Practical Deployment of Frequency Hopping in GSM Networks for Capacity Enhancement

Abstract

GSM Frequency Hopping can realize increased capacity with marginal degradation in the Quality of Service. Measurements obtained from trial systems and operational networks have been presented to demonstrate that tight frequency reuse is viable. The behavior of the GSM RF parameters such as RXQUAL changes due to frequency hopping and the RF optimization of the cell parameters require careful attention. Synthesizer Frequency Hopping in a 1×1 frequency reuse pattern with 16% fractional load produces capacity gains in excess of 50%. It is also observed to be less sensitive to the variations in traffic load compared to the 1×3 fractional reuse. Fractional 1×3 reuse is more difficult to optimize in congested networks without traffic-directed congestion relief. Observations for cell parameter optimization are based on measured RF and network performance data from operational networks.