Comparison of Atoll & Planet for LTE Planning
Version 1.0
Date 16.9.2009
Soc Classification level 1 © Nokia Siemens Networks
Edited by Tao Wan
Presentation / Author / Date
Comments First version
Introduction This document is trying to compare the basic capabilities between Forsk Atoll 2.8.0 and Mentum Planet 5.0 for LTE planning. Only the single PC operation is considered. The comparison is on the following based on designing a small cluster using these tools • Network settings • MIMO handling • Perform coverage prediction studies • Perform Monte Carlo simulation
Soc Classification level 2 © Nokia Siemens Networks
Presentation / Author / Date
Summary ATOLL
PLANET
Software Installation
Easy and fast
More difficult and take much more time
Project Setup – Create a new project
Easy
Easy
Project Setup – Import Easy an existing project
Easy
Dependence on 3rd party products
No
Depending on MapInfo
Learn how to use the tool
Easy
More effort needed
Algorithms for the tool
Available
Not available
Soc Classification level 3 © Nokia Siemens Networks
Presentation / Author / Date
Summary ATOLL
PLANET
FDD mode and carrier/channel definition
Easy
Easy
Antenna Import
More options
Accept only .paf format
Propagation Model
Support more types of Asset model is not models supported yet
Exchange data with Excel
Easier, but multiple tables have to be exported one by one
Soc Classification level 4 © Nokia Siemens Networks
Presentation / Author / Date
More difficult, but entire project can be exported once
Network Settings
Soc Classification level 5 © Nokia Siemens Networks
Presentation / Author / Date
LTE Bearer Definition ATOLL
PLANET
All bearers are supported
Bearers with bits/symber < 0.5 are not supported. The min value for bits/symbol is 0.5.
Soc Classification level 6 © Nokia Siemens Networks
Presentation / Author / Date
Bearer Link Adaptation Table ATOLL
PLANET
An SINR threshold is defined for each bearer, each mobility type, each mode (SISO, SIMO, MIMO TxDiv, MIMO SM) in DL and UL.
An SINR threshold is defined for each bearer, each mobility type, each mode (SISO, SIMO, MIMO TxDiv, MIMO SM) in DL and UL.
For each bearer, the SINR threshold SINR threshold for BLER, BER for BLER, BER can also be defined. cannot also be defined.
MIMO SM gain and TxDiv gain can be defined for each bearer
Soc Classification level 7 © Nokia Siemens Networks
Presentation / Author / Date
MIMO SM gain and TxDiv gain can be defined for each bearer
Scheduler for Monte Carlo Simulation ATOLL
PLANET
More options available: each column below has multiple options
Less Flexiable: 2 options only. Scheduler “none” only allocate minimum resource to each UE
Soc Classification level 8 © Nokia Siemens Networks
Presentation / Author / Date
Cell and UE Equipment
Soc Classification level 9 © Nokia Siemens Networks
Presentation / Author / Date
Site/Cell Settings
Power Settings
ATOLL
PLANET
RS power offset can be set; SCH & PBCH power offset can be set
RS power offset can be set
Transmitter Each sector antenna can be Location located differently from the site location
All sector antennas must be located in the same location as the site
Tx/Rx loss
Can be calculated by tool based on site configuration or entered manually
Calculated by tool based on site configuration
DL loading and UL noise rise
Can be defined for coverage Can be defined for coverage prediction purpose prediction purpose
Soc Classification level 10 © Nokia Siemens Networks
Presentation / Author / Date
Other Parameters ATOLL
PLANET
Terminal Type
Multiple UEs with different capabilities (ex. # of Tx or Rx antennas, supported bearers in UL and DL) can be defined
Multiple UEs with different capabilities (ex. # of Tx or Rx antennas, supported bearers in UL and DL) can be defined
Service Type
Service priority, traffic demand are defined for each service
Service priority, traffic demand, and QoS class are defined for each service
Subscriber For each subscriber type, the For each subscriber type, the Type used terminal, service usage used terminal, service usage are defined are defined Mobility
Mobility can be defined explicitly
Soc Classification level 11 © Nokia Siemens Networks
Presentation / Author / Date
Mobility cannot be defined explicitly, but it can be included implicitly in bearer definition
MIMO Handling ATOLL
PLANET
Easy to use
Easy to use
Spatial Easy to use Multiplexing
Easy to use
AMS
A bug exists, which will be fixed in later release
Working properly
AMS work around for NSN*
Easy to implement
Method 1 is difficult to implement; Method 2 is easy to implement
Transmit Diversity
Accuracy of Accurate AMS work around* * See Soc Classification level 12 © Nokia Siemens Networks
Presentation / Author / Date
Introduces errors for DL average data rate layer
Coverage Prediction and Statistics ATOLL
PLANET
Prediction Type
Can be defined individually. More options are available
Can be selected only from a list of pre-defined predictions
Define the Area for Prediction
The area is defined by a polygon, which can be drawn easily
The area can be the computer screen, or be defined by a grid file
Range and Easily performed by Interval specifying the START, END Definition and STEP SIZE
Each step level from start to end must be specified. More difficult to use.
Display Prediction
Can display coverage for each specified level
Display the coverage for entire range only
Statistics
Table or Histogram
Table or Histogram
UL CINR
UL power control is assumed No UL power control. SINR is so that the SINR is upper based on max UE power limited by the threshold for the highest MCS
Soc Classification level 13 © Nokia Siemens Networks
Presentation / Author / Date
Monte Carlo Simulation and Statistics ATOLL
PLANET
Define Area for Simulation
The area is defined by a polygon, which can be drawn easily
The area can be the computer screen, or be defined by a grid file
Statistics
More information available. Info for each individual mobile is available
Less information available. Info for individual mobile is not available
UL Loading and Noise Rise
More reasonable
Noise Rise is too low (<0.2 dB when average loading>60%)
Traffic Map
Easy to create
More effort needed for new users
Soc Classification level 14 © Nokia Siemens Networks
Presentation / Author / Date
Monte Carlo Simulation ATOLL
PLANET
Mobiles not served (all dots) are intended to be everywhere
Mobiles not served (black dots only) are concentrated in weak coverage area
Soc Classification level 15 © Nokia Siemens Networks
Presentation / Author / Date
Summary While a conclusion is required for comparison in general, we are trying to avoid it due to the limited tests on the 2 tools. However, in general it is believed that • Atoll 2.8.0 – – – –
•
Easy to use for new users Easy to create statistics MC simulation results are more reasonable Users have better understanding the tools due to the availability of all algorithms and formulas
Planet 5.0.0.230 – – – –
More difficult to use for new users More difficult to create statistics MC simulation results (UL noise rise) seems not reasonable The tool is harder to understood due to the unavailability of all algorithms and formulas
Soc Classification level 16 © Nokia Siemens Networks
Presentation / Author / Date
