Planning and Design Considerations For a 4G LTE Network

1. Planning and Design Considerations For a 4G LTE Network 2012 ACE/RUSSchool and Symposium Presented by: Engineering Associates, Inc. Professional Engineering Firm

2. Previous Speakers with Wireless Topics • Leo Zoucha • Connecting in the Wireless Networks (Backhaul) • Don Swedenburg • Will LTE be the Death of the Landline? • Gordon Caverly, Ben Pidek • Wireless Video in the Home

3. Overview • Funding Options • Design Criteria • Technology Considerations • Frequency Bands • Core Design • RF Design - RAN • Backhaul Considerations • Bandwidth Efficiency & Traffic Planning • Investment/Pricing Models

4. Funding Options • Connect America Fund • Universal Service Fund transitioning to Connect America Fund • Objective is to Accelerate Broadband Build-Out in Rural Areas • Additional $300M of CAF Funding Available to Incumbent Providers that Commit to FCC Broadband Requirements for Unserved Areas • 4 MB/s Downstream; 1 Mb/s Upstream • Remaining Areas to Receive CAF Money Based Upon Broadband Cost Models and Competitive Bidding

5. Funding Options • RUS Broadband Loans • Provides Funds to Provide Broadband Service in Eligible Rural Areas • Includes New Construction, Improvements, and Acquisition • No More than One Loan Awarded per Service Area • Broadband Grants • Funding is Ongoing but Application Process has Ended • Additional Funding Would Require New Legislation

6. Design Criteria • Which Spectrum Licenses are Available? • Is Coverage Area Urban or Rural? • Are Existing Towers Available or Will Tower Construction be Required? • Applications - Fixed Solution vs. Mobility? • CPE – Outdoor, USB Desktop, Dongle, or Handsets • What Backhaul Options are Available? • Product Availability and Number of Vendor Options? • Ensure Design Reflects Goals for Geographic Coverage and Broadband Speed?

7. 700 MHz Band Plan 700 MHz – Lower Band 48 MHz; Upper Band 60 MHz Most Blocks are 6 MHz, Allowing 5 MHz LTE Carrier 35% Build-Out Required by June 13, 2013 for A,B, & E 40% Build-Out Required by June 13, 2013 for Upper C

8. 700 MHz Details • Block A – 12 MHz Lower Band Paired • Block B – 12 MHz Lower Band Paired • Block C – 12 MHz Lower Band Paired and 22 MHz Upper Band Paired • Block D – 6 MHz Lower Band Unpaired (Video) and 10 MHz Upper Band Paired (Public Safety) • Block E – 6 MHz Lower Band Unpaired (Video)

9. 700 MHz Spectrum Ownership • Verizon – 22 MHz Upper C Block Nationwide (except Alaska and U.S. Territories) and Scattered Lower A and B Blocks • AT&T – Scattered Lower B and C Blocks (Mostly Metro Areas); Purchasing Unpaired Lower D Block Nationwide and Unpaired E Block in some Major Markets from QualComm (for LTE Use) • Sprint – No 700 MHz • T-Mobile – No 700 MHz • Regional Carriers – Lower B and C Blocks (Mostly Rural) • Public Safety – 10 MHz Upper D Block

10. AWS Band Plan AWS – Advanced Wireless Service; 1.7 GHz; 2.1 GHz Blocks are 6 or 10 MHz, Allowing 5 or 10 MHz LTE Carrier Substantial Service Build-Out Deadline is 2021

11. PCS Band Plan PCS – Broadband Radio Service; 1.9 GHz

12. BRS/EBS Band Plan BRS – Broadband Radio Service; 2.6 GHz • EBS (Educational Broadband Service) was not licensed for commercial services, although its use has been postulated for LTE in some markets. • Due to current Band 7 ecosystem using FDD, BRS is of limited use until Band 41 TDD ecosystem becomes reality.

13. RF Design - RAN • Using RF Analysis Tool, Determine Predicted Coverage Levels and Aggregate Speeds Based Upon Technology and CPE Selection • Utilize Various GIS Data To Evaluate Possible Tower Sites • Select First Choice Tower Locations in Populated Areas • Select Additional Tower Locations to Fill in Rural Areas • Identify Areas Where New Towers May Be Required • Generate Site Search Rings When Necessary • Analyze Results and Add or Delete Sites as Required

14. Service Area Of Interest • Network Planning / Design Tools-GIS Software • E911 Location Data • Highway/Street Traffic Count Vector Data • Minimum UL/DL Throughput Requirements • Network Resource Locations

15. Propagation Tools • Propagation Software Tools • Integrated With GIS Software • Target to Customer Design • Backhaul (Microwave) Feasibility Tool • Operations Reports to Assist with Customer Service

16. Shaded Relief Showing Topography of Area

17. E911 Points for Potential Locations • Evaluate Network Objective • Percentage of Projected Coverage Area • Coverage of Major Thoroughfares • Ability For Sites To Be Contiguous • Fixed Locations and/or Mobile Devices • Network Parameters • Technology Type • Frequency Band(s) • Network Backbone/Backhaul

18. Existing Cellular Coverage in Planned Service Area Coverage Objective for Planned Service Area

19. Establish Search Area Ring (SAR)

20. Search Area Ring (SAR) Description: Identify feasible sites for providing necessary coverage as to existing network. The SAR includes the following activities and deliverables: • Importing target coverage zones • Develop alternate search area rings Base map indicating: • RSA Boundaries • E911 addresses (When Necessary) • Existing Coverage • Contours • Topography • Roadways • Target and Propagation overlay demonstrating RF coverage as related to target zones for specified frequencies.

21. Review Co-Location Possibilities

22. Establish Site Location

23. Projected Coverage in Planned Service Area • PERCENTAGE OF PROJECTED COVERAGE AREA • Coverage of Major Thoroughfares

24. LTE Coverage Maps LTE Downlink (USB Dongle) 2Mbps to 8Mbps Four Towers with Five Mile Radius; Roughly 16 Miles x 16 Miles

25. LTE Coverage Maps LTE Uplink (USB Dongle) 2Mbps to 6Mbps Four Towers with Five Mile Radius; Roughly 16 Miles x 16 Miles

26. Backhaul • LTE demands high-capacity backhaul • Leased T1’s will prove inadequate • Viable choices are fiber or microwave

27. Core Design • Design Core Network Based Upon Projected Number of Subscribers and Bandwidth Requirements • Is VoIP Required or Data Only? • Ancillary/OEM Solutions Needed • Billing • Network Management, • Subscriber Provisioning • Regulatory (E911, CALEA) • Identify Existing Equipment Required to Interface • Evaluate Building Feasibility Related to Redundant Backhaul Facilities, Security, and Back-up Power

28. LTE Evolved Packet Core

29. Technology Considerations • 700 MHz is Fundamental Design Based Upon Coverage; However, Bandwidth is Limited • Reserve 700 MHz for Rural Areas that Require More Reach but Serves Fewer Subscribers • Use AWS, BRS, or PCS for Capacity in Populated Areas with Shorter Reach

30. LTE vs. WiMax • Although LTE and WiMAX are Similar in Technology, Vendors have Moved Development Emphasis to LTE • WiMAX has Less Vendor Competition Today • LTE will have Longer Product Life and Future Prices are More Likely to Decrease

31. Technology Comparison

32. Technology Comparison

33. Bandwidth Efficiency * Performance data is averaged from various vendors’ claims as of 2011.

34. Subscriber Traffic Model * Performance data is averaged from various vendors’ claims as of 2011.

35. Estimate of Investment * Pricing data is averaged from various vendors’ proposals as of 2011.

36. Pricing - Example Network #1 * Pricing data is averaged from various vendors’ proposals as of 2011.

37. Pricing - Example Network #2 * Pricing data is averaged from various vendors’ proposals as of 2011.

38. Pricing - Example Network #3 * Pricing data is averaged from various vendors’ proposals as of 2011.

39. Summary - Start to Finish Process • Feasibility Study and Business Case • Preliminary RF/Backhaul Network Design • RFP Preparation, Proposal Analysis, and Contract Negotiation • Site Acquisition and Lease Negotiations • Permitting / Legal • Detailed RF/Backhaul Network Design • Project Management and Asset Management • Construction Management • As Built Drawings

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