Ramboll Network Planning Services ensures that the client objective in terms of service coverage and service quality for mobile networks, broadband networks and broadcast networks are fulfilled on time and on budget.

We offer a full range of skills in network planning and optimisation

Airborne transmission lines

Ground based transmission lines

Neutral host provider

Radio planning

Switching centres

All Ramboll services

Technologies and Processes

Ramboll provides planning and optimization services for a range of mobile technologies, broadband technologies and broadcast technologies as GSM, UMTS, HSPA, GSM-R, TETRA, WiMax, WLAN, DVB-T and DVB-H. Our technology experience combined with the broad range of knowledge in related areas like business planning, site design, rollout project management and interaction with public authorities proves to be effective.

Ramboll Network Optimization Services focuses on the operation phase of the network, starting off with pre-launch optimization and acceptance testing and continuing during the lifetime of the network in order to ensure best possible service performance and network performance under changing traffic loads and service requirements.

The Planning Process

The initial planning phase takes its offset in the business plan and clarifies the objectives and requirements for the network to be provided. In this phase we may assist in technology evaluations, conceptual designs, tendering, vendor selection, budgeting, process setup and organization setup.

A nominal plan is an ideal scenario, and in the practical world a range of constraints and restrictions may appear that forces the actual plan do deviate from the nominal plan. The planning then becomes an iterative process where the objectives and requirements must be maintained.

The planning process interacts with authorities, site acquisition process, building process and transmission planning. It also interacts with the optimization process which provides feedback to future planning and accordingly improves the planning quality over time.

Network planning requires a combination of technology expertise, communication skills, practical installation know-how and an understanding of the related processes.

The Optimization Process

The first part of the optimization process includes pre-launch optimization and acceptance testing and will in principle be finalized when the network is handed over to operation.

The pre-launch optimization is an iterative process where the physical and logical parameters of the network are tuned based on drivetesting or field testing in the actual network in order to improve service performance and network performance.

The acceptance testing is a strictly predefined procedure that verifies if the actual service performance and network performance complies with the requirements. In turnkey projects, the acceptance test report is normally part of the contractual documents.

The second part of the optimization process is in the operational phase and ensures that capacity, coverage and network parameters are maintained and adjusted according to traffic growth, changing services and changing requirements. This part involves evaluation of new technologies and network features as part of the long term optimization and it includes daily optimization and trouble shooting.

Network optimization requires vendor specific technology expertise, an end to end understanding of the network, and understanding of how networks and services interacts and experience with various engineering tools, drivetest tools and monitoring systems.

Client Benefits

Considering the volume of investments in network deployments, it is our experience that Ramboll Network Planning and Optimization Services provides significant cost savings in both investment and operational cost and increases the value of the network. Ramboll Radio Planners and Optimizers have expert technology experience and an understanding of the business processes related to the planning and optimization processes. We can provide personnel ranging from technical managers and system specialists to team leaders and general planning and optimization staff. We can also provide personnel for drivetest, field tests, site surveys etc.

Based on the broad range of experience and knowledge represented in the Ramboll organization all projects are supported by the central organization in cases where the onsite project staff requires advice.