PCI Planning

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PCI Planning
Contents
PCI Planning
Initial Access Procedure
Cell Search Procedures
Physical layer Cell Identity
Minimising Groups/Codes

Graham Whyley
Technical Master Trainer

Initial Access Procedure

UE Power
ON
Cell Search

Read SIBs

Cell
Selection

Random
access

Step 1 Primary Synchronization Signal

CodeID =code (0,1,2)

Step 2 Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS)-Group

Find Physical Layer Cell ID

Cyclic Prefix Length detection

FDD or TDD Detection

Step 3 Reference Signal Detection / PBCH Detection
(Receiving System Information)

Synchronization signals
There are 2 synchronization signals in LTE
downlink,
Primary synchronization signal PSS
Secondary synchronization signal SSS

3 PRB
6 x 180kHz
=1.080Mhz
3 PRB

The PSS and SSS are both mapped

always in Subframe 0 and 5 for FDD

PSS/SSS detection
The PSS/SSS detection is a very early procedure that the UE
should do, to get the cell ID of the system

There are 3 different sequences of PSS

168 different sequences of SSS

Physical layer Cell Identity = (3 Group(0 to 167)) + Code 0-2

Cell Search Procedures

Cell Search

Read SIBs

Cell
Selection

Random
access

There are two different types of synchronization procedures. The first one is when
the UE is not connected to LTE cell and wants to access LTE network. This
happens when the UE is switched on or when the reception is restored after being
in an area with no connection.
The second type of synchronization procedure happens when
the UE is already connected to LTE cell and detects a new cell.
This means the UE will prepare for a handover to a new cell
and will report this to the old cell.

Both these procedures use two types of

synchronization signals, that is the primary
synchronization signal (PSS) and the
secondary synchronization signal (SSS)
which are broadcasted in each cell.

(P-SCH): for cell search and identification

S-SCH): for cell search and identification

Cell Acquisition
After a mobile switches on, it runs a low-level acquisition procedure so as to
identify the nearby LTE cells and discover how they are configured. In doing
so, it receives the primary and secondary synchronization signals, reads the
master information block from the physical broadcast channel and reads the
remaining system information blocks from the physical downlink shared
channel.
Physical Cell layer identity

(P-SCH): for cell search and identification

(P-SCH): for cell search and identification

S-SCH): for cell search and identification

S-SCH): for cell search and identification

Physical Cell layer identity

The mobile starts by receiving the synchronization signals from all the nearby cells.
From the primarysynchronization signal (PSS), it discovers the symbol timing and
gets some incomplete information about the physical cell identity. From the
secondary synchronization signal (SSS), it discovers the frame timing, the physical
cell identity,

Initial Access Procedure

Cell Search

Read SIBs

Cell
Selection

Random
access

UE reads
the MIB

Channel Bandwidth

UE reads
the SIB 1

Scheduling Information
Value Tag

UE reads
the SIB

SIB2, SIB3, SIB4, SIB5,

SIB6, SIB7, SIB8, SIB9,
SIB10, SIB11, SIB12, SIB13
8

Initial Access Procedure

Cell Search

Read SIBs

Cell
Selection

Random
access

SIB1 contains cell access related information (e.g. a PLMN

identity list, tracking area code, cell identity, etc.), information
for cell selection (e.g. minimum required Rx level in the
cell and offset), p-Max, frequency band indicator, scheduling
information, TDD configuration, SI-window length and system
information value tag etc...

Initial Access Procedure

Cell Search

Read SIBs

Cell
Selection

Random
access

The SystemInformationBlockType3 (SIB3)

contains cell re-selection information common for intrafrequency, inter-frequency and/or inter-RAT cell re-selection
(i.e. applicable for more than one type of cell re-selection but
not necessarily all)
SIB3 also contains cell reselection priority information for the
concerned carrier frequency or a set of frequencies
...

10

Initial Access Procedure

Cell Search

Read SIBs

Cell
Selection

Random
access

The SystemInformationBlockType4 (SIB4)

contains intra-frequency neighboring cell information for
intra-LTE intra-frequency cell reselection, such as
neighbour cell list, and black listed Cell list...

11

Initial Access Procedure

Cell Search

Read SIBs

Cell
Selection

Random
access

The SystemInformationBlockType5 (SIB5)

contains neighbour cell related information for interfrequency cell-reselection i.e. the information about
neighbor E-UTRA frequencies

12

Initial Access Procedure

Cell Search

Read SIBs

Cell
Selection

Random
access

The SystemInformationBlockType6 (SIB6)

contains information relevant only for inter-RAT cell reselection i.e. information about UTRA frequencies and
UTRA neighbouring cells relevant for cell re-selection

13

Initial Access Procedure

Cell Search

Read SIBs

Cell
Selection

Random
access

The SystemInformationBlockType7 (SIB7)

contains inter-RAT cell re-selection information only for
GERAN. It includes cell re-selection parameters for each
frequency. SIB7 also contains cell reselection priority
information

14

Initial Access Procedure

Cell Search

Read SIBs

Cell
Selection

Random
access

Random Access Preamble

Random Access Preamble

Random Access Response

Timing Advance/ C-RNTI

RRC Connection Request

15

Introduction to PCI planning

Physical layer Cell Identity (PCI) identifies a cell within a network

equivalent of UMTS scrambling code
There are 504 Physical Layer Cell Identities
compared to 512 UMTS scrambling codes
PCI are organised in 168 groups of 3 codes
compared to 64 groups of 8 for UMTS scrambling codes
Physical layer Cell Identity = (3 Group(0 to 167)) + Code 0-2

Id = 0
Id = 2

Id = 6
Id = 8

Cluster Group
Id = 1
Id = 3
Id = 5

Id = 7
Id = 9

Id =
11
Id = 4

Id =
10
16

Cell Search
Physical layer Cell Identity = (3 Group(0 to 167)) + Code 0-2

PSS
Id = 0
Id = 2

Id = 6
Id = 8

Id = 1
Id = 3
Id = 5

SSS
Id = 7

Id = 9
Id =
11

Id = 4

Id =
10

Read SIBs
Frequency Shift
17

Physical layer Cell Identity

Physical layer Cell Identity = (3 Group(0 to 167)) + Code 0-2

= (3 x 2) + 2 =8

Group(0 to 167)
Code (0-2)

18

Physical layer Cell Identity

Physical layer Cell Identity = (3 Group(145)) + Code 2

= 437

Physical layer Cell Identity = (3 Group(145)) + Code 1

= 436

Id = 0
Id = 2

Id = 6

Id = 1
Id = 3
Id = 5

(P-SCH): for cell search and identification

Id = 7
Id = 9

Id =
11
Id = 4

Id = 8

Id =
10

S-SCH): for cell search and identification

Physical Cell layer identity

19

Minimising Groups.
Physical layer Cell Identity = (3 Group(0 to 167)) + Code 0-2

PCI=0

PCI=1

PCI=2

PCI=3

PCI= 4

PCI= 5

Group =0

Group =0

Group =0

Group =1

Group =1

Group =1

Code =0

Code =1

Code =2

Code =0

Code =1

Code =2

Carrier
1
PCI=0

Carrier 1
PCI=2

Carrier 1
PCI=1

ONLY TWO
GROUPS USED

Carrier
1
PCI=3

Carrier 1
PCI=4

Carrier 1
PCI=5

20

Minimising Codes.
Physical layer Cell Identity = (3 Group(0 to 167)) + Code 0-2

PCI=0

PCI=6

PCI=9

PCI=12

PCI= 15

PCI= 18

Group =0

Group =2

Group =3

Group =4

Group =5

Group =6

Code =0

Code =0

Code =0

Code =0

Code =0

Code =0

Carrier
1
PCI=0

Carrier 1
PCI=9

Carrier 1
PCI=6

ONLY ONE CODE

USED

Carrier
1
PCI=12

Carrier 1
PCI=15

Carrier 1
PCI=18

21

Planning Overview

PCI planning is analogous to scrambling code planning in UMTS:

a UE should never simultaneously receive the same PCI from more than 1 cell
the isolation between cells using the same PCI should be maximised
neighbour cells should not have the same PCI (collision free planning)
neighbours of neighbours cell should not have the same PCI (confusion free planning)

Additionally, PCI planning should account for Frequency Shift

There should be some level of co-ordination across international borders when

allocating PCI
avoids operators allocating the same PCI to cells on the same RF carrier and in
neighbouring geographic areas

22

Cell Specific Reference Signals - ports 0 to 3

Reference signals similar to CPICH in WCDMA
Reference signals are distributed in both the time and frequency domains
allows the propagation channel to be estimated across both domains
Used for cell search, channel estimation and neighbour cell monitoring
Reference signals reduce the maximum achievable user plane bit rate by
occupying a subset of the resource block symbol locations
Same PCI

Same PCI

12 sub-carriers

12 sub-carriers

Without MIMO

Antenna 1

1 ms

Antenna 1

1 ms
23

Reference Signal Receive Power

RSRP (Reference Signal Receive Power) is the average power of Resource
Elements (RE) that carry cell specific Reference Signals (RS) over the entire
bandwidth, so RSRP is only measured in the symbols carrying RS
Reference signals similar to CPICH in
WCDMA

Reference signals reduce the maximum

achievable user plane bit rate by
occupying a subset of the resource
block symbol locations

12 sub-carriers

Used for cell search, channel estimation

and neighbour cell monitoring

Without MIMO

Reference signals are distributed in

both the time and frequency domains

Antenna 1

1 ms
Reference Signals occupy
8 out of 168 symbols

RSRP measures signal power from a specific sector while excluding noise and
interference from other sectors

24

Sub
channel
RSRP (Reference Signal Receive Power)
is the average power of Resource
Elements (RE) that carry cell specific
Reference Signals (RS) over the entire
bandwidth, so RSRP is only measured in
the symbols carrying Reference Signals

25

Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP)

26

Received Signal Strength Indicator

RSSI is effectively a measurement of all of the power contained in the
applicable spectrum (1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15 or 20MHz).
This could be signals, control channels, data channels, adjacent cell power,
background noise, everything.
RSSI varies with LTE downlink bandwidth

Point of interest
27

Reference Signal Receive Quality

RSRP provides information about signal strength and RSSI helps in
determining interference and noise information.
This is the reason, RSRQ (Reference Signal Receive Quality)
measurement and calculation is based on both RSRP and RSSI

RSRQ is defined
as the ratio
NRSRP / (EUTRA carrier
RSSI)

28

Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ)

LOADED
UNLOADED
RSRQ affected by cell loads.

29

Reference Signal Receive Quality

Bandwidth 1.4
(MHz)
# of RBs
6
Subcarrier
s

72

10

15

20

15

25

50

75

100

180 300 600 900 1200

Point of interest

RSRQ = n x RSRP/RSSI
RSRQ = 10 log 25 + (-102.77 (- 82 .71)
=13.97 + (-20.06)
=-6.09
30

Cell Specific Reference Signals (ports 0 to 3)

Antenna 2

2+2 MIMO

Antenna 1

Antenna 2

Antenna 3

Antenna 4

4+4 MIMO

Antenna 1

31

Down Link Reference Signals SNR & SINR

32

DLRS SNR

DLRS SNR
+40.3
DLRS SINR +33.7
POWER
33

DLRS SNR

DLRS SINR

34

Frequency shifts

35

Frequency shifts
The PCI determines the position of the Cell specific Reference Signal
in the frequency domain
There are six possible frequency shifts of RSs

Different shift, should be used in adjacent cells

Shift= 0
Shift= 1

Shift= 2

36

Frequency shifts
PCI

GROUP

CODE

CELL SPECIFIC FREQ

SHIFT

CELL SPECIFIC FREQ SHIFT

This determines the DLRS pattern (time frequency positions)

37

Frequency shifts
PCI =0

PCI =0

PCI =0

PCI =6

PCI

GRO
UP

CO
DE

CELL
SPECIFIC
FREQ SHIFT

CELL SPECIFIC FREQ SHIFT

This determines the DLRS pattern (time frequency
positions)

PCI =1

PCI =7
PCI
=0

PCI
=0

38

Minimising Groups.
Physical layer Cell Identity = (3 Group(0 to 167)) + Code 0-2

PCI=0

PCI=1

PCI=2

PCI=3

Group
=0

Group
=0

Group
=0

Group
=1

Code =0

Code =1

FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT

=0
=1

Code =2

Group
=1

Code =1

FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT

=2
=3
=4

Carrier
1
PCI=0

Carrier
1PCI=2

Code =0

PCI= 4

Carrier 1
PCI=1

PCI= 5
Group
=1

Code =2
FREQ SHIFT
=5

Carrier
1
PCI=3

PCI

GRO
UP

CO
DE

CELL
SPECIFIC
FREQ SHIFT

CELL SPECIFIC FREQ SHIFT

This determines the DLRS pattern (time frequency
positions)

Carrier
1PCI=4

Carrier 1
PCI=5

39

Minimising Codes.

PCI=0

PCI=6

PCI=9

Group
=0
Code
=0

Group
=2
Code
=0

Group
=3
Code
=0

FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT

=0
=0

PCI=12
Group
=4
Code
=0

PCI= 15
Group
=5
Code
=0

PCI= 18
Group
=6
Code
=0

FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT

=3
=0
=4

FREQ SHIFT
=0

Carrier 1
Carrier 1

PCI=0

PCI=12

Carrier 1
PCI=9

Carrier 1
PCI=6

Carrier 1
PCI=15

Carrier 1
PCI=18

PCI

GRO
UP

CO
DE

CELL
SPECIFIC
FREQ SHIFT

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

Very poor PCI planning

40

Using a planning tool

Very poor DLRS SINR

41

MIMO

42

LTE Reference Symbols

Without MIMO

Antenna 1

Antenna 2

Antenna 1

Antenna 2

2+2 MIMO

Antenna 1

Antenna 4

4+4 MIMO

Antenna 3

43

PCI mod 3

When using 2x2 or 4x4 MIMO, the

Resource Elements allocated to the
Cell specific Reference Signal
coincide every 3rd PCI value

In practice, it is not possible to ensure

that all neighbours have different PCI
mod 3 results so compromise is to
allocate:

1 PCI group per 3 sector eNode B

2 PCI groups per 6 sector eNode B

Signal coincide every 3rd

PCI value

44

Best Planning Practice

In practice, it is not possible to

ensure that all neighbours have
different PCI mod 3 results so
compromise is to allocate:

Group =0
Code =0
FS =0

PCI=0

Group =0

PCI=1

Code = 1
FS =0

1 PCI group per 3 sector

eNode B

Group =0

PCI=2

Code = 2
FS =0

2 PCI groups per 6 sector

eNode B
PCI=0

PCI=1

PCI=2

Group =0

Group =0

Group =0

Code =0

Code = 1

Code =2

FS =0

FS =1

FS =2

When using 3-sector sites, neighbouring eNode B should use adjacent

PCI groups
45

Using a planning tool

Very poor DLRS SINR

46

Using a planning tool

47

Using a planning tool

48

Questions

49

Questions
1. When PCI planning is it best to:
A. Minimising Codes.
B. Minimising Groups.
PCI=0

PCI=6

PCI=9

Group
=0
Code
=0

Group
=2
Code
=0

Group
=3
Code
=0

FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT

=0
=0

PCI=0

PCI=1

PCI=2

PCI=3

Group
=0

Group
=0

Group
=0

Group
=1

Code =0

Code =1

FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT

=0
=1

Code =2

Code =0

PCI= 4
Group
=1

Code =1

FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT

=2
=3
=4

PCI=12

Group
=4
Code
=0

PCI= 15

Group
=5
Code
=0

PCI= 18

Group
=6
Code
=0

FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT FREQ SHIFT

=3
=0
=4

FREQ SHIFT
=0

PCI= 5
Group
=1

Code =2
FREQ SHIFT
=5

50

Questions
2. When using 2x2 or 4x4 MIMO, the
Resource Elements allocated to the
Cell specific Reference Signal
coincide every 3rd PCI value
TRUE
FALSE

51

Questions
3. The group = 3 and the code =2. What is the PCI?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

5
3
9
11
None of the above

Physical layer Cell Identity = (3 Group(0 to 167)) + Code 0-2

= 3x3 + 2 = 11

52

Questions
4. Connected mode means the UE does cell selection and reselection,
location registration, reception of system information and enable the UE to
establish an RRC connection for signalling or data transfer (including CSFB
and VoLTE) as well as be able to receive possible incoming connections (via
paging).
TRUE
FALSE

53

Questions
5. From the primary synchronization signal (PSS), it discovers the symbol
timing and gets some incomplete information about the physical cell identity.
From the secondary synchronization signal (SSS), it discovers the frame
timing, the physical cell identity,.
TRUE
FALSE

54

In Closing
Thank you for attending

55