White Paper

WiMAX Planning
The AIRCOM Perspective

Author:
Date:

Nishita Hathi
12 September 2005

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I-PE-IN-WiMAX - WiMAX White Paper

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Customer Confidential

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Contents
1
2

Introduction......................................................................................................................... 3
WiMAX Overview................................................................................................................ 3
2.1.1
WIMAX Standard ................................................................................................. 3
2.1.2
Application and Deployment ................................................................................ 3
2.1.3
WiMAX Network Parameters ............................................................................... 4
2.1.4
WiMAX Technologies........................................................................................... 4
3 Planning a WiMAX Network with the Enterprise Suite ....................................................... 5
3.1 Microwave Backhaul Planning...................................................................................... 5
3.1.1
Equipment............................................................................................................ 6
3.1.2
Point-to-point link Creation................................................................................... 7
3.1.3
Height Profiler ...................................................................................................... 8
3.1.4
Interference Analysis ........................................................................................... 9
3.2 Access Network Planning............................................................................................. 9
3.2.1
Propagation Models ............................................................................................. 9
3.2.2
Equipment.......................................................................................................... 11
3.2.3
WiMAX Base Stations........................................................................................ 11
3.2.4
Signal Strength Calculation ............................................................................... 12
3.2.5
Interference Analysis ......................................................................................... 13
3.3 WiMAX Network Optimisation .................................................................................... 15
3.3.1
Site Selection ..................................................................................................... 15
3.3.2
Antenna and Power Optimisation ...................................................................... 16
4 Summary .......................................................................................................................... 17
5 Glossary ........................................................................................................................... 17

Author: Nishita Hathi

Date: 12/08/2005

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Introduction
WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a fixed wireless
access technology which can support high throughput broadband connections
over long distances for portable, nomadic and eventually mobile users. It operates
in several licensed and un-licensed bands and supports multiple channel
bandwidths in the range of 1.75 MHz 20 MHz.
The WiMAX standard is developed by the WiMAX forum, an industry group set up
by equipment manufacturers and component vendors to create a single
interoperable standard. The common standard is expected to result in lower
equipment costs and wider deployment.
WiMAX supports a number of different applications. These include microwave
backhaul for hotspots and other commercial services, fixed wireless access for
broadband services and mobile access for broadband services.
This document provides an overview of WiMAX technology and describes the
WiMAX planning capabilities of AIRCOMs ENTERPRISE suite.

2
2.1.1

WiMAX Overview
WIMAX Standard
The WiMAX standard is being developed by the WiMAX forum. All equipment
which complies with the WiMAX standard and meets the interoperability
requirements will be certified as WiMAX by the WiMAX forum.
The WiMAX standard is based on IEEE802.16 MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
standards and ETSI HIPERMAN standards.
The IEEE802.16 family of standard consists of three key profiles: IEEE802.16a,
IEEE802.16d and IEEE802.16e. Initial WiMAX networks are based on 802.16a
and 802.16d. The 802.16e is a mobile extension of 802.16d and will be introduced
after 2005.
The WiMAX forum has chosen a workable subset of the IEE802.16 and the
HIPERMAN standard for the sub 11GHz range. The standard supports NLOS
communication using OFDM modulation and will be able to support mobility in the
near future.

2.1.2

Application and Deployment

There are three key applications for WiMAX: Microwave Backhaul, Fixed
Broadband Access and Mobile Access. The first phase of WiMAX deployment will
provide fixed wireless connections via outdoor antennas which can be used for
cellular network backhaul, hotspots and other commercial services. The second
phase will support outdoor and indoor installations which can be used for fixed
BWA networks. The third and final phase will support roaming and mobility.

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WiMAX Network Parameters

The table below shows the key parameters for the various standards:

802.16

802.16a

802.16d

802.16e

HIPERMAN

Allocation
Spectrum
(GHz)

10-66

<11
Unlicensed:
2.4 and 5
Licensed: 2.3,
2.5 and 3.5

<11
Unlicensed:
2.4 and 5
Licensed: 2.3,
2.5 and 3.5

<6

<11
Unlicensed: 2.4
and 5
Licensed: 2.3, 2.5
and 3.5

Channel
Conditions

LOS

NLOS

NLOS

NLOS/Mobile

NLOS

Throughput/
Bit Rate
(Mbps)

32-134

<=75

<=75

<=15

<=75

Modulation

QPSK,
16QAM,
64QAM
20, 25
and 28

QPSK,
16QAM,
64QAM
Selectable
between 1.75
to 20

QPSK,
16QAM,
64QAM
Selectable
between 1.75
to 20

QPSK,
16QAM,
64QAM
Selectable
between 1.25
to 20

QPSK, 16QAM,
64QAM

Bandwidth
(MHz)

2.1.4

Selectable

WiMAX Technologies
The WiMAX standard does not introduce any new technologies, it is based on
technologies that are well known in the industry, and are used by existing vendor
proprietary radio systems, which include:

OFDM modulation

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing provides an efficient means of

overcoming the challenges of NLOS propagation as it can support large delay
spread of NLOS communication. As the OFDM waveform is composed of multiple
narrowband orthogonal carriers, selective fading is localised to a subset of the
carriers.

Directional antennas

Directional antennas at the CPE increase the fade margin by adding more gain.
The delay spread is also reduced as the antenna pattern suppresses a number of
the reflected signals that arrive at the CPE.

Adaptive modulation

Adaptive modulation allows the system to choose a modulation scheme based on

the SNR of the link. This allows the system to overcome time selective fading and
also extends the range that a higher modulation scheme can be supported over.

Author: Nishita Hathi

Date: 12/08/2005

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Error Correction techniques

Reed Solomon coding, Convolution coding and interleaving are used to detect and
correct errors and thus improve throughput.

Power Control

Power control is implemented at the base station. The base station sends power
control information to each of the CPEs so that the power received by the base
station is at a predetermined level. Power control reduces the overall power
consumption at the CPE and the potential interference with other co-located base
stations.

The WiMAX standard also supports some optional technologies, including:

Sub-channelisation

Sub-channelisation allows the link budget to be balanced such that the system
gain is balanced on the uplink and the downlink. Sub-channelisation concentrates
the transmit power into fewer OFDM carriers.

Transmit and receive diversity

Transmit and receive diversity increases system availability. Transmit diversity

uses space time coding to reduce the fade margin requirement. Receive diversity
uses various combining techniques to improve the availability of the system

Adaptive antenna systems

Adaptive antenna systems have beamforming properties that can steer their focus
in a particular direction. They also suppress co-channel interference from other
locations.

Planning a WiMAX Network with the Enterprise Suite

AIIRCOMs Enterprise suite of tools can be used to plan and analyse the various
different WiMAX profiles.

3.1 Microwave Backhaul Planning

Point-to-point networks for backbone can be modelled and analysed using
AIRCOMs microwave link planning tool, CONNECT.

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Equipment

The equipment used for the WiMAX backbone can be set up from within the tool or
imported into the tool in a number of different formats.

Figure 1 : Backhaul Equipment Parameter Specification

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Point-to-point link Creation

Link templates can be defined to be used as basis for the point to point link
creation.

Figure 2: Point to Point link template

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LOS Analysis

The LOS between a location and other locations can be determined using the LOS
wizard. The wizard allows users to determine the LOS links for a single property or
for a number of properties.

Figure 3; LOS Analysis for Property 36

3.1.3

Height Profiler

The height profiler shows the two dimensional cross section of the terrain between
two points or the cross section of an existing link. It can also be used to determine
the optimum height of the antennas, check clearance over terrains and objects
and analyse the effects of terrain reflection.

Figure 4; Height profile for link 11 and link 2 displaying building heights, LOS and
clearance of 1st and 2nd Fresnel Zones

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Interference Analysis

Interference calculations can be performed for each individual link or for a

collection of links in the network.

Interference can be calculated for both sides of the link.

Figure 5; Results of the interference analysis for link 11 from property 29 and
property 30

3.2 Access Network Planning

Fixed wireless broadband access networks at WiMAX frequencies can be
modelled and analysed using AIRCOMs network planning tool, ASSET3G
Wide range and close range analysis can be performed by choosing the most
appropriate propagation model and cartographic data.

3.2.1

Propagation Models

WiMAX profiles support LOS and NLOS transmission at a number of different

carrier frequencies with different channel bandwidths.
The Enterprise suite supports a number of empirical and deterministic propagation
models for the analysis of the different WiMAX network profiles.

Empirical Model

The Okumura Hata model is supported as standard for wide range analysis and
can be calibrated at WiMAX frequencies. A number of diffraction algorithms can be
considered to account for the obstacles between the base station and the CPE. In
order to further improve the accuracy of the analysis, specific loss values can be
applied to each clutter type.

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Figure 6; Okumura Hata Model parameter specification

Deterministic Models

A number of deterministic models are supported within the tool. The Siradel
Volcano model has been verified at WiMAX frequencies and allows the users to
perform close range network analysis using high resolution cartographic data.
Reflection from surfaces and diffraction by edges can also be modelled.

Figure 7; Volcano Model Parameter Specification

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Equipment

The WiMAX equipment can be defined from within the tool or can be imported into
the tool using various different formats.

Figure 8; Access network equipment parameter specification

3.2.3

WiMAX Base Stations

Each sector of the WiMAX base station can be set up independently within the tool
and is stored within a database for ease of management

Figure 9; WiMAX base station parameter specification

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Signal Strength Calculation

In order to serve a given coverage area, WiMAX base stations can be deployed as
a single isolated base station or in a multi base station configuration. Both
deployment strategies can be evaluated in the planning tool.

Figure 10; Received signal strength plots for isolate and multi base station
configuration
Individual coverage plots can be generated for various different CPE types.

Indoor

Outdoor

Figure 11; Signal Strength for indoor and outdoor CPE

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Different minimum received signal levels can be specified for each of the
modulation and coding schemes, for the different CPE types.

Figure 12; Threshold specification for signal strength plots

The coverage can also be analysed in the form of a statistics report. The report
produces percentage statistics in terms of individual clutter categories and sector
coverage areas.

Figure 13: Coverage statistics report

3.2.5

Interference Analysis

The interference can be analysed in terms of the C/I ratio.

Carriers can be assigned to WiMAX sectors manually or using the automatic
frequency planner, ILSA.

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Figure 14: Manual Assignments of carriers

Figure 15: ILSA Frequency Planer

The C/I can be calculated and displayed on the map view for the individual CPE types.

The C/I thresholds for

each of the modulation
and coding schemes
can be adjusted by the
user.

Figure 16: Results of interference calculation

In addition to viewing the interference on the map view, the user can generate a statistics
report. The report provides a breakdown of the interference per clutter type, over a specified
threshold.

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Figure 17: Interference statistics report

3.3 WiMAX Network Optimisation

WiMAX networks can be optimised using AIRCOMs network optimisation tool,
ADVANTAGE. The tool allows planners to determine the most appropriate
location for the WiMAX sites based on several different criteria. It also allows
planners to optimise antenna parameters and transmit power to improve the
performance of the WiMAX network.

3.3.1

Site Selection

The number of WiMAX sites required can be optimised by choosing the best site
location from a number of predefined candidate locations.

Figure 18: Optimising site location through site selection

The selection of the optimum sites can be based on a number of different
objectives such as coverage, interference and traffic served.

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Antenna and Power Optimisation

The antenna tilt, azimuth and height can be optimised to improve the network
coverage, reduce interference or maximise the number of CPEs served in a
network.

Figure 19: Optimising Antenna parameters

The total power transmitted from a base station can also be optimised to maximise capacity
for the range of services and throughput demands.

Author: Nishita Hathi

Date: 12/08/2005

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Summary
The WiMAX standard, endorsed by the WiMAX forum will provide a unified
standard for the deployment of broadband wireless services. The broad range of
spectrum options in the licensed and un-licensed bands will provide a favourable
climate for equipment manufacturers and service providers.

This document provided an overview of the WiMAX standard and presented the
WiMAX planning capabilities of AIRCOMs Enterprise suite.

Glossary
WiMAX

Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access

LOS

Line Of Sight

NLOS

Non Line OF Sight

OFDM

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing

FWA

Fixed Wireless Access

BWA

Broadband Wireless Access

QPSK

Quadrature Phase Shift Keying

QAM

Quadrature Amplitude Modulation

CPE

Customer Premises Equipment

SNR

Signal to Noise Ratio

ILSA

IntelligenT Local Search Engine

Author: Nishita Hathi

Date: 12/08/2005

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