCCH congestion caused no paging response.

8.2 Call Connection Failure Caused by MSC Flow Control

Description:

In XX country, call completion rate is low in heavy hours, being about 60%.

Fault analysis:

According to the signaling analysis recorded in CQT on site, it is found out that no
paging message was sent by MSC.

The concrete signaling flow is as shown in Fig. 8-1:

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except in accordance with applicable agreements. 23
 Internal Use Only

Fig. Typical Cases -6 Signaling Analysis

Fig.8-1shows MSC sent less paging messages than it should do.

The MSC flow control in heavy hours caused flow control of messages, leading to no
paging response.

8.2.1 No Paging Reponses Caused by Improper Setting of T3212

Description:

In XX city, it occurs suddenly that many MSs under a BSC cannot be paged, but after
power on/off operation, the paging becomes normal.

Fault analysis:

Signaling tracing shows that MSC did not send paging messages. After checking, it
turns out the location update time in MSC was changed from 2 hours to 1 hour, but that
in BSC was set as one hour. Thus, many MSs, before periodic location update, had
been marked as inactive status by MSC side, so, they could not be paged.

8.2.2 Lower Paging Success Rate Caused by Location Area Division

Description:

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except in accordance with applicable agreements. 24
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In XX area XX country, after the original 3 location areas under a BSC were divided 8
ones, the paging success rate calculated in MSC decreased by about 5%.

Fault analysis:

As a result of location area re-division, the number of location update increased. Fig. 8-
2 shows that the quantity of general location updates increased twice, indicating high
frequency of crossing location area, which will surely cause that the MSs could not be
found in paging.

Fig. Typical Cases -7 Comparison between Paging Traffics before and after LAC Division

8.3 Indicator Optimization of GSM Paging Success Rate Required by the

Operator in an Area
Description:

All BTSs in XX area use ZTE equipment, in which there are 2 BSCs and a location
area LAC21088. Under BSC1, there are 4 isolated sites in a forest which are set a
separate location area of LAC21136 and use ERICSSON switch. In this area, the
paging success rate of LAC21088 remains 92%, being middle-level or below in the

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except in accordance with applicable agreements. 25
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whole province, and the provincial company requires the indicator to be increased to
the maximum score of 94%.

Fault analysis:

According to MSC SY01 statistics, LAC21088 uses TMSI paging and the second
paging mode with an interval of 8 seconds. In the existing network, the number of the
first paging in heavy hour is 53653 times, with 49192 succeeded and 4461 failed; the
number of the successful second paging is 1009. Statistical analysis indicates the
second paging success rate is only 1009/4461*100%=22.61%, being relatively low.

Through a systematical DT in the urban district in this area, it is found out that this area
is a typical mountainous area, in which there are coverage holes even in urban areas
due to lack of sites. Now, there are totally 211 sites in this area, with about 70 sites in
urban areas, many others are of marginal isolated sites, and therefore, weak coverage is
one of the main reasons resulting in lower paging success rate.

Solutions:

1. Adjusting parameter BS_AG_BLK_RES

Currently, this parameter is configured as 2, combined with parameter CCCH_CONF

(0 indicates CCCH uses a basic physical channel and is not combined with SDCCH;
there are 9 blocks of CCCH messages in a 51 multi-frame), i.e. 2 blocks are reserved
for AGCH in each BCCH multi-frame, correspondingly, the number of PCH blocks is
9-2=7;

According to indicators in existing network, the maximum number of SDCCH requests

in heavy hours is below 2,500. If it is taken as 3,000, the number of SDCCH allocation
requests in each paging period is (3000/3600)*0.2354=0.2 times, less than 1 user, so,
modify the value of BS_AG_BLK_RES from 2 to 1, and the number o f PCH blocks
may reach 8 accordingly.

2. Adjusting parameter BS_PA_MFRAMS

Currently, this parameter is set as 3, i.e. the same paging group is transmitted every 3
51multi-frames, hence the following calculation:

The number of paging blocks in a paging period: 8*3=24 blocks;

The maximum number of subscribers in each paging block: 1000/24=42 subscribers;

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According to statistics at MSC side, the number of radio paging in LAC21088 is

53653+4461=58114 times, thus, in the existing network the number of subscribers in
each paging period is 58114/3600*0.2354=3.8.

In the existing network, TMSI paging is adopted. The maximum number of each
paging block in TMSI paging is 4, as the 3.8 is close to 4, it is suggested to increase the
value of BS_PA_MFRAM from 3 to 5, then, the maximum number of subscribers
carried in each paging blocks will change to 1000/(8*5)=25. Though paging messages
will delay longer in air section, users in each paging sub-channel will be decreased in
number, paging channel will be strengthened in bearing capacity, and interruptions will
also be reduced in probability of happening.

3. Adjusting parameter TX_INTEGER

Currently, this parameter is configured as 14, indicating the number of timeslots is 32

and the value of S is 217; in existing network the MAX_RETRAN is configured as 7,
hence the following calculation:

The maximum number of timeslots for sending messages is 32131; the maximum
resending interval is 217321248; and the time consumed for resending 7 times
is (31+217)*4.615/1000*7+31*4.615/1000=8.154705S.

At switch side, the second paging mode is adopted. If the paging period is
5*0.2354=1.177S, it could be concluded that the maximum time consumed in radio
paging is 8.154705+1.177=9.331705S. As the interval between two paging defined at
switch side is 8S<9.331705s, the TX_INTEGER would be reduced to 12.

Value 12 indicates that the number of timeslots is 20 and the value of S is 109.
Through recalculation, the maximum time consumed in radio paging is
(19+109)*4.615/1000*7+19*4.615/1000+1.177=5.399725S < 8S. But this parameter
should not be configured too low; otherwise, the waiting time may be too short,
increasing both the possibility to collide and the network load, indicators would be
worsened. Slight modification needs to be made according to actual KPIs after
calculation.

4. Adjusting parameter RXLEV_ACCESS_MIN

In the existing network, this parameter is set as 10, indicating the

RXLEV_ACCESS_MIN is -100dBm. If the threshold is lowered to 8, it means the
RXLEV_ACCESS_MIN is -102dBm.

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except in accordance with applicable agreements. 27
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Remarks: this parameter helps to enlarge BTS coverage and increase paging success
rate, but will affect indicators such as call drop negatively.

5. Adjusting parameter T3212

This parameter is set as 72 minutes at switch side and 10 (60 minutes) at radio side.
Modify it to 8 (48 minutes) at radio side.

Remarks: this parameter should not be configured too low; otherwise, network
signaling flow would be increased, and the stand-by time of MS would be shortened.

After adjusting the above parameter on June 23, the paging success rate in this area
was increased by about 1%, close to 94%, as shown in Fig. Typical Cases -8,

Fig. Typical Cases -8 Trend Chart of Paging Success Rate

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except in accordance with applicable agreements. 28