Applicability of Interference Coordination in Highly Loaded HSUPA Network

This paper evaluates the performance of highly loaded High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) network with and without network wide static Interference Coordination (IC). IC alternates the priorities for user transmission periods throughout the network to achieve reduced interference levels and higher performance. A large variety of combinations including, e.g., different schedulers, cell center/edge user definitions (user splits) and interference targets are investigated in this paper. Performance is analyzed using a quasi-static system level simulator which is also used to support Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standardization work. The simulator contains detailed and commonl…

Enhancing system level performance of third generation cellular networks through VoIP and MBMS services

Analysis of VoIP over HSDPA Performance with Discontinuous Reception Cycles

The aim of this paper is to evaluate how Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycles and related timers take effect to Voice over IP (VoIP) performance when High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) networks are in question. DRX cycles limit the scheduling freedom of users and increase battery saving opportunities in the User Equipment (UE) by allowing it to turn its receiver circuitry off for some periods of time. Prior work has concentrated mainly on optimizing the usage of radio resources when small bit rate delay critical services, like VoIP, are considered. However, the battery life of small handheld devices might become a limiting factor in providing satisfactory user experience. Thus, this …

Trade-Off between Increased Talk-Time and LTE Performance

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the trade-off conditions between battery saving opportunities and long term evolution network performance. To achieve this goal voice over IP with discontinuous reception is studied. Analysis is conducted with vast amount of different settings, including on duration, inactivity and discontinuous reception cycle timers. The quality of service and battery saving opportunities with discontinuous reception are evaluated with a dynamic system simulator which enables detailed simulation of multiple users and cells with realistic assumptions. This paper indicates high battery saving, i.e., increased talk-time opportunities without compromising the performanc…

Benchmarking of VoIP over HSDPA and LTE performance with realistic network data

The purpose of this paper is benchmark the performance of voice over IP in high speed downlink packet access and in long term evolution networks. Benchmarking is conducted in homogeneous and heterogeneous scenario layouts assuming realistic propagation data generated over Tokyo map. Tools used in this paper are two fully dynamic time driven system simulators which have been used to support 3GPP standardization work. This benchmarking study provides insights to what e.g. different radio access technologies, scheduling mechanisms and receivers do for the performance of voice over IP. This paper indicated in various scenarios that long term evolution can offer higher performance for voice over…

Non-regular network performance comparison between HSDPA and LTE

In this paper we study and benchmark the performance of 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) and 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) Downlink with constant bit rate type traffic. In addition a non-regular simulation scenario is considered using realistic propagation data and base station positions related to Tokyo city downtown area. HSDPA was introduced in 3GPP Release 5 and in further releases the technology has been improved with e.g. receive and transmit diversity technologies and support for higher order modulation schemes. LTE was introduced in 3GPP Release 8 with completely new physical layer and improved Radio Resource Management (RRM) funct…

Performance enhancements of MBMS and VoIP services in WCDMA/HSPA networks

Enhancing HSUPA system level performance with dual carrier capability

The purpose of this paper is to analyze how dual carrier capability can enhance High Speed Uplink Packet Access performance in comparison to using only single carrier. Dual carrier operation gives the User Equipment the possibility to transmit simultaneously using two 5 MHz bands, theoretically doubling the peak data rates and user throughput. The analysis is conducted with a system level simulation tool. This paper first indicates with single carrier simulations that, especially in small cells, terminals have spare power available for dual carrier operation. These observations are verified with dual carrier simulations by showing that the burst throughput can be practically doubled. In the…

Analysis of RRM limitations and restricted transmission periods for VoIP over HSDPA

This paper studies how the performance of Voice over IP (VoIP) over High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HS-DPA) networks is affected if transmission to a User Equipment (UE) is stopped for specific amount of time during handover procedure. This paper also addresses the situation when it might be necessary to limit the number of UEs in a cell. The study showed that parameter settings for Radio Resource Management (RRM) algorithms can have an effect to the VoIP capacity: If handover lasts long enough for VoIP packets to be lost, or severe congestion occurs in a cell, VoIP capacity may be degraded.

Extended HSUPA coverage and enhanced battery saving opportunities with multiple TTI lengths

3GPP has specified that terminals can be configured to use either 2 or 10 ms transmission time interval in high speed uplink packet access systems. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the benefit of exploiting a mixture of both of the transmissions time intervals within a cell instead of only one. The study is quantified by means of studying the achievable coverage of voice over IP and possible battery saving benefits. The analysis is conducted with a system level simulator modeling network and terminal behavior in detail. The paper indicates that utilizing a mixture of both transmission time intervals can extend coverage whilst providing enhanced battery saving opportunities.

On Serving Cell Change Reliability in HSDPA Network

In Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) networks the Signaling Radio Bearer (SRB) is transmitted downlink to inform the user i.a. when it needs to make a handover. When transmitting e.g. Voice over IP (VoIP) on High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) SRB is mapped on HSDPA user data channel, High-Speed Downlink Shared Channel (HS-DSCH) in order to maximize voice capacity. The lack of support for soft handover (SHO) of HS-DSCH may compromise the reception of SRB and thus also a possible incoming serving HSDPA cell change command especially at the cell borders. This can lead to serious VoIP service degradation due to prolonged camping on a poor cell and in the worst case even to c…