Coverage Evaluation of LTE FeMBMS: a Case Study Based on a DVB-T2 Network

Abstract

In Long Term Evolution (LTE) Release 14, the 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP) introduced a significant extension to the 3GPP evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service named Further evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (FeMBMS). In FeMBMS the option of a dedicated broadcast transmission mode on a separate carrier with an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) Cyclic Prefix (CP) length of up to 200 μs was introduced, potentially enabling broadcasters to transmit FeMBMS via existing High Tower, High Power (HTHP) infrastructure. Synchronization and basic signaling for FeMBMS needs to be provided periodically via a Cell Acquisition Subframe (CAS) utilizing the traditional OFDM CP length of 16.67 μs. To evaluate the capabilities of the FeMBMS dedicated broadcast transmission mode and the influence of the short CP length used for transmitting the CAS in a realistic environment of a city, we integrated FeMBMS into the Simulator for Mobile Networks (SiMoNe), a software platform for realistic mobile network simulations developed by Technische Universitaet Braunschweig. SiMoNe provides pathloss predictions based on a ray-tracer that takes into account 3D building data. In this paper, we present simulation methods and evaluate the impact of the CAS on the coverage of portable and mobile devices that can be achieved when three existing HTHP TV towers are used for the transmission of FeMBMS. Simulation results show a significant reduction of coverage area due to the CAS and indicate a coverage difference between subframe types.