Google Earth Pro is a computer program that uses satellite imagery to present 3-dimentional view of all coordinates of the earth, it offers telecommunication operators platform to integrate their base station’s (eNodeB) coordinates as well as other functional configuration to be able remotely monitor each cell’s activity at every given time. This section shows a typical solution applied in ratifying subscriber’s compliant of slow browsing in MBORA district, Abuja using Google Earth Pro tool. Other neighbouring subscribers reside in CITEC Estate, PATNASONIC
169 Estate, EMAB Global Estate etc., as can be seen in the diagnostic map, figure 4.29. The diagnosis, resolution and optimization of the site problem was done on 10th April, 2019, different measures of diagnosis was taken in order to ascertain the root causes, and efficient decision to improve the subscribers’ quality of service in the area.
Figure 4.29: Troubleshooting SPECTRANET eNodeB Sectors AB158, AB008 and AB084 Serving MBORA DISTRICT, Abuja
RF engineers can observe the status of hosted cells around Abuja metropolis. The first step towards the troubleshooting was to generate the coordinate of one the subscribers and traced on Google Earth Pro to observe which of the cells in the area that is serving the UE. It was observed that within the coordinate area, most UE latches into an eNodeB AB008 which was discovered to be further away from UEs in the area. Google Earth Pro tool and KPI data are used to do the troubleshooting, if not satisfied with the analysis, RF engineers can further prepare and visit the site to perform either Drive test or use Huawei Hi-Studio application to ascertain the cell throughput problem, RSRP, RSRQ, SINR etc. of the cells in the region. Open Signal software application is an alternative to Huawei Hi-studio. The figure 4.29 shows the
170 UE’s location with poor data performance, the location of the serving cell AB008. The second action taken was to measure the distance between the UE and the serving eNodeB which gives an approximate distance of 900meters with serving angle of 324 degrees while by mere observation from the map, it showed there is a closer eNodeB to UE than AB008. This factor of distance is not enough reason to make a resolution hence, other event parameters have to be checked, evaluated before taking practical actions.
Figure 4.30: Troubleshooting SPECTRANET eNodeB Sectors AB158, AB008 and AB084 Serving MBORA District
The trouble shooting process continued by verifying the exact distance of supposed (eNodeB) cell stationed to serve the troubled area. The Figure shows a metered distance of the UE experiencing poor data services with google Earth Pro. eNodeB AB158 is about 760meters away from the UE with a serving angle of 87.48 degrees. Observe the next eNodeB on the map is AB084, however, is located across the road, so it is left out of this investigation because the UE in question is further away and does not fall under its footprint.
171 Figure 4.31: Troubleshooting SPECTRANET eNodeB Sectors AB158, AB008 and AB084 Serving MBORA District Abuja
The next line of action was to observe the loads (Average number of Users), congestion status and PRB utilization and PCI offsets of the eNodeBs, thus AB008 and AB158. As can be seen in the Figure 4.31, the average number of user latched into AB008 is 87 UEs while the supposed cell AB158 to be serving the UE under investigation has only 31 UEs latched at an average. Physical Resource Block utilization PRB are okay for both cells, from the KPI data observed in the last 72 hours (three days) showed AB008 surpassed 80% three times while AB158 maintained PRB utilization below 80%. Congestion trigger only occurred thrice on AB008 and none at AB158. PCI offset are both same, hence some level of interference but due to distances apart, the effect may be negligible unless proven otherwise at the end of the investigation.
172 Figure 4.32: Troubleshooting SPECTRANET eNodeB Sectors AB158, AB008 and AB084 serving MBORA District, Abuja
The figure 4.32 confirms the average number of UEs (31) latched on AB158, PCI offset configuration and other parameter status
Figure 4.33: Troubleshooting SPECTRANET eNodeB Sectors AB158, AB008 and AB084 Serving MBORA District.
173 In order to ascertain the co cells of sector AB008, the load and performance of the neighbouring cells of same site was probed. The figure 4.33 confirms the average number of UEs (15) latched on AB008, PCI off of Zero (0) configuration and other parameter status. Everything here looks very fine, good SINR, good RSRP and RSRQ.
Figure 4.34: Troubleshooting SPECTRANET eNodeB Sites AB158, AB008 and AB084 serving MBORA District
In order to ascertain the co cell of AB008, the load and performance of cell was probed. Figure 4.34 confirms the average number of UEs (50) latched on AB008, PCI off set of one (1) configuration and other parameter status. Good SINR, good RSRP and RSRQ.
174 Figure 4.35: Overview of SPECTRANET eNodeB Sites in Abuja Metropolis
Summary and Resolution: The supposed cell to be serving the area with the UE under
investigation was observed to be under underutilized while UEs under its designated footprint were experiencing low data throughput. This is because AB158 with PCI offset of two (2) has island coverage and lacks power concentration in the area of designated to serve as a dominant cell. It was down tilted to its designated area of coverage while the AB008_2 was also worked on, M1E2 to reduce its transmit power and improve the SINR within the area. These operations saw the UE under investigation latched back to AB158_2 and the load on AB008_2 balanced and QOS in both areas improved.
175 4.1.6 Drive Test Investigation and Analysis
Drive test helps identify cell’s Physical Cell identifier (PCI) number, performance of RSRP which gives the detail of the total transmit power towards a particular area, RSRQ which gives details of quality of received signal at a every given location, and SINR value which presents ratio of signal strength against noise at every given location
Figure 4.36: Drive Test for Optimization over GWARIMPA eNodeB Sites
Figure 4.36 is a screen grab of events during drive test using TEMS Investigation 15.3.4, the Sites and sectors, PCI, and Signal Quality indication (Red= Poor, Yellow= Good, Green = Excellent). Observe the handover symbols, the monitoring cells etc.
176 Figure 4.37: Drive Test for Optimization over MAITAMA District eNodeB Sites
Figure 4.37 is a screen grab of events during drive test using TEMS Investigation 15.3.4 at Maitama District Abuja, the Sites and sectors, PCI, Signal Quality indication is identified by colours (Red= Poor, Yellow= Good, Green = Excellent), observe some sites are two sectored sites but Majorly 98% of the sites in Maitama district are three sectored site, also observe the handover symbols, whenever there is frequent and successive handovers within a short distance, it becomes a sign degraded service or wrong configuration, the monitoring cells to each serving are listed on the right hand side of the tab viewing each connectivity and performance of each cell and UE, ever ready to accept UEs with poor RSRP and UEs making request for handover etc. The generated data log is further analysed using MapInfo software